Look for Online Comic Book Printing Services

Surely, being able to publish your story is worth the excitement of a comic book maker. With the characters, a storyline and a world, something magical surely happens. So, now that all of this is done, the next important step is to print your comic book. The selection of an online comic book printing services could be the best or worst decision ever made for your very own product. But what am I supposed to look for?

In this blog, we are going to highlight the major aspects that one should put into consideration before choosing any online comic book printing service. Let’s keep it simple, engaging, and relatable so that you can take several examples from my own experience, which may help you relate to the topic better. Let’s dive in!

1. Print Quality

Comic Books are all About Quality Printing ???? You, with great effort, have given minute detailing to your work at every small level. So, you certainly don’t want to make a mistake in picking some non-professional to get your work real, right? The print provider must use good materials, they must deliver sharp resolutions, and also intense and really powerful colors.

Imagine This: You’ve just had your first comic book printed, and you’re flipping through the pages of it for the first time, seeing all your work finished, but it feels so awful because the colors are dulled and the paper is cheap. The first time I had one of my projects printed, I settled for an inexpensive printing company, but the quality was quite substandard. It wasn’t long before I decided that I had made a mistake by not opting for better quality service.

Pro Tip: Some websites are going to allow samples to be requested before you place a big order. In turn, some comic book printing services offer sample packs that feature paper quality and options for color printing and finish so that quality can be checked.

2. Tailored functionalities

Definitely, you would desire a printing service that is customized because not all comic books are the same. You can consider the different sizes that come in the books, the kind of paper, and the finish on it. It’s important to confirm that there are these different variations.

I was just putting together a lil’ comic I was doing at a friend’s request; I wanted a specific perfect glossy finish to really make the colors jump. Lots didn’t offer that feature, but this one did. It was just such a difference. Being able to choose paper types, binding, and cover choices really opened up the possibility of making a real decision-oriented comic.

Do you prefer soft or hard cover? Matte or high gloss? How about paper calipers? A good online comic book printer should offer you the ability to customize your comic to a great degree.

3. Ease of Use

Navigating through a complicated website or ordering process can be very irritating. Better professional online comic book printers will use an easy-to-follow user interface for uploading files, selecting your options, and placing your order. You should never have to be a technology expert for comic book printing.

I’ve also seen some websites that are so confusing that I nearly gave up on ordering. On the other hand, it has also been so easy and slick to run through some services: look for something basically clear and understandably laid out—an intuitively designed service where you can focus on your comic and not fight with obscurities.

Consider also that a source of supplemental help will be available in the case of your getting hung up on something. Adequate customer service can make the difference, especially if you are new to the process or run into issues while going through it.

4. Turnaround Period

General question: How urgently do you need the comic books? Turn-around time is a critical aspect that you should consider, thereby considering that sometimes you might be having a deadline such as when presenting in comic conventions.  Some few comic book printers online have high-speed or rush printing for your needs, but at a premium cost.

I remember it well: the days of just having had my comic books shipped during that one significant event of life, told clearly by my fidgeting while waiting for them. This service I use has good turning time, but shipping delays can pretty much make an issue. Experiences train a person to exercise foresight. One can be sensitive enough to check on the estimated delivery time and therefore have an allowance for possible delays.

Try to find vendors that provide clear time frames for production and shipping of the cool hoods. Also, try reading reviews or asking among peers about others’ experiences with delivery times.

5. Price and Value

Dealing with a budget is always a concern. Cheap is not always better. Of course you want to pay a service or buy a product within your budget, but think about the added value a price could have? Most times, a little extra is worth it with regard to quality and service given.

And yeah, I know now that when I was starting up, I made the mistake of running for the lowest price, with the result being mediocre quality in print and no support when things went wrong. Valuable lesson learned. Much of the time, you will get what you will pay for. So, again, think of your priorities: Would you rather just compromise a little in your budget and get something better in terms of paper quality and print, or is it really necessary to stick to a teeny-tiny budget?

Most print-on-demand comic book services offer quoting calculators on their homepages, so you’re able to compare pricing with a glance. Be sure—and never skip—a factoring addition to shipping prices, especially for large orders.

6. Customer Reviews and Reputation

Customer reviews are some of the best ways to determine if a printing service would be dependable. What are other people’s experiences with the service? Were they pleased with the quality, service, and delivery, or was it up to the customer’s satisfaction?

My wanting to select some online comic book printing services dragged me through dozens of hours reading reviews. It helped me narrow down my options, prohibiting poor services with a history of incompetence in service delivery or delayed delivery. While trusting the experience of others concerning a product might serve you right, make sure to read a variety of reviews, not just one or two, to gain a well-rounded perspective.

Ideally, look for other comic creators who can offer some recommendations. Referrals from other people in the business are among the best sources of information when choosing a printer.

7. Minimum Order Quantities

Not only are minimum quantities different from one printer or print service to the next but some even offer print-on-demand services. Print-on-demand allows you to print just a few at a time vs. being forced to mass print by the hundreds. This saves you time and expense on running a job, that honestly, you don’t know the quantity you need.

For my first comic, I wasn’t ready to commit to something with high numbers ordered from it, so I found a print service that does smaller print runs. I was able to print just enough for feedback without really investing that much money. Knowing what you need and finding a service that fits with that is the key.

Solution: Planning and Updating Management

The role of sustainability in the printing industry is quickly advancing to the forefront. If this matters to you, it just might be worth considering. Some online comic book printing services even have eco-friendly options like recycled paper or environmentally responsible ink.

I did a project with a service that touted sustainability, which kind of made me double-proud of the thing—knowing that what I made was printed in a way that took special care for the environment. If this sounds really important to you, find a company that has green printing options.

9. Scalability

If your comic suddenly becomes the talk of the town, you may want to increase some of your print runs. Get a printer who can scale up with you. Some companies are good at giving high quality results with small orders, but on the other side of the scale, can’t handle large ones. When you imagine the future, you should choose that service according to the one able to meet your printing needs.

I’ve heard stories from fellow creators with less luck who ended up switching services mid-project because their original printer couldn’t handle the demand. You can save yourself time and headaches later by planning at the start.

10. File Preparation Assistance

Printing comic books sometimes tends to be a little tricky, with detailed preparation involved. Here, you could look for the kind of service that would be able to consider the files with the right file formats, the required resolution, and consider color settings. Sometimes even templates are given for free by the online comic book printers in the right format to guide you on the formatting of the comics.

I have previously submitted files that were not formatted correctly, causing delays and additional costs for re-formating them. Now, I always thoroughly check the file requirements and, where appropriate, use the support that the printing service gives. Better to ask questions up front than have to fix it later.

Conclusion

Finding the right online comic book printing services is one of the most important ways to make your creation a reality. Let these factors help you determine a service appropriate for your use so you may find increased print quality and raise your comic project to the greatest potential. After all, it’s your story, and it deserves to be printed with care and total attention to detail.

Take your time when you’re web comic book publishing. Your audience will appreciate it getting a beautiful quality book in their hands, and you will also, at that point do so, yourself.