Quality Matters: Why Professional Printshops Are Essential for Book Printing
The fears that printed books were being consigned to history are unfounded, with consumers who need a digital detox turning to print for an intimate reading experience. However, technological innovations are reshaping the industry as a whole and challenging established business models for book publishing.
For instance, emerging technologies are allowing authors and publishers to make books that interact with the readers through Augmented Reality. By pointing a reader’s smartphone at an AR-enhanced page, the images in a photo book can animate or the panels in a graphic novel can come to life with motion and sound.
In the future, augmented reality may be used to bring new dimensions to classics like Harry Potter or timeless literature. It may also be adapted to give readers more information about the characters, locations and events in historical novels and biographies. These types of interactions are a natural extension of the author’s vision and can create a more immersive experience for readers.
One of the biggest challenges facing traditional publishers and self-publishers is making sure that their work stays in front of readers long after publication. This requires continuous promotion using book tours, website advertising, and journal reviews. It also means ensuring that the quality of the book is maintained with print proofs and a variety of binding options.
A professional Detroit print shop that specializes in photo books and premium editions of graphic novels can offer these services, providing a physical proof for the author to inspect before printing a full run. This gives the author the opportunity to see if the text and imagery are aligned with their expectations and provides an accurate representation of what the final product will look like.
Another way to ensure the quality of a book is to use a lithographic printer instead of a digital press for large print runs. This allows for more fine-tuned customization and is especially useful if the book requires a variable data element or has a number of different covers. Bulk printing can also be a good option for publishers who are aiming to offer discounts to wholesalers and retailers, who are likely to purchase large numbers of books.
The final step is the binding process. Spiral-binding is ideal for soft cover books as it is a cost-effective method that is suitable for shorter books. Rather than using glue, pages are grouped together in sets called signatures and toughened to improve adhesion. Then a spiral is put around them and the edges are trimmed to form the finished book.
Whether you are producing a hardcover or soft cover book, it is essential to get a quality finish. A professional book printing services in Detroit can provide you with high-quality papers and binders that are designed to last and protect your book for years to come. Choosing the right paper and the right binding technique is just as important for your book as the content itself.