Digital Printing: A Game-Changer for Small and Niche Publishers

The decision to publish a book has historically been influenced by printing costs, particularly with traditional offset printing. The setup, plate-making, and bindery wastage costs associated with this method make it uneconomical to print fewer copies. If demand for a new or out-of-print book does not exceed the minimum number, publishers cannot make a profit using offset printing. As a result, many otherwise viable titles may not be published, or they may be unavailable or sold at high prices.

However, digital printing has changed this equation. There are four main ways in which publishers are taking advantage of digital printing:

1. Keep-In-Print Programs: Publishers are increasingly turning to print-on-demand (POD) to bring back out-of-print titles with timeless or classic qualities. This is particularly true for trade books, college textbooks in subjects such as English, history, modern language, and the social sciences, religious books, and certain STM (science, technology, and medicine) books.
2. Short-Run Publishing: Many publishers, particularly small or regional publishers, produce short-run books. Digital printing makes even shorter print runs or reprint runs profitable, allowing publishers to better serve niche markets and take risks on unknown authors.
3. Course Packs: On-demand printers are well-suited for producing course packs, which require significant and ongoing document preparation and updating, as well as precise numbers of copies and delivery on short notice. This business is also served by campus bookstores, copy centers, off-campus copy shops, and traditional textbook publishers.
4. Prepublication Copies: All publishers need to produce prepublication copies, including review copies, sample or complimentary copies, and trial or pilot editions. These copies must look like the final book and be printed quickly in small numbers. Digital printing is cost-competitive for producing perfect-bound books with black and white interiors and two- to four-color covers. Prepublication copies can also be shipped directly to reviewers or potential customers by the printer, saving on shipping costs. Furthermore, the process of preparing a document for digital printing is similar to preparing it for e-book formats, which reduces costs when releasing it in both formats.

In a nutshell, digital printing has made it possible for publishers to print shorter runs of books profitably, to bring back out-of-print titles, and to produce prepublication copies more efficiently. This has enabled publishers to better serve niche markets, take risks on unknown authors, and keep more books in print.

To know more about our digital printing production presses, contact us.