How long does it take to print a project? If you’re serious about putting your best foot forward in your printed marketing materials, then don’t expect overnight. Commercial printing truly quality materials is a manufacturing process that requires high standards, attention to detail, and time.
As veterans of the commercial printing industry we know that speed is paramount in helping our customers. Fast, efficient, high-quality printing with quick turn-arounds is what we aim for in all of our work. There is no single simple answer as to how long a project might take. Some jobs are simple and can be done in an hour two. But, printing thousands of items like business cards, letterhead, or envelopes is a process. Unlike a desktop printer, commercial printing isn’t about simply pushing a button and watching your print project shoot out in a few seconds.
When we print something at our shop, we want to take the time to help get exactly what our customers want. This means discussions about the exact colors needed, reviewing proofs to ensure we have a project just right, using high-quality inks and paper, and taking the time to provide outstanding finishing services.
When a print job comes into our shop, we work with you to find the best process for printing it. This includes the type of paper you may want to use, and also the type of inks involved. This could be digital printing, traditional offset, or something more particular. There are also many other components to consider. Does a project require typesetting, or edits, or do you need the whole piece made into a format that is ready for printing? This would mean time with our prepress team getting the files print-ready.
Will a project be trimmed, bound, or folded? This would mean more time in our finishing department.
After the specifications of a job are decided on and the order is processed, the next and most important stage is proof approval. Usually we get a PDF proof to our customers within 24 hours, a little longer for a hard copy proof, all depending on the details of a given job. This proof approval is the final check for a job, and no printing will start until we all agree that the proof is correct and ready to print.
If a job is going to be printed digitally, our prepress team will get the file ready and move it to one of our digital RIPs. From here the final specifications are set and the printing begins. Again, depending on the size of a job this is a pretty fast process since our digital machines able to print tens of pages per minute.
However, if a job is to be offset printed there are a few more steps involved. Our prepress team will create separations from a file, and use them to manufacture printing plates. These plates will then be taken by our operators to put on press. The process of preparing a printing press to run a large job takes many steps in its own right (and one probably worthy of its own blog post in the future). Preparation is paramount – cleaning, attaching the plates, mixing and adding the ink, and running make-ready all add up to a significant amount of time.
Once the press is ready and rolling – then in the hands of a great operator, the prints will come fast and furious. Think hundreds per hour. But, the actual printing is only part of the process.
Once the project is done and taken off press, it has to sit and dry. That’s right. Don’t forget that ink needs to dry. Depending on the type of ink and the amounts used, this can take up to a day or two.
After that, a project will go to our finishing department. Here every project is very different. Binding, cutting, gluing, and creasing each require a human hand, and the time involved needs to be figured into every project.
So, how long does it take to print? The answer is of course that each project is different, and the time depends on the services your project needs. In terms of the average job, a good rule of thumb is to expect your project to take at least 5 business days from start to finish. Things can be sped up of course, or even slowed down by using more exotic materials and finishes.
If you’d like to find out how long your commercial printing job will take and how we can help you get the best printed materials for your business or organization, give us a call today.
cutpasteandprint Printing, graphic design, binding, and promotional product specialists in Huntingdon Valley, PA. We proudly serve the Bucks and Montgomery County areas with superior quality, great customer service, and a commitment to getting you and your the best possible printed materials. Our services include: Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Graphic Design, Promotional Items, Bindery, and Copying.
estimating@cutpasteandprint.com • 215.364.3898
