Printing and photocopying
From Hayase
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[edit] Printers
Having your comic printed offset or digitally by a dedicated printing/finishing company is best suited to large runs (500 copies and up) and gives the most professional results. While the cost per unit is brought down, the total cost of one run may be out of reach for many comic creators. If a comic is printed and does not sell well, it may be difficult to recoup the costs.
[edit] Print on demand services
These stores exist entirely online and hold a digital file of your book/comic which is printed to fulfill orders as they are placed. The price per unit is higher than other methods of production, but it requires little to no financial outlay on the part of the creator and makes payment very easy.
There are also print on demand (P.O.D) stores that may not print books and comics but do print things like T-shirts, prints, calenders and cards. There is an Australian P.O.D store is called Redbubble which offers an excellent P.O.D. T-shirt service, with the quality of the shirts being comparable to screen printed shirts. Other P.O.D websites are mostly based in North America with some based in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Quick print services
These types of stores suit low-volume digital printing, promotional material (such as postcards, flyers, or business cards) and very quick jobs, all of which are useful at convention time. Most stores now accept documents online, with the printed versions to be picked up or delivered on an agreed date.
FedEx Kinko's - an international chain of office and print service bureaux which also offers self-serve printing, scanning and photocopying. Some stores are open 24/7, while others simply open late. Affordable self-serve photocopying and long opening hours make producing a short run of minicomics or zines very easy. While serviced printing and finishing cost more, the results are generally of high quality and with quick turnaround times.
Printworks - the print and photocopying services arm of Officeworks (see Art and office supplies). As with Kinko's, a combination of self-serve photocopiers and long opening hours greatly assists in the production of minicomics or zines, but the condition of the copiers may vary between stores. Serviced printing has some technological limitations when compared to Kinko's; PDFs cannot be imposed for you and full bleed printing is not available.
VistaPrint - features a full range of printing services around the world. Also offers free proofs of products to review before placing large orders.
[edit] Photocopiers
Models and features of specific photocopiers
