When should my job be produced as color copies vs. printing on the press?
If you have a brochure, poster, or flier you’d like printed in full color, there are two ways to go about it: print or high-quality digital color copies. Printing, which involves ink on a press, generally is ideal for quantities of 500 or more. There are also several steps in the processfilm, a blueline (a printer’s proof), and a color proof matchprint for your approvalso printing takes longer. But even so, a press run is the most economical choice for a large quantity. A press run is also a good choice because of the economies of scale; for example, 2,000 brochures will have a lower unit cost than 1,000 brochures. Printing also requires that the file be prepared according to printing industry standards, including design software and the know-how to translate what’s on your desktop to a press-ready file. Digital color copies are a great choice when you need fewer than 500 pieces, and when the turnaround time is short. There is no film, blueline, or color proof matchprint involved, and
