The method of production for your publication is an important consideration that needs to be made before anything else is done. It will affect a number of other factors including the hardware required to produce the publication, the design of the publication, the printing decisions that need to be made, the overall cost of the publication and the final output or product. There are a number of options available for output. The option you choose will depend on the publication you are producing, your overall budget and whether or not you intend to print it yourself or use the services of a quick copy centre or those of a professional printer. Quick copy centres specialise in producing fast, direct output from desktop programs and are suitable for print runs up to 200 copies.
Larger volumes make the services provided by professional printers more cost effective.
Professional printers specialise in all methods of printing including digital printing on laser printers, offset printing and other specialty printing services. Some professional printers provide all of the services of quick copy centres, digital pre-press studios and professional printers. They are often less expensive than laser printers but quality and speed may also be less. They are suitable for small print runs. Using this print method for larger print runs is not cost effective.