Printing Academy
Welcome to PrintNinja’s Printing Academy!
At PrintNinja, we constantly strive to better our process and ourselves. We love learning more about all the cool things that we can achieve with offset printing. If you share the same passion for advancing your knowledge, here’s an intro guide to the entire offset printing process, complete with videos, photos, and expertise from those in the printing business. Exploring the pages in our Printing Academy will help you learn more about the process, so you’ll be able to understand what’s happening when you get your project printed with us. And we think that’s pretty cool!
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Introduction to Printing
This article serves as a basic introduction to offset printing.
Offset printing, also called lithography, uses a large printing press with a series of printing plates that transfer ink onto paper, which is then cut, folded, and bound to form a final product.
When you think of offset printing, think of the word transfer. Each step in this printing technique involves the transfer of images (text and art) from one material to the next. First, your images are digitally transferred onto a set of plates, which collect ink to transfer your images onto a rubber blanket that transfers images onto paper.
There are two primary types of offset printing: sheet-fed and web. The most common alternative to offset printing is known as digital or print-on-demand.
Sheet-Fed Offset
PrintNinja uses sheet-fed presses. These machines use pre-cut sheets of paper, called parent sheets, that are fed through the printing press one sheet at a time. They are best used for short or mid-range runs (250 to 10,000 units).
Pros:
- Highest quality printing
- Wide range of specialty options
- Low per-unit costs
Cons:
- High setup costs
- Medium minimum order sizes
Web Offset
Web offset printing presses use a roll of paper that is continuously fed through the printing press. They are far more complicated than sheet-fed presses and can be as large as an entire building. Web presses are used for high-volume printing (10,000+ units).
Pros:
- Extremely low per-unit cost
Cons:
- Extremely high setup costs
- Large minimum order sizes
- Lower quality than sheet-fed
Digital (POD)
Digital printing (also known as Print-On-Demand or POD) is not an offset printing method, but it’s a good one to understand. Digital printing uses equipment similar to a large home laser or inkjet printer. This approach is best used for small runs (1 to 150 units).
Pros:
- No setup costs
- No minimum orders
Cons:
- High per-unit costs
- Less consistency in color and quality
- Fewer specialty options
Digital Offset
Digital offset is a recent technological innovation in the printing industry. It offers the best of both digital and offset: there are no setup costs or minimum orders, there’s a fast turnaround, and the quality is superior to traditional digital and comparable to traditional offset. Like traditional offset, the process still involves an image plate. The printing imaging plate is electrostatically charged using lasers inside the press, then the areas of the plate with charge attract ink from various coated ink rollers, which is then transferred to a rubber blanket and, finally, your project.
This process is made possible through the patented technology of the HP Indigo line of printing presses and is essentially a fusion of digital and offset printing. PrintNinja uses a digital offset HP Indigo 7K in our Domestic facility for orders that require a low volume or quick turnaround. Indigos use ink and paper like traditional offset, whereas other digital printing is commonly toner based.
Pros:
- No set up costs
- No minimum orders
- High quality printing
- Fast production time
Cons:
- Limited specialty options
- More expensive than offset at high qualities
What Can You Print with Offset?
Offset printing can be used to print on paper, cardboard, plastic, and even chocolate! This printing method is a popular choice for card and board games, record jackets, and multi-page projects. Games and books follow the same printing process, but post-press is where the similiarties end.
Most of our Printing 101 resource pages focus on four-color sheet-fed offset printing since those are the machines used by PrintNinja’s factories. These presses use four colors of ink — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) — to produce the vast majority of full-color projects printed worldwide.
Most of our Printing 101 resource pages focus on four-color sheet-fed offset printing as well as digital offset printing, as those are the machines used by PrintNinja’s partner facilities and domestic print shop. These presses use four colors of ink — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) — to produce the vast majority of full-color projects printed worldwide.
What Can You Print with Digital-Offset
Like traditional offset printing, digital-offset printing is highly versatile and is capable of printing on a wide variety of paper stocks, though not limited to paper exclusively. Our domestic print facility
y is set up to specialize in print runs under 500 units with a focus on saddle-stitch, perfect bound, and simple card games (poker and tarot size cards, with or without a tuck box). As we continue to grow, we’ll look to expand into other product types in the future, so keep an eye out for new developments!
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Pre-Press
In the prepress production phase, an expert technician will review your files, both manually and through preflight software, for any sign of a problem that may cause production errors. An electronic proof is issued once your PDF files pass the preflight inspection. We provide electronic proofing to all of our customers for free, and all projects are required to go through this process — unless you’ve printed with us before and are using the exact same production files. When you receive your electronic proof via email, you may have suggestions from your prepress expert for changes that should be made to your files before sending them into production. You’ll also notice that printer’s marks have been added to your files. These are special marks to indicate different elements such as trim, bleed, and center. If requested, hard copy proofs (for books and games) may also be created and sent to you for approval, usually for color purposes. Hard copy proofs are not available for domestic orders, but single-unit orders can be purchased before placing a higher volume digital-offset order.
Once you have approved your proof and sent your files to press, the next phase in prepress production is that your files are output through a process called the RIP (Raster Image Processing). During this part of the prepress production process, your images are separated into four colors and output onto four metal printing plates – one plate for each of the colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). These thin metal plates are sturdy enough to be used for many thousands of printing impressions, yet also flexible enough to wrap around a rotating cylinder inside the printing press. Metal printing plates are not required for digital-offset printing, but the process is similar in the way colors are separated and then applied to paper substrates to create your art.
Pre-Press Production Chapters:
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Proofs
A proof is an electronic file or physical product meant to give an idea of the way your project will turn out when printed.
Electronic Proofs
Also known as a soft proof, most printers will provide electronic proofs for free because generating them is a necessary step that must be taken before printing. An electronic proof is done for any file that will be printed: interior pages, book cover, game board, game box, cards, instructions, etc. A prepress expert will look over your files for a number of issues, usually putting them through preflight software to do computerized checks as well.
A few preflight fundamentals:
- Image Resolution (300dpi minimum)
- Color Profile (CMYK, not RGB)
- Inclusion of Bleed
- Safe Zone Issues
- Pagination Issues
Prepress experts will double check that everything is accurate and may provide some suggestions if they find problems with your files. They’ll also typically add printer’s marks to indicate where the files will be trimmed, and then they’ll send the final file to you for your approval.
In general, electronic proofs are effective for double-checking content, pagination, and layout. However, electronic proofs cannot accurately portray how colors will look when printed.
Hard Copy Proofs – Books and Cards
Hard copy proofs, also known as physical proofs, are highly recommended for those who are printing offset for the first time as well as for those who have specific color requirements. This option typically includes one or several press sheets of a project (usually 8 pages of content per press sheet) printed on an offset press using the actual paper and finishes to be used in the final product. Overall, physical proofs give a much more accurate feel for the way that color translates to the printed page.
To order a Hardcopy Proof for your domestic order, simply order 1 copy of your project in advance of the whole order
Hard Copy Proofs – Board Games
Hard copy proofs are not prototypes, although they can act as one. A prototype is typically your minimum viable product, while a proof is a closer representation to your final product. Both terms are used interchangeably in the industry, but in our experience a prototype consists of blank boards and cards printed on computer paper – the best way to start making your game. A hard copy proof is your full, printed game and is used to judge your printer’s quality and material. Again, this can make a great advanced prototype for play-testing, but is pricey for a prototype. Due to the complex process of offset game printing, some of your pieces will be printed digitally. Any component that is digitally printed will not be color accurate.
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Printer’s Marks
Printer’s marks are special marks that are added to your PDF files and to the edge of your parent sheets to assist the offset printing press in proper alignment, trimming, and color values. These printer’s marks are trimmed off once printing is complete.
Color Bars
Color bars, or color control strips, are printed in the trim area of a parent sheet. Press operators use the color bars to check for ink density, overprinting, grey balance, and more. Color bars are so efficient that they can reveal issues with ink hue, rubber blanket, and impression cylinder miscues.
Registration
Registration is the process of precisely lining up cyan, magenta, yellow, and black printing plates so that their overlap produces the full color spectrum. Registration marks (crosshairs) are added to your PDF files and your plates. As printing takes place, the pressman makes sure that both sets of registration marks line up, adjusting their alignment as needed. Once all four colors are printed, the crosshair should be a solid black circle; otherwise, the press operator will know the job isn’t being printed correctly and will make more adjustments. Without registration, your images can appear blurred, as the four colors may not line up and will exhibit the ‘ghosting’ that you often see in newspaper color photos (since the large web presses used to print newspapers frequently have registration issues).
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Imposition and Pagination
Imposition is the arrangement of individual pages or cards onto press sheets, also known as parent sheets. Our press operators use imposition software to translate PDF files into a format and layout that can be engraved onto printing plates that will be installed into the offset press. While digital-offset printing does not require metal plates, a similar process is implemented to ensure art files are aligned correctly and printed in the correct order for finishing processes.
Book Printing Layout
For offset printing, the most common layout has 8 pages per side of a parent sheet, meaning each parent sheet will have 16 total pages when printed on both sides. Small-format projects (6″ x 9″, for example) may have 16 pages per side of a parent sheet, and large-format projects (larger than 9″ x 12″) may only have 4 pages per side. We use a smaller parent sheet size for digital-offset printing, which generally means that fewer pages can fit on one parent sheet. Depending on the size of the project, we can run files at 4-up or 8-up (4 art files per sheet of paper or 8 art files per sheet of paper).
Below, you can see how a typical 16-page section of a book is laid out for offset printing. This parent sheet will be folded to the size of the final project, and this grouping of pages is known as a signature. Don’t worry! You don’t need to submit your art files in this format. PrintNinja will figure out the proper pagination to ensure that all pages are printed, folded, and bound in the correct order.
Interior pages for books produced domestically are not folded down into signatures, since the binding process and machinery used is different from those of offset printing.
Playing Card Printing Layout
Playing cards are similar to books in that there’s an optimal card count for each card size and card stock. Card stock (Blue Core, Black Core, Coreless) parent sheets come in different sizes, which affect how many cards can fit on one sheet. Of course, different card sizes (Poker, Tarot, Square, Mini) will fit differently on each parent sheet. The smaller your cards, the more you can fit on one sheet.
Press Check & Pagination
After imposition, each full parent sheet is printed with a large-format proof printer. These high-end printers produce reliable colors that press experts use to color-match against offset printed sheets.
The operator will also use this sheet to check for pagination, or the order of pages, by folding the parent sheet to the final product size. This process confirms that all the pages will be printed in the proper order and that they will appear right-side up when bound together. Although most printers use computer systems to automate pagination, sometimes a press operator will override the computer to manually adjust the pagination as needed.
Digitally printed pages are also checked, albeit differently than offset printed pages. Our press operator can print a one-off copy before printing the entire run, which allows us to check for quality and correct pagination. Additional checks are implemented during the full print run to ensure the quality of the print remains consistent.
Page Count Explained
For most books, your page count has to be a multiple of four. The easiest way to understand this is to find a piece of paper and fold it in half three times. Each time you make a crease, you increase your page count by four. This folded sheet is how your pages will be inserted and bound into your book as a unit.
There are just a few exceptions to this rule. Board books, spiral bound books, and wire bound books use different binding methods, so they simply require your page count to be a multiple of two.
For domestically printed projects, the page count for saddle stitch projects must be divisible by 4 and the page count for perfect bound projects must be divisible by 2.
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Manufacturing Printing Plates
How are printing plates made?
After imposition, each parent-sheet-sized art file is split out into four separate files, one for each color of ink: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). From there, each separated file is laser-engraved onto its own plate to be installed into the printing press.
These thin metal plates are sturdy enough to be used for many thousands of impressions, yet also flexible enough to wrap around a rotating cylinder inside the printing press:
Don’t be fooled by the color: the coating on printing plates is blue, but this has no bearing on the color of ink the plate will apply.
In the past, many printers used a photographic process to create printing plates, but these days most modern print shops use large Computer-To-Plate (CTP) machines like the one pictured here:
First, a coated thermal plate is inserted into the CTP image setter (large compartment to the right in the photo above), where lasers are used to output the image by heating areas of the plate to different degrees depending on how much ink each area should collect. The plate rolls out of the laser compartment and moves through a special cleaning solution that washes away the heated parts of the coating, leaving a negative of the image.
Watch how your plate is rinsed to reveal your images.
Remember, each parent sheet actually needs four plates, one for each color of ink to be applied. Below are four used printing plates that were just uninstalled from the press after being used to print a full-color parent sheet. It can be tricky to see which colors of ink are which due to the underlying blue color of the plates, but from left to right you can see the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black plates used on this job.
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Press
What is a press run, and what does it entail?
Prepress is finally complete. Proofs have been approved, imposition and pagination have been done, and the printing plates have been manufactured. Now it’s time for the next step: the press run. Here, sheets of paper are fed through the press while the plates transfer ink from the rollers to rubber cylinders, and then to the paper itself. This two-step process is why this printing process is called “offset.”
Most offset printing presses function similarly, but the quality of the final product depends on several factors – perhaps most importantly, a certified team of press operators and quality control specialists. That’s why we make sure you’re aware of the quality assurance steps our vendors take: there are many quality control checkpoints throughout the entire process, from file and production prepress to printing and binding. Perhaps the most vital is checking parent sheets as they’re coming off of the press. In our partner facilities in China, press operators will randomly cross-reference printed sheets with a previously printed proof to confirm color accuracy, making sure that quality stays high throughout the entire print run and that the colors and registration aren’t drifting away from where they need to be as the run progresses. Our domestic facility gives us even more control over the quality of the final product. Each product gets close attention from our well-trained staff of operators. No matter where your project is printed, quality control is our number one priority.
Press Run Chapters:
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Paper and Card Stock
The whole printing process begins with paper. Paper comes in a variety of weights and finishes, and every printing company offers different options depending on their paper suppliers and presses. You’ll find the widest variety of paper options when working with offset printers because operators can calibrate the press based on thickness and coatings. On the other hand, digital printers used for print-on-demand have a limited amount of paper options. Digital offset can handle both digital papers and offset papers, but depending on the manufacturer, the best quality results usually require paper specifically designed for the press. Despite this fact, the options for finish and weight often match the traditional digital and offset variety.
Parent Sheet Size
Parent sheets are large pre-cut pieces of paper, typically designed to fit 4–16 pages of a project on each side or 55 poker cards. They come in many weights and are often pre-coated with gloss or matte.
One of the major factors in the cost of a printing project is how many parent sheets will be used, which is why certain standard sizes (8.5″ x 11″, 6″ x 9″, 9″ x 12″) and page counts (multiples of 16) are usually the most cost-effective choices since they can maximize the parent sheets used.
Paper Weight
Paper weight refers to a particular thickness of paper stock. There are many different weight classifications, including text, cover, index, bond, bristol, and more, as well as the metric system classification of grams per square meter. When comparing within a specific classification of paper, a lighter weight indicates a thinner paper.
Make sure to include both weight and classification when comparing paper stocks, especially when comparing quotes from different countries. For example, many US printers may give you a quote for “80 lb. cover” which is much heavier than “80 lb. text”. If you’re not sure where to begin, you can always use our industry standards pages to help with your decision.
Cardstock
The GSM (grams per square meter) measurement mentioned in the paper weight section above, often applies to playing cardstock. The higher the number (300gsm, 310gsm, 330gsm, 350gsm) the thicker the card stock. Keep in mind that GSM does not always equate to the rigidity of a card. For example, 100lb Cover Linen Card Stock is 270gsm while our 12pt Coreless Stock is 260gsm. The 12pt Coreless stock feels more rigid in your hand, even though the 100lb Cover Linen stock is technically thicker at 270gsm. When selecting a paper weight for your playing cards you need to also consider the core, the material placed in-between the two pieces of paper that make up your card (i.e. 300gsm Blue Core, 330gsm Black Core).
What Does a Card Core Do?
The job of the core is to make your card less transparent and more durable. From lowest quality to highest, the cores range from: coreless, grey, white, blue, and black. Many card printers use different terms to explain the cores, so be wary of the name and request a sample when possible. You can determine a cards core by ripping the card in half — the core color should be visible.
Selecting a Card Core
Most often board game creators will select a coreless cardstock since their cards will not be handled frequently. On the other hand, our card game creators lean towards blue and black core since their games revolve around cards, which are typically held in players’ hands the entire game.
Paper Coating
Coating is applied during the paper manufacturing process. Coating affects the way that inks are absorbed by the paper, making halftone dots and text stay sharp. Any paper weight can have a coating, and which coating to choose is largely a creative decision. Here are the three most popular options:
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Ink
How is printing ink used?
Now that we’ve covered paper, the other main ingredient we need for the offset printing process is ink! Most full-color offset printing uses four colors of ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), applied separately via four separate printing plates, to produce millions of colors. This ink makes its way down from the ink reservoir (known as a fountain) onto the printing plate, then onto the rubber blanket, and finally onto the paper itself. The photo below shows four ink fountains on a 4-color press machine.
Ink Fountain
If you look down at an offset press from above, you’ll see four ink fountains — one for each color of ink. Each of these fountains sits at the top of an assembly containing a cylinder that will hold the printing plate and another that will hold the rubber blanket.
Water Solution
Each fountain also has a reservoir of a water-based liquid known as fountain solution. This water solution is rolled onto the printing plate to repel the ink from the areas that will become white space on paper. Digital offset utilizes the chemistry of water and imaging oil solutions to achieve the same effect.
Roller
The roller distributes ink onto the plate in an even, controlled manner, creating consistent ink coverage for the entire plate.
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Press Setup
How is an offset printing press set up?
PrintNinja’s custom printing includes a detailed setup to achieve the best results in creating your book, calendar, comic, or other product. For your general knowledge and convenience, each step in printing your custom project is detailed below.
Cleaning the Press
First things first, the press must be cleaned from its last use. On a traditional offset press, all printing plates must be uninstalled, and in the case of a digital offset printer, the printing image plate is cleaned with imaging oil. In a traditional offset press, all cylinders, fountains and rollers are cleaned after every press run to ensure the next parent sheet has a fresh setup. It is important these three pieces are clean so the alignment is not thrown off by dirt. Digital offset printers, while less sensitive, have daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedules to ensure printing remains consistent and of the highest quality.
Installing the Plates
Four plates are clamped onto cylinders inside the press. One plate is used for each color: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). Each time a new parent sheet needs printing, four new plates must be mounted into the press. The cost and time involved in these installations is what makes offset printing impractical for small runs.
Calibrating the Press
The press operator adjusts the press’ output using calibration software. The press operator will adjust the color control using levels, curves, and other tools to produce the right color density. Paper thickness and coating are calculated in the software, with the absorption of ink taken into account.
The press runs at a slow speed so the initial sheets can be carefully checked for alignment and color against the press operator’s proof. The operator can then make adjustments to the press as needed. Once there is a proper amount of ink density on the paper, the press speed is increased to full production.
Ready to get started?
PrintNinja can print books, playing cards, board games, calendars, puzzles, and more. Whether you’re ready to print or just starting to budget your project, it’s always a great time to check out our instant price calculator. You can even lock in your price for 90 days!
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Press Check
What is a press check?
Most offset printing presses function similarly, but the quality of the final product depends on a number of factors – perhaps most importantly, a certified team of press operators and quality control specialists. Most printing facilities will have a Quality Assurance department responsible for inspecting all printed parent sheets during the press run, monitoring the final product for defects, and flagging any issues early on in order to deter waste.
On-Site Press Check
There are many quality control checkpoints throughout the entire process, from file and production prepress to printing and binding. Perhaps the most vital is checking parent sheets as they’re coming off of the press.
Press operators will randomly cross-reference printed sheets with a previously printed proof to confirm color accuracy, making sure that quality stays high throughout the entire print run and that the colors and registration aren’t drifting away from where they need to be as the run progresses.
Game Quality Control
Printed game pieces (game boards, cards, tokens, etc.) follow the same quality control measures as books, from prepress to pulling printed sheets off the press.
Card game assembly has a few extra steps to ensure consistency. Operators will insert blank pages in between the full printed card game sheets. When blank cards appear, this signals to operators that the deck they are assembling is ending and a new deck is starting. Each deck, once assembled in its packaging, is then weighed to make sure a card is not missing — or, vice versa, that there’s no extra card.
Game pieces we use have passed safety tests. However, if you need paperwork to present to a retailer or distributor that proves your game is safe to sell, then you’ll have to re-run the safety test on your specific game as a whole.
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Cylinders
What are the cylinders used in the printing process and how do they work?
If you look inside the four compartments of the press that hold the ink fountains, you will see something similar to the diagram at the right. Each of those four assemblies is made up of many moving cylinders which are intrinsic to the offset, or lithographic, printing process.
Plate Cylinder
The printing plate – embedded with your file images – is wrapped around the plate cylinder and rotates while water and ink are distributed onto its surface. The plate transfers ink to the rubber blanket, which is wrapped around the offset cylinder.
Rubber Blanket / Offset Cylinder
The offset cylinder is home to the rubber blanket that receives ink from the plate above. This cylinder rotates until the rubber blanket makes contact with a parent sheet moving along the conveyor belt, transferring the ink onto it.
Impression Cylinder
The impression cylinder sits directly underneath the rubber blanket and applies pressure to the paper – moving in between both cylinders – while the paper absorbs ink from the blanket at the same time.
Inside the Press
This is the inside of one press compartment. The top cylinder is the plate that has already been rolled with water and ink from above. The plate rotates and transfers ink to the rubber blanket, the blue cylinder. The final cylinder on the bottom, the impression cylinder, applies pressure to the paper as it passes under the blanket.
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Printing
What happens in the printing process?
We’ve met all of the pieces: the plates, the paper, the ink, and the cylinders. The press has been cleaned and calibrated, and the plates have been installed. Now it’s time to see a 4-color sheet-fed offset press in action printing 8 pages of a real project! Each parent sheet zips through and is printed with four colors of ink all in a row, coming out the other end fully printed.
As you can see, this part of the printing process happens very quickly — but don’t worry, quality assurance is still in place during this step. Most printing facilities will have a Quality Assurance department responsible for inspecting all printed parent sheets during the press run, monitoring the final product for defects, and flagging any issues early on in order to deter waste. The quality control team follows the standards set by the printing facility, who ultimately decides the quality the product is required to meet. These Quality Assurance experts will sign off on color, bindery, and press runs by testing your product at random during different steps of the process.
Watch parent sheets go from blank to fully printed in a matter of seconds in our international facility in the video below:
Digital-Offset Presses require all the same basic components: Plates, Paper, Ink, and Cylinders. The process is where things vary between digital-offset and traditional offset. Our HP Indigo 7K uses lasers with varying levels of positive charges to create images on something called the Printing Imaging Plate. When that Printing Imaging Plate or PIP spins, it comes into contact with negatively charged ink. The ink is then attracted to the PIP. The ink on the PIP is then transferred to a heated blanket and that ink is then applied to transfer paper. The transfer paper applies the ink/image to your printing paper.
Watch parent sheets go from blank to fully printed in a matter of seconds in our domestic facility in the video below:
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Post-Press
Post-press is everything that takes place after your pages have been printed on parent sheets – and it turns out that “everything” is quite a bit! Books are folded, cut, and bound into your final project before they are ready to be shipped to your front doorstep. For the prepress of board and card games, cards get trimmed, smoothed, and rounded; game boxes are printed and constructed, and then all the components are assembled and packaged to create your final product. That’s a lot of things that happen once the printing process is done! Similar action needs to take place for all of our Domestically produced products, but due to the different styles of production, the finishing is either slightly, or completely different.
The following articles will teach you more about just what happens in post-press. You’ll learn about folding signatures, collation sorting, and cover paper finishing. You’ll also learn about on-site quality assurance, book drying methods, and card game production. Read on to become a post-press pro! Of course, if you have any more questions about the post-press process, feel free to contact us — we’re always happy to take questions about what happens after the prepress and press stages of your printed project’s life, but before you receive your final product.
Post-Press Chapters:
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Folding Signatures
This article will teach you about folding signatures and how they are involved in the offset printing process.
Once the printing is complete, the stacks of fully-printed and dried parent sheets are taken to be folded by the folding machine. Each parent sheet zooms through the machine one at a time entering into gates that are set to the proper fold size. A final fold is applied by a heavy arm – this is called the knife fold – which applies immense pressure on the fold line. The final project rolls out of the machine as a “signature.” The majority of projects are folded by these machines, although extremely large projects or those with unique requirements may occasionally be required to be folded by hand.
Watch parent sheets fly through a folding machine and finish as a signature:
Signatures
The folded groups of pages that emerge from the folding machine are called signatures. Most projects have signatures of 16 pages (8 pages on each side of the parent sheet), but projects 6″ x 9″ or smaller may have signatures of 32 pages, and projects larger than 9″ x 12″ may only have 8 pages per signature.
Domestic Orders (Digital Offset)
Our Digital offset press produces sheet sizes that don’t require signatures. Instead, these prints are designed to work with specific finishing equipment. These machines will work with a cut edge sheet to produce a perfect bound project, or collated and folded sheets to produce saddle stitched projects.
See a video of the binding process for perfect bound books at our domestic facility:
See a video of the binding process for saddle stitch books at our domestic facility:
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Collation/Sorting
The collation process starts with parent sheets being folded into signatures.
Parent sheets are large pre-cut pieces of paper, typically designed to fit 4-16 pages of a project on each side or 55 poker cards. They come in many weights and are often pre-coated with gloss or matte coating. One of the major factors in the cost of a printing project is how many parent sheets will be used, which is why certain standard sizes (8.5″x11″, 6″x9″, 9″x12″) and page counts (multiples of 16) are usually the most cost-effective choices since they can maximize the parent sheets used.
Once the printing is complete, the stacks of fully-printed and dried parent sheets are taken to be folded by the folding machine. Each parent sheet zooms through the machine one at a time entering into gates that are set to the proper fold size. A final fold is applied by a heavy arm, called the knife fold, that applies pressure on the fold line. The final project rolls out of the machine as a signature. The majority of projects are folded by these machines, although extremely large projects or those with unique requirements may occasionally be folded by hand.
There may be 1 or dozens of folded signatures that have to be gathered and bound for the final product. Once all the folding is complete the signatures are sent along for collation.
The collator stacks the signatures into the appropriate page order, and they are prepared for final binding. Based on your binding method, this will be either stapled (saddle stitching) or sewn (smyth sewing for perfect binding and case binding). The resulting new stack of ordered signatures is now called the book blocks.
Finally, the stacks of signatures are taken to the collation machine, which collates the separate signatures into their proper page order. The resulting new stacks of ordered signatures are now called book blocks.
Watch the Collation machine stack signatures in page order to make book blocks.
Collation machines like the one pictured below are large enough to handle books with many hundreds of pages, but books with only two or three signatures can also be collated by hand.
Domestically, since we’re not working with signatures, much of the collation occurs during the printing process. With either perfect binding or saddle stitching, the collating of interior pages is separated and ordered by the press, so the output stacks are appropriately prepared for the final binding. In both cases, the interior pages are fed into the binding machines with the covers separated out and then collated in with each set as the binding occurs.
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Finish
This article will explain how finish is applied to your cover paper.
The printing process is almost complete. Your book block is now finally ready to be bound, but before binding can happen, the parent sheet that will become your cover needs to have a finish applied to protect it. Finishes can be gloss (high-shine) or matte (low-shine), and come in two distinct types: varnish and lamination.
A varnish is a liquid finish applied on the printing press to your cover paper following the same process as if it were an ink. The varnish style usually matches the coating of your paper (gloss or matte) and protects the ink on your cover. If you choose matte varnish, you can add spot UV to make select parts of your cover matte.
Lamination is the most protective card finish. Lamination is a thin polypropylene film that is applied after the printing process is complete. As seen in the video at the bottom of this page, a lamination machine glues a roll of film onto the printed parent sheet to produce the desired effect.
For digital-offset printing (domestically printed projects), adding a finish to covers is a secondary process and does not occur on the press. Instead, cover sheets are fed through a coater when varnish is required, or fed through a laminator when lamination is required.
On rare occasion, you may opt to skip the cover finish. This provides a raw look and feel, but it’s important to note that it provides no protection, leaving your cover more susceptible to damage. If you want a matte finish, we recommend adding a matte varnish instead of opting to skip the cover finish.
Watch a matte lamination finish being applied to cover paper
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Binding Process
This article includes links that will teach you more about the binding process and the difference in binding styles.
The pieces are all in place. The body pages are folded into a book block, and the cover page has had its specialty finish applied. At this point in your project’s lifespan, we’re finally ready to enter the binding process.
Depending on which binding method you have chosen, binding can be as simple as adding a couple of staples, or it can be a complex process involving sewing machines, gluing machines, hardcover cases, and more. There are three popular binding methods: saddle-stitched (stapled), perfect (softcover), or casebound (hardcover). Each of these methods has it’s own pros and cons. Read on to learn the difference in process between each binding method – the more you know about each one, the better you’ll be able to determine which one is right for your printing project with PrintNinja.
There are also other methods of binding such as spiral binding, wire binding, and a special process for board books. For more information on these less common binding types visit our advanced concepts section.
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Saddle-Stitched Binding
This article will teach you about the saddle-stitch binding process and how it impacts your printed project.
Saddle stitching is definitely the simplest form of binding: two staples are inserted into the spine, holding all of the pages together. It’s a much more straightforward process than hardcover/casebound or perfect-bound/softcover book binding!
As the first step in the process, the cover and book block are collated, with signatures placed one inside the other. Most saddle-stitched projects contain 3 or fewer signatures so that there aren’t more pages than the staples can handle – this is why saddle-stitching is an especially popular binding method for comic books: they have fewer pages than, say, a novel.
Next, the collated pages are put through a stitching machine for stapling. The pages are draped across either side of a “saddle” – hence “saddle-stitched” – belt that runs along the entire machine, and the V-shaped belt helps align all the pages at the central fold for a symmetric binding. The project then moves down the line and staples are inserted at the crease.
Finally, the stapled project is trimmed down to its final size in a guillotine, leaving you with a great looking saddle-stitched project.
In the case of projects printed in our Illinois facility, the saddle stitch process is even more simple. A pile of collated printed sheets is fed into our booklet making machine that folds, stitches, and trims the booklets in a successive series of operations. In special cases where the booklet maker is not a viable option for binding, we also utilize a stitching machine that applies staples to the binding, and a booklet roller, which helps flatten finished books and provides a clean, crisp spine.
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Perfect (Softcover) Binding
The perfect binding process, commonly referred to as softcover binding, results in a book with a glued binding and a squared-off spine.
Smyth Sewing
PrintNinja’s perfect binding process, the collated signatures of the book block are sewn together using the smyth sewing technique. Smyth sewing uses thread to first sew through the folds of each signature and then sew the entire group of signatures (book block) together, resulting in a durable binding that can be opened relatively wide – a great option if you have any pages with continuous spreads.
Note
Traditional perfect binding involves cutting the signatures off at the fold instead of sewing them, resulting in a much less durable binding, with much more content lost in the gutter between pages
Gluing
Next, a tech will place the sewn book block into a clamp that tightly holds the body together while it moves through the binding process. First, glue is applied to the spine and run through a heating process, after which the cover is wrapped around the book block.
Trimming
Finally, the bound books are trimmed down to size using a special cutting machine that trims all 3 edges in the same process.
Our domestic facility utilizes a perfect binding machine that bypasses the use of folded signatures and instead uses cut sheets that are then ground with a rough edge to ensure excellent glue adhesion. The interior pages are then attached to the covers and a three knife trimmer cuts the books down to their final size.
Watch a short clip of softcover books being trimmed in our international facility
Watch a short clip of softcover books being trimmed in our domestic facility
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Casebound (Hardcover) Binding
This article will teach you about the hardcover and casebound binding project.
Casebinding, commonly referred to as hardcover binding, involves the construction of an exterior case made of cardboard wrapped with paper. Casebinding is a more complicated process compared to other typical types of binding, but your book is safe in PrintNinja’s expert hands.
Case Construction
The first step in casebinding is the construction of the hardcover, also known as the case. First, sheets of cardboard are cut to their proper size to form the rigid skeleton of the cover. From there, printed and finished cover sheets are fed into one end of a case manufacturing machine, while the pre-cut cardboard is fed into the other, and the two are combined through several gluing and folding operations into the final case.
Smyth Sewing
Next, the collated signatures of the book block are sewn together using the smyth sewing technique. Smyth sewing uses thread to first sew through the folds of each signature and then sew the entire group of signatures, (also known as the book block) together, resulting in a durable binding that can be opened very wide.
Trimming
Next, the sewn book blocks are trimmed down to size. With some softcover books, this happens after the cover is applied, but because the hardcover case is larger than the book block, in casebinding the trimming step happens before the book block is glued into the case.
Gluing
Finally, the finished book blocks and cases are placed into a hardcover binding machine where they are glued together into a completed casebound book. First, the sewn book block has glue applied to its spine, and a piece of fabric (called the super) is placed on top of the glue. Farther down the line, the hardcover case is wrapped around the book block. At this point, books with 60 pages or more will also have endsheets added to hold the entire book together.
Ready to get started?
PrintNinja’s hardcover book calculator makes it easy to take the next step in creating your hardcover book. Our calculator is pre-populated with popular options, but you can customize just about anything. You can also save your quote for 90 days, so it’s no problem if you’re not quite ready to print yet.
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Quality Assurance
Most printing facilities will have a Quality Assurance department responsible for inspecting all printed parent sheets during the press run, monitoring the final product for defects, and flagging any issues early on in order to deter waste. Due to PrintNinja’s aggregated leverage, we’re able to make sure that our international vendors maintain a high level of quality for our customers. Many of PrintNinja’s vendors produce books and games for high-profile worldwide publishers. We maintain those high standards in our own domestic facility and inspect every product to ensure it meets the PrintNinja standards.
Book Quality Control
The quality control team follows the standards set by the printing facility, who ultimately decides the quality the product is required to meet. These quality assurance experts will sign off on color, bindery, and press runs by testing your product at random, during different steps of the process.
Game Quality Control
Printed game pieces (game boards, cards, tokens etc.) follow the same quality control measures as books from prepress to pulling printed sheets off the press.
Card game assembly has a few extra steps to ensure consistency. Operators will insert blank pages in-between the full printed card game sheets. When blank cards appear, this signals to operators that the deck they are assembling is ending and a new deck is starting. Each deck once assembled in their packaging is then weighted to make sure a card is not missing or vice versa there’s no extra card.
Game pieces we use have passed safety tests. However, if you need paperwork to present to a retailer or distributor that proves your game is safe to sell then you’ll have to re-run the safety test on your specific game as a whole.
Drying
This article will teach you more about the final step in the process of printing your book: the drying.
The final step in the offset printing process is to dry out your bound books. This step is not necessary for digital offset, which is one of the reasons that digital offset offers a faster turnaround. As you see below, all printed books are compactly stacked on top of each other using that pressure to halt pages from warping. This step is especially crucial for hard cover books; due to the moisture added in gluing and lamination, these covers are prone to curving if there’s no pressure to keep them flat while they dry. Book drying may seem like a boring part of the process as opposed to, say, hot foil stamping, but it’s actually a very crucial part of making your book or other printed project both look great and stay durable.
Many printers will have a designated drying room with controlled temperature and humidity settings to ensure consistency in drying. This insures that if you have multiple runs of books, they’ll be consistent in appearance and durability.
With book drying and the end of your printing process comes exciting news – after your project is done drying, it’s time to think about shipping, storage, and fulfillment of your project!
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Card Game Production
This article will teach you about the process of card game production.
Once both the cards and tuck boxes have been printed onto parent sheets, they are ready to be cut, assembled, and packaged together.
Trimming Cards
The playing card parent sheets are fed one at a time through a calibrated trimming machine. As the sheet makes each turn, blades cut out strips of cards until each card is cut out and stacked in a deck. Our domestic facility uses a rotary die cutter for all of our card projects. The printed sheets will pass through a drum that holds a die with the size and shape of your cards, held on by powerful magnets. The die trims for size and rounded corners at the same time.
Die Cutting Boxes
A tuck box’s unique shape requires the die-cut method to extract the box and its unique flaps from the parent sheet. Die-cutting requires an operator to form blades to the box’s shape and use heavy pressure to cut out the design, as seen in the video below.
At our U.S. print facility, we use a rotary die cutter in order to create our tuck boxes. We have custom-made dies that create tuck boxes with different thicknesses based on your card count.
Smoothing and Rounding Cards
The trimming machine leaves rough edges around the perimeter of the cards and square corners. To shape them, an operator pushes stacks of cards through a “smooth edge machine” installed with the appropriate die size. The pressure of the cards being pushed through the dies leaves the edges smooth and rounds the corners at the same time. Most playing cards have rounded corners to prevent the corners from being damaged; however, some creators do request square corners.
Adding Linen Texture Finish
Linen texture is a specialty finish that adds a tactile crosshair texture. Bicycle branded playing cards are known to have this linen finish. The texture is applied after your cards are printed on a parent sheet and before they are cut to size.
The printed sheet is forced under a heavy metal roller with the crosshair pattern. The weight of the cylinder applies it’s marks to the printed paper. These sheets are then trimmed to size and put through the rounded corner machine. For domestically printed projects, we use a stock that comes with the linen texture already applied since we don’t have the equipment required to add this feature post-printing.
Assembling Cards into Tuck Boxes
When all the pieces are printed and cut, all that’s left is to assemble them together. Cards are organized on parent sheets in the order that they are to be assembled into each box, so collation is taking place at the same time they are being trimmed.
The cards arrive at the assembly line in crates with each deck completed and separated. Tuck boxes are folded to form and have a glue dot applied to the bottom flap for extra durability. Cards are then placed inside and sealed.
Shrink-wrapping Final Product
Most card games will be shrink wrapped for added protection from theft and dirt. This is a necessary step if you plan to sell your game to retailers, who require your games to be delivered in shrink wrap and sometimes even with hang tags applied.
