Short run card printing ~ any good 'labs' ?

[Box Brownie]

Hi All

I think I may have asked this in some form before as part of another thread.

I am looking at producing a few blank greetings cards and the two prime options are the "craft route" i.e. get 6x4 prints and fix them to suitably cut/creased cards that have been run through a laser printer to add the likes of copyright & contact info on the reverse.

The other way is have them fully printed as greetings cards but the two sources I have identified are limited in that one 'photobox' has a blank reverse (or at least I think they do?) and cannot print bespoke on the reverse & 'colourmailer' (based in Switzerland) print their own lab info on the reverse.

The ideal for me at this stage is only for short runs max 30 per image (probably between 6 & 10 images) to test my ideas in the marketplace, I know the unit cost will high compared to say getting 100+ off each image so I do not mind making a modest margin to start with but some profit would be nice ;)

But to have the professional look I want to have the reverse printed with my choice of copy. Oh, for sure the images need to be of good standard/quality not the sort you see printed with a high end laser printer.

Being UK based obviously it makes sense to use UK source to keep shipping costs down/low but please any pointers and guidance would be very welcome.

TIA :D

[joeturner]

What about printing them yourself??

I was also looking into this option, let me know how you get on! Also ased in Surrey UK

[Box Brownie]

Hi joe

Hmmm!!!! yes, running the images up on the inkjet was one route I looked at but IMHO the costs get prohibitive once you go above a few prints though using a diesub printer if you buy bulk stocks keeps the image cost fixed at an acceptable level. But then you still need to craft finish them. Unless there is a good budget grade inkjet paper that works well with Epson inks (in my case) that can be printed as a finished 'flat' card that can then be creased etc.

Personally the less I handle the process, other than PPing and image preparation, the better and I am aiming for as professional a finish as possible.

:)

[thrumyeye]

Have you looked at www.whcc.com? According to their pdf on pricing, here's what it says about the cards they'll print for you:

"Folded greeting cards and double sided postcard style greeting cards have become increasingly popular. We offer 4x5.5 and 5x7 cards as both a folded and flat, postcard style greeting card. Folded cards are 4x5.5 and 5x7 in size after folding (actual card size is 8x5.5 and 10x7). All four sides of the folded and both sides of the postcard style are fully customizable and full color."

Check them out. This may be what you were looking for.

[Box Brownie]

Hi Elaine

Thanks for the pointer.

I need to read their service information pdf's and then work out the practicality of the costs of shipping etc but as you say it does seem that the run sizes are of the right order and printing anywhere over the card area is good.

Will likely email them once I have thought about the service.

:)

[joeturner]

yep, thanks, this was just what i was looking for