Understanding Your Printing Options

When choosing how to print your materials, it helps to know the main differences between Litho printing, Short-run digital printing, and Print-on-demand.
Each method has its own advantages depending on your needs:

Litho Printing (Offset Printing)

• Best for large quantities (hundreds or thousands of copies).
• Uses traditional printing plates and ink for high-quality, consistent results.
• More cost-effective at scale, since the setup cost is spread across many copies.
• Ideal for brochures, magazines, books, and professional marketing materials.

Short-Run Printing (Digital Printing)

• Designed for smaller batches (from a few copies up to a few hundred).
• Faster turnaround because there’s no plate setup—the file goes straight to the printer.
• Flexible: great for test runs, limited editions, or quick reprints.
• Typically slightly higher cost per copy than litho, but cheaper overall for small quantities.

Print-on-Demand (POD)

• Prints only when an order is placed, even a single copy.
• No need to store stock—each book or item is produced as needed.
• Perfect for self-publishers, online stores, or products with unpredictable demand.
• Reduces waste and upfront costs but usually has the highest cost per unit compared to bulk printing.

• Litho = best for bulk (high quality, low cost per unit).
• Short-run = best for small batches (fast, flexible, affordable in low volumes).
• POD = best for one-off or on-demand sales (no stock, no waste, convenient).

Copy Editing vs Proofreading

Although the two often get confused,
copy editing and proofreading are different stages of the editing process:

Copy Editing
Goal: to make the writing polished, professional, and ready for typesetting.

Happens before the final layout and typesetting.
Focuses on improving the clarity, flow, and consistency of the text.

Checks for:

• Grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
• Consistency in style, tone, and formatting.
• Accuracy of facts, names, and references.
• Awkward phrasing, repetition, or unclear sentences.

Proofreading
Goal: to ensure the publication is accurate before printing or release.

• Happens after the text has been typeset/designed (Final check before when it is ready for print).
• Focuses on catching final errors that slipped through.

Checks for:

• Typos, punctuation errors, or spelling mistakes.
• Layout problems (e.g. broken headings, spacing, page numbers).
• Inconsistent fonts, captions, or formatting in the final version.

Note:
Both copy-editing and proof-reading are very complicated processes
It is almost impossible to catch all of the errors.
Give yourself time for a final read-through.
Don’t panic – if the book is to be printed on demand,
make notes of any changes for an updated version.

Copy editing = polishing the text for clarity and consistency.
Proofreading = checking the final version for typos and formatting errors.