A shrink wrap machine works in three steps:
- The operator wraps the box in plastic shrink film.
- The film is sealed by a heavy clamp on the machine, with a straight seam line.
- The machine applies heat to the film that release the cold air out of tiny holes, causing the film to shrink to the shape of the box.
Orders produced in the U.S. can also have shrink wrap applied. We have two machines that can apply shrink wrapping, including a Xopax film wrapper that can apply the “tear away tape” feature as seen on commercially sold playing cards.
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Logistics
This article explains some of the complex process of international shipping logistics.
International trade can be an incredibly complex endeavor. Not only do you have to arrange to get goods from one country to another via some combination of ocean, air, truck, and rail, you’ve got to be familiar with all of the trade regulations and laws that affect commerce between the two (or more) countries in question. You’ve also got to be able to communicate with your counterparties in the other country, doing business across language barriers which may range from mildly confusing to impenetrable. Finally, participants in international trade don’t benefit from many of the legal protections that domestic consumers take for granted, leaving the buyer exposed to potentially catastrophic loss if something goes wrong, even if it’s not their fault. But, when you print with PrintNinja, you can rest assured that we’re taking care of all the logistics for you, from the factory to your front door. We communicate daily with our team in China, so you can feel confident that your printing project is being treated with the utmost respect.
International Shipping Logistics Chapters:
Domestic Shipping Options:
All orders are shipped via UPS Ground which has a turnaround of 5-7 business days once shipped. PrintNinja cannot use shipping accounts provided by parties other than PrintNinja. Expedited Shipments are available on request and are shipped via UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air. UPS 2nd Day Air shipments have a turnaround of 2 business days and UPS Next Day Air shipments have a turnaround of 1 business day.
For further information on domestic shipping, please see here.
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Air Shipping
Air shipping is the fastest mode of transportation available, but that speed comes with a hefty price tag.
Shipments that are sent from China to the US via air typically take approximately one week to arrive, much less time than ocean shipping, which takes approximately six weeks to get finished goods from the factory to your door. For an additional charge, air shipping time can often be cut down even further and a guaranteed delivery date can be hit, which is never the case with ocean shipments.
Air shipping is the most direct shipping pathway. Once the goods are finished, export documentation and paperwork are submitted, and the goods are delivered to the carrier’s warehouse. From there, they’re loaded onto a plane and flown to the airport closest to their final destination, where they go through import customs. After clearance, they’re taken to the carrier’s local warehouse and dispatched via one of the carrier’s trucks for delivery.
Small air shipments (under 50kg) go through a much faster and simpler customs process, removing one potential obstacle in the logistics timeline. Larger shipments (over 50kg) have to go through a more extensive customs process, similar to ocean shipping.
PrintNinja offers partial expediting services, meaning you can send some small portion of your goods using expensive, fast air shipping, while the bulk of your order travels via more cost-effective, slower ocean shipping. If you’re very concerned about time and need a fast turnaround, please consider printing with us domestically. Domestic printing has a much faster turnaround than international shipping, as it does not have to cross the ocean.
We also have a Premium Expedited option that can bring the 1-week expedited turnaround down to about 3 days. These shipments must be custom quoted and your timeline must be confirmed with your account manager before your order is placed.
Ocean Shipping
Ocean shipping is the most cost-effective way to get goods around the world, as goods are packed into standardized shipping containers and loaded onto mega-sized container ships. It can take a long time, and the delivery dates can’t be guaranteed, but the process is so efficient that thousands of pounds of goods can be moved tens of thousands of miles for relatively low cost. Let’s walk through the various steps involved in getting a typical ocean shipment from a foreign factory to your door:
Export Customs
Once your goods are finished, the exporter files paperwork and pays documentation fees to get them ready for export. Once this documentation is filed, the goods are trucked from the factory to a shipping warehouse for consolidation into a shipping container.
Shipping Containers
At the shipping warehouse, your goods are loaded into a shipping container. Shipping containers are gigantic steel boxes that are most commonly 8 feet tall, 8 feed wide, and either 40 or 20 feet long. Because these containers are so standardized, they can be loaded and unloaded very efficiently onto oceangoing container ships. Once the container is full, it is sealed and delivered to a bonded customs warehouse for export.
Ocean Liner
Next, the shipping container with your goods in it is loaded onto an ocean liner known as a container ship with thousands of other similar containers, and the ship makes the ocean journey from the country of export to the country of import, where the containers will be unloaded. Modern container ships are so gigantic that they can only dock at a handful of deepwater ports across the world that are equipped to handle their size, making the ports a very scarce resource. This has made labor relations very difficult at these ports, and slowdowns and strikes have happened every few years when union contracts have come up for renegotiation.
Import Customs
Once the container has been unloaded from the ocean liner, it goes through customs in the destination country. This is the most unpredictable stage of ocean transport, as containers are occasionally flagged for a random inspection, adding anywhere from a few days to a few weeks of delay depending on the type of inspection. Once customs have been cleared, the container is delivered to the ground shipping warehouse.
Ground Shipping
At the ground shipping warehouse, the contents of the shipping container are separated, labeled, and shipped out via truck to their final destinations. This is the first step of the process where reliable tracking information is available, as most ocean carriers do not provide the type of high-quality tracking information that many people are used to receiving from UPS, FedEx, or their domestic mail service.
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Customs, Duties, and Taxes
Read on to learn more about how PrintNinja works with customs policies.
The complexity of handling customs, duties, and taxes on any given international shipment depends on the laws and trade agreements in place between the exporting and importing countries. Countries with free trade agreements can make such transactions much simpler, while duties and tarriffs are often in place to intentionally make it harder for certain types of goods to be imported/exported economically.
Customs
Every country has an agency that handles customs and imports. In the United States it’s US Customs and Border Protection, and in China it’s the General Administration of Customs. These agencies are responsible for regulating all shipments into and out of their parent country, enforcing their countries’ trade laws and customs policies, and collecting all applicable duties and taxes.
Duties and Taxes
Duty fees are based on the contents of your shipment and any applicable duties in place on that type of product. Depending on the two countries in question, some goods may be imported duty-free, while others may be subject to steep fees. In some countries a VAT(Value-added Tax) or GST(Goods and Service Tax) is also assessed at various rates, depending on the product being imported.
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Storage and Fulfillment
This article will help you learn more about your storage and fulfillment options for your project once it’s been printed with us.
You’ve made it through order placement, production, and international logistics, and your project has finally arrived at your door! So, what to do with the pallets of books that just landed in your driveway?
Do It Yourself
Some folks like to handle everything themselves: warehousing, fulfillment, inventory, tracking, and shipping for day-to-day orders. Not to mention providing customer service via email or phone. This is a great route to take if you can manage it, but be sure not to underestimate just how much work DIY storage and fulfillment is, how much space it requires, and how much additional cost it adds!
If you’re planning to handle storage yourself, check out our visual guide for tips and tricks on how to properly store your project:
Third-Party Warehousing / Fulfillment
Another option is to use a third-party warehousing and fulfillment service. One of the most popular choices is Amazon’s FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon) program. Amazon is a great option for managing your project and handling day-to-day orders, but Amazon requires quite a few steps toward receiving goods and establishing a functioning account. We highly recommend downloading the below “Amazon Fulfillment Process” PDF to get a step-by-step guide on printing with PrintNinja and fulfilling with Amazon.
Download Amazon Fulfillment Process Guide Here
There are also many independent warehousing and fulfillment companies. Printninja has a partnership with E Fulfillment Services, which is a company that will store your books and ship them out on an as-needed basis. Plus, if you mention Printninja when getting a storage quote with EFS, you’ll be eligible for discounted pick & pack rates!
Remember that many third party warehousing and fulfillment companies have huge economies of scale. Their warehouses are so advanced and their freight rates so low that in many cases you can actually save money by going with a third party service.
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Domestic Shipping Options
All orders from our US facility are shipped via UPS Ground, which has a turnaround of 5-7 business days once shipped. PrintNinja cannot use shipping accounts provided by parties other than PrintNinja. Expedited Shipments are available on request and are shipped via UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air. UPS 2nd Day Air shipments have a turnaround of 2 business days and UPS Next Day Air shipments have a turnaround of 1 business day.
Turnaround Estimates
For domestic turnaround estimates, please see the following graphic:
Domestic Order Packaging
Orders produced and shipped within the U.S. generally travel less ground and are less prone to shipping damage. While we use fewer materials compared to orders travelling across the ocean, our main goal is still to ensure your order arrives as damage-free as possible. Every order has different packing requirements, but most will be wrapped with various materials. We still employ the use of corner protectors when necessary and make sure shipping boxes don’t have any extra space for materials to move freely.
Advanced Concepts
The links in this section will help you learn advanced concepts about offset printing.
PrePress
Learn about the difference between CMYK and RGB, color variance, and pantone/spot color.
Press
Learn about what manufacturing variance is and how it impacts your order.
Post-Press
Learn about board book binding, spiral/wire binding, and safety testing your project.
Specialty Features
Learn about all the specialty features we offer, like foil stamping and spot UV, embossing and debossing, and the cloth/PU leather process. Also learn about endsheets, the die cutting process, and newsprint.
- Endsheets
- Foil Stamping Process
- Spot UV Process
- Emboss/Deboss Process
- Die Cutting Process
- Cloth/PU Leather Process
- Newsprint
Distribution
Learn everything you need to know about getting your project out in the world, like ISBN/barcode requirements, copyright information, library placement, and pricing fluctuations.
After you’ve learned about all of these advanced concepts, you’ll be totally ready to understand the process of offset printing your project with PrintNinja. Have any other questions that aren’t addressed here? Feel free to contact us and our customer service team will be happy to help you.
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Overprinting
Overprinting
Overprinting is an advanced printing technique that should only used by creators who understand how to implement it properly. Overprinting is the process of printing one color on top of another color. When this happens unintentionally, the bottom color can show through the top color and ruin the quality of your printed materials. In Adobe-based programs such as Illustrator and InDesign, objects colored black can have a default setting for overprinting assigned to them. Luckily, you can easily adjust that on your end by following our simple step-by-step video instructions below.
Alternatively, when objects are not set to overprint, the result is a knockout of the color underneath. The color from the bottom artwork layer is unprinted (or “knocked out”), leaving only the color from the top artwork layer. This is the default state of all non-overprinting objects ensuring colors won’t get mixed, muddied, and oversaturated.
Please watch the following video for more details and step-by-step instructions covering how to check for overprinting and turn off overprinting in your artwork:
PLEASE NOTE: Overprinting may not display properly in our electronic proof PDFs unless you have followed the directions highlighted here to adjust your overprint preview settings in Acrobat. Even still, overprinting may not be abundantly obvious on a digital monitor.
Hard copy sheet proofing for printed projects and hard copy proofing for game projects are excellent ways to see in-person if a particular object is set to overprint. Hard copy proofing is always recommended and the peace of mind is a true investment into your overall vision.
CMYK Printing vs RGB Advanced Explanation
So, what is CMYK printing?
Without a doubt the single biggest issue we run into here at PrintNinja arises from confusion about CMYK and RGB.
We address this briefly in our PrintNinja Printing Color Guide, but you’ve reached the advanced version so now it’s time to dig a little bit deeper into the physics behind these two methods of creating color, and explain why it can be so frustrating to try and convert between the two.
PrintNinja Tip
RGB creates colors by blending the three primary colors of light: Red, Green, and Blue. It is used by devices that generate light, such as computer monitors, TVs, or LCD screens.
RGB Color Profiles
RGB is known as an ‘additive’ color profile, because you add the primary colors of light together to create new colors:
Green and Blue light combine to make Cyan
Blue and Red light combine to make Magenta
Red and Green light combine to make Yellow
Red, Green, and Blue light combine to make White
RGB has a very wide color gamut, meaning it can produce many colors, because RGB is actually how our eyes perceive color. We have 3 different kinds of ‘cone’ cells located in our retinas, one each for perceiving Red, Green, and Blue light, and our brain combines the signals these cells receive and interprets them as color.
The key thing to remember about RGB color is that RGB can only be used by devices that generate light.
Printed items obviously don’t generate light, they can only reflect the light that hits them. Thus, they need to use a different color scheme, one based on reflecting light instead of producing it. This is where CMYK comes into play.
PrintNinja Tip
CMYK creates colors by blending four colors of ink: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK (also known as Key). It is used to print in full color on items that reflect light but do not generate it, such as paper and fabric.
CMYK Color Profiles
CMYK is known as a ‘subtractive’ color profile, because each ink removes a primary color of light from any white light that hits it:
Cyan ink reflects Green and Blue light, but not Red
Magenta ink reflects Blue and Red light, but not Green
Yellow ink reflects Red and Green light, but not Blue
This gives us a backwards way to reflect the three primary colors of light via subtraction:
Cyan and Magenta ink combine to only reflect Blue light
Magenta and Yellow ink combine to only reflect Red light
Yellow and Cyan ink combine to only reflect Green light
Starting with a white piece of paper, which reflects every color of light, we can use Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow inks to subtract specific colors of light to make a wide gamut of colors.
Theoretically, combining Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow ink makes black, but because inks are not perfectly aligned to our RGB vision, we also add blacK ink (Key), which reflects no light, to help provide darker tones and truer blacks.
Issue with Converting RGB to CMYK
Because the CMYK profile is forced to subtract light instead of generate it, it cannot produce anywhere near as wide a spectrum of colors as RGB. Especially vivid primary light colors such as pure Red, Green, and Blue will often appear muted or dulled upon conversion to CMYK.
The illustration to the left compares the gamut of colors achievable with several different RGB profiles vs. the much smaller gamut achievable with CMYK.
This is why many creators who work primarily on computers and tablets, and whose work is most often viewed on computers and tablets, (such as webcomics creators) are often disappointed when they see how their colors look after being converted from RGB to CMYK.
This is also why CMYK can be converted to RGB and reproduced fairly accurately on a computer screen (which is what is physically happening when you set your color mode to CMYK in your graphics program), but RGB cannot be converted to CMYK and reproduced accurately on the printed page (which is what happens when you open an RGB image and hit “print” on your computer).
How to Stay in the CMYK Gamut
If you are using Photoshop or InDesign look out for the ‘out-of-gamut’ warning icon (triangle with exclamation point) that pops up in your color picker tool. This tells you that the selected color will not print accurately using CMYK production, offset printing.
Sometimes the program will suggest the closest color within the gamut. Otherwise, for best offset printing results check out this illustrated guide of CMYK values. If you must use the out-of-gamut color, then we suggest printing it as a Pantone color.
How to Work with RGB and CMYK Profiles
Now that you know the differences between CMYK and RGB, the question arises: what is the best way to work?
The answer largely depends on your primary medium. If you’re creating work solely for print, like a flyer or printed program, you’re probably best starting in CMYK and staying there, since your work will never be viewed on a computer screen by anyone but you.
However, if you work in a medium that is primarily digital (like webcomics), working in CMYK to begin with will really limit the colors you have at your disposal, which for most creators is overly restricting.
In many cases, the best strategy is to work in RGB, then before printing, convert your files to CMYK and make adjustments from there to any colors that have shifted in undesirable ways.
Check out PrintNinja’s guide to converting your colors from RGB to CMYK.
Remember, you can’t physically achieve the exact look of your RGB colors using CMYK values, but if you get your colors looking the way you want them in CMYK mode, you’re going to have a much better idea of what your final printed product will actually look like.
Here’s a helpful guide of known CMYK values that produce vibrant results.
So that’s the long story! Remember, PrintNinja also has pre-press experts that review your files, so if you have more questions, you can always give us a call.
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Color Variance
This article is about color variance in the offset printing process.
Due to the complex nature of reproducing a full spectrum of colors by blending 4 colors of ink (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black), all 4-color printing is subject to some small degree of color variance. This means that specific colors may look slightly different from the beginning of a run to the end of the run, and differences become more pronouned between different runs.
4-color offset presses are able to reproduce colors far more consistently than digital or print-on-demand presses, but the blending of inks means that there will always be some variance. This variance is most noticeable between different runs of the same project, as in the photo below:
For individual colors that need to be exactly the same every time (e.g. a corporate logo), the color can be guaranteed by the use of a spot color ink. In this process, instead of using 4 separate colors of inks applied by 4 printing plates, the liquid ink is mixed separately until it exactly matches the desired color, after which it’s applied via a separate printing plate designed to apply only this single color. The specific color to be matched is most commonly specified using the Pantone Color Matching System.
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Pantone Spot Color
This article gives a detailed explanation Pantone spot color.
Sometimes, a specific color must be reproduced exactly the same every time it is printed (for example, a corporate logo). If that color were created through the standard application of 4 separate colors of ink (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) during the 4-color printing process, it would exhibit very slight color variance between different print runs.
The only way to make sure a specific color looks exactly the same every time it is printed is to use what is known as a spot color. When using a spot color, the ink is pre-mixed to match the specified color, and is applied via its own printing plate. The most common way of specifying the exact color to be matched is by using the Pantone Color Matching System:
Because these colors can be made on their own without needing to consist of just Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, the color range of Pantone inks is far wider than the standard CMYK gamut, and it can include specialty inks such as metallic or fluorescent colors. Pantone colors are usually indicated by referring to their code: for example PMS 3245 is a bright, seafoam green.
Using spot colors always adds significant cost to an order, since they require prepress, printing plate manufacturing, press setup, and a press run for the extra color of ink to be applied. Metallic and specialty inks are also more expensive than standard 4 color process inks. However, when you need an exact color for branded materials like logos, or a specialty color that can’t be created by CMYK, they’re a great option.
The book to utilize when selecting your color is the “PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated (or Uncoated if the stock is uncoated)”. It’s important to note that we have a limited standard color selection for metallic inks, neon inks, and pastel inks. You can see the standard metallic ink color selections on this page here. Below are the standard offerings we have for neon and pastel inks:
Pastels
- PMS Yellow 0131
- PMS Red 0331
- PMS Magenta 0521
- PMS Violet 0631
- PMS Blue 0821
- PMS Green 0921
- PMS Black 0961
Neons
- PMS 801 – Neon Blue
- PMS 802 – Neon Green
- PMS 803 – Neon Yellow
- PMS 804 – Neon Orange
- PMS 805 – Neon Red
- PMS 806 – Neon Pink
- PMS 807 – Neon Violet
If you would like a neon or pastel ink outside of our above standard offerings, you will need to reach out to Customer Service or your Account Manager to make sure we can apply your unique color. Be prepared to send along the Pantone PMS color.
Note: Pantone spot color printing is traditionally associated with offset printing, but in some cases digital offset can emulate Pantone colors.
Manufacturing Variance
Learn what manufacturing variance is and why it’s important to understand when printing your project with PrintNinja.
Sheet-fed offset printing quality can’t be beat, but as with any mechanical process, printing, trimming, and binding all exhibit miniscule variances (usually under 1mm) from piece to piece. This is why projects need bleed, for example, so that a cutting variance of 1mm won’t leave unsightly unprinted edges showing. While it’s impossible to avoid, we take all the steps we possible can to make sure your project ends up looking great. It’s also why we include a free 2% overrun – if there are any manufacturing variances you deem too severe, you can discard tem and still be left with the same amount as your original run. Since domestically printed copies can be ordered in any quantity, overrun copies are not included by default. Based on the quantity ordered, some small portions (1-5 copies) may be included and are not guaranteed.
The most obvious and common manufacturing variances can be seen with specialty options such as embossing, debossing, hot foil stamping, and spot UV.
Watch the process of debossing a book cover:
It is difficult to get a spot UV, for example, placed exactly on top of your cover title without some pieces showing a millimeter of variance. It’s not extremely noticeable, but next time you are in your local bookstore take a close look at a few of the titles. Can you spot the variance?
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Board Book Binding
This article explains the process of board book binding.
Board books are books with pages that are each made of thick paperboard rather than thin paper stock. This binding is perfect for children’s books, since the paperboard makes the book durable enough to survive a lot of hands-on attention from small children, while the thick paperboard also makes it easy for little fingers to turn pages without assistance. Most board books also use rounded corners to prevent paper cuts.
The board book binding methodology is not actually technically “binding” at all. Each set of 2 pages is printed, cut, and then glued by hand to blank paperboard. From there, each set of 2 pages is glued together one at a time. Finally, The cover paper is wrapped and glued around the body. Board books traditionally use a laminated finished on all pages, to increase durability and protect them from the intense handling they usually receive when in use.
Because these books are assembled by hand 2 pages at a time, they do not follow the standard page count multiple of 4 rule. Instead your final page count can be an increment of 2.
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Wire and Spiral Binding
This article will teach you about the process of creating wire and spiral binding. Read on to expand your knowledge about this type of binding!
For the process of creating wire or spiral binding, the book block is first trimmed on all four sides. Then, holes are drilled along one side and the pages are secured by either a wire that is clamped through the holes or a spiral that is threaded through the holes.
Because projects using this type of binding do not have to be stapled or sewn through the fold, they do not follow the standard page count multiple of 4 rule. Instead your final page count can be an increment of 2. That is great news if you have a project that has a page count that isn’t a multiple of 4!
This type of binding is most often used for calendars, cookbooks, and activity/workbooks. For all of these types of projects, the wire and spiral binding makes it possible for them to lay flat when open against a surface like a desk, floor, or wall. If you’re printing a project like this, then wire binding might be the right type of binding for you.
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Safety Testing
Safety testing for books is a certification requirement that rises from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The act was intended to make sure that products sold in the US were free from harmful materials. PrintNinja offers safety testing services through third-party labs based in Hong Kong. We offer the service for books as well as for games.
Our domestic paper stock is sourced and purchased from third party paper vendors. While a large majority of our stock is FSC Certified, we cannot confirm that it has been tested in a lab to meet CPSC or a similar governing body’s safety standards. In the event safety testing is required for your product, please note that PrintNinja is currently unable to offer this service for projects printed through our domestic digital print service. If you require safety testing for an order produced domestically, you will need to find a safety testing facility suitable to your certification needs.
Safety testing for books is most commonly required when your book or game is targeted to a young demographic, especially when connected with anticipated distribution through a book retailer. Our board book printing customers, for instance, often submit samples for testing.
Games – especially those targeted to children under 13 years of age – will likely require additional testing or certifications. Games often use small pieces – dice, small tokens, even custom miniatures – that present choking hazards to young children. If you want to market a game to children, you may need to test to additional US standards so that your game is considered safe. Without testing, games can only be labeled for ages 13 and up. (It’s clearly better to design with the tests in mind, because it’s very expensive to fail a test for a game piece that you have tooled up and purchase many thousands of before you get into testing!)
If you are targeting distribution in Europe for books or games, you may also want additional safety tests to verify that your game meets all CE marking requirements.
All of that said – we have never had a product fail a safety test. The likelihood that a printed book would fail a test is quite low. The materials that are used in printing today simply aren’t the kind of materials that are subject to contamination from lead, phtalates, or other dangerous compounds.
The attachment below is an example of the output of a safety testing for books request that we performed in 2017. The test was for a board book, and the output is representative of the output that satisfies insurance companies and distribution partners.
Sample pdf of toxicity testing results.
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Endsheets
Endsheets, or endleaves, refer to the pages at the beginning and end of hardcover books with at least 60 pages. They are typically made of a 105lb uncoated paperstock that fortifies hardcover books and adds durability. Endsheets are printed as a two-sheet spread. One side of the spread is glued down on the inside back and inside front cover of your book:
When getting a quote or preparing your project files, remember that endsheets do not count toward your interior page count. However, they need to be included in your interior page file. The endsheets should be the first three pages and the last three pages of your interior page file. Let’s say you have a project that is 64 pages. Your interior page document should include 70 pages. Pages 1-3 are the front endsheets and pages 68-70 are the back endsheets. This leaves 64 additional pages, hence, your final page count of 64. Check out this link to an example page file (PDF).
Endsheets can make counting your interior pages a little tricky, so if you need some extra help, check out our video guide here!
When Endsheets Aren’t Needed
Casebound books under 60 pages don’t include endsheets unless requested through a custom quote. If your casebound book does not have endsheets, the pages glued to the hardcover case will be your inside front and back covers:
Regardless of whether or not your casebound project includes endsheets, or traditional inside covers, printing is included! Endsheet pages and inside covers are typically left blank, printed with a solid color or a pattern, but the design is totally up to you!
Fabric and Endsheets
Hardcover books are also reinforced with fabric, known as the super. The super is glued to the spine during the binding process to strengthen the spine and prevent pages from tearing. In the image to the right you can see the fabric underneath the endsheet lining the spine for added strength.
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Foil Stamping Process
This article will teach you about the hot foil stamping process.
Hot foil stamping is the application of adding metallic material to a project using heat and pressure.
A key player in the foil stamping process is the hot foil machine. Hot foil machines are run manually by an operator who makes sure each project gets stamped correctly. The operator measures the project and places markers on the machine’s platform in a formation that allows the project to be slipped snugly inside. The formation also takes into account where the foil stamp needs to be placed. Once everything is set up, pieces are hand fed into the machine one by one until each piece has been stamped.
Foil stamping uses a heated metal die to transfer the metallic material; your digital art file is used to create this die, so all pieces will be stamped with the same shape.
While foil stamping is offered by PrintNinja for international orders, we cannot currently utilize foil stamping for domestic printing, Foil sleeking is a similar option that we are currently looking into. We hope that down the road we will be able to add this popular and attention-grabbing feature to projects produced here in the U.S.!
Sequential Foil Numbering
Sequential foil uses a specific machine, as seen to the right. Instead of using a single die, these machines use a die with a rotating numbered head so that each piece gets its own unique number.
Hot foil stamping process in action
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Spot UV Process
This article explains the spot UV process.
Spot UV is a liquid varnish applied on top of the printed surface that creates a high-gloss shine. Sometimes called a spot gloss, spot UV can be placed on top of an image such as a logo or title to make it pop out against a matte or uncoated background. It’s a great specialty option to add on to your project and can really make your printed piece stand out from the crowd – the juxtaposition of matte and high gloss makes your project look luxe.
The spot UV varnish is applied using the same offset printing method as your printed pieces. A clean ink fountain in the printing press is filled with the spot UV varnish and a new plate with the spot gloss image is inserted. The printed parent sheets are run through the press and then exposed to ultraviolet light hardening the varnish. What results is a beautiful effect!
When spot UV is applied to a spot without any printing underneath, it is known as a ‘blind’ Spot UV. This is a super cool effect – we especially like using this specialty option on card and board game boxes.
Spot UV is not currently an option available for domestically printed projects, but we hope to offer this incredible option in the future.
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Emboss/Deboss Process
This article gives a detailed explanation of the emboss/deboss process.
Embossing is the raising of one section of a design above the rest, causing that area of the cover to stick out. Debossing is the lowering of one section of a design below the rest, creating a sunken-in look and feel. This feature adds texture and depth to projects and is often used in combination with other specialty options such as foil stamping.
For the first step of the emboss/deboss process, a custom die is created. The die is installed into a deboss/emboss machine, and markers are set up to ensure alignment. Once the markers are added the operator runs the press and the die is pressed into your project. The high pressure and heat cause the material to drop around or in the shape of the die – your design.
While Emboss/Deboss is available for international orders, it is not currently an option available for domestically printed projects. We hope to offer this incredible option domestically in the future.
Watch the emboss/deboss process on a book’s title
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Die Cutting Process
The die cutting process is a way to create unique shapes in material. It’s often used artistically on covers to cut windows into a book or on interior pages to create flaps, pop-up structures or interesting shapes. Read on to learn more about the process.
A die, in simplest terms, is a set of steel blades forming the shape of your cut. The die cutting process starts with the creation of the die. Simple shapes like circles and squares are easy, but if your design needs a unique shape then a new die must be made, which can be costly – since our vendors may not have these unique shapes already in stock. Once the die is ready, it’s positioned on a wood block and installed into the press. The tech will measure out the placement of paper underneath the die and cut a few trial sheets to make sure the shape looks as it is supposed to and that there are no issues with the die. The die is then pressed into the material with heavy pressure making the cut.
Short video of a box being die cut
This video demonstrates the die cutting process in action, showing you a box being die cut.
Dies are used at our domestic print facility and are a crucial part of the card and tuck box printing process. We have dies custom-made for each of the card sizes as well as tuck boxes of various thicknesses, which is necessary due to the wide range of card counts. Those dies are installed on the large magnetic drums inside our rotary die cutting machine.
Short video of cards being cut from a rotary die in our domestic facility
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Cloth/PU Leather
Read on to learn about how cloth/PU leather hardcover cases are manufactured and the restrictions of printing on them.
For a unique look and feel, it’s possible to make the hardcover case for a casebound book using cloth or leather instead of printed paper. It’s most common to use faux-leather polyurethane (PU) instead of actual leather, although some companies may offer real leather binding as well. If you want to keep things vegetarian-friendly, however, cloth/PU leather is a great option to choose.
These books are made the same way as standard casebound books, just using cloth or faux leather wrapped around grey board. Casebinding, commonly referred to as hardcover binding, involves the construction of an exterior case made of cardboard wrapped with paper – in this case, we would use cloth/PU leather in place of paper. Casebinding is a more complicated process compared to other typical types of binding like softcover or saddle-stitch, but your book is safe in PrintNinja’s expert hands.
It’s important to note that it’s not possible to print on cloth or faux leather with the offset press, so if you want an image or word on your cover, foil stamping is a good alternative.
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Newsprint
The creators of many projects that we work on want to mimic the feel of old-fashioned newsprint. Golden-age comics were made on newsprint, and it has an undeniably artsy quality with its imperfections and tendency to yellow over time.
To be as cost-effective as possible for newspapers (which are designed to be thrown away), it is very thin, low-quality paper with the tendency to oxidize and tear very easily. In fact, it’s so thin that you generally need to use a web press to print it, since the paper would be too thin to go through a sheet-fed press when cut into parent sheets. This means that it’s not possible to use newsprint for most runs of under 10,000 pieces. Plus, you might run into some unhappy customers when your project falls apart before your customer even gets to read it!
However, by using an uncoated paper stock and designing a bit of discoloration into your project, you can get all of the benefits of the newsprint look while keeping the durability and quality of a thicker sheet-fed paper stock, as in the below project:
Using this newsprinting design instead of actual newsprint is a great way to get a vintage feel without vintage durability. This design strategy can be employed for both international offset orders and domestic.
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Do I Need An ISBN?
Do I need an ISBN? It’s a question that we get all the time. For most people, the answer is “definitely.” A single International Standard Book Number is $125 (at the time of this writing) and is an excellent investment in your publishing future.
Basically, an ISBN is not required for face-to-face sales, sales on your own website, distribution to crowdfunding backers, etc. It is, however, required by bookstores, Amazon, book distributors like Diamond, Baker & Taylor, libraries, and so on. (Your friendly local comic book shop or local coffee shop might buy a few of your copies as a kind of community benefit.)
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is required for each version of your book: new editions, softcover and hardcover versions all need a unique identifier. The only place to purchase your own ISBN is www.bowker.com. Barcodes can be generated for free using this tool.
When designing your cover or dust jacket, you can put the barcode and International Standard Book Number wherever you want, so be sure to include them in your art when you submit your files. Just make sure it’s 300dpi and 100% black on a white background (ideally a vector PDF file). Otherwise, it may appear too blurry to scan.
If you have a hardcover book with a cloth or faux leather cover, you can opt to put the ISBN on a dust jacket or on a sticker on the outside of shrink wrap. (We’ve done both.)
Given the above, if you think that you want to give online distribution a try, the $125 fee is a small price to pay!
Copyright and Trademarks
This article is about copyright and trademarks and how they impact the printing of your project.
Copyright
A copyright protects original works of authorship. Before you begin distributing your books, you will need to register for copyright protection. A copyright exists the moment your work is created. However, you need to register your copyright through the Library of Congress, who records your copyright claim and the date of its creation. This registration is public information and will hold up in the court of law.
Fan art is more complicated when it comes to copyright law. If your work falls into this category, be safe and make sure you understand the law.
Trademark
Trademarks protect items that define your artwork such as your title, words, phrases, symbols and logos on your book. Unlike a copyright, that exsists the moment art is created, a trademark must be applied for. Be aware that this can be a lengthy and expensive process, and that trademarks require continuous commercial use to keep in force.
Registered Trademark
The R symbol stands for a registrated trademark. As soon as you sumbit your application for a trademark you may use the TM symbol on your project. Only when your application has been approved, or registered, can you use the R symbol.
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Library Placement
A great way to get your book in front of consumers is through library placement, a market that’s not as easily accessible for indie authors as you may believe. Librarians do not have a reliable source for finding suitable self-published books for their library, so it’s up to you to prove your books are quality products that fit their collection.
Avoid reinforcing the self-publisher stereotype by dumping your books into the donation bin. First, you’re better than that! Second, those books do not get the treatment you want—they end up on a sale shelf when you want your book to be prominently displayed, front and center. Instead, find the appropriate person (typically in the Collection Development or Acquisitions Department) to contact, and ask about the proper steps to donate your project or pitch your book for order.
If you want your book to be ordered rather then donated, you will likely need a level of credibility attached to your name. The best way to do this is through reviews. Try to get trade publications, blogs or social media leaders talking about your book. Send established blogs your book for free in exchange for a published review. There are many routes you can take, so get creative!
It’s important to note that genre does make a difference. Writing a genre that has a lot of consumer demand, such as adult fiction, makes it easier for librarians to see the value in your project, whereas a Trading Spaces makeover book may appear outdated and will likely be dropped from the shelf. The more potential for circulation your book offers, the longer the shelf life it will recieve.
Before taking any of these steps, however, make sure a library placement program is right for your project. There may be better options available for you to get your book in the hands of consumers, so explore your options before committing to any one distribution or publicity strategy.
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Pricing Fluctuations
This article expains pricing fluctuations and how they will impact your project.
You may have noticed that quotes you recieve from printers almost always have expiration dates. Some printers won’t even quote your shipping until after your project has printed, leaving you with uncertainty about your total costs – which is not a good feeling! PrintNinja not only allows you to lock in your quote for 90 days. Not only that, but we also quote your shipping right up front so there are no surprises later – so you can rest easy knowing that what you see is what you get.
Pricing fluctuations are a result of the constantly-shifting nature of so many aspects of the printing business, not to mention the extra fluctuations that come with international commerce and logistics when printing overseas. Here are just a few of the factors that can change costs across the industry:
- Labor rates in China
- Material costs (such as paper and ink)
- Logistics costs (including ocean shipping rates, ground shipping rates, surcharges, and fuel costs)
- Currency fluctuations (which significantly alter the costs of importing and exporting on a regular basis)
Understanding these factors will help you understand your quote from PrintNinja.
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Glossary
B
Barcodes– Black and white bars that hold information about your project, including price.
Binding– The assembly of separate pages into a finished book or booklet by adhering the edges together by smyth sewing, gluing, or stapling.
Bleed– The area past the trim line used to conceal cutting variances for artwork that extends to the edge of the page.
Board Books– Special type of children’s book that uses thick paperboard.
C
Case Binding– Binding method for hardcover books, with a cover that is made out of a strong board material called a case.
CMYK– The four color values used in offset printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (also known as “key”).
Collation– The process of organizing pages together in number order to produce a book body.
Color Bar– A strip of colors printed in the trim area of a parent sheet that press operators use to verify color balance.
Color Variance– Slight differences in color between runs and within a run that is inherent in the offset printing process.
Copyright– A protection of your original work of authorship.
Computer-To-Plate (CTP)– Plate producing technology that uploads images to a software application that outputs images directly onto a printing plate using lasers.
D
Debossing– Using high pressure on paper to give a “sunken in” look in order to emphasize parts of a design with texture and depth.
Die Cutting– A specialty feature that creates unique shapes with steel blades that cut through paper.
Digital Offset – A type of printing press or method of printing utilizing key features from both digital printing and offset printing.
Duties– Import fees charged based on the contents of your shipment, transportation mode, and destination.
E
Electronic Proof– File review by a pre-press expert who generates a PDF proof with printer’s marks.
Embossing– Raising parts of a sheet of paper with high pressure in order to emphasize parts of a design with texture and depth.
G
Gloss– A coating that adds a reflective shine to paper.
H
Hard Copy Proof– Printed pages of your project using the same materials as your final product to produce an example before printing.
Hot Foil Stamping/Sequential Foil Numbering– Specialty options that use heat to transfer metallic foil onto a printed sheet.
I
Image Setter– Compartment found in the computer-to-plate machine where laser beams bounce off mirrors onto the plate to output the image.
Imposition– A custom layout that fits as many pages as possible on a single parent sheet to decrease waste.
Impression Cylinder– A rotating cylinder in the press machine that applies pressure to paper as ink is being rolled onto the surface.
Ink Fountain– Fountains in the printing press that distribute ink onto a roller.
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)– A number pertaining to your book that distributors use to sell and track your product.
L
Lamination– A film applied to a printed sheet to protect the printed surface. Comes in two styles, gloss or matte.
Library Placement– Distribution technique where your books are circulated through libraries.
M
Manufacturing Variance– Very slight differences between copies within a print run: inherent in the offset printing process.
Matte– A coating that gives a dull shine to paper.
O
Offset Printing– High quality way to produce larger quantities of printed pieces cost-effectively.
P
Pagination– The process of arranging pages for a book.
Pantone Matching System– A universal color matching system that is categorized by numbers.
Paper Coating– A coating applied during paper manufacturing for appearance purposes such as gloss, matte, or uncoated.
Paper Finishes– Liquid applied after the printing process to provide protection for ink such as varnish, lamination or no finish.
Paper Weight– The thickness of paper stock.
Parent Sheets– Large pre-cut sheets of paper that are fed one at a time into a sheet-fed printing press.
Perfect Binding (softcover)– Binding method used for trade paperbacks and softcover books, results in books with a square spine.
