Printing Options

Photocopiers

Photocopiers use toner, not ink, to create images. Toner is not as precise as ink.

To print on a photocopier, you need to design the piece in one of the standard paper sizes that can be fed through photocopiers. That includes 8.5-by-11, usually 8.5-by-14, and sometimes 11-by-17.

Keep images at least a quarter-inch to a half-inch from the edge of the paper. Anything too close to the edge can get chopped off or may appear faded.

Photocopiers can do solids and fairly good screens, but not photos. The smaller the photo, the better it will appear from a photocopier, but in general images in photos become darker and somewhat blurred.

Color Photocopiers

Color copiers are good for 10-1000 pieces.

Color copiers are convenient, the cost is reasonable (compared to offset printing), and you can print copies in any quantity. There is no cost penalty for doing a small press run, as there is with offset printing.

Disadvantages: low resolution (300-400 dpi), and limited paper options.

Color copiers are good for reports, proposals, and presentation materials--anything for which you want color, but don't need a large amount.

Offset Press

Some larger churches have their own offset presses, but most churches must go to a commercial printer.

Sheets of paper are fed through offset presses individually, and one color of ink is applied at a time.

If you're doing brochures, letterhead, envelopes, or other pieces which require good-quality printing or colors other than black, you'll need an offset press. Also, if you want to print photos, you should use an offset press.

A wide selection of paper is available for offset printing.

To be cost-effective in offset printing, you need to do a large quantity--at least 1000. Otherwise, a photocopier or laser printer may be more cost-effective (and faster).

Two Types of Offset Presses

A sheet-fed press runs individual pieces of paper through the press, and can apply one or more ink colors.

A web press uses huge rolls of paper running through the press at high speeds. It can do it all--fold, cut, trim, varnish, glue.... Newspapers typically use web presses. They are best reserved for press runs of 20,000 or more.

Sheet-fed and web presses produce the same quality of print. The main difference is the speed.

Use a Photocopier If:

You only need black & white print.
The press run is under 1000.
You're not using photos.
Images don't run off the edge of the paper.
Ordinary paper stock is sufficient.

Use a Color Photocopier If:

You need something that looks very sharp, with plenty of color, but only need a few.
You need colorful overhead transparencies.
You're working from a printed original, rather than something from a computer.

Use Offset Printing If:

You need more than one color.
You need sharp, high-resolution printing.
You're using photos.

Use a Laser Printer If:

You have one.
You're printing less than 500 copies.
You're printing in black and white.
You're using photos.

Use a Color Laser Printer If:

You want a few really nice copies.
You're printing a single sheet, like a poster, with less than 1000 copies.