Choosing an offset or digital printer for brochures and catalogues

A brochure or catalogue is often the first thing a buyer holds from your business. Getting it printed well is less about finding the lowest rate and more about giving the printer a clear brief. Most printing disappointments — wrong colours, thin paper, a missed deadline — come from details that were never agreed.

Offset or digital: which process fits your job?

The quantity usually decides this.

• Digital printing suits short runs — tens or a few hundred copies — and jobs where each copy may differ, such as name cards or personalised mailers. Setup is quick, so small quantities are affordable.
• Offset printing suits larger runs. There is a setup cost for plates, but the cost per copy drops as the quantity grows, and colour consistency across thousands of copies is excellent.

If you are unsure, ask the printer to quote both ways for your quantity. The crossover point depends on the job.

Paper and finish

Describe the paper as precisely as you can, or send a sample you like.

• GSM (weight): inner pages are usually lighter than the cover. A heavier cover makes a catalogue feel more solid.
• Finish: matte, gloss or silk (in between). Gloss makes photos pop; matte is easier to read and write on.
• Lamination and coatings: matte or gloss lamination protects covers; spot UV highlights a logo or image.
• Binding: centre stapling (saddle stitch) for thinner booklets, perfect binding (a glued spine) for thicker catalogues, wiro binding if pages must lie flat.

Artwork and colours

• Send print-ready PDFs with images at print resolution and a bleed margin, unless the printer is also designing it.
• Colours on screen and on paper never match exactly. For brand-critical work, ask for a hard-copy proof before the full run.
• If your brand has a specific colour, tell the printer — they can advise on matching it.

Proofs, quantities and wastage

1. Agree who approves the proof and in what form — PDF proof, digital print proof or press proof.
2. Confirm the exact quantity to be delivered. Printers sometimes deliver slightly over or under on large runs; ask what their practice is.
3. Ask how packing works — in bundles of a fixed count, in cartons — so distribution is easy.

Turnaround and delivery

Ask for a delivery date in writing and build in a margin before your event or launch. Rush jobs are possible with many printers, usually at extra cost. If the job has several stages — design, proof, printing, finishing — ask how long each takes.

Mistakes to avoid

• Approving a proof on your phone. Colours and small text look different on paper; check a printed proof for anything brand-critical.
• No bleed in the artwork. Designs that run to the edge need extra margin, or you get thin white borders after trimming.

What to include in your enquiry

• What it is (brochure, catalogue, leaflet), finished size and number of pages
• Quantity, or two or three quantities to compare
• Paper GSM and finish for cover and inner pages
• Binding, lamination and any special finishes
• Whether artwork is ready or you need design help
• Delivery location and the date you need it

Find printers in printing, signage and displays, or post your requirement with the size, pages and quantity.