Printers
If you do not follow file specifications of the printer, your job will be delayed, billed extra and/or printed incorrectly
Printers have the right to refuse service.
A list of common printing terminologies.
= Confirmed to print adult content
Your local printers
Questions to ask:
• Do you print graphic novels/comic books?
• Do you have a price chart?
• What types of binding do you do?
• What is the minimum page count?
• How much are the margins for bleed?
• Is there a minimum amount of books I have to order?
• What sizes are available?
• Can I see some examples?
NOTE: Minimum Price only for books made with the printer's cheapest options!
360 Digital Books (USA)
Binding: Perfect Bound, Stapled
Minimum Pg. Count: N/A
Minimum Order: 25
Page size(s): 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 8.5x11 (Letter), 6x9, 7x10 (~A5), 9x12, custom sizes
Minimum Price: N/A
Pros: 25 copies of a 7x10 perfect bound, 38 pg book is about $3.50 per book. Offers hardcovers, dust jackets, several selections of paper and coverstock, excellent customer service.
Cons: Turnaround is about ~1-2 weeks or more, though it's possible to receive your books in a little less than two weeks.
Cafe Press (USA-CA)
Binding: Perfect Bound, Wire-O, Stapled
Minimum Pg. Count: N/A
Minimum Order: 0 books
Page size(s): 4.18x6.88 (Mass Market Paperback), 5x8 (Standard Paperback), 6.5x10.25 (Comic), 7.5x9.25 (Technical Manual), 8.5x11 (Letter)
Minimum Price: $0
Pros: Print-on-Demand. Also offers a wide variety of other products.
Cons: If you want to buy your own books in bulk, it's expensive. You also don't get the amount of human interaction you can have with a small press. I found some fan products about the site, but fan comics might be iffy. I've heard their quality is not up to par from one Gaian.
ComiXpress (USA-NJ)
Binding: Stapled, Perfect Bound
Minimum Pg. Count: 4 or 48
Minimum Order: 0 Books
Page size(s): 5x8, 6x9, 8x10.5 and custom sizes.
Minimum Price: $15
Pros: Everything is laid out very well in the website, from calculating costs to printing the comic. Offers distribution from online store.
Cons: Slow in general
CreateSpace (USA)
Binding:
Minimum Pg. Count:
Minimum Order: 0 Books
Page size(s): 5x8, 6x9, 8x10.5 and custom sizes.
Minimum Price: $0
Pros: Offers distribution from online store and Amazon.com.
Cons: Extra charge for buying through Amazon on creator's side.
Indigo Ink (USA)
Binding: Stapled, Perfect Bound
Minimum Pg. Count:
Minimum Order:
Page size(s): 5x8, 6x9, 8x10.5 and custom sizes.
Minimum Price: $
Pros:
Cons:
Ka-Blam (USA)
Binding: Stapled
Minimum Pg. Count:
Minimum Order:
Page size(s):
Minimum Price:
Pros: Offers several options to cut down on printing costs.
Cons:
Keness (USA-CA)
Binding: Stapled,
Minimum Pg. Count: 8 or 32
Minimum Order: 100
Page size(s): 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 5.25x8, 8.5x11 (Letter), 8.25x10
Minimum Price: $65.42
Pros:
Cons:
Lightning Source (USA)
Binding:
Minimum Pg. Count:
Minimum Order:
Page size(s): 4.25x11, 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 7x8.5, 6x9, 8.5x11 (Letter), 8.5x14(Legal), 6.5x10.25 (Comic), 11x17 (Tabloid)
Minimum Price: $
Pros: Print-on-Demand.
Cons:
Lulu.com (USA-NC)
Binding: Perfect Bound, Spiral Bound, Stapled
Minimum Pg. Count: N/A
Minimum Order: 0 books
Page size(s): 6x9 (Approx. Digest), 8.5x11 (Letter), 6.5x10.25 (Comic)
Minimum Price: $0
Pros: Print-on-Demand. Also heard that the quality of the books are very good.
Cons: If you want to buy your own books in bulk, it's expensive. You also don't get the amount of human interaction you can have with a small press. Fan comics might be iffy for publishing.
Moxi Copy (USA)
Binding: Stapled, Spiral Bound
Minimum Pg. Count: 4
Minimum Order: N/A
Page size(s): 4.25x11, 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 7x8.5, 6x9, 8.5x11 (Letter), 8.5x14(Legal), 6.5x10.25 (Comic), 11x17 (Tabloid)
Minimum Price: $0.08 (not including shipping)
Pros: Very, very VERY cheap. Quite a few paper options. Print quality is OK for the price.
Cons: If you don't send in your files as a PDF, you'll take a pretty big hit on image quality. Also, the bleed margin is HUGE (
twice the size of the average bleed margin)
Patterson Printing (USA)
Binding: Stapled, Perfect Bound,
Minimum Pg. Count: N/A
Minimum Order: 1
Page size(s): 4.25x7, 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 6x9, 8.5x11 (Letter), 6.5x10.25 (Comic), 11x17 (Tabloid), custom sizes
Minimum Price: N/A
Pros: Color covers available in CMYK + custom Pantone inks (up to 5)
Cons: B/W interiors only + 1 custom Pantone ink
Side Kick Printing (USA)
Binding: Stapled, Perfect Bound, Wire-O, Comb
Minimum Pg. Count: 2
Minimum Order: N/A
Page size(s): 9x12, 6.625x10.25 (Comic), 8.5x11 (Letter), 4.25x7, 5.5x8.5 (Digest), 6x9, custom sizes
Minimum Price: N/A
Pros: Offers dust jackets and hardcovers, 10% off order over $500, same day turnaround, responsive customer service.
Cons: Need to upload files over 100 MB on separate FTP or other file upload service.