Plates– A metal sheet installed into the press that indicates where ink will transfer onto paper.
Print-On-Demand (POD)– Digital printing methodology that prints books on an as-needed basis.
PrePress– Everything in the production of a print project that happens before the project goes to press (file review, proofing, imposition, plate manufacturing).
Printer’s Marks– Marks placed on your digital files or printed sheets that determine different elements such as trim, center, registration, color.
Printing Press– Machine that uses a series of plates that transfer ink onto sheets of paper.
Proofs– A proof is a presentation of your file’s quality either digitally or printed.
R
Registration– The process of precisely lining up CMYK colors so that their overlap produces one single color.
RGB– Color model where red, green, and blue light are used to create a variety of colors.
Rubber Blanket– Rubber sheet in the printing press that transfers ink to paper.
S
Saddle Stitching– Simplest binding method in which pages are folded and stapled together.
Sheet-Fed Printing Press– A printing press that uses pre-cut sheets of paper that are fed through the printing press one sheet at a time.
Signature– Folded parent sheets of eight, sixteen, or thirty-two pages.
Smyth Sewing– A sewing process that threads signatures together to create a book body by sewing through the fold of the signatures.
Spot Color– Special pre-mixed ink, often specified by use of a PMS (Pantone Matching System) color number.
Spot UV/Spot Gloss– A liquid varnish that can be applied to provide a high-gloss shine.
T
Trim Marks– Marks that show where pages will be trimmed.
Trimming– The cutting of the three sides of your book to remove registration marks and color bars, to give the book smooth edges, and to open folded pages.
U
Uncoated– Paper that does not have a matte or gloss coating and therefore feels raw and natural.
V
Varnish– A type of liquid finish applied to a printed sheet to protect the ink. Comes in two styles, gloss or matte.
W
Web Press Printing Machine– A printing press that use a roll of paper that is continuously fed through the press.
PrintNinja Process
Want to know what happens when you place an order with us? Check out all these links for information on how your project goes from dream to reality when you print with us. With information on our Satisfaction Pledge, how we determine the quote for your project, and how your project is packaged and shipped to you, you’ll understand the PrintNinja process works.
The PrintNinja Process
Still have more questions about the PrintNinja process? Feel free to reach out to us. Just give us a call or an email and one of our friendly customer service ninjas will answer all the questions you have. We can help you figure out how best to create your project, and answer any concerns about pricing or quoting that you might have.
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Satisfaction Pledge
At PrintNinja, we believe you should know exactly how we can ensure your happiness as a valued client – and that’s why we provide our PrintNinja guarantee.
Our Promise
When you place an order with us, the final result will be accurate to the specifications found in your quote and be constructed with the best possible methods using only the highest quality materials.
If anything on our end of the process does not match what you chose, we’ll make it right with a refund or reprint, with the exceptions outlined in the section below.
On projects where only a portion of the order is affected, such as damage during shipping, we reserve the right to offer a prorated refund or reprint reflective of the amount of copies damaged.
For a visual breakdown with tips on how to ensure the best results for your project — and what to do if something doesn’t end up as expected, check out the visual guide below:
We trust you to bring us exactly what you want, and you can trust us to make it happen. That’s how our PrintNinja guarantee works.
Some Exceptions
Even the smallest, most straightforward printing job is made up of several unique elements that can’t all be considered equal when it comes to customer satisfaction. Because of this, there are a few exceptions to what we can guarantee.
Color Matching
Due to the variances inherent in the color offset printing process, we cannot guarantee the colors on your final project will match what you see on your monitor or your own test copies.
The way to get the best idea of how your colors will come out is a hardcopy proof, but even then projects will exhibit small color variances due to the nature of 4-color (full color CMYK) process printing.
We also kindly ask that all files be submitted in CMYK format. If not, RGB colors will be converted during the proofing process which will result in changes to the colors’ appearance.
Prepress Check Overrides
PrintNinja prides itself on our extensive series of prepress checks, which are designed to catch the vast majority of common technical (non-creative) printing issues.
You may send your project to press without fixing the issues PrintNinja has brought to your attention, but if you choose to do so then we cannot cover any problems that arise from those issues with our guarantee.
Delivery Dates
Due to fluctuations in weather, port conditions, and random customs inspections, we can never guarantee exact delivery dates for standard shipments. All turnaround times given are approximations.
For expedited shipments, we have a Premium Expedited option that can bring the 1-week expedited turnaround down to about 3 days. These shipments must be custom quoted and your timeline must be confirmed with your account manager before your order is placed.
Creative Decisions
Your project’s words and images, and how they’re organized and prepared for production, are a matter of your own creative decisions.
While our team of printing experts can work with you to resolve certain graphic and layout issues before printing, we honor the idea that the content and design you finally submit to us is exactly what you want to us to produce.
Because of this, our PrintNinja guarantee does not cover typos or any other content-related problems, and PrintNinja does not check for these issues in our prepress checks.
Delay in Reporting Damages
Upon delivery a full inspection of your products should be conducted. If a manufactyring error is discovered, please reach out so we can fix the issue. However if it’s been more than 90 days past the delivery of your goods, any defects discovered will not be covered by our policies.
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International vs. Domestic
When PrintNinja was started in 2009, all of our printing came out of our partner facilities in Shenzhen, China. Over the years, we realized that some customer needs, such as low-quantity orders or superfast turnaround, just couldn’t be accomplished by printing only in China. So, in 2022, we expanded our offerings and started a printing facility right outside of Chicago, Illinois.
Whether your order is printed in China or the U.S., you’ll still receive the same high quality product and customer service that PrintNinja customers know and love. While there may be certain cases that might vary, here are some basic guidelines on what is printed in each location.
Your order will probably be printed in China if…
- It’s over 500 units. The traditional offset press used in our Chinese vendor’s facilities requires a lengthy and intricate setup that takes both time and cost, therefore, it’s not economically feasible to use it for orders under 500 units.
- You’re making a casebound book, a board book, or a board game. We don’t currently have the machinery required for these types of projects in our Illinois facility, but as we grow, we hope to better match our international offering.
Your order will probably be printed in the U.S. if…
- It’s under 500 units. The digital offset press that we use in our U.S. facility has virtually no set-up time or setup cost, making it the perfect option for low quantity orders.
- You need a superfast turnaround. Since orders printed in the U.S. don’t require ocean travel (if they’re shipping to a domestic address), domestically printed projects have a much quicker turnaround time than projects printed in China.
No matter where your project is printed, PrintNinja can’t wait to provide you with top-notch customer service and amazing printing quality.
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Quoting Options
At PrintNinja we believe in providing no-nonsense quoting options, which is why we strive to make the process as automated and easy as possible without sacrificing communication. We have a few quoting options below that you can explore further to learn which is best for your project and how to request them. In fact, for many of our options, we provide unique calculators that can provide you with instant quotes. For extremely complex options, you can reach out to us and we’ll provide you a custom quote. No matter which of our quoting options you choose, a PrintNinja account representative (a.k.a. one of our friendly customer service ninjas) will reach out to provide personal assistance. Click on the photos below to learn more.
Quoting Options
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Still have questions about the quoting process? Feel free to reach out via phone or email and we will help you answer any questions you may have about our quoting options.
Calculator Quote
Our online instant quote calculator is the best way for you to get a quote for your project. Our PrintNinja IT team built this calculator in-house, which gives us the power to improve upon it constantly. We are always working on ways to add more specialty options and create a better user experience. It can handle all basic book options and a handful of specialty options. To get started you will find the “Get A Quote” button in the upper right hand corner of our website.
How To Use Our Calculator
Once on our calculator page you can fill in your project needs from top to bottom. There are 6 sections: binding, size, cover, inside pages, quantity, and proofing. When all 6 sections are filled in, this is the big moment, you may select the “Calculate” button at the bottom of the page. You will be directed back to the top where you will find your product cost in the right hand sidebar, as seen below. You can use the calculator as many times and for as many options as you would like, so don’t be shy.
We encourage you to play around and see how different options affect your price. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Double check your specs and make sure you have an understanding of the material you’ve selected.
Shipping Calculation
Under the product price you will see a shipping price section. Currently the calculator can handle shipping cost for any packages sent to the United States and Canada*. Fill in your zip or postal code and select the “calculate shipping” button. If the final destination is in another country you can select the appropriate location from the dropdown menu to alert us that we need to provide you with a custom shipping quote.
*With the door-to-door calculated price to Canada, you will notice a 6% import fee, this includes all duties and taxes.
The “calculate shipping” button will unveil a standard and expedited shipping section, as seen above. If you want standard shipping then click the bubble before “Standard”. If you would like to see a price for expedited shipping then fill in the blank box with the number of books you would like expedited. Click “submit” and select the bubble to see the price added to your total, as seen below.
This is your grand total. You will also see a break down of cost showing how much of your grand total is shipping and in this case a 10% sales tax, since the order is being shipped to Illinois. Once you have a price you are happy with we suggest clicking the “Lock in this Price for 90 days” button. Due to price fluctuation, it’s common that cost can shift on a monthly basis.
If you are raring to go you can select, “Place your order online now” and then celebrate!
Specialty Add-ons box
Adding Specialty Options
We have a handful of specialty options programed into the calculator, but there are many options whose cost depends on your order size. If you want to add a specialty option that is not visible on the calculator, you can do so by clicking on the “Lock in this Price for 90 days”, that will display a red box, as seen to the right. Fill in the “Specialty Add-ons” text box to your heart’s content!
No Clue What To Select?
If you are struggling to choose material, sizes, paper weights then click on the learn more links. They will provide unlimited information on each specific option. We also suggest visiting our Industry Standards page to view a list of sample material and sizes that you would find in your local book or comic store.
Sample Packs
Our last recommendation is to order one of our standard sample packs by visiting our standard sample pack page. We also offer our deluxe sample pack if you have specific samples that you would like to see.
If An Option Isn’t Appearing
9 out of 10 times if an option isn’t appearing it’s because the combination you are selecting isn’t possible. For example, 10 pt. paper is not an interior option on the calculator unless you have spiral or wire binding selected. The calculator is wise, trust the calculator.
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Game Quote
This article will teach you more about the game quote process.
PrintNinja characterizes games into two broad categories. “Card Games” and “Board Games.” If your game is cards and a box, you can instantly calculate the prices on our card game calculator. If your game is a classic “board game” with a board, play pieces, cards, instructions, a big box, and so on, please continue to our board game section for information about generating a budgetary quote.
PrintNinja Tip
It may take some time to get all of the pricing together (sometimes as long as a week or so for complex projects) but our ninjas will send it to you as soon as it's received.
Below is a walkthrough of specs that you’ll come across on the quote forms, it may help to consider these answers before using our request forms.
Basics
How many units would you like to order?
We require a minimum of 500 units for board game orders.
Where would you like these games shipped?
To provide you with an accurate quote we need, at least, the zip code of the final destination.
Would you like electronic or a hard copy proof?
We offer electronic and hard copy proofs for custom games. However, we do not create standalone prototypes of board games without a full production run. Single copies of games can be ordered through our domestic print service but is limited to poker and tarot size cards, and tuck box components.
Card Games
We can produce a variety of sizes. The most commonly used size is the poker card 2.5″ x 3.5″. We offer Poker, Tarot, Bridge, Euro and tons more, just ask! Domestically, we have poker and tarot size cards available. Custom size cards can be ordered but will not have rounded corners and are limited to shrink wrap as a packaging option, tuck boxes cannot be produced for custom size cards ordered domestically.
PrintNinja Tip
If your game requires a unique size we may need to make a custom die, which can be expensive. If you are trying to be cost effective we recommend choosing a size that we currently offer.
How many cards do you need in a deck?
We can fit 55 poker sized cards on a parent sheet for international offset orders.
Domestic digital-offset orders card count will vary based on your chosen card stock. Most stocks can fit 18 poker cards per sheet and 12 tarot cards per sheet. Our Black Core Standard option can only fit 16 poker cards per sheet and 10 tarot cards per sheet.
For International Offset orders, if your game requires 65 cards than we will have to use another parent sheet, as poker cards can only fit 55 per sheet, so those extra 10 cards will increase the price quite a bit. It might be worth it to pair down your cards if possible. Just make sure not to sacrifice playability!
PrintNinja Tip
If you are trying to be cost-conscious the best way to save money is by matching the number of cards in your game to a multiple of the number of cards that fit on a single parent sheet.
What type of material would you like your cards to be made from?
For international orders, 280gsm blue core is our most commonly used option and is what you will commonly see in games on the shelf of your local game store. We also offer coreless 350gsm stock, plastic PVC cards, as well as an imported 330gsm black core stock that is primarily used for casino-quality cards.
Here in the U.S. we have 260gsm coreless standard, 240gsm black core standard, 270gsm linen stock, 12mil plastic rigid vinyl stock and 13pt (255gsm) Silver Foil Stock.
What finish type and style would you like applied to your cards?
There are two types, varnish or lamination. Most cards have a varnish, but if you need your cards to be water resistant then lamination is your best bet. For additional protection, we also offer plastic PVC cards to make your game completely waterproof.
There are a few style choices, gloss, matte, and gloss or matte linen. Most cards you play with have a gloss style. Linen is a textured effect added after the finish is applied and is commonly found on playing cards.
Do you need packaging?
You probably need a box. We can determine the correct size but let us know if you want a tuck box, deck box or a two piece box. If you want your cards arranged specifically, such as 3 rows of 36 cards each, then let us know and we can create the right size packaging. Please note that domestic box options are currently limited to tuck boxes and shrink wrap only.
PrintNinja Tip
There is a 110 card limit for tuck boxes. If you have more cards you will need to request a deck box or two-piece box.
Color?
Let us know if you would like to print in full color CMYK or in black and white. Additionally, you can add on specialty options like metallic ink or spot (Pantone) colors!
Board Games
Typically table top games come with a board but we also offer rubber playing mats, paperboard tiles and other surfaces.
What size is your board or playing surface?
We can print boards of all sizes! The preferred unit of measurement is inches.
Do you need your board to fold?
We can create half-folds, quarter-folds etc. so that your packaging can be more compact.
What finish type and style would you like on your board?
The finish types are varnish or lamination, most games use a varnish. If you need a water resistant board then lamination is a better choice. Style options are gloss or matte, this is a creative choice, but most games use gloss.
PrintNinja Tip
Pieces
There are an infinite amount of components that can make up a board game. Here are a few common options we offer.
For most pieces we will need to know these four measurements:
How many of each piece do you need?
What size do you need your pieces to be?
What color pieces do you need?
We offer many stock colors including black, blue, green, red, white, yellow, and more! Standard color options vary based on the piece material.
PrintNinja Tip
If you need another color we can supply that but it will be more expensive than using colors we have in stock.
What material would you like your pieces made out of?
For most pieces we offer wood, plastic, or resin. We also offer marbles, stones, timers, spinners, markers, and more!
Keep in mind some pieces require additional information, like dice:
- Number of sides? 6, 12, 20 etc.
- Face type? Pips, numbered etc.
Instruction Booklet
What size do you need your booklet to be?
We can do multi-page booklets or a single front and back sheet of paper.
PrintNinja Tip
There are many creative ways to get around the instruction book. If your game requires cards many creators will add an extra card to their deck with printed instructions. If your order contains a two piece box you can print your instructions on your packaging.
How many pages do you need?
Just like printing a book the more pages you have the more expensive your project will be.
What size would you like your booklet?
Please make sure your size is able to fit inside your packaging.
Domestically printed instructions are limited to the size of the tuckboxes housing the cards of your game. Booklets and Accordion instructions will be poker or tarot size and folded sheet instructions will be a maximum of 7” x 8.5 (poker size unfolded) and 8.5” x 11” (tarot size unfolded). Folded down, those will have measurements of 2.125” x 3.5” and 2.75” x 4.25”.
What type of binding?
For international orders, saddle-stitching is the most common binding, but perfect, spiral/wire, and unbound accordion folding are available options as well.
For domestic orders, binding type options are limited to Folded Sheet, Accordion, and Booklet styles.
What paperweight and finish do you need?
A lighter paperweight (55lb, 70lb) works great, but if your instructions will be handled often then we suggest a heavier weight (85lb, 105lb) for more durability. 80lb or 100lb text would work well if you want a slightly thicker stock for domestically printed instructions.
What type and style of finish do you need?
The finish types are varnish or lamination, most instructions use a varnish. If you need a water resistant booklet then lamination is a better choice. Style options are gloss or matte, this is a creative choice.
Sample Pack Request
If you are unsure how to answer some of these questions then request a sample pack. Be specific when telling us what you are looking for so we can customize a package to answer your particular questions.
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Custom Quote
For complex projects that cannot be quoted using our online calculator, we offer our custom quoting form. Before using this form, see if our online quote calculator can handle your project. The online calculator will provide you with a quicker – and often less expensive – quote.
Though most requests and research can be handled on our online pricing calculators, PrintNinja is happy to provide a custom printing quote when our calculators can’t quite capture the intent or vision of the user. (It happens all the time!)
Maybe you want a book with special die cuts or pages with tabs inserted. Maybe you need books with a gate fold or spot coloring on some of the interior pages. We can help with all of those requests – PrintNinja is a full custom printer and we enjoy custom projects. It’s one of the things that sets us apart from other printers. The situations above will require conversations with our account managers. Those conversations help us understand exactly what you’re looking for and whether we can supply it.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our calculator then contact us through the custom price quote form. Consult our calculator page to make sure you are providing all the information we need.
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Most custom quotes take approximately 1 week for us to price.
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Freight Forwarding Quote
For very large or heavy orders, PrintNinja can often decrease your shipping cost by using our network of third party freight forwarders.
How To Request A Freight Quote
You can request a freight quote through our online calculator. Once you input all the information for your project and calculate your shipping cost you will see an estimated shipping weight, as seen to the right. If the weight is higher than 2500 lbs the calculator will provide a freight forwarding option. If your weight is lower then 2500lbs, our standard or expedited shipping is perfect for your project.
PrintNinja Tip
Freight quotes take us approximately 1 week to price.
What’s The Difference?
Our ‘standard’ shipping option goes via an ocean shipping pathway provided by UPS. All of our standard orders come in to the USA through our port in California and then are split out and shipped to you via UPS Ground and UPS LTL services.
However, with heavier or larger orders (typically over 2 cubic meters in size or 2500lbs in weight), it can be much more cost-effective to use a company known as a freight forwarder that will choose the most efficient combination of ocean, truck, and rail to get your shipment directly to you from the factory in China.
Because the route taken will vary widely depending on the size of the order and the destination, all freight forwarding quotes must be custom quoted.
The Downsides:
- Freight forwarding typically takes an extra week to arrive compared to our standard shipping option.
- There are no tracking numbers available with a freight forwarding company as there are with UPS, FedEx, or DHL.
The Upsides:
- Make no mistake, once your order gets above 2 cubic meters in size, we can save you a lot of money by using our freight forwarding network. Almost all of our very large orders use this option.
See if your order weighs more than 2500 lbs.
When you configure your project on our calculator, you may see a warning on our shipping page indicating that your project requires a custom shipping quote. If so, you can still save your printing quote, but we will follow up about a custom quote for freight forwarding.
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Turnaround Times
Standard Turnaround Times
Check out our guide on calculating your turnaround time for inernational orders here:
For turnaround time estimates for international orders, please see the below graphic:
Prepress Time Detail
Proofing, production, and shipping are three separate processes. Once you have paid and uploaded your files and we receive them, you will get a digital proof the next business day before we close. Files sent after hours or over the weekend are received on the following business day. We will work with you until your proof is right; sometimes this takes several times back and forth. We recommend you budget a week to make sure your files are correct and ready for press, but this can vary based on your experience and ability to make fixes to your files. Once digital proofing is complete we will create any physical proofs or press hardcopy proof sheets you have ordered. (Book hardcopy proof sheets take two weeks to produce and ship, and game and board book hardcopy proof sheets take 3 weeks.) Once proofing is complete and you approve the proofs we proceed to production.
Production Time Detail
Production turnaround times start from the day you go to press, which is usually one to two days after you approve your final proof. Production varies based on project type, project complexity, binding type, and project size. The timeline estimates above are for modest sized orders (fewer than 2000 units) with average complexity. While we are usually well inside these timeline estimates, getting your book right is the main priority. If you have a large order, many specialty options, or a high page count please anticipate a longer production timeline.
Once your order is printed and bound our Quality Control staff inspect a random sampling of your order and confirm it matches your proofs. We then pack them and ship them according to the method or methods you have paid for.
Shipping Time Detail
Shipping is where you have control. Domestic orders ship via UPS; we can offer Ground shipping, 2nd Day Air shipping and Next Day Air shipping. For international orders, we offer budget shipping via ocean container and that takes 6-8 weeks after your book is finished printing. We also offer expedited shipping via air freight that takes 7-10 days after production. You can ship via one or both of these methods, and our international book and card calculators can give you an instant price for splitting your shipment in this way. These timelines are also estimates, and PrintNinja does not have control of customs, port strikes, ocean currents, and other rare occurrences that can extend your shipping time.
PrintNinja always recommends padding your timeline and ordering as early as you are able. While we will do all we can to meet a requested timeline, we cannot offer guarantees, and we never want to sacrifice the quality of your project. Our estimates are just that, estimates, and while the majority of our projects fall within those listed turnaround times, delays are possible when custom manufacturing your unique book or game.
Requested Deliver-By Date
Domestic Orders
For turnaround time estimates for domestic orders, please see the following graphic:
Holidays
For information on PrintNinja Holiday office closures, please see here.
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Upcoming Chinese Holiday Schedule
Chinese Holiday Schedule 2024
Ching Ming Festival – April 4th
Labour Day – May 1st-3rd
DragonBoat Festival – June 10th-11th
Mid-Autumn Festival – September 17th
National Day Holiday – October 1st-6th
Chinese New Year – Jan 28th-Feb 3rd, 2025
For approval cut-off times to avoid Chinese New Year delays, please reference our turnaround times page.
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Placing an Order
Ready to bring your project to life? Check out our visual tutorials below for an in-depth look on how to place and pay for book and card orders with PrintNinja:
Payment and Placing Your Order
Prices shown on our quotes are in USD and include all taxes and duties for delivery to addresses in the USA. Orders delivered to other countries are subject to any applicable taxes and duties charged by the destination country.
Once you’re ready, we have a couple ways to pay for your order:
- You can use the payment link from your quote PDF. If you can’t find your quote, you can always request another copy from your account rep.
- You can place your order directly through our pricing calculator by clicking the “Place Your Order Online Now” button.
If you’ve saved a quote with us, you can conveniently find a payment link on your quote underneath the grand total. Clicking that link will take you to a secure payment page that accepts most major credit cards or PayPal. Once you have submitted your payment you will receive a follow-up email with your receipt.
PrintNinja accepts a variety of payment options:
- Visa
- Discover
- Mastercard
- American Express
- PayPal
- Wire Transfer
- Check
Read more about our payment process here. If you still have questions about how to place your order, feel free to contact us. One of our friendly customer service ninjas will help you answer any questions you have about placing an order with PrintNinja.
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Payment Methods
This article will outline PrintNinja’s payment methods for you.
Congratulations! You are ready to place your order and make your dream a reality. Before we move on to prepress you need to submit a full payment. Once you submit payment, we guarantee your pricing won’t change (even shipping prices). Many other companies will change freight pricing on you in the middle of your order, but with PrintNinja you know up front exactly what your costs will be.
If you’ve saved a quote with us, you can conveniently find a payment link on your quote underneath the grand total. Clicking that link will take you to a secure payment page that accepts most major credit cards or PayPal. Once you have submitted your payment you will receive a follow-up email with your receipt.
If you received a custom quote from one of our account reps, this is what your payment link will look like:
If you received a quote via email by locking a quote in on our calculator, then your payment link will appear on the second page of your quote like this:
Prices shown on our quotes are in USD and include all taxes and duties for delivery to addresses in the USA. Orders delivered to other countries are subject to any applicable taxes and duties charged by the destination country.
PrintNinja accepts a variety of payment options:
- Visa
- Discover
- Mastercard
- American Express
- PayPal
- Wire Transfer
- Check
Payment Processing Errors
If you’re receiving an error when trying to make payment, 99% of the time the error message is your bank denying the transaction. Typically it’s because your card has a daily spend limit that you are surpassing. You can clear this up by calling your bank or having your PrintNinja account rep split your payment so you can pay over multiple days. Still have questions about PrintNinja’s payment methods? Contact us and we will help you answer any questions.
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Artwork Upload Links
After your payment is made in full, the next step is to submit your files to us for prepress. You can find your artwork upload link on your quote PDF.
If you received a custom quote from one of our account reps, this is what your artwork link will look like:
If you received a quote via email by locking a quote in on our calculator, then your artwork link will appear on the second page of your quote like this:
The link will take you to our file upload system. You will see a confirmation message on your screen once your upload is complete. Do not exit out of your screen until you see the confirmation message.
Before You Upload
Please ensure that you have reviewed all your files to verify that they are print-ready, including reviewing PrintNinja’s artwork setup guides.
Please Note: Make sure your files are no larger than 400dpi, higher dpi files do not improve print quality. Our printing machines max out at 400dpi. Submitting a file with a higher dpi may delay your electronic proof as it takes longer for our prepress reps to download.
Once you upload your files, we will generate an electronic proof by the next business day for your review.
If you need to upload new files after reviewing your electronic proof, it may take us up to one additional business day to generate each successive proof.
Also, please remove spaces and special characters from your filenames, as this causes issues with our uploading system.
What You Can Upload
Our preferred format is PDF, but we can also accept a wide variety of other formats.
Got a Bunch of Files?
If you need to upload more than five files at once, you may want to combine them into a single ZIP file and upload that file instead. You can also upload your first five files, return to this page and repeat as needed.
Possible Errors
The number one error is uploading files that are too large (anything over 2GB). If this is the case, you can save your pages in chunks since we can accept multiple files at a time. Make sure to label your files appropriately such as, Cover.pdf, FirstHalf.pdf, SecondHalf.pdf. You can also use our alternative method below.
Alternative Uploading Methods
For larger files or other errors with uploading your file you may use an outside service like Dropbox and email the download link to customerservice@printninja.com or to your account rep.
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Prepress
This article will help you learn more about the prepress process with PrintNinja.
You will be assigned a prepress guru who will provide you with an electronic proof approximately 1 business day after you have submitted your payment and uploaded your artwork files. The primary goal of prepress is to make sure your files are print ready and that everything will come out the way you intend. We do this by running your files through a pre-flight test.
Your designated prepress expert will share their knowledge with you throughout this process so you won’t be left in the dark. Any changes they make to your files will be documented and explained, as well as any changes they suggest that you make to your files.
For a comprehensive check list to assist you with preparing your files for print, visit our file setup resources page.
More of a visual learner? Check out our video breakdown of the prepress process:
Creative Decisions
Our prepress experts will always inform you before making any technical changes to your files (e.g. color conversion). However, we will never make any creative adjustments to your files and we do not review files with these considerations in mind:
- Spelling or grammar
- Graphic design
- Plot
- Stylistic choices of any kind
You are responsible for all creative choices.
After the process you will receive an email with your electronic proof and notes from your prepress ninja specifying anything that we recommend you change in your file before we go to press. We will go through as many rounds of prepress as you need until you are satisfied with your electronic proof.
If you are new to commercial print production, we suggest giving yourself some extra time to work with our prepress experts to review your files and make any fixes necessary. This might be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on your experience and the print-readiness of your artwork.
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Electronic Proofing
Once we’ve received your files, the next step is to move on to electronic proofing. We provide electronic proofing to all of our customers for free, and all projects go through the process, even if you’ve added hard copy proofing as well. When you receive your electronic proof via email, you may have suggestions from your prepress expert for changes that should be made to your files before sending them into production. You’ll also notice that printer’s marks have been added to your files. These are special marks to indicate different elements such as trim, bleed, and center.
To view your proof, you’ll be directed to an interface that looks like the one pictured below:
Once your files are ready to go to press, you can approve the proof through the link sent to you. If you click the “Approve” button please know that you will no longer be able to see your electronic proof. If you want to make changes later you can contact your prepress rep. However, production usually starts within a day or two after your approval, so if you need to make changes let your prepress rep know immediately.
If you’re using electronic proofing, your approval serves as an agreement between you and us as the standard for your final product. If you’re using hard copy proofing, then your approval means we’ll proceed to making your hard copy proof. However, it’s important to remember that electronic proofs do not show you how your colors will turn out. For a more accurate indication of how your colors will look when printed offset, we recommend adding hard copy proofing to your order.
Depending on your project specs, you may consider ordering a single unit from our digital-offset print service. Keep in mind that products printed domestically will not be reflective of a final product printed through offset printing. Materials, finishes, and binding techniques are completely different between the two print services so it cannot serve as a one-to-one comparison.
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Hard Copy Proofing Sheet
(If you haven’t added a hard copy proofing sheet to your order, you can skip this step.)
Production of your hard copy proof will take place once you’ve approved your electronic proof. In most cases, you will receive your press sheet(s) in the mail as a rolled parcel. However, if your project is a hardcover book and you’ve elected to add the cover to your hard copy proof, your press sheet(s) will arrive folded along with your hardcover proof.
Your proof sheet will arrive at your door approximately two weeks after you approve your electronic proof. From there, you have the opportunity to make revisions to your files based on the physical proof. If revisions are made we will provide additional electronic proofs. You may also purchase another round of hard copy proofing, which will take another 2 weeks from your electronic proof approval.
To approve your hard copy proof sheet, email or call your account rep. Once approved full production of your project will begin within 1-2 business days.
For most standard size projects (up to 8.5” x 11”), you may select up to 8 pages to be printed for your hard copy proof sheet. We recommend you choose the 8 inside pages with the colors you’re most concerned about. Email your account rep the page numbers of those you would like to see printed. These 8 pages will be printed on a parent sheet using the same paper stock as you’ve selected for your final project. For cost on hardcopy proofing visit our proofing options page, and our hardcopy proof calculator.
For a complete walkthrough of our hardcopy proof sheets, please check out the visual guide below:
Are hardcopy proofs available domestically?
Hard copy proofs are not available for domestic orders but single-unit orders can be purchased before placing a higher volume digital-offset order. If you are considering a single-unit order domestically as a hardcopy proof for an offset printed order, keep in mind that products printed domestically will not be reflective of a final product printed through offset printing. Materials, finishes, and binding techniques differ between the two print services, so it cannot serve as a one-to-one comparison.
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Production
Your production timeline will vary depending on the scope of your project. Visit our turnaround time page to determine how long your project will take. Once we approve your proof, your project will begin production.
Press
Your pages will be printed on a four-color sheet-fed printing press and run through a drying process. This phase can take approximately 1 week or longer depending on your order size. For an in depth walkthrough about the parts and process of running a printing press visit our Printing Academy press section.
Post-Press
Your dried printed pages will then be folded, cut and bound to form your final product, which can take 1-4 weeks depending on your binding option. To learn the difference between each binding process visit our Printing Academy post-press section.
Potential Delays In Your Production Timeline
- Larger orders (typically over 3,000 units) may require additional production time.
- Specialty options such as foil stamping, spot UV, embossing, debossing, and more may require additional production time.
- Orders that are in production over the Chinese Holidays may require an extra week or two in production.
- Finally, if we run into any quality assurance issues during production, we will let you know immediately. In most cases, we require the factory to fix or redo any work that isn’t up to our incredibly high standards, but this may require additional production time.
Still have more questions about your production timeline? Feel free to contact us.
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Quality Control
This article will teach you about PrintNinja’s quality control, and how we make sure your final project matches your proof.
On-Site Quality Assurance
When it comes to quality assurance PrintNinja works with on-site quality control experts. These are special departments at the printing factories, doing press checks and reviewing every project to make sure your final project matches your electronic proof.
Overrun Offer
As with any manufacturing process, printing and binding carries a small defect rate, usually well under 2%. Knowing this, PrintNinja adds a 2% overrun to every order we create to combat any variances that may occur. Orders over 2500 units will cap off at 75 overrun variance units. We will send you the overrun pieces for free, even if there are no issues.
Since domestically printed copies can be ordered in any quantity, overrun copies are not included by default. Based on the quantity ordered, some small portions (1-5 copies) may be included and are not guaranteed. Domestic customers participating in the Kickstarter Promotion or the Friend of the Ninja program are still eligible to receive overrun bonuses.
Our Leverage
PrintNinja’s standards are incredibly high and all of our factories understand our commitment to quality. If something goes wrong in the production process, we catch it on the spot and require the factory to fix it or even start again from scratch if needed. Working with PrintNinja means that even a small print run gets the same attention to detail and is backed by the same leverage as a huge printing company.
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Safety Testing
We have a relationship with a laboratory that is certified to run many safety tests for books, games, and other printed items. The most common test we run is the toxicity test, which tests your ink and paper for lead and mercury. We are currently unable to offer this service for projects printed through our domestic digital print service. If you require safety testing for an order produced through our domestic facility you will need to find a safety testing facility suitable to your certification needs.
Process
For the toxicity test we will print extra books during your press run and send them to our lab. The paper and ink will be burned into their natural chemical form and tested for unwanted material.
Price: $350
Adding a toxicity test to your order will add approximately one week onto your turnaround time.
Required Testing
Safety testing is mandatory for games that will be marketed to children under 13 years of age. If you plan to print “AGES 8+” on your game you will need to have paperwork stating you have passed a toxicity test before your game can enter the US Market.
If you want to be cost conscious then you can skip the safety test by not including a playing age on your game. However, if you plan to sell to retailers they will require that a play age is listed on the box. In this case you can skip the toxicity test by printing “AGES 13+”.
The safety testing procedure for card games are the same as for books, the paper and ink is tested. If you have components like meeples, wood cubes etc. there are more tests that need to be run and therefore a higher price associated.
All our paper and game pieces have been tested and have passed, but you will need to run the tests on your game to acquire the paperwork as a formality to sell your game to retailers.
U.S. Based Safety Testing
For orders printed at our U.S. facility, domestic paper stock is sourced and purchased from third party paper vendors. While a large majority of our stock is FSC Certified, we cannot confirm that it has been tested in a lab to meet CPSC or a similar governing body’s safety standards. In the event safety testing is required for your product, please note that PrintNinja is currently unable to offer this service for projects printed through our domestic digital print service. If you require safety testing for an order produced domestically, you will need to find a safety testing facility suitable to your certification needs.
FAQ
Q: What does testing cost?
This depends on the specific tests required for your project. The number of individual components that need testing will also affect your price, so projects like board games tend to cost more to test than books. If you have questions about how much safety testing will cost for your project, reach out to your account manager.
Q: Who performs safety testing for PrintNinja?
A: PrintNinja works with a certified, third-party lab in Guangdong, China. This lab is close to our printers, meaning we can speed up the turnaround on toxicity testing.
Q: What types of testing can PrintNinja provide?
A: Our most commonly requested test is for CPSIA. In addition, we’ve provided testing for CE, ASTM F963, EN71, PROP 65, REACH Annex XVII, REACH ANNEX XIV SVHC, RoHS Services, WEEE Services, CPSC Compliance, and others. Looking for a specific test not listed above? Speak with your account manager!
Q: What if I need specific documentation?
A: Different tests require different types of certification. For example, if you have your product tested for CPSIA compliance, you may want a Child Product Certificate (CPC). This is not automatically included with standard CPSIA testing, so be sure to let your account manager know if you’ll require additional documentation or certification for your products.
Q: Legally, what safety tests do I need for my order?
A: Unfortunately, we can’t tell you. PrintNinja is not a lawyer (we’re a ninja), and this advice is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or substitute for legal advice. If you have specific legal concerns when it comes to safety testing, speak with an attorney.
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Packaging
We work with our printing facilities to package your order as securely as humanly possible, making your project’s journey halfway across the world as safe as a trip across town.
For a complete visual breakdown of our order packaging process, please check out the visual guide below:
Protective Measures for Packaging Your Order
Here’s a snapshot of how we package your books. Our heavy duty packaging includes bubble wrap, packaging paper, corner protectors, and shipping bands. If your order is large enough to be palletized, we apply protective measures to the entire shipping pallet rather than the individual boxes.
In the video above, you can see one of our associates carefully wrapping a spiral-bound book order in bubble wrap, folding up the sides, and securing the bubble wrap around the books with tape. Then, he adds heavy-duty packaging paper as a second layer outside of the bubble wrap. After that, he adds corner protectors on each corner – these will protect the corners from damage if they are bumped during the shipping process. Finally, he places the order in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box and wraps the order with shipping bands.
Orders produced and shipped within the U.S. generally travel less ground and are less prone to shipping damage. While we use fewer materials compared to orders travelling across the ocean, our main goal is still to ensure your order arrives as damage-free as possible. Every order has different packing requirements, but most will be wrapped with various materials. We still employ the use of corner protectors when necessary and make sure shipping boxes don’t have any extra space for materials to move freely.
Still have questions about the packaging process? Feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email, and one of our friendly customer service ninjas can help answer any questions you may have about how we package your order to protect it during the shipping process.
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Shipping Methods
This article will teach you about PrintNinja’s shipping methods.
We have established trade channels to get books from the factory right to our customers’ doors with as little hassle as possible. We offer freight forwarding, air shipping, and split shipping. We take care of all customs paperwork and processes for customers in the USA and Canada and for customers in other countries, we guide you through the import process step-by-step.
Expedited (Air)
Expedited shipping is sent via air freight, and
is the fastest option we offer. It’s more
expensive than standard shipping, but it only
takes approximately 1 week for your project to
travel from China to your door.
We also have a Premium Expedited option that can bring the 1-week expedited turnaround down to about 3 days. These shipments must be custom quoted and your timeline must be confirmed with your account manager before your order is placed.
Standard (Ocean)
Standard shipping is sent via ocean liner and takes
approximately 6 weeks to get your project from
China to your door once production is complete.
