Gang run printing is a method used by printing companies to reduce the cost of printing by combining different print jobs to maximize an entire sheet of paper. This divides the initial printing cost among the different projects and eliminates paper wastage. This technique has created opportunities for printing companies to offer affordable printing that are especially favorable for start-up companies and for small-scale to medium-scale businesses.
Process of gang run printing
To achieve gang run prints, the printer ‘gangs up’ or puts together several projects on one sheet spread and these projects run simultaneously on the presses.
For offset printing, the maximum size accommodated is 28” x 40”. Through gang run printing, a full sheet can include several similar projects, for instance, business cards for numerous clients. Or it may also be possible to combine different print products like posters, flyers and brochures.
There are several considerations that printers need to think about prior to gang run printings. Some of these include merging projects with same paper stocks, adding bleeds and safe zones and securing a 300 dpi (dots per inch) resolution for the final size.
Advantages and disadvantages of gang run
Most notable of its positive points is averaging the set-up cost among all the projects included. This, as mentioned, makes printing projects more cost-effective for each client. In addition to this, other operation factors such as set-up and production time, plate making, and labor cost are also reduced. All of these contribute further to affordable printing rates.
This technique also allows printers to use almost the entire spread of paper. Excess portions that are insufficient for bigger print materials may be filled in by smaller products so only a minor percentage of the spread is thrown away, and these are normally just the edges. This advantage is both desirable environment-wise and cost-wise.
However, it does have its limitations, one of which color accuracy. There is a possibility for slight deviations in color results. For many, this is almost negligible but there are some people who need printouts that strictly adhere to the color scheme present in their graphic file.
If this is the case, you can raise this concern to your printer when you present the job. The printer will have options for you and would not recommend gang run printing. Many clients, however, would choose affordability over the very slim difference in color precision
Most of the other disadvantages actually apply to the printers rather than to the clients. One of these is waiting for projects with similar specs to fill an entire sheet. Obviously, projects with thick cover stocks cannot be combined with those that require paper stocks.
Printers need to gather a significant amount of print jobs each time to make sure that they maximize the spread. Inability to do so would make them lose revenue since they have to offer the products at the same affordable price that both parties already agreed upon.
You can conveniently access affordable printing services from online printing companies that specialize in gang run printing. You may communicate with them to learn your more about your options with regards to this technique and to check its compatibility with your project.
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