To press-pass, or not to press-pass, that is the question

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So often we are asked about the importance of visiting the offshore printer to monitor the printing process. There are a number of things to consider before you settle into your long journey to Asia and a few of them are:

- what is the colour content of my book
- did I send colour-match proofs
- have I selected a reputable printer
- are we dealing with a high-profile author.

Let’s face it, things can go wrong on press, that’s a given. We are dealing with machinery which can break down and often needs fine-tuning. But, if you’ve chosen the best printer for your project and have supplied colour-match proofs, then you should trust that the offshore printer will manufacture a product that meets or exceeds your quality expectations.

We’ve been on many a press-pass, but often only for very high-profile titles or titles designed using a special Pantone colours, with challenging black and white illustrations or halftones.

So how long does it take to print a book offshore?

This is a commonly-asked question, when planning to print in China. Here are some of the basics you need to know.

Will your book require pre-press?

This is the stage just after final design and just before files get sent to the printer. You should allow about 4 weeks for this stage if you wish to review at least a couple of rounds of colour proofs. When you are satisfied with the colour reproduction, these are the proofs that accompany the print ready PDFs to the chosen printer.

As soon as files reach the printer, they are processed and you can expect to receive ozalids in about one week. An ozalid is the final checking stage before the printer starts the press. The length of time for checking the ozalid can vary from a few days to a full week, depending on your required delivery date. Minor corrections can be made at this stage, with revised files and revised ozalids going back and forward until full approval is given.

The next stage is the actual printing and binding of your book and you should allow 4 weeks for this manufacturing process. Complex books, large print runs and books with many embellishments can take 5 weeks or more.

Shipping your books comes next and the timeframes here depend on exactly where your final destination is. You can generally say door-to-door delivery will take from 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the warehouse location and country of destination.

The should help you plan your schedule. If you are having difficulty planning your schedule, just drop us a line and we can help you.