Top 5 Questions to Ask When Book Printing in Melbourne

So, you want to print a book! Whether it’s your first time printing a book or you’re just wanting to find out more about the process behind it, there are a handful of helpful questions to keep in mind to make your finished product a perfect one. The book printing process doesn’t have to be daunting - just ask your book printer these five nifty questions and you’ll be well on your way to bringing your ideas to life.

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How Much Does Printing Books Cost?

Let’s start with the most important question, and the way in which you can go about asking it. Having an idea of how much your print job will cost before you proceed any further is vital in understanding what quality, speed and service you can receive at a cost that is affordable to you.

The easiest way to go about finding the answer to this question is requesting a quote. You don’t want to just request the one fixed-quantity quote, either. To get a good gauge of how much printing your book will cost depending on different numbers of books printed means that it’s best to request a quote for different quantity amounts. This will give you a more detailed insight into the cost of the bigger picture - plus quotes should always be free, so there’s no risk with requesting one.

Quotes for print jobs shouldn’t be done just off the top of someone’s head. At FolioFox, our helpful accounts managers are often in charge of calculating requested quotes to give customers an idea of the cost per unit for different book printing quantities, so you know you’re in safe (and smart) hands. Better yet, there’s no hidden fees, so you can relax knowing that you will receive this important information for no cost at all.

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What Are The Print Specifications?

Now, onto the book printing nitty gritty! Depending on the printer you use, the print specifications of your print-ready file may differ, so it’s important to find these out before you send your work to be printed. 

Confirming the print specifications of the printer you use is a vital step in making sure your book is brought to life exactly as you imagined it. An area of book design in which this is especially important to consider is the bleed, as this can change from printer to printer. 

Everything you need to know about printing your book with FolioFox - including information about bleed - can be found in our print-ready blueprint. This accessible and comprehensive guide will lead you through each element of the process and answer all the questions you might have about how to prepare your book to be printed. 

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Which Paper Will Be The Best Type For My Book?

A book is only as good as the paper it is printed on. Despite what you might think, paper types can vary quite a lot - from coated gloss paper for paperback books to uncoated or recycled paper for educational and training materials. The type of paper you print your book on doesn’t only account for what works best, but also what is popular among the kind of product you are printing.

You’ll find that a high-quality book printer will have the capability of answering any questions you might have about which paper type to use. Experienced printers are able to provide anyone wanting to print a book with the most popular paper options for the specific kind of book that needs to be printed - that’s why we make sure to give as much information about what the finished project will look like before we hit print on a job. 

Not only do we let you know the most popular paper types, but we’ll also ask you how you want the book to specifically look, the demographic of the audience your book will be in the hands of, and also how and where the book will be used. We understand that different projects for different books can vary immensely, and the specific elements that come together to create a finished book will vary depending on those differing factors.

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What Is The Current Turnaround Time?

Understanding how long it will take for your book to be printed is really important, especially if you are marketing your book, stocking it at shops, or attending book fairs and exhibitions with your work. The last thing you want is to sell your book before it’s even been finished printing. 

Asking about the current turnaround time is also vital as it can differ depending on a range of factors. Sometimes the turnaround time is fixed, but it might also be dynamic. Busier periods throughout the year can affect how long it takes a print job to be completed, so it’s best to check the timing so you’re well across the speed of the process.

The kind of book you are printing will also alter the turnaround time. For example, at FolioFox we typically will have paperback books shipped out within 10 business days - an efficient turnaround to get your book in your hands as soon as possible. However, hardcover books often require a little longer because the process is slightly more complicated, meaning that sometimes it’s up to four weeks turnaround time before hardcover books are set for delivery.  

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What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity?

The fifth and final - and also the most common - question to ask when printing your book is finding out what your book printer’s minimum order quantity (MOQ) is. There's a good reason why this vital question is one of the most popular ones, as understanding the MOQ will often correlate to the cost of the job. Knowing the MOQ and receiving the appropriate quote for both the MOQ and any increasing quantities you’re after is incredibly helpful in smoothing out the printing process. This will allow you to gauge the cost per unit (book) and work out the quantity that is feasible for your budget.

It’s important to understand that MOQ gives you an idea of not only the cost of physical elements that go into printing a book, but the entire holistic process. For example, if you print a paperback book with FolioFox, it’s likely to cost you just as much to order 10 to 20 books as it will to order 30 books - that’s why our MOQ is 30 books, so you can get the best deal possible on a job that delivers both quality and quantity.

MOQ will differ between paperback books and hardcover books. As hardcover books require a more complex and costly process to deliver a finished product, hardcover MOQ will often be higher so that it can be assured the printing process is done correctly and no one - neither you nor us - is losing time or money from mistakes. 

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From understanding the costs to working out how many books you’ll need to order, if you keep these five helpful questions in mind when book printing in Melbourne, you’ll be sure to receive a finished product of expert quality.

‍To learn more about book printing in Melbourne, get in touch with our team today. We're here to help you navigate the evolving world of printing with confidence.

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