Commercial Printing Pros & Cons
As with any service, commercial printing has its pros and its cons. In general the pros do outweigh the cons.
Here are some of the advantages a commercial printer can offer you:
Quality paper:
While the paper available at the local office supply has improved dramatically over the last 20 years, a commercial printer has more options.
More size options:
When you print your own materials, you will find yourself limited to certain sizes, most of them built around the 8-1/2 x 11 format. Most desktop printers only handle paper up to this size. Photocopiers don’t go larger than 11 x 17. Your commercial printer offers you anything from a full poster to business card. Some commercial printers even offer banners.
Versatile equipment:
A commercial printer has more equipment available. Special dies that allow cut-outs and other personalized touches are often available that are very difficult for the average person to pull off. Professional results are almost impossible without the right tools. A commercial printer has the tools to make anything connected with you or your company professional.
Eco-friendly inks:
A commercial printer can use inks that are eco-friendly. A laser printer is far from green. Yes, you can refill inkjet cartridges, but color inkjet refills are never as good as the original cartridge. Inkjet refills are great for in-house communications, but they don’t usually reflect the best image when they are used to print advertising materials.
Permanent inks:
Inkjet inks are usually water-soluble, so they run if they get wet. Commercial printers only use water-proof inks. You don’t have to worry about whether your advertisement will be blurry when it reaches its destination.
Design services:
Many commercial printers can do all the design work for you. You don’t have to be an artist or be creative. This can be a real help to the creatively challenged. All you need to know is what you want to say. The design team puts everything together for you. There is usually a fee for this service, but it can be worth the investment.
Reduced long-term costs:
Because commercial printers deal in volume, the costs of printing materials can actually be lower than if you do the work in-house.
Here are some of the disadvantages of hiring a commercial printer:
Waiting on the printer:
When you print things yourself on your own printer you aren’t tied to someone else’s schedule. The work is done when you need it. You don’t’ need to plan very far ahead. A commercial printer may require you to book your work weeks in advance. Planning ahead is mandatory.
No instant feedback:
When you print in-house, you can see almost instantly what something will look like. This should be the first step to developing material even if you plan to send it out to a commercial printer anyway.
Minimum quantities:
Commercial printers require a minimum print run. If you are a small start-up company, this can be a big investment. Printing in-house may seem easier to deal with financially. If you are facing a tight budget, make sure you have at least one thing done commercially—your business cards.
Commercial Printing - Our Advice
Commercial printing may have its cons but its pros weight heavily in its favor. Shop carefully, compare quality, and check out some references, and you are sure to find a company that meets your needs. Use our price search here at PrintingChoice.com to compare the top commercial printing companies instantly!