BOOK PRINTING · BUYER GUIDE
What to Check Before Ordering a Custom Printed Book
Before you approve a custom print order, confirm six things: the full specification the quote is priced from, whether setup is included or billed separately, what proof you will approve and what it confirms, how a reprint will be matched to the first run, whether there is a minimum or maximum quantity, and where the books will be delivered. Most surprises on a print order trace back to one of these being assumed rather than confirmed in writing.
In short
A custom print order is only as accurate as the specification it is priced from. Confirm the specification, what the quote includes, what the proof confirms and how reprints are matched, in writing, before you approve the proof.
What does a printer need to quote a book accurately?
A print quote is priced from the specification: quantity, format and binding, interior color, page count, trim size, timeline and delivery location. Columbia Publication asks for each of these before quoting, because a quote built on assumptions is a range rather than a price. If any detail is still undecided, say so, and ask the printer to show how the price changes with each option.
Is setup billed separately on a print run?
It can be. Setup and pre-press work sometimes appear as a separate line on a print quote, which makes two quotes hard to compare. Columbia Publication does not charge a separate setup fee on print runs: setup and pre-press are included in the quoted price. When comparing printers, compare the total delivered cost, not the per-copy rate alone.
What does the proof confirm, and when is it approved?
The proof is the last point at which paper, color and binding can change without reprinting. At Columbia Publication the proof is approved before any full run begins. A digital proof confirms layout; it does not confirm paper, color or binding, so ask any printer which kind of proof it provides and what that proof confirms.
Will a reprint match the first print run?
Only if the specification is kept and reused. Columbia Publication keeps the approved specification on file, including trim size, paper stock, binding and finish, and produces reprints against it rather than re-specifying them from scratch. Ask for that commitment in writing before a first order, not after it.
Is there a minimum or maximum print quantity?
Columbia Publication prints commercial runs from 100 copies and does not publish a maximum. Large or complex projects are scoped and quoted individually against the specification. Smaller quantities can be requested and are quoted directly.
What changes the price of a print order?
Quantity, page count, format and binding, interior color, paper stock and delivery destination all move the price, which is why an accurate specification matters more than a headline per-copy figure. If the specification changes after you receive a quote, ask for a revised quote in writing before approving the proof.
Ready to get a quote?
Send the specification you have, even if some details are undecided, and a specialist will confirm what the quote is priced from before anything is approved.
Request a print quote → Book printing services → Large and institutional runs →
Or call +1 (703) 997-9787.