| What are my choices for printing my catalog? What | | | | The sheet-fed press can also use various weights of |
| are the different types of catalog printing and which | | | | paper, giving it another advantage over a cold-set web |
| ones are the best for my catalog? In this article I will go | | | | press. The downside is that sheet-fed presses run |
| over several types of catalog printing to help you | | | | much slower. That is why they are usually only |
| answer those questions. | | | | selected for a small run of catalogs or catalogs that |
| Let's start with the different types of presses that are | | | | require high quality graphics. |
| used for printing catalogs. | | | | Digital Printing: This is much newer than the other |
| Web Press: This is the most commonly used type of | | | | methods described in this article, but it will become |
| press for printing catalogs. It uses a roll of paper to | | | | mainstream. This is where the images for printing your |
| make the catalog printing process faster. There are | | | | catalog are sent directly from the computer to the |
| two types of web press. The Heat-Set Web Press | | | | press. There is no film involved. All of the images are |
| and the Cold-Set Web Press. | | | | digital. This also eliminates the need for plates. Finding a |
| Heat-Set Web Press: The heat-set web press has a | | | | printer for your catalog that uses this method might be |
| built-in heating unit that dries the ink. This gives the | | | | difficult though since it has not been widely adopted |
| press the ability to produce a high volume of catalogs | | | | yet. |
| quickly. Another advantage it has is It can handle | | | | The advantages of digital printing are fast-turnaround |
| printing your catalog on coated and high-gloss paper. A | | | | time and for producing high quality full color catalogs. |
| heat-set web press is also the best choice if your | | | | The downside is that you may be limited in your choice |
| catalog needs to have high quality photographs and | | | | of paper types. |
| images. | | | | Electrostatic printing: Only good for very short runs of |
| Heat-set web presses are good for large catalog | | | | catalog printing jobs. This is similar to photocopying |
| printing jobs or where the cost of setup is irrelevant. It | | | | documents in that it uses toner from a drum to |
| is a huge press and takes a staff of people to set it | | | | thermally fuse your text and images to the paper. |
| up for one catalog printing job. This is where you run | | | | Embossing: This catalog printing method uses a die |
| into setup fees from your printer. On a large run, say | | | | your printer makes according to your design. It makes |
| 10,000 copies or more, the setup fee when divided by | | | | an impression or raises the image or letters onto the |
| the number of catalogs is not too bad. If you were to | | | | page. |
| apply those same setup fees to a run of only 1000 | | | | Engraving: This is the catalog printing method that |
| copies, the cost per catalog printed might be out of | | | | produces the highest quality images. You would only |
| your budget requirements. | | | | use this on the covers unless cost is not a factor. With |
| Cold-Set Web Press: This type of web press does | | | | engraved images, you can run your finger along the |
| not have a heating unit. The ink must be air-dried. The | | | | edge and fell that it has been indented or raised. |
| cold-set web press is used with text stock paper | | | | Gravure: This method of printing is used to produce a |
| where the ink will absorb into the paper of your | | | | high volume of quality catalogs. It is much more |
| catalog. It will not print on coated and glossy paper. In | | | | expensive than other methods, but it is the best way |
| addition to that, the photos and images for your | | | | to produce high quality catalogs. |
| catalog will not be quite as sharp as those printed on a | | | | Letterpress: This method of catalog printing goes back |
| heat-set web press. | | | | to the 15th century. It uses a rubber stamp like process. |
| However, if you are printing less than 10,000 catalogs | | | | The images or text are raised on the stamp and ink is |
| or your primary needs are not the sharpness of the | | | | applied and the pages are stamped. |
| images, a cold-set web press might be the right choice | | | | Offset lithography: This is a common catalog printing |
| for you. It will save you money over the heat-set | | | | method with little setup time and one that is very cost |
| method. | | | | effective. It's also good for printing on textured paper. It |
| Sheet-Fed Press: Another good choice if you are not | | | | uses less ink than other methods as well. |
| printing a high volume of catalogs is the sheet-fed | | | | I hope this has been a helpful guide to the different |
| press. The paper for your catalog is cut to size before | | | | printing methods you can choose for your catalog. |
| the print run. One of the advantages a sheet-fed | | | | Keep in mind that every printer you go to will not be |
| press has over the cold-set web press is that your | | | | able to offer you all of these methods. Each printer |
| images and photos will come out a much higher quality. | | | | buys the equipment best suited to his or her business. |
| Both are good for small runs, so if you are only going | | | | So if you are set on a particular type of catalog |
| to print less than 10,000 catalogs and your artwork is | | | | printing you may have to shop around to find a printer |
| important to you, the sheet-fed press might be the | | | | who uses your method. |
| best way to go. | | | | |