Print On Demand – An Overview

Print on demand or POD is a printing technology in which new copies of a book or other published material is printed only after an order is received. Print on demand is a smart way to print a limited number of books quickly while maintaining the high quality standards of book publishing.

So how exactly does print on demand work? It’s a pretty simple process actually. Once a book is typeset and print ready, the orders to print are sent to the digital press. When the pages and cover settings are complete, the book pages are ready for the cutter and then the binding procedures. The final stage in book production is trimming which ensures that the books are evenly cut and bound.

Rapid advancements in printing technology have made print on demand possible and accessible to the average user. Even small presses these days have switched to this technology that offers several advantages and benefits over traditional offsetting. POD service providers offer ‘Print on Demand’ using digital technology all at fixed per copy rates. This removes the need to order bulk printing, allowing publishers to request as many or as few copies of required material. They are also saved the laborious task of going through the usual re-print process.

Also, print on demand is more eco-friendly than conventional lithographic printing where copious amounts of ink and chemicals are wasted, not to mention the paper wastage from unsold books.

Although per unit pricing using print on demand is higher than with offset, the setup costs are less and the need for maintaining a large inventory is minimized with print on demand. Hence ‘Print on Demand’, especially for a small press, essentially works out to be more cost effective than traditional offset printing.