However, timing can never be guaranteed for
standard shipments, since they have to go through
an extensive customs process at both the import
and export stages.*
*Heavy volume and COVID restricted labor at the ports are causing shipping delays of 2-3 weeks on Ocean Shipping.
Hybrid Shipping Method
If you need part of your project fast, but still want to save money overall, you can choose our partial expediting option. A portion of your project will be sent via air, while the rest arrive via ocean freight. Our online instant quote calculator can handle calculating shipping cost for this option.
Go to the Shipping Calculation section for a walkthrough.
Split Shipping
We can ship your order to multiple addresses. For example you can send a portion of your order to our warehouse for storage and a portion to your home address. Many companies take advantage of this option to send large portions of their catalog order to all their stores.
If this option is right for you, please let us know before you place your order. You can email your account rep or let us know through our “specialty add-ons” form found on our calculator after you lock in your quote. We will need to know how many units you would like to send to each address.
Domestic Shipping Options
We ship most orders printed domestically with UPS. You have the options of Ground Shipping, 2nd Day Air, and Next Day air to choose from. Orders printed domestically usually take 5 – 7 business days from the ship date to arrive at your door. We may utilize USPS for low quantity orders (like a single unit) in some cases. Orders printed in the U.S. can still utilize split shipping and shipping to fulfillment warehouses. Drop-shipping is not available.
Tracking Numbers
You will receive a tracking number right away for any expedited air copies. However, standard (ocean) shipments don’t have tracking information available until they have cleared customs in the USA (approximately five weeks into the shipping process). Once they have cleared customs and been delivered to the UPS warehouse, you will receive a tracking number for the final leg of your shipment.
Potential Delays
With the exception of our guaranteed delivery date service available for expedited orders, all of our shipping times are approximate. For standard speed (ocean) shipments, your order may arrive before, during or after the estimated timeframe provided. Shipping time will vary based on weather conditions, port and boat capacity, labor fluctuations, customs approval and other factors.
To be completely safe, we recommend adding a few weeks onto your expected delivery date to account for the many unforeseen events that can take place in international ocean shipping. For example, occasionally one of our shipping containers will be flagged for a random customs inspection by Customs and Border Protection, adding a 1-2 week delay that is out of our control.
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Customs, Taxes, and Duties
This article will teach you about the shipping logistics that come into play when you print with PrintNinja.
All customs, duties, and taxes for orders being delivered to the US and Canada are included in our pricing, and we handle all necessary importing paperwork. All other orders shipped to locations outside the United States may be subject to import taxes, customs duties, and fees imposed by the destination country.
For instructions on using international shipping for your order, please see the guide on this page.
For many other destination countries, we can guide you through the complex world of customs. We may also provide you with a freight carrier who can coordinate the shipping through the customs process. When you recieve a quote from us, you will see a notice if we have specific importing systems for your country. The note will contain information regarding what information (Passport, Driver’s License, Business Number etc.) you will need to provide to our carrier and what fees (Goods and Sales Tax, Value-added Tax etc.) will be charged.
For some countries we are not able to provide a carrier because we do not have a connected route. In this case you will need to provide your own freight carrier.
The following countries have easy and mostly painless import processes, which we’re happy to handle for you. Our shipping capacity is not limited to the following. If you need to ship somewhere not listed below, don’t hesitate to ask how we can make that possible for you -we’ll figure out how to handle the shipping logistics!
Australia
Australia charges a 10% Goods and Service Tax, which is not included in our quotes. PrintNinja cannot collect this directly, instead it will be collected by our freight carrier before delivery. They will need a copy of your Australian Business Number, Passport, or Driver’s License in order to collect and file this Goods and Service Tax on your behalf.
You need an Australian Business Number, Passport, or Driver’s license, but no customs broker. Carrier will collect 10% Goods and Service Tax.
Canada
Your PrintNinja quote will include a 6% Import Fee, which covers all brokerage fees, duties and taxes. We handle 100% of the shipping and import requirements needed to deliver your project to your door.
New Zealand
New Zealand charges a 15% Goods and Services Tax, which is not included in our quotes. PrintNinja cannot collect this directly, instead it will be collected by our freight carrier before delivery.
The freight carrier will collect 15% Goods and Service Tax, you don’t need a local broker or to provide the carrier with any information.
United Kingdom
You must have or apply for a valid Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EROI)—a fancy way of saying import-and-export business ID#—at least 10 days before the shipment is delivered.
Our freight carrier will need your Economic Operator Registration and Identification number to complete delivery of your books. Delays in providing this information to the carrier may result in storage charges, so please have your Economic Operator Registration and Identification number ready in order to receive delivery.
Books are duty free and VAT rated 0%, but games are duty free and VAT rated 20%.
Warehousing and Fulfillment
But wait, there’s more to learn about shipping logistics! You can choose to do split shipping and send a portion of your order to our U.S. warehouse. There are no taxes or duties to be paid on these copies, and we can fulfill any orders you have in the U.S. market. Check out how our warehousing and fulfillment service could benefit you
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Delivery Process
This article will teach you about the delivery process when you print with PrintNinja.
This is the final countdown! After all those weeks of waiting, your order is about to be delivered to your door. Below you will learn what to expect based on the shipping method you chose.
Expedited (Air) Delivery
Expedited shipments will be delivered by a uniformed FedEx or UPS delivery person. Please note that for expedited shipments, your signature is required to complete delivery. However, if your schedule isn’t flexible enough to allow you to be home at the time of delivery, you can sign for your order in advance on the UPS or FedEx website.
Standard (Ocean) Delivery
If you’ve selected the standard shipping method, you will not receive a tracking number from us until your packages have crossed the ocean and are scanned into the shipper’s warehouse, approximately 5 weeks after production has been completed.
If your shipment is under 50 Packages: Your shipment will arrive in individual cartons shipped via UPS Ground and will be delivered by a uniformed UPS delivery person. A signature is not required for delivery, and delivery changes can be made on the UPS website.
If your shipment is 50 packages or more: Your shipment will be palletized (bundled together onto one or more shipping pallets) and shipped via the UPS LTL network. UPS LTL uses third party trucking companies rather than uniformed UPS drivers, and the delivery driver will typically call you to set up a delivery appointment. Please note that drivers are not equipped to break down pallets.
If you’re not sure whether your shipment is 50 packages or more, you can always ask your account rep who will be happy to let you know.
Freight Forwarder Delivery
If your order is large (over 2500 lbs), it will be palletized and shipped via a third party freight forwarder rather than through UPS. This is an incredibly cost-efficient freight pathway, but unfortunately there are no tracking numbers provided since the forwarding company can use any combination of ocean, rail, and truck to get your shipment to its final destination. As with UPS LTL, you can expect to receive your packages from a local trucking company, who will call you in advance to set up a delivery appointment. Please note that drivers are not equipped to break down pallets.
Still have questions about the delivery process? Feel free to contact us and one of our friendly customer service ninjas will help you answer any questions you might have.
Domestic Order Delivery
Orders shipped from our facility in the U.S. will be delivered via UPS Ground by default. Other shipping methods like 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air are available by request but will still be delivered by a uniformed carrier from UPS. All orders are shipped and delivered as “small parcel” meaning individual boxes. You will not receive a pallet of goods if you are printing through our domestic digital-offset print service. Inside delivery and scheduled deliveries are not available through UPS small parcel shipping services.
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Small Parcel & Freight Shipments
Getting ready to print but worried about how to handle your shipment?? This important but often overlooked part of the order process will help you plan ahead for the big day when your order arrives. In most cases, your order will arrive one of two ways: as a small parcel shipment or as a freight shipment. If you’re shipping to multiple locations, your order may even use both methods. So, what is the difference between these two types of shipments and what can you expect with each?
Small Parcel Shipments
Small parcel shipments will arrive to you as individual boxes, just like other UPS shipments you’ve probably received before. Your boxes will not be combined on a pallet, so there’s no need for specialized warehouse equipment. Small parcel deliveries are most commonly used for small-volume shipments, but this can depend on the specifications of your order. Expedited shipments are always delivered as small regardless of volume. All orders produced from our domestic print facility will arrive as a small parcel shipment. Some important details to keep in mind with small parcel shipments are:
-
Signatures are not required for small parcel deliveries
-
Our carriers are not able to deliver inside for small parcel shipments
-
Deliveries cannot be scheduled for small parcel shipments
Example of a Small Parcel Tracking Number: 1Z2E27010361640696 (UPS Ground)
Please be sure to plan accordingly for receiving your delivery once a tracking number has been issued for your order.
Freight Shipments
Freight shipments will arrive on the back of a large truck as multiple boxes packed and wrapped on top of pallets. Depending on the volume of your order, you may receive multiple pallets. For residential deliveries, the large trucks that deliver the order will have lift gates so that pallets can be safely lowered to the street.
Lift gates are not needed for delivering to a loading dock, so trucks bound for commercial addresses may not be equipped with them. While we at PrintNinja always do our best to determine what type of truck will be needed for your final delivery, it’s always a good idea to let your account manager know as soon as possible if your shipping address has special requirements for receiving freight. Some important details to keep in mind with freight shipments are:
-
If your location will require a lift gate, inside delivery must be requested in advance. Otherwise, the delivery driver is only responsible for removing your pallets from the truck and placing them at your driveway, curb, or other equivalent at your location. Additional pallet jacks can also be requested in advance.
-
Our carrier will contact you ahead of time to schedule a date and rough window of time for delivery. Once a tracking number has been issued for your freight shipment, be sure to keep your phone handy so they can reach you to avoid delays in delivery.
-
Signatures are required for delivery. Make sure you or someone you trust can be available for receiving the order on the day of delivery. If someone other than yourself is receiving the delivery, please be sure to send all contact details to your account manager as far ahead of delivery as possible.
-
Be sure to plan ahead so you can move your project to where you’ll be storing it—ideally a safe, dry, climate-controlled location. One pallet of books or games can weigh over 1,000 lbs, so you won’t be able to move them without specialized equipment. For most customers, the easiest and safest option is to remove the plastic from each pallet and then move the individual boxes. Delivery drivers can’t assist with this part of the process, so you might want to have extra help on hand if you have a large order. Tools like box cutters, carts, or dollies will also come in handy. Depending on your project specs, one box can weigh as much as 26 lbs so be careful, and always use safe lifting techniques.
-
The carrier delivering your freight will vary based on your location and current shipping rates. Besides UPS, most freight carriers do not have real-time online tracking. In cases where other shippers are delivering your order, you will still receive advance notice of delivery, but it will be important to stay in touch with your Account Manager so they can contact the shipper on your behalf for updates.
Example of a Freight Tracking Number: 381874313 (UPS Freight)
Please be sure to plan for receiving your freight order in advance in order to avoid any delays in delivery.
This information should help provide a good idea of what to expect for the delivery of your order, but planning ahead for your Printninja shipment can help guarantee a smooth delivery process. Be sure to discuss any questions, concerns, or special delivery requirements with your assigned account manager as early as you can during the order process.
Printing Options
What kind of printing options are available to you?
Custom Printing and Binding Options
The first step after deciding to print your own project is to figure out how you want the final product to look and feel. Even on simple jobs the number of offset printing services and options that PrintNinja offers can quickly become overwhelming – but don’t fret!
Thankfully, we’re here to explain everything and make sure your project turns out exactly the way you envision it. PrintNinja offers a multitude of printing options ranging from different paper thicknesses, materials, and additional specialty options – like spot UV, foil stamping, embossing and debossing, and matte varnish – to give your project a little extra flair. Here, you’ll learn more about all of the choices available to you – whether you’re printing a book project or a custom card or board game, we provide choices that will make your final project look amazing. Read on to see all the variety of options and figure out what the best combination is for your printed project.
Did you know, PrintNinja now offers Domestic Printing? In addition to all the binding and options offered, you now have the ability to order select projects through our Illinois-based printing facility. This digital offset printing facility doesn’t require any minimums and has the same excellent print quality as our international offset offering. For more information about our Domestic Digital offset printing, please see here.
Select one of the following information pages for more detail, what your options are, and how they’ll impact the end product.
Interested in adding specialty options to your project like those referenced above? How about ultra unique specialty options? Check out our visual guide below to learn more:
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Book Printing Services
Read on to discover all the book printing services we offer.
Here at PrintNinja, we offer a breadth of different options for you to build into your project. From binding to paper to other specialty options, you’ll be able to choose a combination of options that will result in the perfect printed project for you.
If this list of book printing services seems overwhelming, we recommend that you request a deluxe sample pack that includes recently printed books and a printing guide. In the meantime, peruse our book printing services by selecting an option below.
Has that special book sitting on your shelf got you feeling inspired? Check out our video on Replicating a Physical Book for a visual guide on how to bring that inspiration to life:
Book Printing Services
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Binding Types
PrintNinja offers several professional types of book binding for your project. All of our books are printed and bound with expert care and attention, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to customization. When you’re ready to get started, check out our calculator to get an instant price.
For an in-depth visual breakdown of our different Binding Types, check out our visual guide here:
Saddle Stitching
Saddle-stitching is the simplest binding method, in which pages are folded and stapled together. This type of binding is used for single issue comic books, as well as lookbooks, workbooks, booklets, calendars, and many magazines and catalogs with smaller page counts.
Learn More about saddle stitching.
Perfect Binding (Softcover)
Perfect binding is the binding method used for softcover books and trade paperbacks. Pages are folded, gathered, sewn, and then glued into a cover, forming a squared-off spine.
Learn More about perfect binding.
Case Binding (Hardcover)
Case binding is the technical term for hardcover book binding. Pages are folded, gathered, and sewn, and a ‘case’ is made by gluing and folding a printed sheet around 3 pieces of greyboard. The pages are then glued into the case with a few extra pages called endsheets, forming an entire casebound book.
Learn More about case binding.
Board Book Binding
Board books are a special type of binding often used in children’s books. Pages are printed on thick paperboard and assembled one by one into a book block with a printed spine.
Learn More about board book binding.
Wire Binding
In wire binding, pages are trimmed and assembled, holes are punched along one side, and wire is clamped down through those holes. Wire binding lays completely flat and is often used for cookbooks and manuals.
Learn More about wire binding.
Spiral Binding
For spiral binding, pages are trimmed and assembled, holes are punched along one side of the pages, and a plastic spiral is threaded through those holes. Spiral binding lays completely flat and is often used for cookbooks and manuals.
Learn More about spiral binding.
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Saddle-Stitching
Saddle-stitching is the least expensive and simplest binding method available. In the saddle-stitching process, parent sheets are cut, scored, folded, and stapled together to form a finished booklet. This type of binding is used for single issue comic books, workbooks, shorter catalogs, cookbooks, and booklets of all kinds.
How Saddle-Stitched Binding is Made
To create a saddle-stitched piece, printed parent sheets are first cut and folded using a folding machine. Then the folded pages are fed through a special machine, which inserts two staples into the spine of the booklet.
At our domestic facility, printed parent sheets are cut and covers are scored to provide the best fold possible. We then feed book covers and interior pages into a machine called a “booklet maker” which takes the collated sheets and cover, organizes them into one book, jogs the sheets to make sure everything is aligned correctly, and applies the staples. For thick cover stocks, we may also use a device called a stitcher. It’s a manual process, but necessary to ensure books come out at peak quality.
Design Considerations
Unlike most other binding methods, saddle-stitching doesn’t come with any design-specific restrictions. Since the pages open completely flat, images can extend across two pages (known as a double-page spread) without the chance that any content will be lost in the gutter.
Cover Design
Covers for saddle-stitched projects are the exact same size as the inside pages of the project.
Production Time
After being sent to press, saddle-stitched projects take one to two weeks to manufacture, after which they are shipped out to you via your chosen shipping method. Be sure to check our turnaround time page to see how much time your project will take based on your proofing and shipping options. For domestic orders, production time should only take approximately 1 week
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Perfect Binding
In perfect binding (also known as softcover binding), pages are folded, gathered, sewn, and glued into a cover to form a squared-off spine. At our domestic facility, pages are printed, cut and then fed into a perfect binding machine. The perfect binder, will take both the cover and the interior pages at the same time, roughens one edge of the interior pages and then applies glue, ensuring a fit with the cover that is strong. Perfect binding is the preferred binding method for graphic novels, trade paperbacks, softcover children’s books, coloring books, catalogs, literary journals, and quarterly magazines. Keep reading to learn more about how PrintNinja’s superior softcover binding method will ensure your softcover book is built to last.
What Is Perfect Binding?
In traditional perfect binding, like at our U.S. based print facility, sheets are printed, cut, and assembled into their proper page order. From there, the side of the book block is cut off, and the pages are glued into a cover to form a squared-off spine.
Overseas, PrintNinja uses a more sophisticated method, where instead of cutting the book block, the pages are smyth sewn together before being glued into the cover. This methodology provides a far more durable finished product, since the pages are both sewn and glued, and the books can open much flatter, so much less content is lost in the gutter between pages.
Perfect Binding Cover Design Considerations
Keep in mind that production of perfect bound books includes a score running down the binding edge of your front and back cover – about 10mm away from the spine. This is to create a sturdier binding and avoid a ragged crease when bending back the covers.
Because the book block is glued into the cover, perfect bound books have a 10 millimeters area on the inside covers that will be glued to the first and last inside pages. It’s important to keep that in mind when designing your inside covers, because artwork may be lost in the glued area. Given this, important text and artwork should be kept at least 10mm away from the trim line on the binding side of the inside covers and first and last interior page.
You can see more information and visuals highlighting the above on this page here!
Cover Design
Because perfect bound projects have a spine width that varies based on number of pages and paper weight, every perfect bound cover has different size requirements. You can use our perfect binding cover template guide to design your cover, where you can also find our automated template generator.
PrintNinja Tip
After being sent to press, most perfect bound projects take approximately two weeks to manufacture, after which they are shipped out to you via your chosen shipping method. Learn more about turnaround time.
Perfect Binding Interior Page Considerations
Be mindful that due to the nature of perfect bound books, content that is very close to the binding area may be obscured. Please keep any important text and artwork .40”away from the bound edge (the center of the page for two-page spreads) to be fully visible.
You can see more information and visuals highlighting the above on this page here!
Ready to Get Started?
You’d be surprised just how many options you can quote instantly on our book pricing calculator. Save a quote today so you can lock in your perfect bound book price for 90 days.
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Case Binding
What happens in the case binding process?
If you’re deciding on a cover type for your project, you may be wondering how different covers are made. Case binding, also called hardcover binding, gets its name from the hard outside “case” used to cover books. Hardcover books are bound differently than softcover books and can encompass different types of paper. Case-bound books with fewer than 60 pages are expertly hand-assembled, while those with higher page counts are assembled by machine.
How Case Binding is Made
As with other binding methods, casebound books start with printed parent sheets, which are cut, folded, and gathered. Then, the pages are smyth sewn into a book block. Cloth is then added to the spine area, where it will be glued into the case.
The case (the hard cover of the book) is made next. Assembly teams glue and fold a printed sheet (your cover, spine, and back design) around three pieces of board.
Finally, the inside pages (the book block) are glued into the hard cover (the case). In books with 60 pages or more, endsheets are also used to firmly secure the book block to the case.
The final assembly process varies according to different page counts. Lower page counts are hand-assembled, while higher page counts can be machine-assembled. While the gutter and binding of hand-assembled books is more visible, every case-bound book we produce always meets our high PrintNinja quality standards.
Design Considerations
Your inside covers will consist of pages glued to the inside of the hardcover case. Authors may wish to include blank pages to preface their work, so be sure these are incorporated into your submitted artwork if you see fit.
When it comes to the interior pages, be mindful that due to the nature of casebound books, content that is very close to the binding area may be obscured. Please keep any important text and artwork 0.125″ away from the bound edge (the center of the page for two-page spreads) to be fully visible.
Hardcover books under 60 pages are bound manually. Given this, be mindful of selecting 85 lb. or lighter as these weights can occasionally experience minor wrinkling along the gutter since they’re not as durable as 105lb or above. If your project exceeds 60 pages, you’ll also have an opportunity to design endsheets. Remember, these special pages secure the book block to the cover. Your design options for these are virtually endless! Some authors select endsheets in solid colors, while others choose eye-catching designs suited for their book’s overall tone or theme. This decision is entirely yours to make! Please be sure to reference this design considerations page here as well when setting up your artwork.
You have many options to consider for your cover design, too. Again, your cover design is printed on a single sheet and glued around three pieces of board. You will therefore need to envision your book’s cover, spine, and back of your book, and come up with a design with proper measurements. Your design will also leave a little extra space for bleed, fold cover, and hinge. We’ll walk you through these considerations in our case binding cover layout guide, where you can also find our automated template generator.
Finally, you can also consider a dust jacket to give your hardcover an extra-professional feel and an added layer of protection. You can find the file setup guide for this here!
Production Time
After being sent to press, case-bound projects take approximately three weeks to manufacture. Then, they are shipped out to you via your chosen shipping method. Check our turnaround time page to learn about projected time frames based on proofing and shipping options.
Ready to Get Started?
PrintNinja’s hardcover book calculator makes it easy to take the next step in creating your hardcover book. Our calculator is pre-populated with popular options, but you can customize just about anything. You can also save your quote for 90 days, so it’s no problem if you’re not quite ready to print yet.
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Board Book Binding
Board books are made via a special binding process that produces a book with very thick paperboard pages, suitable for children’s books for young children, or for projects like art books and creative books that seek to emulate this feel.
How Board Books are Made
Unlike other books, board books are not ‘bound’ in the traditional sense. Instead, during the board book binding process, 2-page spreads are printed on parent sheets, then cut, assembled, and glued together by hand, one set of pages at a time.
PrintNinja’s board books use the highest quality construction, with an extra sheet of board between the printed sheets for added thickness, durability, and climate tolerance to prevent the books from warping (a very common problem with board books).
Design Considerations
Unlike most other binding methods, board book page counts do not have to go in increments of 4. Because they are assembled by hand instead of via a folding process, they can be in increments of 2 (both sides of a sheet of paper).
Board books typically have a lamination finish (which is usually reserved for covers) throughout their inside pages. This lamination can be gloss or matte, and it serves to increase the durability of the overall book.
Keep in mind that production of board books includes a score running down the binding edge of the back cover—about the same distance away from the spine as the spine width itself. This is to allow the book to open properly and lay flat.
Cover Design
Covers for board book projects need to include a spine and should be designed using our board book cover template.
Production Time
After being sent to press, board book projects take three weeks to manufacture, after which they are shipped out to you via your chosen shipping method. Be sure to check our turnaround time page to see how much time your project will take based on your proofing and shipping options.
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Wire and Spiral Binding
What is the most typical usage for wire and spiral binding?
In wire and spiral binding, holes are drilled along one side of the printed pages, and then either a wire comb is clamped down into the holes, or a plastic spiral is threaded through them. Wire and Spiral binding both lay very flat and are often used for cookbooks and manuals.
How Spiral and Wire Binding is Made
To create a wire or spiral bound book, parent sheets are first printed, cut and assembled (but not folded, unlike other binding methods). Holes are then drilled into the binding edge of the document. For wire binding, these holes are straight up and down, and for spiral binding they are drilled at a precise angle that depends upon the size and thickness of the book and the plastic spiral used. From there, either wire comb is threaded and clamped down by hand (for wire binding) or spiral is threaded through the holes by hand (spiral binding) to create the final product.
Design Considerations
The most important thing to remember when designing a wire or spiral bound project is that holes will be drilled 10 millimeters inside the trim line on the bound side of the document. Because of this, we recommend keeping all important content at least 10mm inside of the trim line on the side that will be bound, since any content inside those 10 millimeters may be obscured by the holes drilled or by the binding itself.
Another thing to consider with wire and spiral bound projects is that unlike most other binding methods, your page counts do not have to go in increments of 4. Instead, they can be in increments of 2 (both sides of a sheet of paper), since wire and spiral books do not have to be folded in the binding process.
Finally, wire and spiral pages can have finishes (which are usually reserved for covers) throughout their inside pages. Many manuals designed for outdoor use or cookbooks designed to be spill-resistant will use a lamination on every page.
Cover Design
Covers for wire and spiral bound projects are the exact same size as the inside pages of the project.
Production Time
After being sent to press, wire and spiral bound projects take three weeks to manufacture, after which they are shipped out to you via your chosen shipping method. Be sure to check our turnaround time page to see how much time your project will take based on your proofing and shipping options.
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Book Paper Options
Paper options for your book printing project are classified by weight, coating, and finish. All papers are manufactured with a weight and a coating, while finishes are applied after printing.
Book Paper Weight:
Paper weight is the thickness of a chosen paper stock, stated as a number and a category. The units GSM, pound (lb), and points (pt) are commonly used to describe the weight, or thickness of paper stock. However, these terms are not interchangeable and will result in significantly different paper thicknesses.
(e.g. 85lb text, 12pt cover)
Click here for more information on each of the paper weights offered by PrintNinja.
Book Paper Coating:
Paper coating is the chemical coating applied to a paper during the manufacturing process.
(e.g. coated gloss, coated matte, uncoated)
Click here for more information on each of the paper coatings offered by PrintNinja.
Book Paper Finish:
Paper finish is applied to a finished printed product to seal in the ink and increase durability, stated as a finish style and type. Finishes are usually only applied to your book’s cover pages.
(e.g. gloss lamination, matte varnish, UV varnish).
Click here for more information on each of the paper finishes offered by PrintNinja.
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Paper Weight
The PrintNinja sample pack allows you to feel available paper stocks
The term paper weight is seen frequently in the printing business and is used to describe the thickness, or caliper, of paper stock. At PrintNinja, we offer a wide variety of quality paper stocks to ensure your project comes out just like you imagined. There are many phrases used to describe paper weight and it is important to understand these before printing your project.
GSM vs. pound (lb.) vs. points (pt.)
The units GSM, pound (lb), and points (pt) are commonly used to describe the weight, rigidity, or thickness of paper stock. However, these terms are not interchangeable and will result in significantly different paper thicknesses.
- GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and is an exact measure of how heavy or thick a paper is. GSM is used across all paper types and makes comparing different types of paper easier.
- Pound is the weight of 500 parent sheets of a particular type of paper and is generally used for describing text or offset stock. To learn more about parent sheets, visit our paper and cardstock guide.
- Point is a term most commonly used to describe cover stock, board stock, and card stock. One point is equal to 1/1000 (.001) inches. For example, a 10pt. cover stock will measure 0.010 inches thick.
The average comic book uses 70lb. text paper stock
Text (offset) vs. Cover Stock
The terms text and cover stock are named for how the paper is generally used. Text stock, also called offset stock, which is usually measured in pounds (lb.), is most often used on internal pages. Cover stock, measured in both pounds and points (pt.), is commonly used on cover pages. However, this is not a steadfast rule and text and cover stocks are often used for both. The term cover stock is generally used to describe paper that is 135-300 GSM.
The primary difference between these is the paper thickness and rigidity, cover stock being thicker and more rigid than text. It is important when noting paper weight to take into account both the numerical weight as well as the type of paper. For example, 100lb text stock sounds thicker than 65lb cover, however, cover stock parent sheets are much smaller which means an equally thick parent sheet will weigh less.
Paper Weight Comparisons
Unfortunately, because of the complexity of paper thickness, there is no equation to convert various paper types to weight. However, we’ve created the chart on the left comparing the most common paper stock weights.
PrintNinja’s Available Paper Stocks
50lb. text
The lightest of our paper digital-offset stocks, 50lb. text stock is often used for text-heavy books like novels, or for workbooks. This stock is only available with U.S. printed projects on orders under 500 units. This stock also only comes in “uncoated” finish.
55lb. text
The lightest of our paper stocks, this is typically used for the pages of novels, or for workbooks (80 GSM metric weight). For reference, this is approximately 20lb bond, which is the thickness of average computer or copy paper. This stock is only available for international offset-printed projects on orders over 250 units.
70lb. text
The thickness of an average comic book page, 70lb. text is also used for catalogs with high page counts (105 GSM metric weight). This stock is available both in the U.S. and overseas, but in the U.S. only gloss and uncoated finishes are available, where internationally there is a matte option available.
80lb. text
This medium weight paper is used for many things: catalogs, magazines, and booklets. This stock is only available with U.S. printed projects for orders under 500 units. Gloss, matte, and uncoated options are available.
85lb. text
This versatile, medium weight paper is commonly used for magazines, catalogs, and booklets of all varieties. It is also our recommended inside paper weight for hardcover books with page counts higher than 60 (128 GSM metric weight). This weight is only available on offset printed international orders over 250 units.
PLEASE NOTE FOR HARDCOVER PROJECTS: Hardcover books under 60 pages are often bound manually rather than with a machine, as a result sometimes projects with 85lb weight stock will display a minor gathered wrinkle at the point of the smyth sewing in the gutter of the binding in a way that heavier paper weights don’t.
100lb. text
This stock is used for projects that need a sturdier paper weight. It’s great for coffee table and art books, as well as illustrated children’s books. This stock is only available with U.S. printed projects for orders under 500 units. Gloss, matte, and uncoated options are available.
105lb. text
This stock is typically used for the inside pages of children’s books, as well as coffee table and art books. It is also our recommended cover stock for single-issue comic books and many other saddle-stitched projects (157 GSM metric weight). It is also commonly seen used in brochures.
Please note, when 105 lb. paper is paired with a “Matte” finish for interior pages, occasionally there will be some “shiny areas”. Please see below for an image example:
This issue only occurs on pages with large blank areas opposite heavy-colored pages. There is sometimes a minor ink transfer that is removed and in turn, alters the finish. A varnish can be applied to your interior pages to avoid this, but there is an additional cost. The cost is determined by your page count, so your account manager can get a quote to have this applied to your project.
135lb. text
The heaviest of our text stocks, 135 lb., is suitable for the inside pages of children’s books or coffee table books that want an extra-heavy page feel. It also works well as a cover stock for many saddle-stitched projects (200 GSM metric weight). This weight is only available on offset printed international orders over 250 units.
If your artwork contains heavy ink usage that crosses the gutter of your pages, we recommend a lighter weight paper, as the 135 lb stock is more prone to ink cracking than our lighter options. Please see below for an image example:
PrintNinja’s Available Cover Stocks
10pt. Cover (Available both Domestically and Internationally)
The lightest cover stock we offer, 10pt. cover is a great fit for catalog covers, and is often the best choice for the cover of any perfect bound project 6″ x 9″ or smaller (250 GSM metric weight). This weight is only available on offset printed international orders over 250 units.
12pt. Cover (Available both Domestically and Internationally)
A medium weight cover stock often used as the cover paper for trade paperbacks, graphic novels, and many perfect bound projects larger than 6″ x 9″ (300 GSM metric weight). This stock is available for offset printed orders and digital-offset printed orders.
14pt. Cover (Available both Domestically and Internationally)
The heaviest cover stock we offer, 14pt. cover gives a rugged, durable feel and is often used for any project that will be handled a lot, for very thick perfect bound projects of any variety such as catalogs or graphic novels, or for oversized projects larger than 8.5″ x 11″ (350 GSM metric weight). This stock is available for offset printed orders and digital-offset printed orders.
More Cover Stocks
80lb. Cover (Domestic Stock)
A good choice for saddle stitched books, 80lb. is a thin cardstock. We have it available in gloss/matte coated and uncoated.
100lb. Cover (Domestic Stock)
A good choice for perfect bound books, 100lb. is cardstock of standard thickness. We have it available in gloss/matte coated and uncoated.
14pt. C1S (Coated on one side) Cover (Available both Domestically and Internationally)
14pt. C1S is coated on one side. It’s great for projects that will be handled a great deal and need the most durable stock possible. It’s most commonly used for packaging, as well as perfect bound or saddle stitch books with blank inside covers.
Now that you fully understand common paper weight terms, as well as how they are used and measured, see how your paper choice affects the price of your project with our instant quote calculator. If you don’t see what you’re looking for or need help feel free to contact us. Or, if you want to continue learning about paper options such as coatings and finishes, see our Paper Options page.
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Paper Coating
PrintNinja offers various different paper coating options. These coatings are applied during paper manufacturing, as opposed to paper finishes, which are applied after printing. Each coating comes with unique advantages detailed below.
Coated Gloss
Coated Gloss
Gloss coating applied during manufacturing, giving your project a reflective shine. Coated gloss papers are our most popular variety, and are commonly used to convey professionalism. This results in rich colors and crisp resolution, making images “pop.” Catalogs, magazines, and children’s books are all examples of projects best printed on with coated gloss. However, fingerprints may become apparent on these types of projects due to their high shine.
Coated Matte
Coated Matte
Matte paper also has a coating applied during manufacturing. Unlike gloss coating, matte coating gives a diffused sheen, which boosts the contrast of photos and offers a smoother presentation than uncoated. These type of matte papers are often used for art books, lookbooks, literary journals, graphic novels and any other project requiring a more subtle shine.
Like What You See? Get Your Price.
Once you’ve chosen your paper coating, you’re one step closer to instantly calculating your price. Check out our calculator to configure your project and see your price.
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Paper Finish
PrintNinja offers various types and styles of paper finish. Paper finishes are applied after printing, and are usually only applied to a project’s cover. Finishes each have a type (e.g. varnish or lamination) and a style (e.g. gloss or matte). If you’re not sure, we recommend ordering a sample pack so you can see your options in person.
PrintNinja Tip
UV Varnish can be fragile when used as a cover finish, and can crack easily. For a high-gloss shine we recommend gloss lamination, or Spot UV, which can be used to add shine to a specific part of your cover.
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Once you’ve chosen your paper finish, you’re one step closer to instantly calculating your price. Check out our calculator to configure your project and see your price.
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Specialty Paper Options
In need of specialty paper options? We can help.
Choosing the paper stock that will bring your story to life doesn’t have to stop at the standard. In addition to our standard paper types, we offer a multitude of specialty paper options, cuts and styles to help your project express its unique personality and stand out in the crowd.
Select one of our specialty paper options below to learn more.
Specialty Paper Options
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Textured Paper
Add some tactile pizazz to your book’s cover or interior pages with one of our textured paper finishes! Our standard texture options will help give your book a feel that’s one-of-a-kind. We highly recommend purchasing our Specialty Options Sample Pack to get a look and feel of our options in person.
Standard Textures
Standard Textures
Making a hardcover, wire-bound, spiral-bound, softcover or saddle-stitched book? Consider printing your cover on one of our three pre-made textured papers to add some additional visual and tactile interest. For wire-bound, spiral-bound, softcover and saddle-stitched projects, these textures are available in weights starting at 120lb text and are perfect for that durable-yet-classy look. Hardcover projects can utilize ONLY the 120lb stock. When using textured cover stock, we recommend abstaining from laminated finishes as they have a tendency to obscure the appearance of the texture.
Cover Texture Options
Making a hardcover, wire-bound, spiral-bound, softcover or saddle-stitched book? Consider printing your cover with one of our standard textured paper options to add some additional visual and tactile interest. When using textured cover stock, we recommend abstaining from laminated finishes as they have a tendency to obscure the appearance of the texture.
Our 4 standard texture options are as follows:
1# Eggshell
#2 Felt
#3 Stucco
#4 Linen
Eggshell, Felt and Stucco Textured Covers
Eggshell, Felt and Stucco are textures that are manufactured with patterns pre-engrained in them as part of the paper-making process. These are available in the following weights/coating:
120 lb text (uncoated), 12 pt (uncoated), and 14pt (uncoated)
Hardcover Project Considerations
Hardcover projects can utilize ONLY 120lb weight. Because these custom textures are uniquely crafted and made-to-order, they are notably pricier than our Linen texture and will require a custom quote. Hardcover projects are laminated by default for standard paper options. This gives the final book added durability. If you choose to use any of the above textured stocks for your hardcover a lamination will cover the texture effect, so it will not be applied, so it must be noted that adding the above textured covers detracts from the overall durability of the cover.
Linen Textured Covers
Our Linen texture is applied to existing stock and can be applied to the following weights/finishes/coatings for Saddle-Stitch, Perfect Bound, and Wire/Spiral Bound covers:
85 lb uncoated, 105 lb coated(matte, gloss & uncoated), 135 lb coated(matte and gloss)
10 pt coated(matte, gloss & uncoated), 12 pt coated(matte, gloss & uncoated)
12 pt 1 sided gloss coated, 14 pt coated (matte and gloss) , 14 pt 1 sided gloss coated
Hardcover Project Considerations
Linen texture can only be applied to 105lb coated (matte or gloss) for hardcover projects. We are unable to apply the Linen texture to UNCOATED covers of hardcover projects. If you wish to order a hardcover book with an applied texture similar to Linen on an uncoated cover, please contact Customer Service or your Account Manager to see if we can provide any options for you!
Interior Page Texture Options
Our linen texture can also be added to your interior pages. This texture is made by physically imprinting our standard paper and is the perfect option for anyone looking to spice things up on a budget. Our linen texture looks best when added to paper between 85lb text and 10pt cover, which is the sweet spot for getting the most noticeable textured effects on every page. Feel free to check out all of our available paper weights.
Design Considerations
It’s important to note that while adding a linen texture is a fantastic way to elevate your project, it can also impact your artwork – specifically when used in conjunction with metallic ink. The reflective quality of both the linen texture and the metallic ink on small text hurts the legibility. This is a rare combination, but something to keep in mind if you plan on using any of these options. In the examples below the metallic ink on the text alone poses no issue, but in combination with the linen texture it becomes a struggle to read in certain lights.
This result should be anticipated if you choose to print small/delicate text and choose to apply a linen finish. This result is mostly attributed to the metal specs in the metallic ink reflecting light a bit differently than regular Spot Color.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Please note that the only textured stock available for our domestic print service is 100lb Cover Linen Stock. While this stock is mostly geared towards linen stock cards, we can use linen stock as a book cover upon request.
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Off-White Paper
Interested in an off-white paper look for your project? We can help.
