Commercial Printers Basics

Take advantage of the choices you can make in business printing

Technology gives us many choices when it comes to business printing. You can choose to print a document yourself, or you can choose one of many reputable commercial printers. Many businesses print their documents inhouse, while others with more complicated jobs outsource to professionals.

Don't be confused by the jargon that printers use; learning commercial printers basics can help you learn to understand it. Commercial printing terms you should know include:

1. Four-color is the same as full-color, because the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) combine to make any color required.

2. A proof is a representation a commercial printer gives you to show you how the finished product will look.

3. Binding is any of a number of methods that make individual pages into a book or booklet.

4. Finishing is any of several procedures done after the company prints the paper, such as folding, binding or laminating.

Order products printed by commercial printing companies

Printing companies come in many shapes and sizes. You can order some jobs online and trust the printer to ship you the finished product. For large, expensive jobs, you may want to visit the printer's place of business and check the first copies as they come off the press.

Reduce your carbon footprint by choosing green commercial printing services

There are several practices that indicate a printer is environmentally responsible. Using paper made from post-consumer waste and practices that don't pollute the environment are important. Several organizations oversee and certify whether companies who make these claims really follow through.

Buy printers from commercial printer manufacturers

If you have a high quantity of documents that you need to print, consider purchasing a commercial printing machine. Some of these machines are as simple to use as a full-featured photocopier. Manufacturers design these for the modern office, not a dirty print shop.

• The lines that divide photocopiers from printers are becoming blurry as better quality digital printing machines come on the market. Business printers often print in full-color and produce high-quality images, so you may choose to print many items yourself.

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