Posted by: Catherine Morley
Category: Designers Working With
Bookmark on: del.icio.us

At the end of the day, it all comes down to money. Right? Not necessarily. When choosing a printer or prepress specialist, it’s important to match the job with a shop’s strengths, skillsets and equipment. You may need to pay a bit more to ensure your project is produced the way you want and beaming with quality. That should come first. You don’t want to sink a bunch of time and effort into your brilliant design only to have things fall apart at the delivery end of the press. Money should come second, at least within reason and the budget constraints of the gig.

As you’ll learn below, like many things, there isn’t a set of rules for estimating printing and prepress. It’s always a good idea to get at least three quotes, look over some of their work, look over their shop and make your decision. A shoddy shop often means shoddy work. Plus, you’ll want to be sure the chemistry between you, your rep and the pressman and/or prepress person is good.

So, without further ado, we ask:

“How do you charge?”

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Chris

I run really fast at first and then scream charge! Kidding aside, it’s typically based on what the customer needs/wants. If I have to design something, there is an hourly rate we add into the cost(s) of printing such as paper and ink. Being strictly a digital printer, we’re either black and white or we’re full color. That’s it. So there is a price for each of those accordingly.

Chris Tomlinson | Owner: Gonink - Design & Print
Gonink - Design & Print | A Designer’s Journey | USA

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Derald

Quotes are figured based on the cost of paper, prepress production, press time and any other costs such as bindery, delivery and any special processes. All these products and services carry a markup to generate a profit for the printer. In addition to this a markup is added for the sales person.

Derald Schultz | Atlanta Graphic Design + Web Design + Printing
Mediarail Design, Inc. | USA

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Genie

By the hour - but many jobs have prepress included into the pricing.

Genie Ho | Prepress and design
PDQ Print | New Zealand

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George

We usually charge the unit costs and printing plates. Depending on the customer, we need 30% downpayment and 70% upon delivery.

George Lee | Printer
Nan Sing Printing | Thailand

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HotGloss Printing

HotGloss Printing is a ‘pay upon ordering’ company. University and State Gov’t can use P.O.’s

HotGloss Printing | USA

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John

I’ve tried several ways, but currently I provide an official estimate or quote for every new job, then I invoice upon final design approval. All my clients usually pay on delivery of the prints. For strictly design jobs they pay within a couple weeks of approval. This means I am fronting the costs for 2 or 3 weeks for every print job.

John Carvalho | Owner/Graphic Designer
Mixed Media: Design & Printing Services | USA

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Matt

A lot of what we print is at fixed rate (business cards, colour copies, rack cards). The price is, for the most part, dictated by what the market will bare. However, there are also a lot of specialty jobs that require custom quoting. For instance, a presentation folder that requires a custom die made for an embossment. Outsourcing to trade only printers (things we can’t produce in house like cheques, NCR forms, pens, etc.) will see a mark up between 30 to 50 percent (again, what the market will bare and the trade discount the supplier gives).

Graphic design and pre-press are billed at the same amount; $65.00 per hour.

We also have a trade only rate for those who we supply. For instance, we have two major print brokers we do work for. In exchange for their consistent volume, they get a trade discount that allows them to mark up the product. The amount of volume determines the amount of discount.

Matt Beazley | Printer
www.eyemean.com | Canada

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PrintDriver

Most projects are charged by the square foot with additional charges for proofing, special mounting, hemming, grommeting, specific PMS color matching and Rush charges. Printing big stuff is not instantaneous. Standard turn is usually around 5 business days. Industry standard is 3-10 business days. Schedule appropriately. Please bear in mind that rush charges are not a penalty fee, they are used to pay overtime to the employees working late on your rush project or on the projects your project bumped off queue. Work is always by contract and usually requires a deposit unless the client has an established credit history.

PrintDriver | Print Consultant | USA

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Tom

We charge hourly for prepress (1 hour minimum), and accept money after the finished piece is delivered (either COD, or Net 30 terms depending on the credit worthiness of the print buyer)

Tom Stege | Lead Prepress Operator - Seattle Location
Print Time Online | USA

In closing, seek out those vendors who compliment your design practice. Have a group to pull from with various skillsets, experience and equipment. Build the relationships and don’t nickel and dime them. These are the folks who make you look good. Pay them what they’re worth and for the value they bring to the table.

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until the next
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