Off-White Inside Book Paper Stock
In addition to our normal white paper, we also offer uncoated paper stocks to give your book a unique, raw feel. We have a range of paper weights from 55 lb to 135 lb.
Though it doesn’t quite have the same feel, a cheaper alternative many creators pursue is to print on normal uncoated paper and simply design their art files with an off-white color background. This way the finished product looks as though it was printed on a non-white paper. Ultimately the choice is yours, so feel free to request samples of this paper option in your PrintNinja sample pack today.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Eco-Friendly Printing Options
Want to reduce your carbon footprint and choose some eco-friendly printing options for your project? We got you.
FSC Paper
We work with facilities that are CoC-certified to print with environmentally-friendly Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. We can substitute FSC paper for any of our standard paperweights.
Please note: FSC certified paper does require a large minimum order as unique lots of paper are ordered specifically for the job you intend to print. To quote for FSC paper we require Minimum Order Quantities in the following range:
For less than 60 inside pages = MOQ 10,000 units.
Between 60 and 100 pages = MOQ 7,500 units.
Between 100 and 200 pages = MOQ 5000 units.
More than 200 pages = MOQ 2000 units.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot provide FSC-certified paper for board books.
Learn more about FSC certification.
Artwork Requirements
A certified FSC logo will need to be included somewhere in the project. However, the certified logo will not become available until approx. 1-2 weeks after your order is placed. In the interim, you will need to use a placeholder graphic in your artwork.
- The placeholder graphic does not require any specific placement or size, but the placeholder graphic should be in a ratio equal to 2″ wide x 2.75″ high.
- Be sure to communicate with your Prepress Mananger where they can find the placeholder graphic in the artwork, so they can be sure to point it out to the vendor.
- When the order is approved for production and sent to print, the vendor will replace the placeholder graphic with the certified logo.
- Be sure that the page with the placeholder graphic has not been flattened in any way, as this will not allow the vendor to replace the graphic with the certified logo. If that is not possible, then be sure to submit two versions of that page, one with and one without the FSC placeholder graphic included.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Soy Ink
Another great eco-friendly printing option we offer is soy-based ink.
Complement your FSC paper with our soy-based inks for an environmentally friendly alternative to our standard inks.
The ink is derived from combining refined soy-bean oil with other natural resins and waxes. The upcharge for soy ink is modest, and you can indicate your environmental sensitivity in your advertising materials and on the book itself. And if you think you have to give up quality for sustainability then THINK AGAIN: because soybean oil is naturally clearer than most petroleum-based inks, your colors will look just as bright if not brighter on your pages.
Eco-Friendly Options in the U.S.
While soy ink is not available for domestic orders, almost all of our available paper stocks are FSC certified. Some exceptions are:
- Silver Foil Stock
- Plastic Vinyl Stock
- Black Core Stock for Card Games
- Point (Pt.) or “Board” Stock – FSC sourced versions of Pt. or “Board” stock is available but not always kept in stock. Contact your account manager if your project requires FSC sourced board stock.
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Pop-Up Spreads
This article will provide an in-depth outline of the order process for a pop-up book project. We’ll cover the steps you’ll need to take to get a quote, an estimate of the potential costs, and approximate turnaround times. You can find a step-by-step breakdown of the order flow at the very end.
Another great resource to help you get started is the Movable Book Society. They have a wealth of information about pop-ups, including general knowledge, educational books and websites, and a list of contacts for paper engineers.
Ready to learn? Check out our visual guide on the pop-up book order process, as well as our written breakdown in the page below!
Production Requirements
Because pop-up books are so unique in their manufacturing, they come with some particular production requirements.
- Binding: Must be casebound (hardcover).
- Interior Paper: Must be sturdy enough to support the pop-up structures. We recommend 10 pt. cover stock.
- Order Quantity: Because of how complex and labor-intensive these projects are to manufacture, the minimum order quantity is 500 units.
- Artwork: You’ll need to work with a paper engineer to design your spreads. We’ll need to see artwork files that are properly marked with the appropriate dielines.
If this all sounds workable for you: fantastic! Let’s talk about how to get the ball rolling with a quote.
Quoting Process
Considering how special a pop-up book can be, it should come as no surprise that the quoting process is just as unique.
Paper Engineering for Pop-Up Books
Paper Engineered Artwork Files
The main thing we’ll need to see is artwork that’s been evaluated by a paper engineer. They’re the ones who are able to add the “pop” to a pop-up. Figuring out the paper mechanics necessary to convert a 2D sheet of paper into a full 3D structure is quite a technical process, and one that will need to be done by a professional. They’ll know what cuts will need to be placed where, how each piece will need to fit together, and which markings to use in the artwork to indicate this all to a production team.
You’ll want to get both the paper engineer and your book designer on board as early in the process as possible, before any illustrations are finalized. Otherwise, your illustrations will likely need to be heavily modified, if not entirely redone. The engineering and artwork should be developed together, with each taking the other into consideration throughout the entire process.
PLEASE NOTE We do not offer these services ourselves, but we do have some contacts we can connect you with to help you get started. They are independent of PrintNinja, and the rate they charge will be completely separate from your quote with us. Reach out to one of our Customer Service Ninjas for more information.
Budgetary Quote
Once your paper-engineered artwork is submitted to us, we’ll be able to provide a Budgetary Quote, i.e. a ballpark estimate for your final production costs. You’ll work with an Account Manager for this stage. In addition to the artwork, they’ll need to know the dimensions of your book, page count, number of pop-up spreads, order quantity, and anything else your project will need. This will also include an approximate shipping price based on your chosen shipping method.
Validation Proof
If the Budgetary Quote works for you, the next step for quoting will be for us to create a validation proof. This proof will be a physically-assembled and bound proof of concept for the pop-up spreads. You’ll also receive a digitally printed, low-resolution copy to review and check that everything looks as it should, or make any changes if necessary. The cost of the validation proof will be determined spread-by-spread based on the total number of pop-ups and their complexity, plus a flat fee for expedited shipping.
Because the validation proof is required for final quoting and production, if any significant revisions are necessary, you’ll need to order another proof.
After you approve the validation proof, we’ll use that final version to determine the exact costs of the full production run.
Potential Costs
If you look at a picture of a house, you might be able to generally guess how much it costs. But if you’re a realtor trying to set a listing price, you’ll need to at least look at the blueprints, see the location, and do a walkthrough first.
Quoting for pop-up books works in much the same way: though we may be able to give a rough estimate based on the artwork you submit and general specs, we’ll need to use the validation proof to get any more exact than that. By creating the validation proof, we’ll be able to determine the production requirements and materials needed for the project in a more direct way.
Here’s a breakdown of what costs you’ll be facing for your pop-up book:
- Development: Unless you have the career background to do these things yourself, you’ll need to hire a designer and a paper engineer. You can hire your professionals of choice. The rates they charge will be completely separate from your PrintNinja quote.
- Validation Proof(s): Cost is calculated per spread + $100 shipping. This is a separate transaction from the rest of your order, meaning this would not act as a deposit.
- Full Production Run: Cost is calculated from the validation proof. Shipping cost will depend on your chosen shipping method and the shipping location. For a very rough ballpark, we’d estimate an approximate cost of at least $40-$50 per book* (including standard shipping) for the minimum 500-unit run. This would mean at least $25,000 total, potentially.
*As with any offset-printed project, your per-unit cost will decrease with the more units you print.
Turnaround Times
It’s difficult to say exactly how long a pop-up book project might take, because much of it will be determined by your order’s complexity, quantity of units, and chosen shipping method. However, we do have some estimates that might help paint a bigger picture for your project’s timeline:
- Development: Designing your project with a paper engineer could take several weeks, months, or even a year or longer if you have particularly extensive pop-ups. Remember, this stage will need to be completed before you come to us for quoting and printing.
- Validation Proof: 3-5 weeks for production + 1 week for shipping*
- Full Production Run: 5-7 weeks for production + 1 week for expedited shipping or 6-8 weeks for standard shipping*
- Total: Starting from when your finalized artwork is submitted to us, we would anticipate a total turnaround time of approximately 12-17 weeks*
*Like all of our turnaround times, please keep in mind that we are only able to provide approximations. The production time will depend on your order’s complexity and the total number of units; shipping time will depend on your chosen shipping method. High-volume orders and specialty printing options can also add to your turnaround time.
Order Flow
Below is a step-by-step overview of the order process for a pop-up book. This list begins with the first step you’ll take with PrintNinja, but certainly not the first step for the project as a whole.
1. Fully Designed/Engineered Artwork Submitted
In order to get a final quote, or even a preliminary quote, we’ll need to see the artwork for your project. This step is REQUIRED to continue to the next stages. (That’s why it’s first!) You can send your files to our Customer Service team or directly to your Account Manager, if you have one.
2. Budgetary Quote
After we receive your artwork, an Account Manager will reach out to discuss the rest of the details of your project. They’ll then determine a Budgetary Quote based on your files and the full specs of your book. This quote will be a ballpark estimate, and may not necessarily be the same as your final quote.
3. Electronic Proofing
Your book’s artwork files will be analyzed by our Prepress team, who will provide detailed feedback on any concerns or adjustments necessary to make your files print-ready. Please note that this feedback will be related purely to the print readiness of your artwork and not towards any construction-related issues.
4. Validation Proof Pricing and Payment
From your files, we’ll price out the cost of the validation proof spread-by-spread. This is a separate transaction from the rest of your book order.
5. Validation Proof Production and Delivery
As soon as payment for the validation proof is received, it will be produced and shipped out to you. We will also receive a copy of the proof for comparison and quoting.
6. Review of Validation Proof
If you receive your proof and something is incorrect, you’ll still have the chance to make changes at this stage. Depending on what those changes are, we’ll likely need to produce another validation proof and begin the process again from that step. Otherwise, if everything looks good to you, you can approve the proof for quoting and production.
7. Final Production Quote
The Account Manager will use the approved version of your proof to determine an exact quote for the full production run. Because this can only be determined after your validation proof is created, it may differ from your initial Budgetary Quote.
8. Payment
If you’re satisfied with the quote you receive, you can pay for your order and begin production. Your full order payment is separate from the validation proof payment.
9. Production
Production will begin on your approved project. Your actual production time will depend on your order’s complexity and quantity, though we may be able to provide a more accurate estimate once your validation proof is approved.
10. Delivery
Once production is complete, your order will be packaged and prepared for final delivery via standard ocean freight and/or expedited air freight shipping.
While an advanced project like a pop-up book can present some major challenges, with a lot of planning and preparation, PrintNinja can be your partner in making it happen.
Like what you see? Get a quote.
Since pop-up books are incredibly unique, you’ll need to request a custom quote. Let us know as many details as possible about your pop-up book, such as size, page count, number of pop-ups, and order quantity. Once we get your request, we’ll reach out for any additional details needed to get your custom quote.
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Custom Edges
Want to add something special to your PrintNinja project? Consider adding custom edges. Learn about the variety of custom edges options that we offer here!
Custom Edges Options
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Painted Edges
Painted Book Edges Fore-Edge Splatter
There are many types of edge treatments that can be applied to your book. A popular choice is painting a solid color or applying gilt — a metallic color, typically gold or silver — on the paper’s edge.
Edge coloring is a great way to catch the eye of a potential customer and our artisans can accommodate any color of your choice to make it pop.
Important Consideration
Adding painted edges to your project will increase your production timeline by 3-5 days. Before you can worry about that, you’ll need to make sure your book has a thickness of at least 8mm to achieve the optimal apperance.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Please note that painted edges are only available for international offset printed orders, we cannot provide painted edges through our U.S. based digital-offset print option currently. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
Painted Book Edges Fore-Edge Splatter
Design Inspiration
Get creative and your possiblities will be endless. The book in the photo to the right combined the following specialty features to give it a creatively unique style:
- Painted Edges (Splatter)
- Faux Leather Cover
- Off-White Paper
Deckled Edges
What are deckled edges? Are they right for your project with PrintNinja?
Deckled Paper Edges Book
Also referred to as feathered edges, deckled edges are rough and irregularly cut edges of a book’s interior paper. In the past, deckled edges were a product of the binding process and could only be trimmed off for a hefty price. Thanks to modern binding technology, it’s now possible to easily create the appearance of smooth edges, which has turned deckle-edged books into a rare sighting. But, if you still want that vintage feel, this can be a great way to add that aesthetic to your project.
Deckled paper can give your book a refined, bespoke look and feel that stands out next to modern books.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Gilded Edges
What are gilded edges? And are they right for your project?
Edge gilding is the process of applying a metallic foil to the outer edges of your book. Typically gilt service is offered in gold or silver, but our expert artisans will gild your books in any foil color of your choice. This is a great way to conjure up luxury, elegance and overall a special aura surrounding your project.
Important Considerations
A gilt edge can only be applied to perfect binding and case-bound books. Your project should have at least 1cm of thinkness on the paper edge of your book, otherwise the giltting effect will not be very visible. Please note, this specialty option will add 3 -5 days onto your production turn around time.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Please note that gilded edges are only available for international offset printed orders, we cannot provide painted edges through our U.S. based digital-offset print option currently. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Perforated Pages
What are perforated pages? Are they right for your printed project?
Perforated Pages
Perforated pages are a great option when you need a page to be easily removed. There are tons of potential reasons why you might include them in your project: you can perforate your coloring book so the pages can be stuck on the fridge, or perforate a document that needs to be removed and mailed away. You can also add a perforation to a page in a spiral or wire bound notebook to avoid ugly torn edges. You can even combine perforated printing with our easel stand covers option to create a desk calendar with daily, tear-away pages! PrintNinja gives you the option to add this feature to individual pages or an entire book.
Use our custom calculator to request this option be included in your quote. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
Perforation Artwork Setup Guide
You can find the full Perforation Artwork Setup Guide here.
Like what you see? Get a quote.
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our calculator. We’ll start working on your custom quote within one business day of receiving your request.
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Rounded Corners
What are rounded corners? Are they right for your PrintNinja project?
Children's Board Book Rounded Corners
Rounded corners are the unsung hero of specialty paper options. They can serve many purposes for your project. The shape reduces the wear and tear of corners since they are less likely to be bent than a pointed corner. These types of corners are standard for board books and a great option for any children’s book as they protect children from accidental paper cuts. Since pointed corners are considered the norm, rounded corners can add a creative style to your project.
PrintNinja can round the corners of your book and card game by .25″ radius (typically books) or .125″ radius (typically cards). Domestically, we have a set default corner radius of 0.25” for card games. The other corner option for domestically produced card games is square corners.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Edge Printing
Manufacturing Limitations
- Edge printing is limited to PERFECT BOUND and CASEBOUND projects.
- The book block itself must be at least .40” thick.
- Specialty inks (metallic ink for example) are only availalbe for screenprinting, not digital printing.
Fun Facts!
- Screen printing is an option for 1-color designs! Screen printing differs from digital printing in that the ink is applied thicker than digital printing, which results in brighter, more saturated color.
How Do I Know If My Book Block is .40” Thick?
Easy! Just go ahead and save a quote via our instant online calculator. Once you receive your emailed quote PDF, reach out to customer service with your PRN# and ask:
“I would like to know if my project allows for digitally printed edges?”
You should hear back within 1-business day if your project will allow for digitally printed edges.
How Do I Setup My Artwork for Digitally Printed Edges?
Easy! Reach out to your Account Manager or Customer Service with your projects’ PRN#
and ask:
“May I please have the required artwork size for digitally printed edges?”
We will reach back out to you within 1-2 business days with the required artwork size + bleed.
How Do I Setup My Artwork for Screen Printed Edges?
Easy! Reach out to your Account Manager or Customer Service with your projects’ PRN#
and ask:
“May I please have the required artwork size for screen printed edges?”
We will reach back out to you within 1-2 business days with the required artwork size + bleed.
Additionally, artwork for screen printing should be supplied in Vector-format and the design itself should be a Spot Color.
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Gatefolds
Interested in adding a gatefold to your printing project? We can help!
A gatefold is an oversized page that is folded into a magazine or book – typically found in the center of your project – that opens into six panels (3 pages back and front) or eight panels for a double gatefold. Gatefolds encourage the reader to unfold the page making it a perfect place for important information, beautiful artwork, or advertisements. Due to the reduced parent sheet size, we are unable to create gatefolds for domestically produced orders.
If you find you want to expand beyond a double gatefold, or have specific folding ideas in mind, this is more than likely something we can accommodate! However, there are manufacturing limitations to be mindful of, so if you have something in mind that does not qualify for a standard gatefold or double gatefold please contact one of our friendly customer service Ninjas and we can let you know if we can work with your specifications.
Add-on Considerations
Make the most out of your gatefold with specialty add-ons!
A popular choice is the addition of perforated edges to allow the reader to pull out a poster or form. You can see an example of this first hand when you purchase our deluxe book sample pack – just be sure to note that you would like to see the PrintNinja China Trip Book! Another common option is spot UV, an enhancement that adds visual appeal and a tactile sensation.
Other applicable options include: foil stamping, emboss/debossing, metallic ink, glow-in-the-dark UV, pearl UV, and textured paper.
Pricing
Request pricing for adding a gatefold and any applicable add-ons while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Be sure to include the following:
- Type of Gatefold: Single, Double, Other?
- Any Specialty Add-ons
We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
File Setup Guide
Extra Press Sheets
Interested in ordering extra press sheets as a contributor reward tier for your crowdfunding printing project? We can help.
Uncut Parent Sheet Press Sheet
Full, uncut press sheets make a great commemorative gift or Kickstarter reward. If you’d like, we can print extra sheets from your print run and ship them to you separately. Typical press sheets are 16 pages of a book or 55 cards of a card game, but this may vary depending on your project specs and which printing service you are using.
Unlike physical proofs, since these are set up for your actual print run you cannot choose the individual pages that are on the press sheet, but you can choose which press sheet from your project you’d like to print.
Die Cut and Adding Flaps
What does it mean to die cut your book? Can you add flaps to your book? Are either of these options right for you?
Die cutting your book adds an extra special custom look to your project. Whether you’re cutting a hole through the cover, or flaps for a children’s book, this special option is versatile and fun. Die cut your dust jacket to show the hard cover underneath, cut a window through the whole book, cut an area to be hidden by a flap. Want your book die cut in the shape of a Ninja? We can do that! (We’d love to do that.) Your imagination is the limit on this flexible added feature. Please note that adding flaps is only an option for orders over 500 units.
Pricing
Extra press sheets are a somewhat affordable add-on: 5 press sheets for $100. Add $50 for every 5 press sheets beyond that. Extra press sheets printed for U.S-sourced orders can be added to your order for $15.00 per press sheet.
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
List this item in our add-on box while locking in your price on our calculator. We will get back to you with a quote within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Double Lamination
What is double lamination? Is it right for your book project?
Lamination and Dry Erase Workbook
If you’re looking to provide your audience with a fun interactive experience, consider adding gloss or matte lamination to both sides of your interior pages.
As a protective coating, lamination is often reserved for a book’s outer cover, a.k.a. the most vulnerable part of your book to general wear and tear. However, when added to your book’s interior pages, double lamination also provides each page with a surface that can be easily drawn on and wiped off for repeated use. This is a great feature to include for workbooks and activity books, or if you’re just really messy.
This treatment is an exclusive option for wire and spiral bound books. Please note that double lamination is only available on orders over 250 units.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
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Endsheets
Endsheets, also known as endpapers or endleaves, are the pages at the beginning and end of hardcover books that are used to glue the inside pages (known as the “book block”) to the hardcover.
Hardcover book endsheets are usually made from uncoated paper stock which is slightly heavier than the paper used for the inside pages. When you’re using our instant calculator to price your book, keep in mind that the endsheets are already included in your price for books with 60 or more pages. Endsheets generally aren’t necessary for books with less than 60 pages, but if you’d like to add them you can enter that request in our “additional info” field when you save your quote. We will update your quote with that cost included and send you an updated price and spec information.
Design Considerations
Typically, endsheets are either left blank, printed with a solid color, or printed with a pattern. However, PrintNinja is not limited to those choices and can print anything you’d like on your endsheets. If you opt for custom artwork on your endsheets, keep in mind that the endsheets and the inside pages will be glued together on the innermost 10mm. Thus, these pages are not well suited for designs that span both pages. For more info on design considerations, please see here.
Like what you see? Get your price.
You’d be surprised just how many options you can quote instantly on our book pricing calculator. If there’s anything you don’t see, let us know and we’ll get you a custom quote in around one business day.
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Measuring Your Book Size for Printing
This article will teach you how to determine your book size for printing.
Since the first project rolled off PrintNinja’s presses in 2009, we’ve printed over six million copies of books, cards, games, and more. From tabbed catalog pages to book covers that double as drink coasters, we’ve just about seen it all. During the prepress process, one of the most common questions we are asked is how to properly measure your book. No matter what type of project you are printing, it is critical to understand the correct measurements of your book so that it turns out exactly like you imagine.
To measure the size of your book, all you need is a:
- Book
- Ruler
- Sturdy flat object (such as a book or piece of cardboard)
- Flat surface
Start with the height, which is the dimension parallel to the spine. Lay your book on a flat surface and hold the piece of cardboard against your book at the bottom of the spine. Place your ruler against the cardboard and measure to the top of your book, making sure to account for the extra length at the end of the ruler. Then do the same for the the width, which is the dimension perpendicular to the spine. You can see these steps illustrated in the photos. Measure to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.
If you’re printing a hardcover book, the cover extends approximately 1/8″ past the interior pages on all sides. This means that the cover of a 6″ x 9″ hardcover book will be closer to 6.25″ x 9.25″, so plan accordingly.
PrintNinja Tip
Once you have your book measurements figured out, make sure to check out our instant quote calculator to lock in your price for 90 days. Or, if you need some help with your project, contact our print experts for information.
Common Book Sizes:
- Comic Book: 6.625″ x 10.25″
- Magazine / Catalog: 8.5″ x 11″
- Children’s Book: 8.5″ x 11″ or 11″ x 8.5″
- Paperback Novel: 5.5″ x 8.5″ or 6″ x 9″
- Hardcover Novel: 6″ x 9″
- Booklets: 8.5″ x 11″
- Art Book: 8.5″ x 11″ or 9” x 12”
- Photo Book: 8.5″ x 11″ or 9” x 12”
For a more comprehensive list of standard book sizes, materials, and bindings, visit our industry standard pages.
What’s next?
We can customize just about anything, but if you’re looking for a more comprehensive list of project types, standard sizes, materials, and bindings, visit our industry standard pages.
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How To Count Internal Pages For Book Printing
How do you determine the interior page count for your printing project?
For years, PrintNinja has been a foremost source for offset printing services and information. As such, our expert team sees their fair share of misunderstandings throughout the printing process. Whether you’re printing a novel, coloring book, booklet, or art book, one of the most common errors we see during the quoting process is the incorrect counting of internal pages.
Our instant quote calculator is the perfect tool for pricing your project; however, if the page count in incorrect, the price you calculate may be misleading. Here we explain the proper way to count the internal pages of your project so that your printing experience goes as smoothly as possible.
When you’re ready, we’d love to help you self-publish your book. In the meantime, we’re available to answer questions about self-publishing, the printing process, or file setup. Click here to contact us, we’re always happy to help.
Counting Your Pages
The process of counting pages is quite simple and doesn’t require any fancy tools or calculators, but without a clear understanding of how interior page counts work, it is easy to miscount. For a visual guide on how to count your pages, please check out this tutorial below:
Your book will follow the same interior page count style you’d find in any novel, children’s book, or similar printed text. Page 1 always starts on the right side and each side of the sheet counts as one page. So, when you flip page 1 over, you’ll find page 2 on the back (now on the left-hand side). Page 3 is on the right, and when you flip it over, page 4 will be on the left, 5 on the right, and so on.
If your printed project contains any blank pages, they will still factor into your overall page count. Sometimes, if a chapter finishes on a right-hand page (an odd-numbered page), authors will add a blank page directly after it so the next chapter still begins on a new right-hand page. As with every printed project, formatting options for books are entirely up to the creator!
PrintNinja Tip
It’s important to note that your interior page count is not the same as your file page count. For more on file page counts, see our file setup guide.
Why Are Page Counts For Printing In Multiples Of Four?
Most types of binding require books to be printed with interior page counts in multiples of four. This is because the pages of your book will be printed on large sheets, called parent sheets. The sheets either hold 8, 16, or 32 pages, depending on the size of your book. Do you notice how these numbers are all multiples of four? This ensures you won’t be left with any blank pages when the parent sheets are folded. Take a look at the image below for reference: the parent sheet has 8 pages per side (16 total).
After printing, sheets are folded and inserted into your book as one whole unit. As the diagram indicates, three sides of the pages are trimmed to allow for flipping. Since each set of four pages is actually just one large sheet of paper, folded and trimmed, books must have pages in multiples of fours. With that said, blank pages can be strategically added to the front or back of your book to satisfy this requirement without impacting your pagination, or the order in which your pages appear.
The multiple of four rule only applies to saddle stitched, perfect-bound, and case-bound (hardcover) books. Domestically, page count works a little differently as well. Here in the U.S. we’re not printing signatures, rather our page count is based on the capabilities of the machinery we use. Saddle stitch books still need to be divisible by 4 in order to avoid any blank pages, but for perfect bound projects the page count can be divisible by 2 instead of 4.
Exceptions to the Multiple of Four Rule
The multiple of four rule does not apply to wire bound projects, spiral bound projects, and board books. These books are bound differently, and folded sheets are not used to create the pages. Pages for these projects must only be in multiples of two. As noted above, perfect bound books produced in the U.S. need only be divisible by 2.
If you’re publishing a board book for instance, your project will be printed using a different technique. Operators will print 2-page spreads and glue them to paper boards. Spiral and wire binding, which are popular for projects like activity books and cookbooks, are also printed using 2-page spreads. They are cut and drilled prior to being bound with the spiral or wire.
Interior Page Count Minimums and Maximums
It’s not the size of the book, but what’s in it that matters most! Still, if you’re wondering whether your project is a bit on the short side (or conversely, too long), you may be curious about internal page count minimums or maximums.
There’s almost always a solution for printing a book of any page count, it’s simply a matter of choosing the options to best suit your project. For instance, a saddle-stitched book with 85lb text paper can contain a maximum of 44 pages. However, if you use thinner paper – 70lb text, for instance – the page count increases to 68. If you need more pages, feel free to explore our additional binding options.
Perfect-bound books, on the other hand, always have minimum interior page counts. They too, vary based on the paper weight. The purpose is to create a volume thick enough to accommodate a spine.
Most importantly, keep in mind that you’re not locked into any single binding type. There are plenty of options available to suit each creator’s needs! To learn more, take a peek at our binding options. If you’re not sure if your interior page count, weight, and binding align, contact us and we’ll be happy to help out
Full Color vs. Black and White
This article will explain the differences in full color vs. black and white printing.
PrintNinja offers two types of printing: full-color CMYK printing (also known as 4-color process or 4/4) and black and white printing (also known as black-only or 1-color process or 1/1).
CMYK Printing
Full-color CMYK printing uses four colors of ink: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK (also known as Key) to create millions of colors. Though different from digital RGB printing, CYMK printing can create many colors, and creates a beautiful, quality finish that digital printing can not provide.
Black (K) Only Printing
Black and white or black-only printing just uses one color of ink: black (also known as Key, or K).
Black and white printing is more cost-effective since it requires less setup, but it’s important to note that the black produced using only K will not be as deep as Rich Black, which is produced using all four colors of CMYK.
When you’re setting up your files for print, be sure to review PrintNinja’s Printing Color Guide. It addresses the most common color pitfalls and mistakes customers make, including RGB vs. CMYK, standard black vs. rich black, spot colors / color matching, and more.
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Book-Specific Specialty Options
What types of specialty book covers does PrintNinja offer?
These are our book-specific specialty options. If you don’t see see what you’re looking for in one of our specialty book covers, we bet you can find it in our most popular add-ons section. Select an option below to learn more.
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Variant / Sketch Covers
Variant Covers
Prevalent with comic books, variant covers refers to a comic printed with multiple covers. The purpose of these covers is to encourage fans to acquire multiple copies in order to complete their collection.
You can print as many variant covers as you like. X-Men #1 (1991) published the issue using five different images that formed a single image when laid side by side.
Pricing for variant covers are based on the number of designs you have.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on by checking the appropriate box on our quoting calculator. More complex or extensive specialty options can be requested while you lock in your quote.
Quoting Calculator
Sketch Covers
Sketch covers are blank comic book covers often printed as special editions. The surface is generally uncoated so other artists can easily draw their own cover art. Your original cover artwork will still make an appearance as the first page inside the sketch cover. As you can see in the photo to the right the creator decided to make the sketch cover on the backside of their book.
Pricing
Quoting Calculator
Project Tip
You can combine multiple specialty options for a truly one-of-a-kind product at a fraction of the cost. For example, you can order a split bindery run with variant covers on both binding types, one of which, could be a sketch cover.
Pricing
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Dust Jackets
What kind of dust jackets does PrintNinja offer?
Dust jackets, or book jackets, were originally used to protect the hardcover case of casebound books. Today, they are an art form all their own. PrintNinja’s are printed on 135lb text paper, and are finished with either a gloss or a matte lamination.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our dust jacket template, plus information on how to set up the artwork for your project’s dust jacket.
Design Considerations
Dust jackets are detachable covers that wrap around your book and are held into place with folded flaps. These flaps, also called panels, make for a perfect place to print a book blurb, information about the author, or even reviews.
This is a unique specialty feature because it is an opportunity to provide the reader with another piece of art, other than what is found on your cover. A dust jacket is a great way to upgrade your book or provide a limited edition.
Note: Currently, dust jackets are only available with international offset printed orders. We hope to have this option available through our domestic digital-offset print option in the future.
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French Folds
What are french folds? Are they right for your PrintNinja project?
For perfect bound books, we can create covers that fold over at the ends like the flaps of a dust jacket. French folds (sometimes known as double gate folds) are a great way to add extra information to your cover and give your book a polished, unique feel.
Pricing
- $300 for orders of 2000 copies or less.
- $500 for orders of over 2000 copies.
Request pricing for this add-on by checking the appropriate box on our quoting calculator. More complex or extensive specialty options can be requested while you lock in your quote.
Ready to set up your file?
Visit our Setup Guide page here.
Note: Currently, french folds are only available with international offset printed orders. We hope to have this option available through our domestic digital-offset print option in the future.
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Cloth and Faux Leather Covers
What type of cloth and faux leather covers does PrintNinja offer?
Looking to upgrade your book? Cloth and faux leather covers add an element of luxury to your project. Paired with our other specialty options like foil stamping and debossing, PrintNinja gives you the tools to create a book worthy of any library.
Create Limited Editions
Cloth and faux leather covers are a great way to create a deluxe edition of your book. We can add cloth or faux leather to part of the total run of your book. For example, you could order 1,000 copies and have 100 made special as a deluxe edition. It’s a great way to add another reward level to your crowdfunding campaign, or to thank your closest supporters.
Please note: Due to the variations inherent in the dyeing process, the fabric and leather colors and textures will vary between print runs. You can order samples of our swatches on our specialty printing options sample page.
Cloth Cover Options
Faux Leather Cover Options
Design Considerations and Restrictions
Most of our creators choose to add one of our specialty add-ons to their cloth or faux leather cover. The most common add-ons being foil stamping or debossing! We are a bit limited on what we can add with a faux leather or cloth cover, so please see the list below for what you can add to either option:
- Foil Stamping
- Debossing
- Rounded Spine (You will need to save a quote and confirm with your Account Manager if your project can include this)
- Raised Band Spine – Can only be applied to FAUX LEATHER projects with a spine width of at least .984”.
- Tip-In Image Printing
If you decide to add any of the above options to your quote, you can find the setup guides detailing any design restrictions here.
Looking for pricing?
If you’d like to price your cloth or faux leather covered book, start by filling out our hardcover book calculator and you’ll be able to request your specialty cover after you save your quote. We’ll then follow up with you custom quote within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Folder Pockets
What kind of folder pockets does PrintNinja offer? Are they right for your project?
Adding pockets to your inside front and back covers is a great way to increase the practicality of your project. Folder pockets can be a great option if your project has punch-outs or is accompanied by many small pieces. Adding a folder pocket provides a convenient way for your customers to store these additional components. If your project contains supplemental handouts (perhaps you’re printing a textbook), folder pockets are also a great option.
Manufacturing Requirements
- By default pockets are 4″ tall. Be mindful of the thickness and dimensions of the sheets/material that will be inserted into the pocket. For reference, a maximum of 8 sheets of 85lb stock will fit inside a standard folder pocket.
- Books that are 9″ x 12″ or larger and include a folder pocket are able to fit standard 8.5″ x 11″ sheets of paper.
- Case bound and wire/spiral bound projects require the folder pocket to be 15mm (.60”) less wide than the width of the project.
- Saddle Stitch projects require the folder pocket to be 10mm (.40”) less wide than the width of the project.
- Perfect bound and board book projects require the folder pocket to be 18mm (.71”) less wide than the width of the project.
- The width of any inserted sheets needs to be 2mm (.08”) narrower than the added folder pocket width.
- Folder pockets are made using our 10pt stock and will use the same coating as your cover unless otherwise requested. 12pt and 14pt stock can also be utilized if you wish! If your cover stock is lighter than 10pt stock, we DO NOT recommend adding a folder pocket to your project.
- The folder pocket shape is customizable, but we suggest keeping the shape simple. If you are looking for a complex shape, you will need to discuss this with your Account Manager during quoting.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Just be sure to add a note in the additional info below “Save my Quote” that says something like, “Would like to include a folder pocket on my inside back cover—one-sided printing”. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within one business day of receiving your request.
File Setup Guide
We will need a file provided with the die-cut shape of the folder pocket if you would like anything other than a standard rectangle. You can find the setup guide here for this add-on.
Note: Currently, folder pockets are only available with international offset printed orders. We hope to have this option available through our domestic digital-offset print option in the future.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We'll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Hole Drilling
Need hole drilling for your custom printed project? We can help.
We can drill custom holes for your documents so that they can easily be inserted into three-hole binders. This is a great option if you’re printing a looseleaf textbook – one where instead of having a traditional softcover or hardcover book binding, students provide their own three-hole binders. This allows students to not have to carry around a huge binder with them all day long – they can pick out the section that they’re using for day and simply insert it in their binder. This is also a great option for calendars or any project that you want to hang – having a pre-drilled hole makes it much easier on your customer to hang up your calendar symmetrically. No more wrestling with a level trying to find the perfect spot to stick in the push-pin!
Manufacturing Requirements and Recommendations
- We offer the following hole punch diameters: 3mm (0.12”), 5mm (0.20”), 6mm (0.24”), 7mm (0.28”), 10mm (0.39”). 7mm (0.28”) is the standard size.
- The hole punch must be at least 0.25” away from the trim.
- For casebound (hardcover) and board books, only the COVER may be hole punched.
File Setup Guide
We will need a reference image provided showing the intended placement of the hole punch. You can find the setup guide here for this add-on.
Pricing
- $100 startup plus 10 cents per unit.
List this item in our add-on box while locking in your price on our calculator. We will get back to you with a quote within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, we’re happy to talk with you if you’re not sure if this option is for you. Contact one of our friendly customer service ninjas today!
Note: Currently, hole drilling is only available with international offset printed orders. We hope to have this option available through our domestic digital-offset print option in the future.
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Split Binding
This article will teach you about split binding and help you determine if it’s the right option for you.
If you’re interested in printing two or more versions of your book you can save money by doing a split binding run instead of placing separate orders. The interior pages for every copy are printed all at once before being separated for the different bindery runs, so the inner “guts” of your book project will need to be exactly the same in every version (the hardcover version can’t have a different copyright page than the softcover, for instance). However, you can include variant covers within both bindery runs.
Important note! When considering a split-binding run, it’s also important to remember that your casebound book will require endsheets, regardless of page count. Endsheets are normally only included with casebound books over 60 pages, but with split binding, the interior bookplate used for printing needs to be identical.
You can find more information about endsheets and how they work here.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We'll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Die Cutting, Surface Flaps and Multi-Layer Added Flaps
Die Cutting
Die cutting your book adds an extra special custom look to your project. Die cut your dust jacket to show the hard cover underneath, cut a window through the whole book, cut an area to be hidden by a surface flap. Want your book die cut in the shape of a Ninja? We can do that! (We’d love to do that.) Your imagination is the limit on this flexible added feature.
Manufacturing Limitations
- We can apply die cuts to all our standard binding types.
- The minimum paperweight we recommend when applying a die cut is 105lb coated stock or 85lb uncoated stock.
- Die cut shapes will need to be approved by our vendor. We recommend sending us your die cut shape at your requested size before placing an order to make sure it is something we can replicate.
- Multiple shapes on one sheet are possible! Just be sure to check with your Account Manager first to see if we are able to replicate the artwork.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
File Setup Guide
You can find the file setup guide here for this add-on.
Surface Flaps
Want to add die cut flaps that are glued to the surface of your book pages? We can do that! Please be sure to note that with this style, be prepared for your book to not lay perfectly flat.
Die Cut Flap
Manufacturing Limitations
- Can only be added to white edge and standard edge board book projects.
- Flap material will be 12pt coated (gloss or matte) 1-side stock.
- Complex shapes will need to be approved by the vendor.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
File Setup Guide
You can find the file setup guide here for this add-on.
Multi-Layer Added Flaps
Want to add die cut flaps that fit like a puzzle piece into your board book? We can do that!
Manufacturing Limitations and Recommendations
- Multi-layer flaps are only available with white-edge style board books.
- Added flaps will NOT affect the spine width.
- Complex shapes will need to be approved by the vendor.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas! We’ll be happy to talk with you and help you determine whether this is the right choice for you.
File Setup Guide
CD/DVD Sleeves
What type of custom CD and DVD sleeves does PrintNinja offer?
