Your estimate to your client should include all costs involved in producing the catalog. As a full-service firm, you could bill your client for the entire amount and pay for the printing and other related services from the fee you receive from the client. Or you could separate the costs and have the client pay for some of the costs directly. For example, the client would pay you for the creative and production costs, you would then pay the photographer and any production work you hired out, and the client would pay for the printing and delivery/distribution.
What are your cost estimates for the following categories?
__________ Creative (layout and design)
__________ Writing
__________ Photography
__________ Production (computer work, proofing, separations)
__________ Printing
__________ Delivery and distribution
__________ Total cost
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Catalog Printing Presses & Methods
Web Press: A web press is an offset press that uses a roll of paper rather than sheets of paper. The use of a roll of paper allows for faster printing. There are two types of web presses - heat-set and cold-set - see below.
Heat-Set Web Press: A heat-set web press is the standard catalog and magazine printing press. This press has a heating unit that dries the printed ink as it exits the press. This allows the press to print at high speeds on coated papers such as gloss. This press produces brilliant, crisp photo reproduction for catalogs. Heat-set web presses are very large, complicated presses that require several people to operate and setup. It is only reasonable to use this type of press for print runs of 10,000 copies or more and in increments of 8 pages, preferably 16 (a full signature). 99% of all mail-order catalogs are printed on this type of press.
Cold-Set Web Press: A typical cold-set web press does not include a heating unit so the printed ink must air dry and therefore can only print on uncoated papers producing a somewhat dull, blurry photo reproduction for catalogs. Cold-set web presses are smaller and simpler than heat-set web presses, costing less and requiring less setup time. Therefore it is a good press for very small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies. Once the quantity reaches about 15,000 to 20,000 however, the greater speed of the heat-set web press will begin to be less expensive.
UV Ink Cold-Set Web Press: This rare hybrid of the cold-set web press uses high intensity ultra violet energy to cure ink on the paper. UV is environmentally friendly and can be used on a variety of paper grades and types from newsprint to gloss coated book stocks. Because it can print on gloss or coated paper and still has the lower cost and setup time the UV Ink Cold-Set Web Press is an excellent press for very small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies. Once the quantity reaches about 15,000 to 20,000 however, the greater speed of the heat-set web press will begin to be less expensive.
Sheet-Fed Press: As its name implies this press is a traditional low volume press that prints on pre-cut sheets of paper. Because of its more precise printing method a sheet-fed press produces the sharpest printing of these three press types. It can print on a wider variety of paper weights. However, because of its slower speed it is the most expensive of print methods, and is generally only used for small print runs or job requiring the best printing.
http://www.g2catalogdesign.com/article_printing_methods.php
Heat-Set Web Press: A heat-set web press is the standard catalog and magazine printing press. This press has a heating unit that dries the printed ink as it exits the press. This allows the press to print at high speeds on coated papers such as gloss. This press produces brilliant, crisp photo reproduction for catalogs. Heat-set web presses are very large, complicated presses that require several people to operate and setup. It is only reasonable to use this type of press for print runs of 10,000 copies or more and in increments of 8 pages, preferably 16 (a full signature). 99% of all mail-order catalogs are printed on this type of press.
Cold-Set Web Press: A typical cold-set web press does not include a heating unit so the printed ink must air dry and therefore can only print on uncoated papers producing a somewhat dull, blurry photo reproduction for catalogs. Cold-set web presses are smaller and simpler than heat-set web presses, costing less and requiring less setup time. Therefore it is a good press for very small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies. Once the quantity reaches about 15,000 to 20,000 however, the greater speed of the heat-set web press will begin to be less expensive.
UV Ink Cold-Set Web Press: This rare hybrid of the cold-set web press uses high intensity ultra violet energy to cure ink on the paper. UV is environmentally friendly and can be used on a variety of paper grades and types from newsprint to gloss coated book stocks. Because it can print on gloss or coated paper and still has the lower cost and setup time the UV Ink Cold-Set Web Press is an excellent press for very small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies. Once the quantity reaches about 15,000 to 20,000 however, the greater speed of the heat-set web press will begin to be less expensive.
Sheet-Fed Press: As its name implies this press is a traditional low volume press that prints on pre-cut sheets of paper. Because of its more precise printing method a sheet-fed press produces the sharpest printing of these three press types. It can print on a wider variety of paper weights. However, because of its slower speed it is the most expensive of print methods, and is generally only used for small print runs or job requiring the best printing.
http://www.g2catalogdesign.com/article_printing_methods.php
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
New schedule
Thursdays will be work days through the rest of the quarter. The classroom will still be available for your group meetings at our scheduled class time, we will just not formally meet as a class.
Here are the adjustments to the schedule as we discussed in class today.
August 21: Overall project review with client (schedule, costs, and creative direction for client approval; class presentation) (This is a logistical meeting to discuss the project as a whole. Ideally, this meeting would take place prior to any photography being shot since the client would need to give final approval on design direction and costs, but I think it was best to get your photography going in order to keep the project on schedule).
August 28: Complete estimate due (This should be a new form compiling all of your cost estimates into on document.).
September 4: Internal creative presentation (This is a review of the design aspects of the project, can include photography as well).
September 11: Work in class on mock-up and review digital files.
September 18: Creative presentation to client (final critique)(You will be handing in a copy of your mock-up, your digital packaged file (should include fonts and linked images), and an optional presentation file (pdf, html, slide-show, flash, etc.).
Class will not meet on Thursday September 20.
Here are the adjustments to the schedule as we discussed in class today.
August 21: Overall project review with client (schedule, costs, and creative direction for client approval; class presentation) (This is a logistical meeting to discuss the project as a whole. Ideally, this meeting would take place prior to any photography being shot since the client would need to give final approval on design direction and costs, but I think it was best to get your photography going in order to keep the project on schedule).
August 28: Complete estimate due (This should be a new form compiling all of your cost estimates into on document.).
September 4: Internal creative presentation (This is a review of the design aspects of the project, can include photography as well).
September 11: Work in class on mock-up and review digital files.
September 18: Creative presentation to client (final critique)(You will be handing in a copy of your mock-up, your digital packaged file (should include fonts and linked images), and an optional presentation file (pdf, html, slide-show, flash, etc.).
Class will not meet on Thursday September 20.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Check out the links at our website
I've added some links relating to your project at our class website, "http://obrienart.com/ai/art-direction/artdirection.html".
These links include articles covering:
- catalog production process
- creative costs
- print request form
- how to buy photography
- what printers want to know
These links include articles covering:
- catalog production process
- creative costs
- print request form
- how to buy photography
- what printers want to know
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