What is Publication Printing?

Publication printing is the process of creating physical copies of a publication for distribution. It takes a lot to deliver high-quality, eye-catching publications. The diversity of publication types combined with the multitude of equipment and materials they require demands nothing short of printing excellence. That's why working with a reliable publication printer is key to achieving the best results.

Read on to learn more about the most common types of publication printing, what the process looks like, and why only a rare few printers can pull off the best possible results.

7 Common Types of Printed Publications 

Printed publications can all be described as multi-page deliverables. Think books, brochures, magazines and the like. It’s a wide-open category of print products, with immense variation from one publication type to the next. To illustrate that variation, let’s take a closer look at the key elements of seven of the most common types of printed publications.

1. Magazines

A magazine is a printed collection of content, usually a combination of articles and images, published periodically. They tend to focus on a general subject, and frequently depend on their cover images and headlines to attract buyers.

 Because of this need to catch the attention of potential readers, magazines usually use glossy paper and vivid full-bleed images, particularly on the cover. Their paper and ink also need to be strong to withstand the mailing process, as magazines are generally sent to subscribers without any protective box or envelope.

2. Academic and Professional Journals 

Academic and professional journals are another type of periodic publication featuring articles and images. However, they don’t tend to rely on their covers to attract buyers. Instead, their distribution relies heavily on individual and institutional subscriptions.

Because of their distribution model, professional journals don’t need to catch eyes in the same way magazines do. This makes their printing needs are more variable. Some will use the same glossy paper and vivid printing favored by magazines. Others will use matte paper and mostly black and white printing, except where an article’s illustrations require otherwise. Like magazines, a journal’s materials need to be strong enough to withstand the shipping process unprotected. They also have a particular need for printing accuracy, since their illustrations may be used for research purposes.

3. Newsletters

Newsletters are a popular form of periodic print communication for businesses and organizations. They tend to be distributed to members or existing customers, or made available for pick-up to in-person visitors.

Typically, newsletters rely on their headlines to attract a reader’s attention – much like a newspaper. Also like a newspaper, their content is often arranged in columns of text with supporting images. Thicker, glossy paper is a popular choice for newsletters that will be distributed flat, or newsletters that prioritize images. On the other hand, thinner paper works better when a newsletter will be folded down for distribution, such as when it’s going to be sent in an envelope.

4. Calendars 

A page-a-month style calendar is typically printed in landscape orientation. The top of each page pair features an illustration, while the bottom page features the month’s calendar grid.

High quality color printing is key for these kinds of calendars, since one of the main attractions of the product is its aesthetic appeal as a decoration. The paper also needs to be quite sturdy, both to support the product’s weight when its hanging and to handle being written on. However, since calendars aren’t sent through the mail unprotected, they can fully prioritize aesthetics in the print and finishing methods they use.

5. Catalogs 

A catalog is a periodical publication intended to illustrate and describe products. Catalogs may be sent to existing or potential customers, or made available in commercial spaces like dealerships and showrooms.

The paper and printing priorities of a catalog may mimic a typical magazine. However, some catalogs that contain very large numbers of products will use thinner paper to save on weight and shipping costs. In these instances, particular care needs to be used to ensure print quality remains sharp and accurate without any ink bleed-through.

6. Business Documents

This is something of a catch-all category, useful for describing the many types of publications a business may want printed. Some of these are for internal use, like training manuals and style guides. Others may be intended for customers and clients, like brochures and program booklets.

In all cases, color accuracy in printing is particularly important to ensure all branded materials accurately match brand guidelines. Special finishes and treatments are also popular for these types of publications.

7. Books

Last but very much not least, there are books. Publishing a book means printing a significant number of copies. This process requires utmost coordination and consistency across thousands or even hundreds of thousands of pages. 

Books tend to be protected when shipped, allowing for more creativity in the materials and finishes used. Books also use their covers to attract potential readers, making eye-catching cover treatments such as cold foil printing particularly useful.

The Printing Process

Each publication print job has unique demands and will require different materials and equipment configurations. However, if we pull back far enough, we can describe the publication printing process in three general steps.

• Pre-press check – This is the stage where the publications pages are arranged in the correct print order. All stakeholders will review the final file at this stage, ensuring there are no errors.
• Printing – This is the stage where the publications are printed and assembled.
• Finishing Touches – This is the stage where each publication is finished and readied for delivery. Common finishing steps include trimming and binding.

Of course, the time it takes to complete each step will vary, depending on the publication’s complexity. To get the best combination of speed and quality, working with a highly experienced printer is critical.

Explore More on Publication Printing

Want to dive deeper into publication printing? Learn more about selecting the perfect binding with our article “Selecting the Right Binding for Your Publication” and explore the entire process in “Understanding the Publication Printing Process.”

How Wallace Carlson Printing Ensures Precision and Quality

From marketing collateral to custom booklet printing, Wallace Carlson's Publication Printing ensures every publication we create is top notch.

It starts with our very first meeting. We work with you to understand your publication needs and recommend the best options to achieve your goals. Then, we help you perfect your files for printing. We’re present, attentive, and responsive throughout the printing process. All to guarantee the highest quality possible for your finished product.

 Experience the unmatched service of Wallace Carlson for yourself. Reach out today, and let’s get started bringing your publication to life.