Clear PVC CD DVD Sleeve
For certain projects, including a DVD or a CD with your book just makes sense. Maybe your book is about understanding a certain software, and you’d like to include a CD-Rom with the book so the user can follow along. Or, if your book is a compilation of lyrics from your original music, you may want to include one of your CDs so readers can read along with your lyrics as they listen. Or maybe your book is a children’s storybook, and you’d like to add a DVD with a short animation of your story on it so that children can easily watch your story on the go!
Have a CD or DVD you’d like to include with your book? Add a clear PVC sleeve to your inside front or back cover for easy storage. Please note that PrintNinja cannot create CDs or DVDs, so you will need to obtain those on your own and manually insert them.
If you will be using PrintNinja’s warehousing and fulfillment services, though, then you can save time by sending your CDs or DVDs to us and having us insert them into the custom CD and DVD sleeves in each order.
Manufacturing Requirements and Recommendations
- The size of the DVD and CD Sleeve is 5.25” X 6“.
- Discoloraztion of the sleeves is to be expected over long periods of time.
- Application of a sleeve is recommended on the inside covers of hardcover projects or board books for durability. If the project is saddle stitched, perfect bound, or wire/spiral bound the thickest cover stock available (14pt) for the project is recommended for application of the sleeve.
- The sleeve placement needs to be at least 10mm (.40”) from the binding and at least 5mm (.20”) from the trim.
Pricing
- $0.30 per unit.
Since this addition is NOT available in our instant quoting calculator, you will need to request this be added to your project while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Just be sure to add a note in the additional info below “Save my Quote” that says something like, “Would like to include a DVD pocket on my inside front cover”. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
File Setup Guide
We will need a reference image provided showing the intended placement of the sleeve. You can find the setup guide here for this add-on.
Note: Currently, CD/DVD sleeves are only available with international offset printed orders.
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Boardless Case Binding
What is boardless case binding?
Boardless Case Bound
Boardless case binding is a little known binding option that’s unique and charming. This special cover option has the finish and construction of our case bound books without the rigid board inserted between the covers. The end result is a pliable soft cover with a pronounced durable edge. An excellent alternative for children’s books or journals that is sturdier than a softcover, but friendlier than its case bound cousins.
Boardless case binding can be matched with our other materials and finishes for an extra special outcome. Ask for gloss or matte lamination, pair it with foil stamping or a spot varnish. Heck, we can even replace the paper with our cloth or faux leather. Stand apart from the pack with this delightful option.
Contact us for a custom quote to add this feature.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you have any other questions, we can help you figure out if this binding style is right for you.
Setup Guide
You can find the setup guide for boardless case binding here.
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Rounded and Backed Case Binding
A rounded and backed case binding gives your spine a classic rounded shape. This older style of bookbinding was used to accommodate hand-sewn signatures and build a shoulder and hinge for the boards of the cover. Modern rounded spines are more of an aesthetic choice that can give your book a classical old-world look and feel. As seen in the photo, a rounded and backed case binding will give your project a vintage aesthetic. You can even pair it with a raised band spine to really lean into your book looking older.
Ask for a custom quote to add a rounded and backed case binding to your project. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to ask one of our friendly customer service Ninjas for their thoughts – we’ll help you out!
A couple of things to keep in mind….
- You will need to add 0.1″ (2.54mm) to the standard spine width, so design accordingly.
- Not all casebound projects will allow for a rounded spine. Factors like page count and interior page stock will ultimately determine if a rounded spine can be utilized. You will need to save a quote first and then reach out to your Account Manager to see if a rounded spine can be added to the project.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We'll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Raised Band Spine
What is a raised band spine? Is it right for your PrintNinja project?
The raised band spine is a decorative feature that imitates an old book binding technique. Back in the old days when books were bound by hand, bands of thread would be used to hold all of the page signatures in place. Those bands wrapped around the spine to add stability and structure. Modern books don’t require this method, but the raised bands are still used to imitate those classic old tomes. Simulated with leather or wood, these ridges accent the spine on leather bound books.
For a Raised Band Spine to be applied to a project the book needs the following requirements:
- Faux Leather Casebound
- Minimum Spine width of 25mm
- The project cannot have additional Embossing added to the spine area.
Combine this with the rounded and backed spine for a rich antique aesthetic. Ask to add the Raised Band Spines with our faux leather option and give your project a shot of class and legitimacy. Add in gilded edges, why dontchya, and go whole hog, Mr. Fancy Pants! Your project will look like it came straight out of a Dickens novel.
Contact us for a custom quote to add this feature.
How do I setup my Raised Band artwork?
You can find the setup guide page here for step-by-step instructions on how to setup your artwork.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We'll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Accordion Books
What are accordion books?
Multifold Book With Hardcovers
Although we love a good old-fashioned smyth-sewn book, we certainly aren’t limited to printing books with traditional turned pages. As the name suggests, accordion-style books (also known as leporello books) involve printing on an elongated piece of paper that is then folded into an accordion-style pleat. The folds alternate between the front and back so the paper stacks nicely on top of itself in its folded state.
Recommended Material
All of those folds make this style of book more vulnerable than our traditional book bindings, so if you are planning to use this binding for a standalone book project (rather than as a component in a board or card game), we recommend using thicker paper like 10 pt. or 12 pt. cover stock. This ensures the book will be both sturdy and flexible.
Restrictions
The minimum order quantity for accordion book projects is 250 units.
There is also a unique size restriction on accordion books: the maximum unfolded size we are able to print is 38” x 25”.
Special Options
Accordion books aren’t limited to just our standard stocks, either! You can have casebound front and back covers much like a traditional hardcover book, use specialty textured paper, and even have an accordion-style board book. All our standard specialty options—like foil stamping, spot UV, and so on—can also be used with accordion books.
Turnaround
A standard accordion booklet project takes around 1-2 weeks for production. Projects with specialty options as well as orders of 3000 units or more will have a longer production time. Shipping times will depend on your chosen shipping speed: expedited shipping takes around 1-2 weeks, and standard shipping takes around 6-8 weeks. Please refer to our page on turnaround times for more information.
Pricing
This style of binding requires a custom quote. You can request pricing using our contact page. To make sure we can get you an accurate quote as soon as possible, make sure you include the following information:
- Your desired number of units
- Size of each panel of the accordion book, i.e., the “closed size”
- The number of panels or total unfolded size
- Paper stock
- Whether you want a gloss or matte finish (both varnish and lamination options are available)
- Your shipping address and shipping speed
Additionally, let us know if your project has any extra requirements, such as split shipping or specialty options.
Please note that the outside front and back covers, as well as the inside front and back covers, should be included in the total panel count when requesting a quote.
Once we have all the information we need, an account manager will review your project specs and reach out to you with your quote in a few business days.
File Setup Guide
You can find a setup guide for accordion books here.
Visual Guide
More of a visual learner? Check out our visual guide below for a video walkthrough of Accordion Book Basics.
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Padded Covers
What are padded covers? Are they right for your book project?
To give your book some extra heft, we can build a cover that incorporates a thin layer of foam padding between layers of soft cardstock. This gives a plusher, heavier feel and protects the cover from minor dings and dents – making it a great option for children’s books, letting them withstand even the toughest of playdates. Not only is this option is perfect for giving a softer feel to children’s books, padded covers can also be used for adding protection to cookbooks, photobooks, or any other type of project that will see heavy use.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request. Of course, if you’re not sure if this option is right for you, feel free to ask us! Just reach out to one of our friendly customer service Ninjas, and they’ll gladly help you determine if this option is right for your book project.
Please note: this option can only be applied to casebound hardcover books.
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Easel Stand Covers
What type of easel stand covers does PrintNinja offer?
Easel Stand Cover
Sometimes your project needs that practical element to make it all come together—and our easel stand option is a great practical element. This cover option can transform a cookbook into countertop companion—so that your customer can easily execute your great recipes with a sauce-coated spatula in one hand and an overflowing measuring cup in the other. Use this cover style to create a daily calendar that can be displayed on your customer’s desk—or stowed away in a file cabinet drawer for convenience. This combination of a wire binding and a collapsable cover transforms your project into a versatile tool.
Manufacturing Requirements and Recommendations
- An easel stand can only be included with wirebound projects.
- The stand itself is printable! However, this will require a custom template. You will need place your full order to receive the template. You can discuss this with your Account Manager once you have saved a quote.
Pricing
Since this is NOT available as a standard add-on, you will need to request this be added to your project while locking in your wirebound project price on our quoting calculator. Just be sure to add a note in the additional info field below “Save my Quote” that says something like: “Would like a quote that includes an easel stand.” We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within one business day of receiving your request!
File Setup Guide
If you wish for the easel stand to be anything other than WHITE, you will need to request a custom template.
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Foam Covers
What kind of foam covers does PrintNinja offer?
Wanting to print a book that is both fun and durable? Foam books are your dream come true. Our foam books are made of child safe EVA foam, which allows them to be cut into custom shapes and withstand even the roughest of play dates. You can even get these books wet without damaging them. Plus, no fear of errant paper cuts!
Die-cut Foam Books
EVA foam is easy to cut allowing customers to create one of a kind shapes for their products. Reach out to our Ninjas to see if one of our foam covers can be cut into the design you want!
EVA Foam Color Options
Think our foam books can’t get any better? Think again! EVA foam is available in an array of colors allowing even more options to make your project one of a kind. From bubblegum pink to sky blue to sun yellow, we have so many color options that you’ll be sure to find one that is perfect for your children’s book project.
Ready to try for yourself?
To get a quote for this option, simply fill out our custom request form with your book specs. We will get back to you with a quote within several business days of receiving your request.
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Aqueous Coating
What is aqueous coating?
Aqueous Coating
Varnishes work great for playing cards, comics, catalog mailers, and all sorts of other saddle-stitched projects, but any product that warrants frequent use will be much more susceptible to scratches and scuffs. That’s why we offer aqueous coating, for those projects that need a little extra protection. It also provides a very particular textural feel – kinda like velvet. If you’re interested in having a really unique texture to your project, this coating might be the right finish for you. Please note that aqueous coating is only available on orders over 500 units printed through our international offset printing service.
Applying an aqueous coating will help protect your cover against the signs of every day wear-and-tear, keeping your items looking just as good as when they first came out of the box. It also seals in the ink on the paper for extra preservation from air exposure, which is an important design consideration for collectible items like limited-run comics or exclusive card game expansion packs.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within several business days of receiving your request. We can also talk with you about whether we think aqueous coating is the right type of finish for your product.
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Golden Tape Binding
What is golden tape binding? Is it right for your PrintNinja project?
What is golden tape binding? Is it right for your PrintNinja project?
Little Golden Books are a publishing house beloved for their children’s stories. Among their book portfolio, they include classics like The Poky Little Puppy, The Little Red Hen, and The Saggy Baggy Elephant. Despite how iconic their stories are, they may be most remembered for the golden binding. If you’re trying to create a book that emulates the style of Little Golden Books, golden tape binding may be the perfect option for you. Please note that golden tape binding is only available on orders over 500 units printed through our international offset printing service.
That nostalgia can be added to your project’s dust jacket with a gold metallic sticker. Manufacturing only allows the sticker to adhere to DUST JACKETS.
Dark ink can be printed on the tape to mimic the Little Golden Books pattern or to display your title. To avoid any visibility issues, light color is not printed on top of the golden tape.
Have more questions about our golden tape binding option? Feel free to contact one of our friendly customer service ninjas. We’ll be able to guide you through whether or not this option is right for your project.
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Tip-In Image Printing
Can I print CMYK artwork on my faux leather or cloth cover project?
The answer is…..a variation of YES!
Tip-in image printing applies to mainly to faux leather and cloth cover projects as an alternative, or add-on, to foil stamping or debossing. Essentially, we will apply a light deboss in the shape of your printed artwork. After this has been done, we print the CMYK artwork, trim it, and apply it to the debossed area with a fine layer of glue.
Manufacturing Restrictions & Considerations
- The shape of the printed CMYK artwork and deboss area needs to be a simple, solid shape – no complex shapes. For example: solid square, solid circle, solid rectangle, etc.
- The minimum shape size for deboss area is 2” x 2”.
- Multiple shapes are doable.
Pricing
This is a custom add-on so to get pricing on this feature you will need to save a quote and reach out to your Account Manager with the PRN# asking for this feature to be added to your quote. This feature is not available for orders printed through our domestic digital-offset printing service.
File Setup Guide and Limitations
Please visit the setup guide page here.
Proofing Options
Electronic Proofing
If you are an experienced printer, working on a tight schedule, or just looking to save some money, electronic proofing is our fastest and most cost-effective option.
Our electronic proofing process begins with an in-depth file review completed by one of our pre-press experts. Once your files are print-ready, we’ll generate a PDF proof with printers’ marks that will show you how your project will look, and you get to look it over one last time before sending it to press.
Electronic Proofs are fast and cost-effective, but they won’t show you how your colors will turn out when printed.
If you are new to printing or are concerned about making sure your colors translate to print in the way you think they will, we highly recommend that you do hard copy proofing for your project instead.
- Electronic Proofing Cost: $0
- Electronic Proofing Turnaround: 1 Business Day
Hard Copy Proofing Sheet
For those who want to see the way color in their project will come out when printed offset, we offer affordable hard copy sheet proofing as well as electronic proofing. Hard copy proofing for games is produced differently.
Our standard hard copy proof option includes one offset-printed parent sheet, which for most projects (8.5″ x 11″ or smaller) means 8 pages of content. The selected pages should be interior pages, and not include any cover or inside cover images, but they don’t need to be consecutive. You can include spreads, but they will count as 2 pages. Please be sure to note that larger projects (usually 9″ x 11″ or above) can only fit 4 pages on a parent sheet, and keep in mind the proof sheet does not account for layout or binding.
This sheet will be printed using the same paper stock, finish, and offset printing press that your final product will be printed with, so we recommend you choose the inside pages which have the colors you’re most concerned about. Hard copy proofing sheet turnaround is approx. 2 weeks – though added specialty options can add additional turnaround time.
Hard copy proofs are not available for domestic orders but 5 unit orders can be purchased before placing a higher volume digital-offset order. If you are considering a 5 order domestically as a hardcopy proof for an offset printed order, keep in mind that products printed domestically will not be reflective of a final product printed through offset printing. Materials, finishes, and binding techniques are completely different between the two print services so it cannot serve as a one-to-one comparison.
Below is a pricing breakdown for sheet proofing and shipping:
Non-Negotiable Flat Premium Expedited Shipping Fee per Shipment = $100
Interior Page Proof Sheet = $150
Additional Interior Page Proof Sheets = $150 per sheet
Dust Jacket with Basic Varnish or Lamination = $150
Perfect/Saddle Stich/Wire Bound/Spiral Bound Cover Proof with Basic Varnish or Lamination = $150
Hardcover Cover Proof not Glued and Wrapped Around Greyboard with Basic Varnish or Lamination = $150
Hardcover Cover Proof Glued and Wrapped Around Greyboard with Basic Varnish or Lamination = $200
+ Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination/Glow in the Dark/UV Pearl = $100
+ Added Texture = $50 per selection
+ Basic Foil Stamping = $100 per color
+ Basic Emboss/Deboss = $100
+ Spot UV = $100
+ Sequential Foil Stamp = $50
For help calculating the cost of your hardcopy proof, please see our hardcopy proof calculator.
For a complete walkthrough of our hardcopy proof sheets, please check out the visual guide below:
Board Books
The board book proofing process is slightly different than our other binding types due to its unique construction. You will receive a bound, offset-printed version of the project – so, a full representation of what you can expect from the full production run – yay! Board book proof turnaround is approx. 3 weeks – though added specialty options can add additional turnaround time.
Below is a pricing breakdown for board book proofing and shipping :
Non-Negotiable Flat Premium Expedited Shipping Fee per Shipment = $100
Board Book Proof = $250
+ Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination/Glow in the Dark/UV Pearl = $100
+ Added Texture = $50 per selection
+ Basic Foil Stamping = $100 per color
+ Basic Emboss/Deboss = $100
+ Spot UV = $100
+ Sequential Foil Stamp = $50
For a complete walkthrough of board book proofing, please check out the visual guide below:
For help calculating the cost of your hardcopy proof, please see our hardcopy proof calculator.
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Specialty Packaging Options
We offer several specialty packaging options at PrintNinja. From sleek custom slipcases that will provide your printed project with the utmost protection, to shrinkwrap that will make your project retail ready, we can help you find the perfect packaging option for your project with PrintNinja. Custom slipcases are a durable yet elegant style of packaging fit for any project from magazines to hardcover books. We can shrink wrap your books or games before shipping them to you, keeping them sealed and ready for sale. We also offer custom shipping packages – we can print your logo and any useful information on ready to ship packages, allowing you to send your fans more than your merchandise. This is a great way to brand your business, or, if you’re fulfilling orders from a Kickstarter campaign, a great way to ship in any extra tier prizes along with your final project. No matter your packaging problem, we can help you find a solution and get your project to your customers in style with one of our specialty packaging options. Please note that packaging options are more limited in scope domestically compared to our international offset print service. Custom tuck box packaging is available for card games but custom shipping boxes, two piece boxes and other types of packaging are not available currently for domestic.
Specialty Packaging Options
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Custom Slipcases
Custom slipcases not only protect your books from dust, light, and damage, but they turn your project into a beautiful display that stands out on any bookshelf.
PrintNinja can handle just about any slipcase size from magazines to DVD’s to coffee table books, however we cannot print slipcases as standalone items. The main reason for this is because we cannot risk damage during shipment. Shipping slipcases without a book exponentially increases the chances of bending/creasing/collapse during the long journey from China.
Additionally, Our slipcases are custom printed surrounding the specifications of a particular book. Essentially, we control the fit and feel of the sleeve because we are in control of all the variables involved. When a book has been printed out of our hands, we can’t take the risk of producing a product that doesn’t fit as it should.
Because slipcases are so customizable, the best place to start is by submitting a request for a custom quote. We’ll be able to help you determine the best dimensions so your project will fit into your slipcase comfortably. Please allow for an extra week for production when calculating your turnaround time.
If you order a custom slipcase for your project, we will ship your books inside their slipcases. This helps reduce your shipping costs and protects the slipcovers in transit. We never ship slipcases separately because they can be damaged in transit.
Specialty Options for Slipcovers
You can customize your slipcase with any amount of specialty features and graphics of your choice.
Get Inspired
Some creators choose to repeat their cover artwork onto their slipcover, but you can also create entirely new artwork. B-Squad: Soldiers of Misfortune chose a new design for their slipcover and combined many specialty options to add value to their project, including anti-scratch matte lamination and sequential foil numbering.
Like what you see? Get a quote.
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our calculator. We’ll start working on your custom quote within one business day of receiving your request.
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Shrink Wrap
What type of shrink wrap packaging does PrintNinja offer?
Shrink Wrapped Comic Foil Stamping
Shrink wrap is commonly used to stabilize products, unitize them, keep them clean or add tamper resistance. A lot of creators shrink wrap their comics for easy transportation to and from cons while keeping their product sanitary and adding mystery for the reader who wants to know what is inside.
Board and card games are very popular items to shrink wrap as they have many pieces that are critical to the game’s play. For the purpose of easy opening, we offer shrinkwrap that includes a pull tab, allowing the player to unravel your game’s shrinkwrap in one pull.
PrintNinja can shrink wrap any size book or board game and does so after assembling all components inside of your board or card game.
If you are planning to use a warehouse and fulfillment service we recommend shrink wrapping your product to avoid warehouse gunk damaging your project.
Shrink Wrap Packaging Pricing
$100 startup.
Plus: 25 cents per unit for projects 8.5 inches x 11 inches and smaller.
Plus: 35 cents per unit for larger projects.
List this item in our add-on box while locking in your price on our calculator. We will get back to you with a quote within 1 business day of receiving your request.
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Custom Shipping Packages
What type of custom shipping packaging is available to you?
Custom Shipping Box for Books and Games
PrintNinja offers custom shipping boxes to help you represent your product and brand at all times. There are two sizes available: 10″ x 6.5″ x 3″ (seen in the photo) or 12″ x 12″ x 2″. You choose the color and information you would like on your package and we will assemble your box and product together.
Shipping Options
PrintNinja offers many shipping options for you to choose from. We can assist you with split shipping, freight forwarding, and even warehouse and fulfillment services, which includes pick and pack.
Crowdfunding Tip
When thinking about your rewards, you can cut down on cost if your reward can fit into the same packaging as your book or game. For example, rewards that can fit inside a book could include a postcard, poster, stickers etc. When adding rewards on the go, most creators overlook packaging and end up wasting money shipping two boxes to the same address.
Custom Shipping Packaging Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Custom Shipping Box for Books and Games
Product Packaging
Product packaging sells your game for you. Our team can calculate an accurate box size for all of your components so your items are secure and shipping costs are minimal. We can also help you stand out, here are some options we offer:
- 2 Piece Box-paperboard-tin
- Tuck Box
- Deck Box
Add Ons:
- Handles
- Foil Stamping
- Spot UV
- Emboss/Deboss
- Shrink Wrap
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Custom Game Printing Services
Interested in custom game printing? We can help.
When you choose to print your game with PrintNinja you open yourself up to a world of endless possibilities. Select a category below to learn more about our materials, components, customization and more.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These part of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Game Boards
It’s not a board game without a board! Well, sort of – for those free-spirited designers we offer two alternative playing surfaces alongside the traditional option: playmats and tiles. Of course, boards are the most common playing surface. Select a category below to learn more about your playing surface options.
Please note that many “board game” components are not available domestically. This particular component is not currently able to be produced through our domestic digital-offset print option. We hope to offer a wider variety of components to better match our international offset print option in the future.
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Size of Boards
This article will teach you more about the standards for board game sizes.
For an accurate quote, you’ll need to provide us with the width and height of your board in its unfolded state on our quote request form. Based on this number and the panel/fold style you select, we will determine the size of your board in it’s folded formation. Keep in mind the larger your board the bigger your box will have to be.
If you need a large board we suggest checking out our playmat playing surface option. This material can be folded over more times than a board, making it possible to fit into a smaller box.
Example Sizes of Popular Board Games
- Scrabble: 15″ x 15″ double panel – 1/2 fold.
- Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders: 15″ x 20″ double panel – 1/2 fold.
- Monopoly, Clue: 20″ x 20″ double panel – 1/2 fold.
- Risk: 20″ x 30″ four panel – 1/4 fold.
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Board Game Folding Options
Your game board is going to have to fit into the box with your other game components – so you need to think about your board game folding options as you design your board. In fact, board size (both folded and unfolded) should be one of the earliest design decisions that you make and one that you regularly test during your board game playtesting period. The number of folds can be changed based on the content of your game and the design – but once you know that you’re going to fit into a 12″x12″ box so that your game can sell to retail stores, you should plan on developing your board into that outside dimensional envelope.
Once you’ve come to the appropriate box size, you’ll need to think through your total artwork size and the multiple ways to fold your game board. Generally speaking, the folds don’t impact playability – so you can make artistic and gameplay decisions with the board. Think of a game that you have liked in the past and how your game is going to be played. Is this a coffee table game? A kitchen table game? Something to play on a bus? The size and number of folds can dramatically change the cost and the playability of the final product. Below, we have five panel styles (fold options) that make it easier to fit your board into two piece box. The following panel options work with all our thickness options.
All of the board game folding options shown below are appropriate for square/rectangular boards. Different board shapes – hexagonal, circular, etc. – can be quoted separately. Costs on non-rectangular boards are difficult to estimate without seeing artwork. Every shape other than rectangular has higher labor requirements for scoring, cutting and gluing.
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Board Finishes and Thickness
This article will teach you about board game finish and thickness.
Finishes are applied on top of your printed boards for the purpose of adding protection and artistic style. The finish type (varnish or lamination) protects the ink and prevents scratches. The finish style (gloss or matte) adds an aesthetic appeal to your project. Keep in mind, game boards, tiles, and tokens have different finish requirements because of their thickness.
Board Finishes
When choosing a board finish, you only need to select a style (gloss or matte). Gloss adds a reflective shine, while matte adds a duller shine and smoother touch.
Since our boards are generally produced from (at least) 2mm high-density paperboard they require lamination because it’s the best finish for thicker material. Not only that, but game boards take a beating so we’ve decided to make the most protective finish, lamination, the default board finish.
Tiles and Token Finishes
Token and tiles are produced from (at least) 1.5mm greyboard, a thinner option than game boards, so you’ll be required to pick a finish type (varnish or lamination) and a style (gloss or matte).
Varnish is the most common finish type used for thinner material, but don’t feel you have to stick to the trends, your tokens may deserve the most protective finish (lamination) that also makes your pieces *water resistant.
Gloss or matte is ultimately a creative choice, gloss adds a reflective shine, while matte adds a duller shine and smoother touch.
*water resistant is not water proof.
Matte (Anti-Scratch)
Anti-scratch matte lamination is highly recommended if you’re using a matte style finish and your board artwork has a large coverage area of dark ink. Matte is prone to showing scratches on dark ink, so if you have pieces (meeples, pawns, etc.) that are moved around the board often, we recommend adding anti-scratch matte-lamination or choosing gloss.
Thickness Options
The thicker the piece the more durable. Beyond that, this is your creative choice, but if you’re struggling here are the industry standards of each piece:
- Game boards: 2mm
- Tiles: 1.5mm
- Tokens: 1.5mm
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Playmat
Our custom playmat option is produced by printing your CMYK or black and white design onto cloth, then gluing and sewing that fabric onto a rubber slip resistant mat. Please note that many “board game” components are not available domestically. This particular component is not currently able to be produced through our domestic digital-offset print option. We hope to offer a wider variety of components to better match our international offset print option in the future.
The biggest benefit of a playing mat is the ability to have a larger surface for your game. The photo to the right shows a 30″ x 30″ mat 1/16″ thick that can easily fold into a tidy square and fit inside a 13″ x 11″ x 3″ box.
If the creators of Twister could do it all over again they’d probably use our playmat.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Cardboard Mats/Tiles
Cardboard mats and tiles are interchangeable terms, they are both used primarily to build a game board surface. Perfect examples of this function are, Settlers of Catan using large hexagon mats and Labyrinth using 32, 2″ x 2″ tiles.
Please note that many “board game” components are not available domestically. This particular component is not currently able to be produced through our domestic digital-offset print option. We hope to offer a wider variety of components to better match our international offset print option in the future.
Tiles vs Tokens
Generally, tiles are considered to be larger pieces, unlike tokens that are mostly used to represent resources. When deciding between mat/tiles or tokens, consider whether you need many little pieces to act as counters or a few large pieces to create a board. If you need a handful of small pieces you should look into our token options.
Material and Printing
Cardboard mats and tiles are produced by applying printed paper to high-density paperboard then cut to size and shape. Based on your printing choice we can wrap both sides of the tile with your artwork (two-sided printing) so players can flip the tiles and use each side. Or, the cost-effective option, is gluing your design to one-side (one-sided printing) and leaving the cardboard backing exposed.
Custom Tile Shapes
Our default tile shape is square, but we have the machinery and know-how to die cut your tiles into other shapes. If you’d prefer another shape (i.e. hexagon) enter the width and height of the furthest points on your shape and let us know your custom shape request in the additional info box at the end of our quote form.
Multiple Variants
Cardboard mats are used to assemble the playing field. If your playing field is one large grassy area then you may just need one piece of art printed on each tile. If your playing field is an ever-changing universe like Labyrinth the A-maze-ing game, then you’ll need to let us know the number of different artwork for each specific tile in our board game request form. The more varieties of artwork you need the more printing plates we may need to create (also based on size and number of tiles) which will increase your cost.
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Playing Card Dimensions
Through our international offset print service, we offer standard card sizes and can also print customized card dimensions and shapes. Select a style below to see the size, common uses and more.
Please note that some of our card game sizes are only available on orders over 500 units. If you are planning on printing through our domestic digital-offset print service size variety is more limited. We have standard poker and tarot size cards with 0.25” rounded corners. Other sizes can be requested but must be custom quoted. Custom size cards will also not have rounded corners and are limited to shrink wrap only packaging.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
Card Dimensions
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Poker Style Playing Cards
Poker style cards are the most commonly used playing card. The style name, poker, originated from the popular game of poker, but now refers to the card size 3.5″ x 2.5″.
Poker Card Packaging
A standard poker deck (52 cards) is typically packaged in a flip top tuck box. Up to 110 cards can fit into a custom tuck box. Once your card count exceeds 110 cards, or 220 cards in two decks side by side, you will need a two-piece box to contain your deck. The flip top tuck box is not able to contain more than that amount without tearing.
Poker Card Material
There are three card materials to choose from – card stock, plastic or foil stock. The standard stock for the game industry and what most of your favorite games use is 280 GSM Blue Core card stock. Domestically, we use 12pt (260gsm) Coreless card stock as the standard.Tuck boxes are made with 14pt. coated 1-sided card stock – the industry standard.
Custom Poker Cards
Poker style doesn’t mean you have to create a 52-card deck with suits, although we are experienced with that! The poker card size is perfect for playing card games or accompanying a board game. Here are some examples of poker style card games we’ve printed:
Playing Card Specialty Options
The best part about printing offset vs. POD is the amount of specialty options that are available. To the right is an example of a gold foil stamping. View our other options below:
** Domestically produced orders do not have the same specialty options as orders printed through our international service. Please contact your account manager or our customer service team if you have questions about specialty options for your project, so we can direct you to the service that best suits your needs. **
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Tarot Style Playing Cards
Want to print tarot style playing cards? We can help!
Premium Tarot Cards Printed by PrintNinja
Do you want to help others unlock the answers to life’s most pressing questions? Or, are you designing a game that requires a specific card size? Whether you’d like to print a divinatory deck or you’re building a one-of-a-kind set, tarot cards are a fitting choice for many applications. It’s speculated that these mystical tools have been used to help people see into the future since the 15th century, but today they can be implemented in several different ways.
The standard size for our tarot style playing cards is 2.75” x 4.75,” which is an inch longer than regular poker cards. This custom length can be useful for distinguishing card purposes if you’re creating a game that requires multiple decks. For instance, tarot-sized cards might represent characters, while poker-sized cards might be used for a separate function of game play, like resources.
Tarot Card Packaging
Are you looking for a special way to take your tarot deck to the next level? If so, you can use customization options to design a custom tuck box to host your deck. Design elements like foil stamping are especially fitting for anyone using the cards to hone divine power, so don’t be afraid to get a little fancy with your packaging using the following options:
** Domestically produced orders do not have the same specialty options as orders printed through our international service. Please contact your account manager or our customer service team if you have questions about specialty options for your project, so we can direct you to the service that best suits your needs. **
Ready to Get Started?
We’ve created a custom pricing calculator so that you can explore all the different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and paperweight to specialty options and so much more.
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Square Style Playing Cards
Our square style playing cards are 2.5″ x 2.5″. Creators typically use square cards in three ways: for games that utilize a “draw pile” function, for children’s games since this size can easily be picked up, or for games that require players to lay their cards down in a grid format.
Games that use square cards:
- I Spy Ready, Set, Silhouette
- Castle
Square Card Packaging
If your square cards are part of a board game, use a two-piece box to house the cards. If your game only requires cards to play, we can make a custom tuck box, or you can shrink-wrap your deck without a box.
Square Card Material and Alternatives
If you’re using our square style playing cards for a grid, or to act as the playing board, our tiles option may be a better fit for your game. Tiles can be customized to any size, and they are made of high density paper board, providing increased durability and easy handling.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Mini Style Playing Cards
Want mini style playing cards for your custom board or card game? We can help.
Our mini-sized card die is 1.65″ x 2.5″ – the width of a standard poker card.
Mini-sized cards can be beneficial to your game in a variety of ways:
- The smaller size is easier for kids to handle.
- They are extremely portable – ideal for traveling.
- Brands can give away mini decks as an easy gift to build customer loyalty.
- They are great to sell for fundraisers, give away as party favors or other special event mementos.
- Some board games may need a variety of card sizes to distinguish between game features, like Monopoly’s Chance cards.
We’re sure there are many more ways to use mini cards – we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Non-Standard Sized Playing Cards
Non-standard sized playing cards arre any square or rectangular-shaped card that requires a width and length not associated with a commonly used card, such as poker or tarot.
Cost-Efficient Card Dies
Non-standard sized playing cards are cut to size using a die. Dies are metal blades that cut through paper by applying heavy pressure. We have many pre-made custom die sizes in stock, as listed below. If you don’t see the die size you are looking for, never fear, we can create a brand-new die to your specs. However, creating a new die will add a significant cost to your project, approximately $500 for international offset orders.
For domestically printed orders it can be even more than that, approximately $600 – $900. If you are interested in a custom die for a domestic order, you’ll want to make sure you have your artwork ready since pricing on those dies is completely custom. PrintNinja also requires a $1000 deposit for domestic orders requiring custom dies as we need to perform the full prepress process to get pricing for the die. That deposit can be put towards your order and is completely refundable as long as the die has not started production.
If you would like to keep costs low, we recommend choosing from our selection. Also, please note that custom card dies are only available on orders over 500 units.
Cost-Efficient Card Counts
You can also cut costs by choosing the right card count. We discuss this in our card count section, but it’s worth repeating.
The offset method prints all of your cards onto one large parent sheet. Cost is directly correlated to the number of parent sheets needed for your project. In the “Custom Die Sizes in Stock” section below, the parentheses show how many cards fit onto one parent sheet based on die size. You will be able to cut costs by making your card game equal to or less than the number of cards that can fit on one sheet.
For example, if you use a 2.45″ x 3.45″ die – which can fit 55 cards on one sheet – you may want to limit your game to 55 cards or less.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for we can create a custom sized playing card.
Please note that the sizes listed below do not correspond with optimal card counts for domestically produced card games. Those can be found here.
Custom Die Sizes in Stock
- 3.95″ x 1″ (104/sheet)
- 2.45″ x 3.45″ (55/sheet)
- 2.25″ x 3.45″ (55/sheet)
- 2.15″ x 3.15″ (55/sheet)
- 2″ x 3.25″ (55/sheet)
- 2.4″ x 4.5″ (44/sheet)
- 2.45″ x 3.9″ (44/sheet)
- 3.85″ x 2.9″ (36/sheet)
- 2.95″ x 4.1″ (36/sheet)
- 2.8″ x 4.4″ (36/sheet)
- 5.1″ x 3.35″ (24/sheet)
- 5″ x 3.5″ (24/sheet)
- 4.75″ x 3.5″ (24/sheet)
- 5.5″ x 3.75″ (21/sheet)
- 4″ x 6″ (21/sheet)
- 4″ x 5″ (21/sheet)
- 4.3″ x 6.3″ (12/sheet)
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Custom Shape & Size Playing Cards
Your design possibilities are endless with custom shaped cards. They can be as simple as a circle, or more complex like the outline of your heroic character or protagonist.
Custom shaped cards are not the same as non-standard sized cards, an unusual sized square or rectangle. We have 17 stocked non-traditional card sizes for you to choose from. If you’re so unique that we don’t have your size in stock you may use the Custom Shape and Size section on our card form to request a quote for your dimensions.
Creating Custom Cards
Cards are shaped with the die cutting method. The die, a set of steel blades, is formed into the desired shape and pressed into your printed card stock. The heavy weight cuts out the custom shape. This process does not allow for a lot of small intricate cuts, like a detailed snowflake. Always ask! Your account rep will be able to tell you if we can accurately produce your custom shape.
Watch a video of die cutting in action.
Cost
All custom shapes and sizes require us to create a new die, which is more expensive than using in stock card sizes – we already have these dies made. Depending on your design, creating a new die will likely come with an additional cost of $500.
We currently do not offer custom shaped cards with our domestic digital-offset print service. Cards printed through that option must be poker size or tarot size. Additional sizes are available with square corners and without tuck boxes, but all shapes must be essentially square or rectangular.
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Playing Card Material
Which playing card material is right for you? It really depends on your game – and luckily, we offer a wide selection of options for you to choose from for your custom card game. Select an option below to learn more about our available card stocks and finishes, and find the perfect playing card material for you!
Playing Card Material Options
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Playing Card Stock
PrintNinja offers many high-quality weights and core types of playing card stock for custom card and board games. Fully understanding these terms and knowing what card type suits your needs is the first step in creating your game.
52 Sweat Up uses 280gsm cardstock, out most popular option
Cardstock Weight
Cardstock weight is measured in GSM (grams per square meter). This is the universal measure for playing card paper weight. The higher the number (300gsm, 330gsm, 350gsm), the thicker and heavier the stock and card will be. Generally speaking, heavier cardstock gives your cards a higher quality feel. We also offer plastic playing cards made of a durable PVC. These durable, waterproof cards are a great option for party games and children’s games.
Card stock with blue core (top) and black core (bottom)
Card Cores
Card stock is also categorized by its core: blue, black or coreless. You can tell what core cards use by ripping them in half as seen in the photo to the right. This shows blue core on top and black core on the bottom. The core prevents the card from being transparent when held up to a bright light.
Blue core is the standard and is used in most of the games found at your favorite game shop.
Black core is the highest quality card core. This is favored by casinos because the dark core doesn’t allow players to see through cards.
PrintNinja Tip
PrintNinja also offers foil cardstock, which is a specialty paper stock made of silver or gold foil. You can print CMYK on top of the foil creating a foil stamping aesthetic.
PrintNinja’s Cardstocks
PrintNinja’s International Offset Cardstocks
- 280gsm Blue Core
- 310gsm Black Core (Linen)
- 330gsm Black Core
- 300gsm Coreless
- 350gsm Coreless
- 300gsm Foil Stock
- 0.3mm White PVC
PrintNinja’s Domestic Digital-Offset Cardstocks
- 260gsm Coreless Standard (12pt)
- 240gsm Black Core Standard (11pt Stoplite)
- 270gsm Linen Standard (100lb Cover w/ Linen Texture)
- 430gsm Plastic (12mil Rigid Vinyl)
- 255gsm Silver Foil (13pt)
Ready to get started?
