The Print Process Made Easy
Changing print firms or selecting a new press for a magazine or any publication can be a major decision. A professional sales and customer service center can mean quick answers, and provide a comforting introduction to the services and requirements from the potential Magazine Plants you are considering. At Magazine Agency we have developed a division dedicated solely to serving the printing needs of Magazines and Catalogs. Magazine Publisher has become a recognized brand leader in the field of magazine printing.
To help understand the magazine job flow from
introduction to delivery - Magazine Publisher has
compiled this Print Process Made Easy overview:
The Print
Process:
1. The Introduction/Get a Cost Quote
2. Selecting a Firm & Setting a Target Print
Date
3. Personal Plant Print Rep Assigned
4. Preparing & Submitting Digital
Files
5. Approve Color Proofs
6. Personal Customer Service Rep
Assigned
7. Print
8. Mail/Ship
1. The
Introduction:
To begin the print process an introduction or
inquiry needs to take place. You have begun the
process by visiting and touring this web site.
Magazine Publisher offers a quick and simple
on-line form for a publisher to discretely request
initial pricing for a Magazine title.
As well as the automated on-line introduction form
- Magazine Publisher offers a 1-800# for one-on-one
magazine servicing and questions. A new business sales
representative can begin the process of offering the
best solutions to your magazine needs.
If you currently publish an existing magazine it
would be additionally helpful to send our offices the
last issue you printed. A sample will give our staff
an idea of the kind of title your currently producing
- even if your planning to upgrade. Our staff is eager
to make suggestions or recommendations that can be
helpful to your title and to get the best
configuration to optimize pricing for a magazine
printing press.
Magazine Publisher will provide you initial cost
quotes for your magazine title. The costs are
generally returned to you via e-mail. You will be
provided a new business sales reps' personal e-mail
and phone extension for future questions or
clarifications.
2. Selecting a
Firm
Whether you publish an existing
magazine/catalog or starting a new title Magazine
Publisher can provide a variety of creative and
production alternatives.
Magazine Publisher understands one of the most
important decisions made by a publisher is selecting
their printing partner.
Many publishers receive cost quotes from a variety
of firms - comparing the numbers and services can
sometimes be tricky and confusing. Some 'printers' try
to print everything from business cards, to napkins,
and even multi-page magazines.
To meet the specialized needs of magazine printing,
Magazine Publisher has designated plants and personnel
designed to specifically service the short and medium
run heat set Magazine market.
Factors that drive every magazine title:
TIME:
With deadlines, print schedules, and advertisers
late submissions - days cut off the finishing cycle
can make a great final impact.
MONEY: Every
dollar saved on pre-press, printing, and mailing is
profit in your corporate account.
QUALITY:
Magazine Publisher offers quality Newsstand style
(Heat set web) magazine print options.
Further, Magazine Publisher understand that
printing a quality publication is only part of the
process. Timely distribution is equally important.
Being a leading publication printer we are proud to
send product samples of magazines we have printed and
the impressive plant facilities are always open for
potential publishers to tour. It can be comforting
selecting a printer that knows magazines and provides
hands on customer service. There can be a lot to
consider when selecting your printing partner other
than just cost. You have a lot invested in the final
results.
3. Plant Print Rep
Assignment
Once you have finalized your magazine specs,
set a target publishing date, and decided to use
Magazine Publisher as your printing partner, your New
Business Sales Representative will assign your account
to a Print Representative from the plant your job will
be printed in. Your assigned Print Rep will contact or
visit you introducing themselves and give you an
overview of the press facilities. Your Plant Print Rep
will become a valuable contact. They will review your
print proposal, can suggest options, work with setting
up your payment terms, and in time visit you
regularly. The Print Rep will become your one-on-one
permanent sales contact and can service all your
publication needs as your title evolves.
4. Preparing &
Submitting your Digital Files for Print
Once you have finalized your printing specs
it is time to prepare your magazine files for print.
This is critical factor in preparing a quality digital
file that is in hi-resolution format that will deliver
a quality magazine publication.
Magazine Publisher has posted in detail on-line the
best ways to set up magazine print files and many of
the pitfalls that can make files corrupt or unusable.
Our digital center can also provide answers and
services to magazine or graphic personal that have
questions.
It is recommended that you are clear on the files
preparation before you build your magazine layout
which can avoid any possible delays in print file
submission.
Even if you have already mastered hi-res digital
file preparation Magazine Publisher encourages
seasoned publishers to send test file pages for our
staff to review and approve or offer suggestions.
The major magazine design programs generally
submitted in magazine layouts are:
Quark Xpress
Adobe In-Design
Adobe Pagemaker (quickly being replaced by
In-Design)
Hi-Res PDF
Magazine Publisher likes to have pages submitted in
single page layouts. Your files are remitted to our
Tennessee digital center on CD along with page print
outs (black and white lasers are fine).
Magazine Publisher will let publishers who have
printed past issues with proper postscripted files or
a history of preparing proper source files post future
issue files via FTP.
5. Approve Color
Proofs
Once your digital files have arrived - Our
staff will flight check, postscript, paginate, and Fed
Ex you color print proof sheets for your final OK. We
require customers to review, sign and return proofs
including any new files for changes made. Keep in mind
changes made at this stage could result in additional
charges from the digital department. We highly
recommend that your job is thoroughly proofed before
ever submitting initial files for print, however, this
is your last chance to make changes.
6. Customer Service
Rep Assigned
Once your magazine job is in the plant to
print - your Print Representative will assign your
account a Customer Service Representative (CSR). Your
CSR is located and works daily in the plant. Your CSR
will track and service your publication from the
arrival of digital files through the print and bindery
cycle preparing all the final shipping and mailing
documents for your magazine. The CSR is always
available to coordinate and schedule every aspect of
your title and is your eyes and ears as each magazine
flows through the printing plant.
7.
Print
When your proofs are returned - it is time to
print. Magazine Publishers technical expertise and
commitment to innovation ensures your access to the
latest technologies in magazine production and
printing. High speed, full web color offset presses
produce your title on printing systems that expand
publications flexibility and deliver quality finished
magazine titles.
8.
Mail/Ship
Magazine Publisher understands that producing
a quality publication is only part of the process.
Timely distribution is equally important. Your CSR
will oversee all the final distribution requirements
your title has to reach its end destinations. We offer
in-house labeling & mailing that takes advantage
of the best postal rates to service your subscribers.
For bulk shipments, we offer a variety of delivery
options to meet your newsstand or shipment
requirements.
From an outside perspective it seems like an
unimaginable amount of effort and preparation to get a
magazine printed and into the market. The whole print
process generally takes less than 10 working days from
file submission to delivery. It can be reassuring to work
with a recognized magazine printing facility and
professionals that provide hands on support every step of
the way.
You can find more detailed information herein on all
of the services our magazine group offers. At any time
you can talk to a New Business Sales Representative at
1-800-487-3333 - or by all means begin your introduction
with the use of any of our On-Line
Interactive Request services.
