What you need to ask for in a print quote

So you've got your beautifully designed leaflet emailed to you from the graphic designer, then you realise you need to ask a print house to print it... HELP!

A lot of graphic designers are happy to help you with getting a print quote or will even do it all for you. However, if you want to do it yourself or even just want to understand the quote your printer has sent through, then read my guide below which explains what it all means.

Lets break the quote down into each element the printer will need to know and what the most common choices are.

QUANTITY
It sounds obvious but you will need to tell the printer exactly how many copies you want. The quantity you want will make a difference to the type of print process used and subsequently the cost of your print job.

SIZE
First you need to know how big your final artwork needs to be. If you've already got your artwork from the designer then you should already know this. If not, these are the most common paper sizes:

• A3 - 297mm × 420mm - Ideal for small posters.
• A4 - 210mm × 297mm - This is the same size as you inkjet printer paper. Good for brochures.
• A5 - 148.5mm × 210mm - Half the size of an A4 sheet, good for DM (direct mailers) &
  leaflets.
• A6 - 105mm × 148.5mm - Good for calling cards and hand outs.

The above sizes are by no means exhaustive but are the most common sizes used. You can technically have any size and shape of paper you want but sticking to the above sizes will keep your print costs down due to the way the printer will fit them on the press.

PAGE COUNT
How many pages that will make up the publication. If it's just a leaflet then you will just need to tell the printer if it's single sided or double sided. If you have more pages then it will be what are call printers pairs. All this means is every booklet or brochure must have a page count that is divisible by four as the pages are in pairs and each leaf have two sides.

STOCK
Stock is just the word printers use for paper type. While there are lots of different types of paper in different thicknesses, for now I will just explain the basics. The first part is to decide what finish you'd like on the paper. The basic types are:

• Uncoated - A little like standard photocopy paper, normally used for stationery.
• Matte - This paper is smooth and has very little sheen to it. It's good if you're going for a natural,
  organic look. Colours come out more soft and flat.
• Silk - This has a slight sheen to it without being too shiny and is the most common finish to leaflets etc. Keeps colours bright and vibrant.
• Gloss - Has a really shiny finish and is good for printed items that may be used a lots such as booklet covers and reference cards as it is less prone to absorbing grease and dirt.

Once you have chosen the finish of the paper you need to decide on the thickness. Paper is measure in GSM (grams per square metre):

• 90 to 100 GSM- Used for stationery, inside pages for magazines and booklets, flyers and brochures. 
• 120 to 170 GSM - Used for text for booklets, flyers and brochures. The heavier weight gives a better quality feel to it.
• 200 to 250 GSM - Used for booklet covers. Thick enough to give stiffness when used in a publication and good for direct mailers and postcards.
• 280 to 300 GSM - Heavy card used for business cards and booklet covers.

After reading this you will now hopefully have a better idea of what to ask for when getting a print quote. If in doubt, don't be afraid to ask the printer. They want you business and should be happy to help!