We've created a custom card game pricing calculator for you to explore all our different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and packaging, to specialty options like metallic ink, foil stamping, and so much more.
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Playing Card Finish Types & Styles
Finishes are applied on top of your printed project for the purpose of adding protection and artistic style. When choosing a finish, you will need to decide between either varnish or lamination.
Playing Card Finish Types
The finish type (varnish or lamination) protects the ink and prevents scratches.
Varnish is the most common finish type used for playing cards. This liquid gloss finish is applied by the offset printing press to seal in and protect the ink. Lamination is the most protective finish and makes your cards water resistant. Lamination is a thin polypropylene film that is applied after the printing process is complete. Lamination is available in gloss and as an anti-scratch matte lamination (discussed below).
Matte (Anti-Scratch)
Anti-scratch matte lamination is highly recommended if you prefer a matte style and your card artwork has a large coverage area of a dark color. Regular matte is more prone to showing scratches on dark ink, which is why we offer anti-scratch matte-lamination via the custom quote option.
Matte (Soft-Touch)
The soft touch matte lamination, like the anti-scratch matte lamination, adds extra protection against scratching and scuffing while adding in extra smooth tactility. It’s the card you’ve got to feel to believe as this lamination adds a supremely luxurious feeling finish to the faces and backs of your cards.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Card Count
If you’re trying to print a cost-effective game then card count should be your biggest concern. Offset printing uses large parent sheets, as seen below. The more parent sheets you need for your project the higher your cost. A parent sheet can only hold a certain amount of cards, based on your card style/dimensions and the size of the parent sheet determined by your card stock.The same holds true for our Domestic Print Offering. Domestic printing still uses larger parent sheets, just like offset printing, only smaller and containing fewer cards per sheet.
Cut down on cost by creating a game that only requires the number of cards that can fit on one parent sheet. Of course, you shouldn’t lower your card count if it sacrifices playability. Below you’ll find the list of magic numbers to help you choose the optimal card count for your game for both Internatoinal Offest and Domestic Digital.
Check out our guide on how to count your cards:
Common and Uncommon Card Backs
In some cases your card backs can increase price significantly, although this is an uncommon method, games that require each card back to have a different image affect price. Cards that have different backs are called unique or uncommon backs. Cards that use the same back image, like traditional poker cards, are referred to as common backs.
This doesn’t affect price until your card count starts to rise over 110 cards. For example, a sheet of 55 poker cards that have common and unique backs will need 2 printing plates (the front and back). A 110-card count job with unique backs need 4 sets of plates (2 for the front and 2 for the back) while common backs will only need 3 plates (2 for the front and 1 for the back). Every time you add more cards to your unique back deck you need another parent sheet and another plate. Our Domestic Printing service differs here, as the number of backs does not affect price for Digital output.
Optimal Card Count Per Sheet
Some useful information to look into is how many cards you can fit on a parent sheet. The more parent sheets you use, the more expensive your game will be to produce. Be sure to check out our custom card size page so you can have multiple options going into this process.
Domestic Card Game Parent Sheet Details
240 gsm Black Core Standard
- Poker fits 16 cards/sheet
- Tarot fits 10 cards/sheet
260 gsm Coreless Standard
- Poker fits 16 cards/sheet
- Tarot fits 12 cards/sheet
270 gsm Coreless Linen (textured)
- Poker fits 16 cards/sheet
- Tarot fits 12 cards/sheet
430 gsm 12 Mil White Plastic
- Poker fits 16 cards/sheet
- Tarot fits 12 cards/sheet
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Packaging Box Types
Browse our options below to choose the best packaging based on your game’s needs.
Game Packaging Options
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Booster Packs
If you have a need to supply your game players with a special, small deck of extra cards, booster packs are an excellent solution. Commonly seen in many trading card games, booster packs are wrapped with silver foil to give your cards a pristine, professional look.
Booster packs are small, wrapped packages containing approximately 1-20 cards. For projects requiring more than 20 cards, simply request a custom quote with your specifications!
Booster packs are sealed with silver foil wrapping to keep all of the cards neatly in place. Printing on foil packaging requires very high order minimums due to setup costs, so for most orders we are unable to print directly on booster packs. With that said, labels are effective alternatives many game designers use to denote their booster pack contents.
Domestically, while we do not have the traditional silver foil booster packs available, we do have a resealable plastic sleeve option available for card game projects with lower card counts.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Card games, board games, or any other type of project that comes in a package must have its country of origin marking visible on its outside packaging. Most customers choose to print this somewhere on their box. If your project doesn’t include printed packaging, however, you’ll have to use one of the following methods:
- If the only packaging on your deck is shrink wrap, you can include your country of origin marking on the first or last card so it is facing out. This way, it will be visible without unwrapping the deck.
- If you’ve selected booster packs for your deck, we can apply a standard “Printed in China” sticker to each pack. This will require a small assembly fee, so be sure to ask your account manager to include it in your quote.
The sticker is transparent and approx. 23mm x 7mm (.91” x .28”). Be sure to specify where you’d like the sticker placed and we’ll assemble your cards accordingly. - If you’d like to add a little more style to your packaging, you can also design your own sticker that includes a country of origin statement. Check out our setup guide for details on how to provide your sticker artwork. Just ask your account manager if you’d like to include custom-printed stickers in your order.
A Note on Card Randomization for Booster Pack Packaging
The main producers of booster packs – games like Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, or Yu-Gi-Oh! – are toy companies that have millions of dollars to produce their products, which gives them the financial ability to produce something like booster packs. The amount of units required to create any significant randomization is around 20,000. As a result, a creator who wants to create random custom booster packs needs to be prepared to spend somewhere in the $100,000 range.
Additionally, printing on foil packaging requires very high order minimums due to setup costs, so for most orders we are unable to print directly on booster packs. With that said, labels and stickers are cost-effective alternatives many game designers use to decorate their booster pack contents.
If you’re prepared to invest in creating custom booster packs, we can simplify the production process. Please note that in order to quote your randomized booster pack, we will require artwork as well as a mathematical breakdown of how many cards of each you will need. Again, the MOQ for randomization is 20,000 units. Contact one of our Customer Service Ninjas to get more information.
Ready to get started?
We’ve created a custom card game pricing calculator for you to explore all our different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and packaging, to specialty options like metallic ink, foil stamping, and so much more.
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Tuck Box Packaging
Tuck Box Card Game Packaging
A tuck box is the traditional card game packaging option, made by folding thick paper stock into a box with a flap top. Our tuck boxes can hold up to 110 cards in a single deck or 220 cards in two decks side by side, and can be fitted with an instruction booklet or sheet. If your game requires more cards we suggest using a two-piece box for better durability.
The minimum card requirement for tuck box packaging is 26 cards. However – if your game has less than 26 cards and you would like them packaged in a tuck-box we can work with that, but a cardboard insert will need to be included with the cards inside the tuck box. Please see below for an image example:
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to reach out to customer service when placing your order if you decide to go this route, as this will require custom quoting.
Tuck Box Materials
We offer two tuck box materials: card stock and plastic. Our card stock tuck boxes are made up of 16 pt stock. For orders over 5,000 units, we also offer a plastic tuck box. This option looks sleek and is more durable than a paper tuck box.
Tuck boxes can hold more than cards, making games more travel-efficient. If your game has several small components, such as dice and tokens, you can include them in the tuck box packaging. Domestically, we use 14pt as the standard tuck box selection.
Retail Packaging Suggestion
If you plan on selling your game to retailers, we suggest adding a hangtag to your tuck box that allows retailers to hang your game on a peg wall. Specialty options will also help your packaging stand out from the conformity of retail displays.
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Two-Piece Box
Learn about our two-piece box for card games.
Two-piece boxes are the most durable packaging option, and can be used for a variety of game types. They are a great option for card games that require more than 110 cards to play, such as Cards Against Humanity or Twilight, both of which utilize two-piece boxes.
Two-Piece Box – Light vs. Heavyweight
We offer two material options: lightweight and heavyweight. Our lightweight box is made from 1.5mm high density paperboard – the industry standard material. Our heavyweight box uses 2mm high-density paperboard. Your design is printed in full color, or black and white, on paper stock, then wrapped and glued around the paperboard box.
Organizing Insert
If your game has multiple components that need to be contained in a large box, we suggest adding an organizing insert so the players can easily locate pieces. Please inform us how many compartments you would like to have in your organizer and the intent of each. Below you will see the two organizing insert options we offer: vacuum-form and cardboard.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Magnetic Close Box
Learn more about our magnetic game box option.
Magnetic Closure Two Piece Game Box
Our magnetic closure box is made from 1.5mm high density paperboard – the same material as our two piece boxes. The box’s design has a book flap that snaps in place with hidden magnets. Your design will be printed on glossy paper and wrapped around the box covering the magnets. When designing your artwork, please be sure to take into account the inside of the box as well: our magnetic boxes require interior printing to avoid a messy look.
This feature works well for long flat boxes used for games that house many card decks side by side or place this feature on your deck box, a box that’s wider than a tuck box.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Shrink Wrap Only (no box)
Learn more about our shrink wrap only option and find out if it’s right for your board game.
Shrinkwrap No Box
Card games are a popular item to shrink wrap since each deck holds a predetermined number of cards. If you have more than 110 cards, your cards will be wrapped into multiple decks.
Shrink wrap only (no box) is a great cost-effective option in lieu of a tuck box. Shrink wrap only is also a common option for add-on packs.
If you are looking to print add-on packs, consider using booster packs. They are the industry standard for expansion decks, and hold up to about 20 cards.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Packaging Finishes & Thickness
This article will introduce you to our game packaging finishes and thickness options.
Finishes are applied on top of your printed packaging for added protection and aesthetic appeal. Choosing a tuck box finish is two-fold: you will need to pick a type (e.g. varnish or lamination) and a style (e.g. gloss or matte). For two-piece boxes, lamination is the default option due to the thick material. You only need to choose a style for your two-piece box.
Packaging Finish Types
The finish type (varnish or lamination) plays a protective role for the ink and prevents scratches.
Varnish is the most common finish type used for playing cards and tuck boxes. This liquid finish is applied by the offset printing press and is available in gloss and matte styles. Lamination is the most protective finish, and makes your packaging water resistant. Lamination is available in gloss, matte and as an anti-scratch matte lamination (discussed below).
Please Note
Water resistant is not water proof.
Packaging Finish Styles
The finish style (gloss or matte) adds an artistic appeal to your project.
Gloss adds a reflective shine to your box, while matte adds a duller shine and smoother touch.
Matte (Anti-Scratch)
Anti-scratch matte lamination is highly recommended if you’ve selected a matte style, and your artwork has a substantial area covered by a dark color. Matte is more prone to showing scratches on dark ink, so we recommend adding anti-scratch matte-lamination or choosing gloss.
Matte (Soft-Touch)
This finish is essentially the same as Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination with an added tactile feature. As the name indicates, the feeling of the lamination is “soft” or “buttery” compared to regular lamination.
Box Thickness
Our boxes are made out of high density paperboard, the industry standard. The thicker your box, the more durable it is, but besides that choosing a thickness is your creative choice. Most games you see on the shelf of your game shop use 2mm thickness.
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Packaging Add Ons
Learn more about the packaging add ons for custom board games that we offer.
Not all specialty options can be applied to every packaging type. Click on a feature below to learn more.
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Shrink Wrapped Box
This article will teach you more about our shrink wrapped box option.
Shrink Wrapped Game Boxes Shrink- Wrapping
Our shrink wrapping machine allows us to shrink wrap two piece game boxes, tuck boxes, our magnetic close box, and even cards placed within your box.
We’ll assemble your game components inside your box before shrink wrapping your product. If you are planning to use a warehousing and fulfillment service we recommend adding shrink wrapping to protect your game from dirt and dust.
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Shrink Wrapped Cards
Shrink Wrapped Cards Inside Game Box
For a professional appearance, you can select to have your cards inside your packaging shrink wrapped. This is especially helpful to separate multiple functioning decks of cards within your game.
Shrink wrapping cards inside your box gives customers that valuable perception of a fresh brand-new game. You know, like that feeling you get from a new car smell.
This feature cannot be used with booster pack packaging or with digital-offset (domestic) orders that include a tuck box.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Retail Hook
Learn more about our retail hook add on option.
Plastic Retail Hook on Game Box
If you plan to sell your game to retailers, help your cause by including a hang tab on your box. Our retail hook is made from clear PVC plastic. Please note that hang tabs are only available for offset printed orders over 500 units.
Unlike hang tabs that protrude out of your game boxes, these plastic hooks are applied to the back of your deck. This allows you to shrinkwrap your deck to prevent tampering. Be confident your game will be delivered to your customers with all pieces and in mint condition.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Thumb Cut
Learn more about our thumb cut option for game boxes.
Thumb Cut Game Box Lid
Thumb cuts are an eclipse the size of a finger tip cut into the box lids for easy removal. No more struggling to pull the lid off your board game!
Adding thumb holes is a small detail, but one that shows your customers you care about the functionality of your packaging as much as your game’s mechanics. It’s a practical option that will make a big impact on your project.
Thumb cuts are added to tuck boxes by default for both our international and domestic print service. However, they do not come as a standard option for two piece boxes, so please keep that in mind when filling out a quote or when sending us your project specs.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Printed Inner Liner
This article will teach you more about the inner game box printing options that PrintNinja offers.
Print Inside your Card or Board Game Box Inner Liner
The fun is just beginning once your box is popped opened, so continue the thrill with a printed box interior. We can print a pattern, solid color, or any other design you see fit. The photo to the right shows an inner liner printed with game instructions.
This feature can only be executed with a two-piece box.
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Component Packaging
This article will introduce you to PrintNinja’s component packaging for board game options.
Game Board Component Pieces Packaging Bag
Show some love for your board game by keeping your pieces organized and your box clean. Providing players with component bags makes them less likely to loose pieces (open your Mouse Trap board game for proof) and provides protection.
Of course, bags work even better when paired with organizing inserts.
Choose from three bag materials: plastic bag, faux velvet, or linen. No matter what the aesthetic of your game is, we bet one of our material options will work for you.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Organizing Inserts
This article will introduce you to the custom board game organizers that PrintNinja offers.
Board Game Organizing Inserts Vacuum Formed Plastic
Organizing inserts are made to fit inside your two-piece box for the best board game storage solution. This add-on is simple but has a big impact on helping players clean up easily and keep track of all their game pieces, so their favorite game will always be fully stocked and ready to play.
Plastic Organizers
If your game has many pieces, our vacuumed formed plastic trays are perfect since they can be molded to cradle your individual pieces such as dice, sand timers, and most odd shapes. Our plastic comes in black, white or clear, but no matter which color you select the plastic organizer has a professional aesthetic.
Cardstock Dividers
We also offer 20pt. coated 1-side gloss cardstock and 20pt. uncoated cardstock that works great for dividing your box into prefigured compartments. While cardstock doesn’t look as polished as our plastic option, the material can be printed on. The default cardstock color is white, but you can choose to have it printed in a solid color or have some fun and add a pattern.
Board Game Organizing Inserts Cardstock Compartments
Organizing Box Insert Layout
You have full control of how many compartments you need and in what design you’d like them configured, as long as it will fit inside your box size. Remember, cardboard dividers are only capable of being shaped as squares or rectangles while our plastic can be formed to each piece.
If you’re unable to decide the best layout, just leave it up to our professional team. We’ll design the best option to easily fit all your components.
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Specialty Game Options
Select one of our specialty game options below to learn more about how these features can enhance your playing cards, game box, and components.
Specialty Game Options
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Water-Resistant Cards
Learn more about the water-resistant cards option that we offer.
“Water-resistant” is a fancy way of saying laminated. Lamination is a finish that is typically applied to thicker materials. This requires a roll of film to be glued onto your printed parent sheet as seen in the lamination machine video below.
Applying a gloss lamination finish to a your cards will produce a highly reflective shine, as seen in the photo to the right. Matte lamination has a more subtle shine. If your cards have a lot of text then a matte lamination is probably best for readability.
This specialty option is available with:
- Cards
- Game Box
Please Note:
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Foil Stamped Cards and Packaging
Hot foil stamping is the easiest way to add value to your deck. This process greatly adds to the cards’ aesthetic appeal, as metallic foil is transferred onto your printed sheets producing a reflective shine.
Different designs can be applied to multiple cards, but this requires a custom quote as the number of foil stamp designs will impact the cost. “Basic Foil Stamping” as indicated in our calculator is priced for an area less than 4″ x 4″ with the same design on 1 side of the component. Please note that foil stamped cards and boxes are only available for international offset printed orders over 500 units.
This specialty option is available with:
- Cards
- Game Box
- Game Board
- Tokens
- Tiles
- Screens
- Note Pads
- Instruction Booklets
Foil Stamping Color Options
Most creators will foil stamp their logo or title, but you can also use foil as an accent to compliment your logo, as seen in the image above. Be traditional with gold and silver foil, or be wild and choose one of our 12 other foil colors.
If you would prefer a duller shine, our metallic ink should do the trick.
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Spot Gloss/UV Cards
This article will teach you more about our spot gloss option for cards and board games.
If you want your project to shine in the light, add a spot gloss to your design and watch the reflection catch the eyes of your potential buyers. Please note that spot gloss is only available on international offset printed orders over 500 units.
Spot gloss works best to emphasize logos, text, or a specific design.
For optimal results, apply a spot gloss to components with a matte finish.
This specialty option is available with:
- Game Box
- Game Board
- Tokens
- Tiles
- Screens
- Note Pads
- Instruction Booklets
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Metallic Ink Printing
Learn more about metallic ink printing and see if it’s right for your project.
Looking to really accentuate your project or go beyond the CMYK color spectrum? Then metallic ink is perfect for you. This option creates a strong visual impact and draws the eye directly to a part of your project.
What Is Metallic Ink?
Metallic ink is created by adding metallic particles to ink, these particles reflect the light and give your project a unique, metallic look. Metallic ink is a spot color, which means it’s a pre-mixed ink that uses a single printing plate instead of the four used for traditional CMYK colors. Spot colors, sometimes also referred to as the Pantone Matching System (PMS), make it possible to print colors outside of the standard CMYK spectrum. Most notably, this is achieved with highlighter or metallic covers. Please note that metallic ink is only available as an option on international offset printed orders over 500 units.
You can use metallic ink to make any of the following projects come to life:
- Cards
- Game Box
- Game Board
- Tokens
- Tiles
- Screens
- Note Pads
- Instruction Booklets
Metallic Ink vs. Foil Stamping
While metallic ink is an uniquely mixed ink that is rolled onto your project similar to CMYK inks, foil stamping applies metallic foil onto your printed paper stock with heat and pressure. Both methods achieve a unique aesthetic appeal, but different projects are better suited for one approach over the other.
For a video comparison of Metallic Ink and Foil Stamping, check out our visual guide below. For further information, read on in the section below!
Metallic Ink and Foil Stamping Pros and Cons
- Metallic ink achieves a subtler effect than foil stamping because it’s applied to your project early in the printing process, then covered with a finish (lamination or varnish). Foil stamping, on the other hand, achieves more of a vivid impact and a highly realistic metallic shine because it is applied to your project after printing has already been completed.
- Small, intricate designs are best suited for metallic ink, because it is applied with the printing press. When foil stamping is performed, the design is cut out of foil stock. If your design is small and thin, metallic ink is likely the better fit.
- If your card or board game has an intricate, predominantly metallic design, consider using metallic ink instead of foil for a softer shine. Some designers feel that using too much foil can create a gaudy appearance and opt for metallic ink for these applications instead.
- There are vast color options available with metallic ink because it is made by mixing the ink color of your choice with gold or silver metal particles. However, if you prefer a metallic other than gold or silver, you may want to consider the 12 foil stamping options besides these two choices. We even have holographic foil options for a truly wow-worthy effect!
- If you intend to incorporate other specialty printing options like embossing or debossing into your project, foil stamping works best. Because metallic ink encompasses real bits of metal, embossing or debossing could cause the ink to crack.
- Foil stamping tends to outperform metallic ink in terms of longevity. The ink’s metal flecks may cause cracking as the product ages.
- Metallic ink is typically the more economical option when compared to foil stamping.
Metallic Ink Color Options
Below are the standard Metallic Ink offerings our vendors have on hand!
- PrintNinja Standard Metallic Gold (PMS 871 C)
- PrintNinja Standard Metallic Silver (PMS Silver 877 C)
- PMS 872 C
- PMS 873 C
- PMS 874 C
- PMS 875 C
- PMS 876 C
- PMS 877 C
If you would like a color outside of our above standard offerings, you will need to reach out to Customer Service or your Account Manager to make sure we can apply your unique color. Be prepared to send along the Pantone PMS color.
Setup Guide
For a guide to setting up metallic ink for your project, please see here.
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Spot Color
Learn more about spot color for games and find out if it’s the right option for your project.
The only way to guarantee 100% accuracy for a specific color in offset printing is to use spot color. The ink color is mixed separately by hand and applied to the finished document via the offset press using a separate printing plate. The most common way to specify a spot color for use is the Pantone Matching System, which identifies colors through a number, such as ‘PMS 165’, which is a burnt orange color.
Spot colors can also be used to apply specialty inks like metallic colors, neon colors, or glow-in-the-dark ink. Please note that spot color is only available on international offset printed orders over 500 units.
The book to utilize when selecting your color is the “PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated (or Uncoated if the stock is uncoated)”. It’s important to note that we have a limited standard color selection for metallic inks, neon inks, and pastel inks. You can see the standard metallic ink color selections on this page here. Below are the standard offerings we have for neon and pastel inks:
Pastels
- PMS Yellow 0131
- PMS Red 0331
- PMS Magenta 0521
- PMS Violet 0631
- PMS Blue 0821
- PMS Green 0921
- PMS Black 0961
Neons
- PMS 801 – Neon Blue
- PMS 802 – Neon Green
- PMS 803 – Neon Yellow
- PMS 804 – Neon Orange
- PMS 805 – Neon Red
- PMS 806 – Neon Pink
- PMS 807 – Neon Violet
If you would like a neon or pastel ink outside of our above standard offerings, you will need to reach out to Customer Service or your Account Manager to make sure we can apply your unique color. Be prepared to send along the Pantone PMS color.
This specialty option is available with:
- Cards
- Game Box
- Game Board
- Tokens
- Tiles
- Screens
- Instruction Booklets
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Emboss/Deboss Packaging
Learn more about embossing and debossing your packaging, and figure out if it’s the right option for your project.
Emphasize your design with embossing (raised edges) or debossing (sunken edges) … or both! This feature is only available for your game’s packaging, and only on international offset printed orders over 500 units. If you want to offer a tactile experience through your cards, try our linen texture finish.
Embossing/Debossing with Foil Stamping
Embossing or debossing pairs well with specialty features such as spot UV or foil stamping. The photo on the rights displays a debossed gold foil line stretching at right angle across the border of the piece. You can also spot an embossed detail within this border, with gold foil stamped on top. Both options are beautiful and work well in unison.
Blind Embossing/Debossing on Cards and Boxes
Blind embossing or debossing occurs when the effect is applied to a blank spot on the paper, meaning no ink or specialty option is present to make the feature more visible. In the below photo, the raised type illustrates the appeal of a blind emboss. It’s a spectacular way to enhance your design, or to subtly add a secret message, depending on how you want to use it.
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Linen Textured Cards and Packaging
Our textured playing cards have a luxurious linen texture added to them. You’re probably familiar with this texture if you’ve played with Bicycle cards. If your order is being printed by our international offset print service, this finish can be used with all card stocks except foil and PVC stock. Domestically, we have a specific stock with a linen texture pre-applied to the paper. Besides the obvious tactile addition, the texture adds ridges that reduce surface contact between cards, making them easier to shuffle, deal and handle.
To be clear, the linen texture is different than embossing or debossing. You cannot emboss or deboss your cards however, you can apply this feature to your packaging.
Creating Linen Textured Cards & Boxes
Your card or box artwork will be printed on parent sheets (large sheets of paper). These sheets are pushed through a textured metal roller (as seen to the right). The roller applies heavy pressure that imprints the linen marks onto the paper. Your cards will be cut to size and the box artwork will be trimmed and wrapped around the paperboard box.
Textured Game Boxes
Boxes are made with a thicker material than cards, dulling the feeling of the texture. However, these ridges are still very much visible and help catch the eyes of consumers, begging them to pick up your product. Linen texture game boxes are currently only available for international offset printed orders over 500 units.
Design Considerations
It’s important to note that while adding a linen texture is a fantastic way to elevate your project, it can also impact your artwork – specifically when used in conjunction with metallic ink. The reflective quality of both the linen texture and the metallic ink on small text hurts the legibility. This is a rare combination, but something to keep in mind if you plan on using any of these options. In the examples below the metallic ink on the text alone poses no issue, but in combination with the linen texture it becomes a struggle to read in certain lights.
This result should be anticipated if you choose to print small/delicate text and choose to apply a linen finish. This result is mostly attributed to the metal specs in the metallic ink reflecting light a bit differently than regular Spot Color.
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Artwork Recommendations
Here are our recommendations for creating your custom game artwork.
Offset games can be printed in full color (CMYK) or greyscale/black and white. Full-color printing is created by blending four colors of ink: cyan, magenta, yellow and black – also known as key for K.
Black and white or greyscale uses just one color of ink, black, lending itself to be more cost-effective. When designing your custom game artwork, keep in mind games printed with just black will not be as deep as rich black, which is the outcome of using all four colors of CMYK.
If your game contains pre-made components (pawns, meeples, card stands) we have an inventory of stocked colors. However, for an additional fee, you can request specific colors.
Cards and Packaging Artwork
Whether you choose full color or black and white is your creative choice. However, we cannot print on foil booster packs. The most noteworthy tip for your cards and packaging artwork is to keep in mind that bleed applies. To avoid white lines showing around your edges follow this bleed guideline.
Punch Tokens Artwork
We offer CMYK and black and white one-sided or two-sided printing. The cheaper option, one-sided tokens, will have a grey board back visible. Two-sided tokens will have printing and finishes on both sides of the token. This is a great option for reversible tokens that need different images on each side or if your game calls for a more polished look.
Instructions Artwork
Most instructions are printed in black and white since they are heavy in text. If you choose to print your instructions in full color, we recommend submitting your files with your text profile set in greyscale to avoid ghosting. The rest of your file can be submitted as CMYK.
Booklets are often printed with full color covers and black and white interiors. If this is what you prefer please choose the black & white option on our card quote form. Then write a brief explanation in the additional notes box.
File Design Considerations
Read through our Printing Color Guide to avoid the most common pitfalls when printing in offset.
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Available Game Pieces
Learn about ordering game pieces with PrintNinja and why printing your project with us has so many advantages.
One of the best ways to customize and expand your board game project is the inclusion of game pieces. They can range in complexity from simple plastic pawns to detailed wooden dragons, and PrintNinja is happy to help you find or create any number of them.
A major hurdle to buying or customizing game pieces is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) required for each order. Much like PrintNinja has an MOQ of 500 copies of any game you produce with us, game piece vendors often have MOQs in the thousands. By producing your game with PrintNinja, you have access to our library of stock game pieces, allowing you to bypass those quantity restrictions. Below are some common game pieces we currently have available. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to let us know through our board game quote request form and we’ll let you know if we have it in stock.
We can also create custom pieces specific to your game, though these are subject to the vendor’s MOQ and will have to be researched and designed. We have detailed information about custom miniatures and what we call the “non-printed piece problem” in other pages inside our board game section.
Please note
Due to the way they are manufactured, all wooden game pieces will experience a slight cutting variance between components. This may result in some pieces being a little smaller or having a slightly different shape than others.
Select an option below to learn more:
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Wooden Components
Please note: Due to the way our wooden components for board games are manufactured, all pieces will experience a slight cutting variance between components. This may result in some pieces being a little smaller or having a slightly different shape than others.
Standard Meeple
Meeples are perfect with any game that requires you to play as a human (or humanoid) character, such as an adventure game. We have five stock colors (white, red, yellow, green, and blue) and are roughly 16mm tall.
Examples from existing games: Agricola, Terror in Meeple City
Tall Meeple
Just like the variety of characters in your game there’s a variety of meeples to choose from. This is our ‘tall’ meeple that’s roughly 23mm tall.
Examples from existing games: Carcassonne, Cartagena
Standard Pawn
Pawns are one of the most flexible pieces to include in your game. They are simple enough that they will fit with almost any aesthetic. The standard pawn is our exclusive PrintNinja designed pawn. This piece is available in a variety of colors and measures about 25mm tall.
Halma Pawn
This pawn style was made famous when the Halma board game was introduced in the 80’s, hence the name Halma pawn. This piece is available in a variety of colors and measures about 25mm tall.
Examples from existing games: Halma
Small Cubes
Wooden cubes are a great way to keep track of in-game currency or resources, since they are small and don’t take up a lot of room as the players start accumulating more of them. We have five stock colors (white, red, yellow, green, and blue) and the cubes measure about 8mm.
Examples from existing games: El Grande or Kingsburg
Large Cube
Sometimes a game needs to use a large size for the pieces to convey an importance factor, that’s where our large wooden cube comes into play. This piece is great for keeping track of in-game currency or resources, comes in five stock colors (white, red, yellow, green, and blue) and measures about 16mm.
Small Disc
Like wooden cubes, wooden discs are perfect for acting as counters, resources, or currency. The choice is purely a creative decision on your end. Our small disc measures 16mm in diameter and comes in five stock colors (white, red, yellow, green, and blue), but available in a variety upon request.
Examples from existing games: Crokinole
Large Disc
The biggest difference between the small disc and large (besides size) is the ability to print a sticker in the appropriate size that can be placed on your 20mm large disc in order to give it more purpose or character.
Thin Cylinder
Our thin cylinder is 20mm high and 10mm in diameter, for a lengthy token. These pieces can be used for a variety of game mechanics, one popular option is seen in the board game Trouble, that has hollow cylinder holes for the player to set their marker in as they advance through the game.
Examples from existing games: KeeKee The Rocking Monkey
Thick Cylinder
Our thick cylinder is 10mm high and 15mm in diameter, for a hefty token.
Examples from existing games: KeeKee The Rocking Monkey
Octagon
This 8-sided wooden token flat smooth sides for easier dexterity and won’t roll too far when dropped. This token is 10mm high and 10mm in diameter.
Cone
These wooden cones are solid (not hollow) works of art, and are versatile in that they can represent characters or act as resource tokens. They are large 10mm in diameter and height, so they really stand out on a game board.
Tile
Thin wooden tiles, 4mm tall and 20mm in diameter, are great for laying out on your board or to make your board. You can print stickers to be set on the tile for a mechanic that allows users to flip over tiles to uncover information.
Examples from existing games: Scrabble, Sudoku
Our sticks are 25mm long and 5mm tall. Sticks are typically used to connect a long path or used as counters.
Examples from existing games: Settler’s of Catan
House
We have traditional wooden house components in stock, sized at 12mm tall and 15mm long these pieces are perfect for a game that needs to house their players, meeples, or keep track of property.
City
Sometimes a wooden house doesn’t quite convey the purpose you need it to, so try using our 20mm tall and 20mm long city to represent a larger piece of property or importance.
Examples from existing games: Settlers of Catan
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Plastic Components
This is a list of the plastic components that we offer for board games.
Standard Pawn
This is the most common shaped plastic pawn on the market. The wide 14mm base provides stability for these hallow 25mm tall pieces.
Examples from existing games: Pandemic
Halma Pawn
The Halma style pawn gets its name from the Halma board game introduced in the 80’s. This fun piece is available in a variety of colors and measures about 23mm tall.
Ball Pawn
Ball Pawns, also know as people pawns, are a fun shape that work well for children’s games as you don’t need to have fine motor skills to grab the large 30mm tall 14mm wide plastic pawn.
Poker Chip
This plastic chip is designed to look like a casino chip with all the traditional indentations and is available in the standard red, white, and black colors as well as untraditional colors.
Examples from existing games: Black Jack
Chip
Plastic translucent chip in a variety of colors and sizes. This piece is a prime way to track in-game currency or resources, since they are small and don’t take up a lot of room as the players start accumulating more of them.
Examples from existing games: Tiddlywinks
Pyramid Card Stand
If you want to get very customized with your game’s player characters, a common method is to print cards or boards and use simple plastic stands to hold them up. This way, your characters are as detailed as you draw them to be. This stand’s design makes it the most stable when it comes to keeping your cards upright and in place.
Examples from existing games: Dungeon Twister or Return of the Heroes
Square Card Stand
The square stand is a good fit for traditional card sized (square/rectangle) characters, although it can hold customized character cards the square shaped design is geared towards cards.
Examples from existing games: Dungeon Twister or Return of the Heroes
Round Card Stand
You can use stands for traditional card sizes as well as customized characters. The round card stand comes in white or clear options, keeping the focus on the card.
Examples from existing games: Dungeon Twister or Return of the Heroes
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Glass Components
This is a list of the glass components we have available for board games.
Marble
Our glass marbles are about 16mm in diameter, and come in a variety of translucent colors. Depending on the project, marbles may be used in place of figurines or meeples, or they may serve a more functional purpose.
Examples from existing games: Aggravation, Marble Run
Stone or Gem
These glass stones are used most often in games as counters. Our stones come in a variety of translucent colors.
Examples from existing games: Mancala
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Accessories
Here’s a list of the accessories for board games that we offer.
Arrow Spinner
Spinners are a good substitute for dice or perfect for games that don’t rely on numbers to move players through the board. Our stocked spinners have an arrowhead to provide a definitive answer no player can argue with.
Point Spinner
This spinner is easier to rotate since it’s shape has more mass than the classic arrow design. This spinner is about 80mm long and has a 20mm diameter stand allowing the spinner to be used without a game board, but can be inserted into a die cut hole on your board.
Examples from existing games: Twister
Sand Timer
Our sand timer can be requested in :30, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 time increments to fit your games playability. This sand timer is your traditional plastic timer found in many games.
Examples from existing games: Boggle, Pictionary, Headbandz
Dry Erase Marker
Our dry erase markers come with eraser head tops for ultimate functionality and can be easily wiped clean from a dry erase board.
Examples from existing games: Likewise!, Jeopardy, Hangman
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Punch Out Tiles and Tokens
PrintNinja has the printing and manufacturing experience to help create the highest quality tokens for your game. Learn more about some of our token options below.
Premium PrintNinja punch out tokens
Punch Out Tokens
Does the game you’re designing involve tokens? If so, punch-out options could be an ideal addition to your project. Instead of receiving a series of tokens upon opening your game, your players get to experience punching them out of a pre-cut sheet when they open your game. This ensures all of the pieces are in one convenient location and allows your players to take an active role in game prep. Plus, the tokens will be in mint condition upon first opening the game instead of jostling about in the box.
Size
While the size and shape of your token are customizable to whatever you need, PrintNinja creates punch tokens by die-cutting large, high-density greyboard sheets. We therefore only need to know the size of the sheet to formulate a quote for your project. To determine the right sheet size for your needs, calculate how many tokens you’ll need, then make sure they can all fit on the requested size. Don’t forget to account for the size of your two-piece box: the sheet must be small enough to fit inside. After you’ve submitted this information and requested a quote, we’ll get in touch to discuss the specifics, including token sizes and quantity.
PrintNinja Tip
Some game designers like to include an empty bag in their game boxes so players have a safe place to store tokens after they’ve been punched out.
Material and Printing
The words “token” and “tile” are often used interchangeably, but these game pieces actually have two different functions. While tokens are usually a resource (a game piece used to collect winnings, for instance), tiles actually assemble the playing surface, also referred to as the game board. They are also made from different materials: while tokens comprise high-density greyboard, tiles are made from high-density paperboard.
To produce your tokens, our operators will wrap a sheet of high-density greyboard in printed paper. You can choose to have just one side of the sheet wrapped, leaving the backside of the tokens exposed, or cover both sides so players can use either side of the token. After being covered by the printed paper, the greyboard is die cut with all of your requested shapes so players can pop out your tokens with ease!
Specialty Token Options
Premium PrintNinja tokens
If you’d prefer to limit the assembly steps needed to set up your game, consider selecting our special pre-punched token option. With this option, players will open their games and find a series of pre-punched tokens inside, ready for use. We recommend including a bag or organizing insert to prevent tokens from floating around inside the game box.
Another specialty option to consider is interlocking token pieces. Our die-cutting machine is able to create interlocking pieces, like those you’d find in a puzzle, allowing players to link pieces together.
Multiple Variants
Do you have different pieces of artwork you’d like to incorporate onto your tokens? No problem! Just let us know how many varieties of artwork you’re thinking of so we can plan accordingly. The greater the number of variants, the more printing plates we may need to create (this is also based on sheet size). We’re happy to produce many different types of tokens so your players can engage in game play the exactly as you’ve envisioned it!
File Setup
Looking for tips on setting up the artwork for your punch out tokens? Check out our extensive Setup Guides for step by step instructions with helpful visuals.
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Screens
Learn about the custom player screens that we offer for your board game project.
Screens can offer an area for players to hide valuable information or reference information that other players shouldn’t see.
Production and Material
Our screens are made using a similar process as the cover for a casebound book. Sheets of cardboard are cut to size and wrapped with a printed and finished parent sheet. Through a gluing and folding process, that produces a hinge, you end up with a screen.
Panel Options
Our screens can be made with two panels or three panels. A two-panel screen has one fold (hinge) and can best be visualized as opening a hardcover book. Three-panel screens are produced as a long rectangle with the two outer panels folding into the center panel.
Two-panel screens are a common option and work very well, but if you have a larger area you need to cover or a lot of players surrounding you, then a three-panel screen may be a better choice.
