Creating a comic book is a spectacular journey. Whether you’re an artist, a writer, or an independent publisher, the feeling of your characters and stories coming alive on the pages of a professionally printed comic book is second to none. But as exhilarating as this creative process is, one of the most stressful parts could be printing your comic. How do you ensure your vision is perfected in print? And how do you get your books printed-as soon as possible and with less hassle?
That’s where the online comic book printing services comes in. These are services that provide you with experts and equipment that allow you to take this digital comic and turn it into a physical, high-quality product. And the best thing? Most of these places have quick turnarounds, meaning you are not going to wait weeks just to actually hold the comic book in your hands.
In this blog, we deep dive into the world of online comic book printing services: how they work, and why fast turnaround times matter for creators just like you.
Why Fast Turnarounds Matter
Once you’ve JECTED a piece of your heart into it, it’s torture waiting weeks or months for the finished comic book. This is especially pertinent when you’re caught in the grip of a schedule that’s going to culminate either at some comic convention, via crowdfunding, or even just due to your deadlines themselves.
Fast turnaround times mean that your work is on the readers’ desks in record time. This is hugely important to indie creators, too, as many indie creators are working on razor-thin budgets and timelines.
In a conversation once with a friend running Kickstarter for his first comic, he said he promised to send copies of it to backers on a particular date. With the printing process taking longer than expected, he had to delay shipping. That meant disappointed supporters. He further said that, had he known about some of the web-based comic book printing services-available ones offering fast turnaround-he would have been spared the headache in the first place.
Advantages of using online printing services for comic books.
It cannot be put into words how online comic book printing services bring a great deal of ease to one’s threshold. Contrary to regular print shops, which require an individual to physically present themselves for service, online print comics enable one to do this in the comfort of their home. You simply upload your comic book files, select the options for your print job, and place your order. A few of the advantages that come with online services are:
1. Ease of Use
Online printing platforms have equally been designed to be as friendly as possible. Most often, they had user-friendly platforms where you simply upload your files and preview the comic and your specifications towards printing. Whether this is your first comic or you are an old-time creator, the process has been intuitively streamlined.
2. Customizing Options
Probably one of the coolest, imprescriptible aspects about online comic book printing services is the many ways they let you customize your work: types of paper, finishes, styles of binding. You want that shiny cover to let those colors in your artwork go pop? Or maybe you want the opposite-matte, straight-up serious. You can make your comic book however you want.
3. Economical Solutions
Printing comics can be quite expensive, especially for indie creators. Many online services price competitively, and if you were ordering in bulk, even better. Most of them also have clear and timely pricing structures that would permit the visibility of costs upfront, hence making it easier to budget in your project.
4. Fast Turnaround Times
Perhaps the biggest advantage of online comic book printing services is their fast turnaround times. Some of them can print and ship your order as quickly as within a few days so you get the comics when you need them. This completely changes things for a creator working on tight schedules.
Real-Life Experiences with Fast Comic Book Printing
Most importantly, creators who have gone through the process really make clear how important fast turnaround times can be. I recently got a chance to talk to an indie comic artist, Alex, telling me about his experience.
Alex had been working on a small comic series and had planned on launching the first issue at a local comic convention. Everything was smooth-sailing along until he realized his printing schedule had all gone awry; with a couple of weeks remaining to the convention, he hadn’t even placed his printing order.
“I was in panic mode,” said Alex, “thinking there’s no way I would get my books printed on time and ready to go and prepared to give up.
That’s when Alex turned to an online comic book printing service with speedy turnaround times; days after uploading his files, his books were printed and bound, en route to his door. He received his comics in time for the convention, and the qualitative printing far exceeded his expectations.
Without that quick turnaround, I would have missed selling my comics at that event,” Alex said. “It was a lifesaver.
How to Choose the Right Online Comic Book Printing Service
Now, from so many, how to choose the best online service to suit your comic book printing needs? Well, here’s a few things to consider:
1. Printing Quality
Large or small, quick turnarounds are great, but you want to know the quality of the final product is top-notch. Check for services using high-quality materials and good reviews from other comic creators. Many of the services will offer sample packs, so you can decide on the quality of paper and printing options before committing to a large print order.
2. Turn-around Time
Not every printing service created is equal. Some take a few days where others might take weeks. If at all possible, and you happen to be in a rush, find one that works at the pace that suits your needs.
3. Price and Shipping
With fast turnaround times being non-negotiable, it’s equally crucial to look at one’s budget. Competitive pricing is available, with some positions offering little or nothing in terms of quality. Then there’s the shipping cost and times, too – sometimes as valuable as the printing cost itself.
4. customer service
This would mean that any time there is a problem with your order, or even a question, you are having an engaging customer support team on board that answers your needs. You may review websites or ask other creators about experiences with the customer support of a particular service. Anyway, it is always good luck if the company rushes to solve any issue or find answers to inlet questions.
5. Sustainability
Many comic creators these days are very aware of what kind of footprint their printing options have on the environment. Some of the online comic book printing services now have the ability to include eco-opportunities such as recycled paper or soy-based inks in their printing process. If that sounds appetizing to you, seek out options fitting your values.
Introduction: How to get the best results. Preparing your comic for printing.
Whichever printing service you decide upon, you will want to make certain that your comic is prepared for it. Here are a few hints to garner the best results:
1. High-Resolution Files
First, your comic files should be high-resolution, usually 300 DPI or more, so that they may print out clearly and crisply. Low-resolution files can result in blurry images with indecipherable text that will defuse the power of your art.
2. Proof Your Work
Proof very carefully before printing. Check that nothing is typed, text isn’t misaligned, and/or there are formatting errors. Some services also offer physical or digital proofs, which give you an exact notion of what your comic is going to look like before it goes to print.
3. Bleed and Trim Lines
Allow for bleed and trim lines so your artwork may reach to the edge of the page it will be cut from. These prevent any situation, like white borders around your work. Most printing services usually give templates with proper dimensions for bleeds and trims.
4. Allowance for Binding
If your comic is to be bound-especially if it is a thicker comic or graphic novel-make sure to leave room for the binding so no important artwork or text gets cut off.
Conclusion: Make Your Comic Real with Online Comic Book Printing Service
Today, it is no big deal to print your comic book. Online printing for comic books offers you the perfect solution-be it indie creators or established ones-through quality prints, choices for customization, and above all, quick turnarounds.
Be it for a comic convention, order fulfillment via your Kickstarter campaign, or if you’re just super excited to hold your comic in your hand, these services will let you bring your vision into being quickly and efficiently.
What are you waiting for, then? The right printing service could take that passion project of yours into the real world, letting your stories spill out onto countless pages, right into the hands of a greatly awaiting audience.