Innie Minnie Miny Moe… Who's the Best Printer of Them All?

Landing the most suitable commercial printer for your particular job is oftentimes the most harrowing part. Finding the right printer to do the job for you is just one step. You need first to do the following: identify the printing process ideal to your job requirement, locate the companies with the equipment to execute the process, and identify the people who know how to get the equipment doing its utmost capabilities.

Step 1: What printing process do you need?

If it's mostly basic black and white, a high quality, high speed Photocopier will do the trick. A lot of photocopiers are available in the market today. Nevertheless, it is still best to go with brands that have a reputation and name for excellent results. Brand X may be affordable but can it give you quality output?

If you are printing more than one color, with high resolution output, photographs, and you need a large amount of quantity reproductions, it is time to use an Offset Duplicator, or for quantities over than 10,000, the Sheet-fed Offset Press is the equipment for you.

For quantities above 50,000, a faster press may save you money. You may either choose a Web Press that uses less expensive rolls, or a Mini-Web Press with increased speed at prices almost similar with a sheet-fed press.

One rule of thumb that I got from one article: get a printer with a larger press that is not busy. A small job on a big press is always better than no job at all.

Step 2: Who has the right equipment?

After the process then comes the list of companies with the right equipment. Many are listed in the yellow pages or the internet. In addition to the presses they have and the process they can handle, find out what other services each printer has to offer. In addition, ask if they specialize in a particular type of work or range of quantities.

Step 3: Who has the best people?

According to an article I read, what separates a good printer from a mediocre one is a team of skilled people. The right equipment and facilities can provide you the best results when combined with skilled personnel who know how to utilize them at their maximum capacity.

And the only way you can gauge that is to get out and visit your candidates' shops. Look at the examples of the team's portfolio. Check for brilliant and clean colors, for smooth, dense solid areas, and text and images. Are they focused? Are they clear? Basically, look for the quality of product. If it seems lower than your expectations, then on the next one.

Service Bureaus/Commercial Printers Online

Aside from looking for printers on foot, we also have a lot of print providers and buyers online. With the wide range of selection that the Internet can provide nowadays, many links are made available. Here are some of the few digital printers that I personally found excellent:

• Digital Room. They offer Digital B&W and Digital Color Printing, Four Color Process Printing, Large Format Printing, Scanning, Pre-Press, Mounting and Laminating. www.digitalroom.com

• Color Printing Wholesale. Visit their website at www.colorprintingwholesale.com.

• Large Format Printing. They provide poster print media, and offer Offset Poster Printing, Inkjet Printing and Finishing

• Printing Shoppers. webmaster@printingshoppers.com.

• My Postcard Printing. When you're in a rush, you can order full color post card printing online. Their cards are printed on thick, 12 point gloss coated two sided card stock, and their prices include four-color printing on both sides. Email them at info@mypostcardprinting.com.