Screen Size
Your screen size must be smaller than the size or your game box. If you choose a three-panel option then you can have a larger screen while still fitting inside your box. For quoting, please provide the full size of the screen as it measures in its unfolded state.
Multiple Variants
Typically, games will require each player has their own screen. You can decide to have each screen printed with the same artwork or provide different art for each piece. For example, if you’d like to have 5 screens per game each with different artwork then we’ll need to know you need 5 variants.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Note Pads
This article provides information on the custom note pads we offer.
Note pads can be produced in a variety of sizes, but to make your game design journey easier we provide 3 commonly used options that work well for board games. Just don’t forget to include pens and pencils!
Size Options: 4″ x 5″, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 8.5″ x 11″
Note Pad Binding
Paper is cut to your final size, stacked on top of each other and then glued along one edge, this is the binding side. The pad is then glued to a cardboard backing for extra durability. You’ll select your preferred binding side: left or right like a flip book or on the top like an office note pad.
Sheet Count Options: 20, 40, 60, 80
Please Note: Page counts for note pads are indicating the number of sheets. Each sheet has 2 sides thus a 20 sheet notepad has 40 pages.
If you’d prefer your pages to have a cleaner tear we can add perforated edges to each sheet.
Material and Printing
Our default notepad is made with uncoated 70 lb text paper. You have the option to choose white paper, thin printer paper, or off-white paper, which is a cream color.
Once material is selected it’s time to choose your printing option based on the need of your notepad, full color, black and white, or blank.
Full color printing is great for adding color, especially if you want your branding to be present. Black and white is the most common choice for game pads, since the designs usually just contain lines, boxes, and logos like Scattergories. Blank is the most cost-effective option and used for a lot of drawing games, like Pictionary.
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Custom Dice Options
While PrintNinja offers many standard dice options for board games and card games, we also can offer a full suite of custom dice options. This article and these links will give you more information about MOQs, dice sizes, dice style, custom-printing patterns and other options. If you’re considering custom dice, you should check out the pages linked below to learn about all your available options. Ultimately, a conversation will be in order – reach us through our custom dice quote with more information about your request and we’ll set the conversation in motion.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!!
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Dice Side & Face Types
Interested in what types of dice side and face type options? Read on to find out how to create the dice of your dreams.
Number of Sides
Traditionally dice are cube shaped, but depending on how many sides you would like your die to have it may form a specialized triangle or sphere. The dice is referred to by the number of sides it shows, i.e. a dice with 6 sides is called a 6-sided die or d6. We have 6 available dice side options:
- d4
- d6
- d8
- d10
- d12
- d20
If you need a different sided die please request that on our board game request form’s additional notes box, but please note there will likely be a high minimum order quantity.
Dice Face Types
- Standard pips (6-sided Die only)
- Standard number faces
- Spindown (20-sided only)
- Custom Engraved
- Custom silkscreen
Dice with Pip Faces
The standard face type is know as pips, the pattern of round dots that make up a number. However, pips can only be used on 6-sided die. For the simple reason, if your die’s number is larger then six, there won’t be enough room for the pips to fit.
Your dice don’t have to be black and white. With pips you can choose the face color as well as the pip color.
Dice with Standard Number Faces
The next options is a standard number of faces, sides that have the number appear as a digit i.e. “4” or “10”. This options works for any sided die.
Spindown Dice Face
A spindown face is only available with 20-sided dice. This is not the same has having a 20-sided standard face dice. The difference?
Numbers on a standard die will be laid out so opposite sides will always add up to equal the highest die number plus 1. For example, any two d6 opposite sides equal 7 and any two d20 opposite sides equal 21.
This rule does not apply to spindowns. Spindowns are laid out so the numbers are in sequence order and thus the die “spins” down from 20 to 1. This is most popularly seen with Magic: The Gathering life counter dice.
Custom Dice Sides
If the purpose of your dice has nothing to do with generating a random number then custom faces are for you. We can engrave or silkscreen your designs onto the face of your dice. Of course, images that have a simple design are much easier to read and make a better impact.
Note that custom engraved dice and silkscreened dice have special requirements and minimum order quantities. For example, we are only able to engrave or silkscreen on 6 sided dice and the image must be vector based. Custom engraved dice require a 1,000 unit MOQ and silkscreened dice require a 5,000 unit Minimum Order Quantity.
Corners
If your game works best with D6 (6-sided dice) then you can specialize your dice further by selecting rounded or squared corners. These style options don’t affect roll variability, this is strictly a design decision. However, if you have messy kids, rounded corners hurt less to step on!
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Dice Material Options
Interested in our dice material options? Read on to find out about what we offer.
We have four available dice materials.
- Wood
- Opaque Resin
- Transparent Resin
- Transparent Glitter Resin
Wooden Dice
Our wooden dice can have square corners or be rounded off for a longer roll. You can keep them in the natural wood appearance or you can choose to color the wooden face.
Opaque Resin
Resin is the standard material dice are made out of. This is the most popular material for dice and is found in most of your favorite games.
Opaque resin is a solid color without any transparency. You may choose from a number of face colors as well as pip colors.
Transparent Resin
Transparent resin gives your dice colors a neon glow effect. Typically the face values will be white for any color unless your die is clear then black is the suggested pip, number or symbol color.
Transparent Glitter Resin
The glitter takes away some of the transparency, but the bright color remains.
With all these dice material options, you’ll be able to create the dice of your dreams.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Dice Size
Interested in what dice size options we offer? Read on to find out about our offerings.
Our available dice size options:
- Micro .4″ (10mm)
- Tiny .47″ (12mm)
- Small .55″ (14mm)
- Standard .63″ (16mm)
- Large .80″ (20mm)
Choosing a dice size is all about your game play. If your game requires a player to roll 6 dice at the same time (Yahtzee) then a smaller size would be easier for a player to roll all the dice at once. Or your game may require one large master dice.
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Dice Color Options
Interested in what dice color options we offer? Read on for more information.
Dice have two areas that can be colored, the face and the pips/numbers. Our most popularly requested face colors are white, black, red, blue and yellow.
Traditionally pips are black or white, but this is your custom game so feel free to ignore the trend and add some more color to your dice.
Dice can be spot colored, also called Pantone Match System. The color range of Pantone inks is far wider than the standard CMYK gamut, and it can include specialty inks such as metallic or fluorescent colors. With this breadth of dice color options, you can create the dice of your dreams.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Instruction Styles
Want to learn more about how to design instructions for your card game? You’ve come to the right place.
Instructions are the unsung hero of any game, and necessary to keep in mind when creating your product.
Card Game Instruction Styles
Select an option below to learn more about how to design instructions for your card game.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Printed on Card or Box
Print Instructions on a Playing Card or Your Game Box
Rulebooks or instruction sheets aren’t the only way to convey rules to your players. Get creative and think outside the box…or on it! For a cost-effective option, print your rules on the game box or on a single card.
Keep in mind that card count affects cost, so if you add an instruction card, make sure it doesn’t surpass the optimal card number per parent sheet.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Instruction Booklets
Learn more about printing your own custom instruction booklet.
The first thing every gamer reaches for after opening a new game is the instruction booklet – the backbone of board games. With tabletop games there are typically a variety of components and mechanics that need to be explained, requiring a multi-page booklet. Booklets also work well for complex card games.
Instruction Booklet Binding
Saddle-stitched binding, binding held together with staples, is the default rule booklet option. It’s cost efficient and its ability to lay flat makes it easy to store in a tuck box.
However, we’ve printed perfect bound instruction books – typically for more complex board games – providing a heavier and more durable manual. If your instructions need to be continually referenced throughout game play, then perfect binding is your best option. Please note that domestically, we are unable to provide perfect bound booklets as an option for instructions due to the size constraints of our tuck box dies.
Instruction Booklet Paper Weight Options
Our default paper weight for a saddle-stitched rule books is 70lb text gloss for the interior and cover pages. If you’d like to request a different paper weight, please alert us to the new weight in our additional information box on our card form.
Rule Booklet Page Count
Whether you choose saddle-stitched or perfect bound books, your interior page count must be a multiple of 4.
What Should I Include In My Rulebook?
Writing a rulebook is a lot like writing a book. If you’re struggling in your epic quest to print a top-notch rulebook, check out this guide we found on what to include in your instruction book.
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Accordion Style Rules
Accordion style rules is simply a sheet of paper folded in a way that mimics an accordion, in which you can display artwork and instructions on the front and back. The accordion style makes it very easy to insert your rules into a tuck box.
Limitations of Accordion Style Rules
Limitations of accordion style rules will differ based on which print service you are using. With international offset printing, our machinery can only produce 4 folds on one sheet. If you need more folds – like the 7 folded instruction sheet to the right – you can request them to be folded manually for an extra fee or to have us glue two sheets of four folded instructions together. Printing through domestic digital-offset, we can include additional folds, but we are limited to using one parent sheet per set of instructions so there will be a smaller limit on page count.
Accordion Booklet Material
Our default accordion rule booklet paper is 70lb text gloss.
You may choose to request another paper option through our card game quote form’s additional information box.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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Folded Game Instructions
Learn more about folded game instructions and find out if they’re right choice for your game.
The simplest instruction style is a folded sheet of paper. We use an 70lb text gloss sheet of paper for this option, but you may request a thicker or thinner paper weight.
On our card quote request form you’ll be directed to select the size of the paper in inches (width x height) in its unfolded form. We’ll then calculate the optimal way to fold your sheet so its final size matches your playing card dimension. If you print your order through our domestic digital-offest print service we are limited to specific sizes of folded instructions based on the size of the cards. Poker size card orders can have a maximum unfolded size of 7” x 8.5” which folds down to 2.125” x 3.5” while tarot size card orders have a maximum unfolded size of 8.5” x 11” and folds down to 2.75” x 4.75”.
If you’re interested in reading more about custom game printing, be sure to check out our custom board game hub and our custom card game hub. These parts of our site contain all the information you need to know about creating a board game or a card game – beyond just the standards listed here, these hubs also contain detailed information on all the types of materials and packaging types we offer for your game. We’ve also analyzed board and card games to figure out what makes them work – and how you can apply these principals to your custom game. Check it out!
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No Instructions
The No Instructions option is perfect for those designing a traditional 52 card poker deck made for playing multiple games.
If your deck is meant to play a specific game, there are many alternatives to the traditional paper instructions.
The most common alternatives are printing your rules on your game box or on an extra playing card. If your instructions are too long for that option we’ve had creators find success printing their website instruction page URL and/or a QR code on the box, card or small sheet of paper.
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Sample Game Pricing
This article will give you information on board game pricing to help you estimate how much your project will cost.
There’s a seemingly endless list of possibilities when it comes to crafting your own board game, but how much will it actually cost? Narrowing down all of your dream options in order to gather some pricing info can seem a bit daunting at first. Fortunately, PrintNinja is here to help you get started on the right foot. On this page are several common game configurations along with the approximate production cost for each one; you can use these as a base to estimate how much all the bells and whistles will affect your game’s price.
Visit our card quote form to request a price and play around with available options for card games.
Sample Card Deck
– 54 cards, 280 GSM gloss blue core cardstock
– Tuckbox, 10pt coated 1-side
– Shrink wrapped
– 500 copies: $2.34 per game
– 1,000 copies: $1.67 per game
Sample Card Deck
– 300 cards, 280 GSM gloss blue core cardstock
– Instructions, 4-page accordion
– 2-Piece box
– Shrink wrapped
– 500 copies: $10.47 per game
– 1,000 copies: $7.38 per game
Sample Board Game
– 55 cards, 280 GSM gloss blue core cardstock
– Instructions, 20-page booklet, 70lb gloss paper
– Game board, 18 in by 18 in, full color, quad-fold, gloss lamination
– 2 Punch-out token sheets, 8 in by 8 in, 2-sided full-color gloss varnish
– 5 Standard plastic pawns
– 2 Standard resin 6-sided dice, 0.63 in, white with black pips
– 2-Piece Box with 2 compartment cardboard dividers, shrink wrapped
– 500 copies: $14.28 per game
– 1,000 copies: $10.60 per game
Now that you’ve learned about our board game pricing, why not check out our budgetary board game calculator? You can get a ballpark estimate of how much your game will cost when you print with PrintNinja.
Sample Domestic Book and Card Game Pricing
Looking for a rough estimate of how much your domestic project could cost? Check out the figures below:
** Does not include shipping costs**
Saddle Stitch (Comic Size – 6.625” x 10.25”)
– 100lb Text Cover
– 70lb Text Interior Pages
– 32 interior pages
– Single Unit Cost: ~ $18.76 ($18.76 Price Per Unit)
– 25 Units Cost: ~ $115.42 ($4.61 Price Per Unit)
– 100 Units Cost: ~ $376.55 ($3.76 Price Per Unit)
Perfect Bound Book (6” x 9”)
– 12pt Cover w/ Lamination
– 100lb Text Interior Pages
– 60 interior pages
– Single Unit Cost: ~ $27.96 ($27.96 Price Per Unit)
– 25 Units Cost: ~ $210.00 ($8.40 Pricer Per Unit)
– 100 Units Cost: ~ $750.33 ($7.50 Price Per Unit)
Poker Deck Order (2.5” x 3.5” card size)
– Coreless Standard Cards (260gsm)
– 54 Card Deck
– Tuckbox w/ Shrinkwrap
– Single Unit Cost: ~ $24.45 ($24.45 Price Per Unit)
– 25 Units Cost: ~ $448.37 ($17.93 Price Per Unit)
– 100 Units Cost: ~ $1,081.60 ($10.81 Price Per Unit)
Tarot Deck Order (2.75” x 4.75” card size)
– Coreless Standard Cards (260gsm)
– 78 Card Deck
– Tuckbox w/ Shrinkwrap
– Single Unit Cost: ~ $34.69 ($34.69 Price Per Unit)
– 25 Units Cost: ~ $677.53 ($27.10 Price Per Unit)
– 100 Units Cost: ~ $1,826.47 ($18.26 Price Per Unit)
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Game Proofing Options
A prototype is the first step you take when making a game. Physical proofs are a closer representation of the final result than a prototype. The cost of adding a physical proof to your custom game order depends heavily on the components involved. The games will arrive fully assembled to give you a great idea of how the final product will look, though due to the complexities of the game production process not every component will be printed on our offset presses. Any component that is digitally printed will NOT be color accurate. Hard copy proofs are not available for domestic orders, but a minimum of 5 units can be purchased before placing a higher volume digital-offset order. Please read the following information carefully to find out what each part of the physical proof represents.
Card Game Physical Proof
Blue Core and Coreless Card Stocks
Offset-printed cards, packaged in a tuck box or shrink-wrapping = $350 per parent sheet. Digital printing is the default setting for tuck box proofs. See Card Count to calculate how many cards will print on a parent sheet. If your proof includes fewer cards than your packaging is designed for, blank or duplicate placeholder cards will be included to ensure a proper fit.
Offset-printed tuck-box only = $100
Digitally-printed** magnetic close box or two-piece box = $100
+ Premium Expedited Shipping Fee (Non-Negotiable Flat Rate per Shipment) = $100
CUSTOM CARD SIZES and CUSTOM ROUNDED CORNERS require a tooling fee – pricing TBD by your Account Manager
Black Core Card Stocks
Offset-printed cards, packaged in a tuck box or shrink-wrapping = $600 per parent sheet. Digital printing is the default setting for tuck box proofs. See Card Count to calculate how many cards will print on a parent sheet. If your proof includes fewer cards than your packaging is designed for, blank or duplicate placeholder cards will be included to ensure a proper fit.
Offset-printed tuck-box only = $100
Digitally-printed** magnetic close box or two-piece box = $100
+ Premium Expedited Shipping Fee (Non-Negotiable Flat Rate per Shipment) = $100
CUSTOM CARD SIZE and CUSTOM ROUNDED CORNERS require a tooling fee – pricing TBD by your Account Manager
Foil and PVC Card Stocks
Offset-printed cards, packaged in a tuck box or shrink-wrapping = $900 per parent sheet. Digital printing is the default setting for tuck box proofs. See Card Count to calculate how many cards will print on a parent sheet. If your proof includes fewer cards than your packaging is designed for, blank or duplicate placeholder cards will be included to ensure a proper fit.
Offset-printed tuck-box only = $100
Digitally-printed** magnetic close box or two-piece box = $100
+ Non-Negotiable Flat Premium Expedited Shipping Fee per Shipment = $100
CUSTOM CARD SIZE and CUSTOM ROUNDED CORNERS require a tooling fee – pricing TBD by your Account Manager
Add-Ons
Add-Ons, such as foil stamping and spot UV, differ from that of our book proofs.
Instruction Add-Ons:
+ Digitally-printed** instructions (sheet, accordion, saddle-stitched booklet or perfect bound booklet) = $50
+ Foil Stamping, Spot UV, Metallic Ink or Spot Color = $100 per add-on
+ Soft Touch or Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination = $100
+ Gloss Lamination = $50
Cards Add-Ons:
+ Foil Stamping = $300 per side, per parent sheet.
+ Spot UV = $150
+ Gilded Edges = $150
+ Metallic Ink or Spot Color = $100 per side, per parent sheet.
+ Lamination (Soft Touch Matte, Anti-Scratch Matte or Gloss) = $100
+ Linen Texture = $50
Box Add-Ons:
+ Foil Stamping = $100
+ Spot UV = $100
+ Linen Texture= $50
+ Debossing or Embossing = $50
+ Soft Touch or Anti-Scratch Lamination = $150
+ Metallic Ink or Spot Color = $100
+ Digitally-printed** Insert or Inside Box Printing = $50
Turnaround time = approx 3-4 weeks*
*Turnaround times are only estimates. Adding some specialty options will increase the turnaround time.
**Digitally printed proofs are NOT color accurate
For video walkthroughs of our of our Card Game Proofs, check out the visual guides below:
Board Game Physical Proof
Choose as many options as you’d like to include in your game proof. See above for pricing for cards, boxes, and instructions.
+ Digitally-printed** Tiles/Punchouts/Screens = $100 per sheet
+ Digitally-printed** Game Board = $100
+ Digitally-printed** Note Pad = $50 per design
+ Digitally-printed** Playmat = $50
+ Stock 0.63″ six-sided dice = FREE. $150 per die if custom design.
+ Stock Wooden or Plastic Game Pieces = FREE. Price TBD per piece if custom design is requested.
+ Vacuum-formed plastic box divider = $200
+ Stock Bag = FREE
+ $100 Premium Expedited Shipping Fee (Non-Negotiable Flat Rate per Shipment)
Add-Ons
Add-Ons, such as foil stamping and spot UV, differ from that of our book proofs. See the above “card game proof options” for pricing for add-ons applied to cards, boxes, and instructions.
Game Board, Tile, Punch-Out and Game Screen Add-Ons:
+ Foil Stamping, Spot UV, Metallic Ink or Spot Color = $100 per component
+ Soft Touch or Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination = $100 per component
+ Gloss Lamination = $50 per component
+ Screenprinted Bag = $100 per spot color
Turnaround time = approx 3-4 weeks*
*Turnaround times are only estimates. Adding some specialty options will increase the turnaround time.
**Digitally printed prototypes are NOT color accurate
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How to Instantly Quote your Custom Poker Deck
This article will teach you how to instantly quote your custom poker deck.
PrintNinja makes affordable, high quality, custom card games. Because we’re capable of so many custom options, our instant price calculator has many options to navigate. If you’re simply looking to print your custom artwork on a standard deck of playing cards, here are some helpful tips to complete your quote. Please note that while this article provides instructions on how to fill out and use the international card game calculator, our domestic card game calculator will be similar with some differences in available options.
Deck Size and Card Count
The first two options you’ll need to select when you start to quote your playing cards are deck size and card count. Deck size refers to the dimensions of each card. Standard poker cards are 2.5” wide and 3.5” long.
Card count refers to the total number of cards in each deck. A standard poker deck has 54 cards, including jokers, so you’ll want to enter 54 into this field.
PrintNinja Tip
A typical parent sheet can fit 55 poker cards. If you want to add one more card to your 54-card deck, it won’t add very much to your total cost.
Card Stock and Card Backs
The card stock you choose will have a significant impact on your unit costs. We have plenty of options to fit a variety of budgets. If you’re on a budget, Blue Core Standard 280gsm is a great choice. It’s affordable, but still looks and feels very professional. On the other end of the spectrum are our Black Core card stocks, which are thicker and have a dark black core so you can’t see through them even when they’re held up to a light.
“Card Backs” refers to the number of unique designs on the back of a playing card. Poker decks almost always have just one back, so you’ll want to enter 1 into this box.
Finish Style and Specialty Options
For poker cards, we recommend gloss varnish for your finish type. For a bit of an upgrade, you may also want to add a linen finish. Most mass-produced playing cards use a linen finish to make the cards easier to shuffle.
Packaging and Instructions
Most poker decks are packaged in a tuck box or with shrink wrap. Tuck boxes are useful because your customers will be able to store their cards in them. However, shrink wrap is a less expensive option, and you won’t have to worry about designing a tuck box. For the Instructions section of our calculator, simply choose “none”.
Quantity and Proofing
For the field called Game Quantity, simply enter the number of decks you’d like to purchase. Our minimum order quantity is 500. If you’d like to order a quantity not available on this form, you can fill out a custom quote request.
Next, choose your proofing option. The quickest and most cost efficient option is electronic proofing. However, if you’d like a hard copy proof, we can do that too.
Almost done!
After you enter your zip code and click Calculate, you’ll be able to see your total cost including shipping and all applicable taxes. From here, you can decide if you’d like to expedite all or part of your order, and you can even save your quote for 90 days. We highly recommend saving a quote so you can lock in your price. If you’re not sure about some of your selections, you can always go back and save another quote with different options.
Need card face artwork? We’ve got you covered.
PrintNinja offers two different poker face styles. If you’d like to choose one of these options, you just need to let your account manager know after you place your order. We also have an option that lets you place a photo on each card, so you can put up to 54 different photos into one deck.
Classic Poker Deck
Modern Poker Deck
Ready to Get Started?
Head on over to our card game calculator and instantly price your poker deck. We recommend opening the calculator in a separate tab so you can reference this guide as you go.
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Poker Card Face Options
Need poker card faces for your your custom deck? We got you covered.
If you’re tasked with ordering a poker deck for your business, charity, school, church, camp, or other organization, we have tools to help make this process as easy as possible. While many of our customers use fully custom artwork for their poker decks, PrintNinja also has a set of card face artwork you can use for your project.
Classic Poker Card Face
This deck is illustrated with regal face cards, including classic motifs like flowers, swords, and axes. If you’d like to use this option, after placing your poker deck order let your account manager know you’d like to use Classic Poker Deck artwork.
Like what you see?
Get started by pricing your card game instantly. You can save your quote for up to 90 days, or order now and get started right away.
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Popular Printing Add-Ons
Learn more about our specialty printing options and see if any of them are right for your project.
These are the most commonly used specialty options because they are some of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to enhance your project. All the features below are available for international offset book and game printing. Domestic digital-offset printing has fewer specialty options available but we hope to offer additional options in the future. Domestic orders are currently limited to a silver foil stock option and anti-scratch and soft touch matte lamination for book and card game orders. Select one of the options below to learn more.
Specialty Printing Options
Not sure if any of these specialty printing options are right for you? Feel free to contact us and one of our friendly customer service ninjas can help you determine the right path for your project.
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Added Mylar Mirror
While we are unable to apply a real glass mirror to any of our printed pieces, we do offer the ability to add a mylar mirror. What is mylar? Mylar is a stretched polyester film used to make space blankets, foil balloons, and—in our case—fake mirrors!
While mylar is very reflective, it’s important to note that it doesn’t look the same as the mirror in your bathroom. That being said, this material is abundantly used in children’s books and we doubt the kiddos will know the difference. Watch the video below to see how you can expect an added mylar mirror to look in your book:
Manufacturing Requirements and Recommendations
- We can only add a mylar mirror to casebound hardcovers (inside or outside cover only) and board book projects (anywhere).
- We only recommend using mylar on simple shapes in your design (circles, rectangles, squares, etc). Complex shapes, or shapes with lots of small details, create issues during the application process and are prone to peeling once applied.
- The mylar shape cannot bleed off the page. The mylar itself should be placed at least 15mm (.59”) away from the edge of your page or binding
- Mylar cannot cross over the spine or binding of a project.
Pricing
Mylar is a super custom specialty feature, so you will need to request this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. Just be sure to add a note in the additional info field below “Save my Quote” that says something like: “Would like a quote to include an added mylar mirror on the inside back cover.” We’ll reach out to you about your custom quote within one business day of receiving your request.
File Setup Guide
You should provide us with the intended shape and placement of your added mylar mirror. You can find the setup guide here for this add-on.
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Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is an easy way to catch the eyes of consumers. With hundreds of custom printing options to choose from, we’re here to make sure your project comes out exactly how you envisioned.
Do you want to make sure your cover gets noticed amongst other books on the shelf? If so, this is an excellent option for creating some eye-catching visual appeal. As its name suggests, the process employs the use of foil to achieve a metallic finish, usually in gold or silver.
How It Works
Our expert operators use a heated die to transfer the foil onto a printed or unprinted sheet. Check out the process in action here.
Our basic foil stamping services include areas up to 4” x 4” in gold or silver. As with all of our services, however, there are plenty of custom options available. To cover larger areas try using metallic ink with small flakes of metal, or make your entire cover from foil using foil stock. You can also use multiple foil colors to wow your readers with vivid metallic hues, or add sequential foil numbering to make each piece in your run unique. No matter what you have in mind, there are plenty of ways to make your project shine.
Pricing
To get an estimate for this add-on service, simply check the appropriate box using our quoting calculator. If you have a specialty option in mind beyond a 4″ x 4″ area in silver or gold foil, simply request a custom quote.
Basic vs. Complex
How much area, and how complex your foil stamp design is will dictate the cost associated. “Basic” foil stamping must be contained within a 4″ x 4″ area, while a complex option can cover large portions of your covers. To get pricing for “Complex” foil stamping please request a custom quote. Please also note that complex foil stamping is still restricted to a minimum thickness, so for designs with fine detail consider metallic ink.
PrintNinja Tip
We also offer holographic foil in many designs, colors, and depths, so you can highlight areas of your project with sensational visual elements. Just request it in your custom quote.
Things to Consider
Shifts in Placement
The stamping process can cause the placement of the foil to vary slightly from one project to the next by 0-2mm. To prevent an overlapped appearance with the ink, avoid duplicating any printed shapes or texts with foil. Instead, remove the printed version of the text or shape from your file and simply use the foil itself.
Fragility
The material used for foil stamping can be delicate – it’s much thinner than aluminum foil. Due to its fragile nature, this option is best-suited for thicker, larger fonts. Text or line-work less than 1mm thick (2.83 Adobe points) is not suited for hot foil stamping and could flake off over time. For this reason, we strongly recommend reserving foil stamping for areas that have a minimum thickness of 1mm. Additionally, large areas of foil stamping can scuff over time, so consider placing your foil stamp beneath a gloss, matte, or anti-scratch matte lamination if you intend for your foil design to cover large areas.
Gradients and Textures
The material used for foil stamping is solid, meaning there cannot be any gradients or textures present in your files. If you’re seeking a gradated or textured metallic effect, however, we’ll be happy to make it happen. Simply request a custom quote and with metallic inks, which works great for gradients.
Embossing
If you’re foil stamping an area that’s also being embossed, we will automatically add a lamination of your choice (gloss, matte or anti-scratch matte) on top of your cover(s) in order to protect them from scratches and scuffs. If you choose to use a matte lamination on top, your foil stamp may look less shiny than usual, but will remain unscathed by the elements. All foil stamped or embossed areas in your mask files must be at least 1mm (2.83 Adobe points) thick.
Debossing
Debossing can also be coupled with foil stamping to create a stand out cover. In fact, the process is actually simpler, and because the debossed area is sunken in versus protruding, there are fewer design limitations. We do not require a protective layer of lamination atop a debossed foil stamp. To ensure quality, the only limitation we recommend is ensuring your stamped areas are at least 1mm (2.83 Adobe points) in thickness.
Foil Stamping vs Metallic Ink
While metallic ink is a uniquely mixed ink that is rolled onto your project similar to CMYK inks, foil stamping applies metallic foil onto your printed paper stock with heat and pressure. Both methods achieve a unique aesthetic appeal, but different projects are better suited for one approach over the other.
For a video comparison of Metallic Ink and Foil Stamping, check out our visual guide below. For further information, check out this page!
PrintNinja Tip
Still have questions? Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about choosing this option for your project.
File Setup Guide
For instructions on setting up foil stamping for your artwork, please see here.
Ready to Get Started?
We’ve created a custom pricing calculator so that you can explore all the different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and paperweight to specialty options and so much more.
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Spot Gloss and Spot UV
If you want areas of your book cover or game to really pop, you can include a Spot Gloss, also known as a Spot Varnish or Spot UV.
Is there an area on your cover that you want to really stand out? Captivate your customers by drawing the eye directly to your most compelling graphic or text using a Spot Gloss, also known as a Spot Varnish or Spot UV.
This unique high-gloss shine is typically applied either atop a matte varnish or matte lamination. As a result, the area with the Spot UV will be shiny and accentuated, standing out against the rest of your smooth matte design. If you’re curious about how to make areas of your project pop using this feature, take a look at our setup guide below.
PrintNinja Tip
See our Spot UV Setup Guide for directions on setting up your files with Spot UV.
What is Spot UV?
Spot UV is a clear varnish that can be applied to your printing project in specific areas. Similar to how ink is added to your project, the varnish is a liquid that is applied via a cylinder during the printing process. Afterwards, the varnish is cured using a UV light, hence, Spot UV. This option adds not only a reflective property to your project but also a textural component, drawing attention to a particular part of your project.
Glow in the Dark!
A variation on a standard Spot UV is Glow in the Dark. Although this option looks almost exactly like the standard option in normal light, when exposed to bright light, that area will glow in dark conditions. To add Glow in the Dark Spot UV to your order request a custom quote.
Pricing
You can request pricing for this add-on by checking the appropriate box on our quoting calculator. If you have additional specialty options in mind for your project, these can also be requested when locking in your quote. Please note: Spot UV is currently only available with our international print service, we hope to offer this option domestically in the future.
Setup Guide
For instructions on how to set up Spot Gloss and Spot UV for our project, please see here.
Ready to Get Started?
We’ve created a custom card game pricing calculator for you to explore all our different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and packaging, to specialty options like Spot UV and so much more.
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Embossing vs. Debossing
Confused about what it means to emboss vs. deboss an element of your project? We can help clarify.
PrintNinja is the premier offset printer for independent creators and small businesses. With hundreds of custom printing options to choose from, we’re here to make sure your project comes out exactly how you envisioned.
Embossing and debossing create unique visual and textural impacts on your project’s cover. These options are ideal for designers seeking ways to make elements of their cover art pop off the page. With both approaches, covers take on more of a three-dimensional appearance compared to traditional paperbacks and hardcovers.
Embossing
Embossing raises certain parts of the paper, bringing them forward so the eye is directed towards these areas first. You may have seen paperbacks with embossed covers, with the title and author’s name embossed for a striking appearance, for example.
How is embossing done?
The process of embossing involves the use of a special custom die. The die is carved to align seamlessly with the image (or text) to be embossed. Then, the sheet of paper or cover is inserted into the die machine with the die facing the back of the sheet. The raised area of the die then pushes the paper or cover away, creating the raised effect. If you’re curious about how it works, take a moment to watch the process in action here.
Debossing
Debossing, on the other hand, lowers certain parts of a sheet to achieve a “sunken in” look. This also attracts the eye by recessing a specific area. While not as popular as embossing, debossing can be used to support a particular aesthetic or theme.
How is debossing done?
The process of debossing is very similar to embossing and again involves the use of a custom die. However, when the sheet of paper or cover is inserted into the die machine, the front of the sheet faces the die. The debossed area of the die then pushes the paper or cover away, creating the sunken effect.
You can emboss or deboss an area of your project up to a 4″ x 4″ square. If you have a more complex embossing or debossing project in mind, feel free to reach out to our experts. With large, multi-level, beveled, and sculptural embossing options available, we can accomplish just about anything you’re envisioning! Our team will be happy to provide you with a custom quote for any options you have in mind.
Pricing
If you think embossing or debossing would be a good fit for your project, find out more about pricing using our quoting calculator. Simply check the appropriate box for this add-on, or request specialty options for customized embossing or debossing features while requesting a custom quote. Please note: Emboss/Deboss is currently only available with our international print service, we hope to offer this option domestically in the future.
Ready to get started?
We’ve created a custom pricing calculator so that you can explore all the different printing choices, shipping methods, and get an instant price for your project. You can also customize just about anything, from size and paperweight to specialty options like embossing/debossing and so much more.
Get Your PriceFile Setup Guide
For instructions on setting up embossing and debossing, please see here.
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Specialty UV Varnish
Coatings play a main role in your design and quality as they are dually protective and enhance your book cover, album sleeve or packaging. Our Specialty UV varnish options will increase the number of consumer eyes on your project as well as encourage them to touch and examine your project.
Pricing for Specialty UV Varnish
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
UV Pearl
UV Pearl creates a shimmering effect with high-quality appearance and texture. You can choose to place the UV Pearl all over or in specific spots.
Glow-In-The-Dark
Glow-in-the-dark is a varnish that makes specific areas glow after being exposed to certain light. This adds an extra quality to your book or board game, plus, never lose your project again!
Not sure if any of these options are right for you? Feel free to contact us, and one of our friendly customer service ninjas can help you decide which of our specialty UV varnish options is right for your project.
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Sequential Foil Numbering
Unlike traditional foil stamping, sequential foil numbering is done with a special press that gives each individual piece of your run a unique number.
Sequential foil numbering is a great addition to Kickstarter / crowdfunded projects, and it can also be done on a small part of the run (say just 100 copies out of 500) to make those copies extra special.
Placement Restrictions and Design Considerations
- Sequential Foil Stamping is done with a special machine, so the size and font of the numbering cannot be changed.
- There will always be 6 numbers.
- Must be placed within 10cm (3.93 inches) of the outside edge. Please see the guide below for a visual example of where you can place your numbers, anywhere in the blue space. Note: we cannot print the numbers within 0.2 inches of the outside edge.
- The size of PrintNinja’s foil numbering is approximately 3/16 inch in height and 1 inch in width. Click here (create a link to a JPEG file) for a downloadable placeholder image.
- Be sure to note that if you wish to place the foil on any of the interior pages/endsheet pages that stamping has an inherent, unavoidable debossing effect that will make the reverse side of the page appear embossed – so make sure you are mindful if this impacts any crucial artwork/text.
How do I let my Prepress Manager know where I would like to place the stamp?
You can go about this one of two ways:
- You can email them directly about the placement. For example, “I would like my sequential stamp placed 1” inside the upper right corner of endsheet #2.”
- You can include a “reference image” PDF when you upload your print-ready artwork. Using the placeholder graphic linked above, just place the graphic where you would like the stamp and export out an additional copy of the page as placement reference for your Prepress Manager. Be sure to name this PDF accordingly, “SequentialStampReference” for example.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Please note: Sequential Foil Numbering is currently only available with our international print service, we hope to offer this option domestically in the future.
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Foil Stock
Foil stock, not to be confused with foil stamping, is a paper option that allows your entire cover to be made of foil. Foil stock comes in silver base, and UV inks are used in the print process to create shiny metallic colors of near-infinite variety.
The album cover to the right is made from gold foil stock with red and black ink printed over the foil. Instead of highlighting one element with foil stamping, such as the title of their album, Edoheart wanted to emphasize the entire cover with a bright and reflective foil stock. This is a great option if you want your whole cover to be highlighted.
For domestic orders we have a 13pt Silver Foil Stock that we can use for book and card game orders if you would like to add a little extra pizzazz to your order. Please note that the foil side of the stock must be laminated with your choice of gloss or matte lamination. The appearance of the foil stock will change based on which option you use. Gloss lamination is the standard and appears more shiny, while matte lamination will dull the natural shine of the stock and give more of a “chromium” appearance.
Pricing
Request pricing for this add-on while locking in your price on our quoting calculator. We’ll reach out to you with a custom quote (or questions) within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Not sure if foil stock is the right option for you? Stuck between this option, foil stamping, and metallic ink? Feel free to contact us and we can help you make a decision. Our friendly customer service ninjas can help you determine which of these options is right for your project. Give us a call and we’ll help you out!
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Anti-Scratch and Soft Touch Matte Lamination
Learn more about our anti-scratch printing option and figure out if it’s right for your project.
While many creators prefer the subtle look of a matte finish, one downside is that it tends to show marks more easily than a gloss finish does – especially on large areas of solid color. To avoid this, you can use an anti-scratch matte lamination in place of our standard matte lamination, keeping scratches and scuffs from affecting the aesthetic of your covers or the pages of your board book. We also have a soft touch matte lamination available, which provides the same protection that anti-scratch does while also adding some extra tactility. As the name implies, it feels “soft” and extra smooth.
Please see the below image comparison of “Anti-Scratch Matte” lamination vs. basic “Matte” lamination:
Anti-scratch matte lamination is also a great choice for custom games, especially for game boards, since they tend to see more action than a typical book does.
Pricing for Anti-Scratch Printing Option
Please Note: The costs below are for standard book projects. Board Books and Custom Games may require custom pricing.
International Offset Book Pricing
$.30 per unit for orders over 700 units.
$200 standard cost for orders under 700 units.
**Pricing for these options on domestic orders will differ from that of our International Offset pricing listed above**
List this item in our add-on box while locking in your price on our calculator. We will get back to you with a quote within 1 business day of receiving your request.
Not sure if this option is right for you? Feel free to contact us – one of our friendly customer service ninjas can help you determine if our anti-scratch printing option is the right choice for your project.