Drew鈥檚 Beginnings in the Print Industry

Drew’s path to book printing wasn’t exactly traditional. With a degree in athletic training, his career began with a job working with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Drew made the decision to move back home to Brookfield, Missouri. Soon after, a conversation with Gary O鈥橳oole, 抖荫短视频鈥檚 Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, would change his career path forever.

鈥淭he job market wasn鈥檛 the best at the time,鈥� said Drew, I was looking for a good, steady job. Gary mentioned they had a Management Trainee position open. I applied, went through the interview process, and I鈥檝e been here ever since.鈥�

Lifelong Learning: A Printer’s Constant Companion

One of the things Drew emphasized is that as a book printer, the learning process never truly ends. 鈥淚 still learn new things every single day,鈥� said Drew. 鈥淚t took the better of the entire 18-month management trainee program to fully understand the print, binding and business aspects. Plus, it鈥檚 always changing with different machinery, technology and customer needs.鈥� Even our most experienced printers have to stay on their toes in order to keep up with advancing print technology, which helps us stay on the cutting edge.

The Magic of Book Printing

While the core principles of printing are consistent between books, magazines and catalogs, there’s something special about crafting books. 鈥淧rinting books is unique because of all the binding types we can do, specifically our binding capabilities here in Marceline,鈥� said Drew. Magazines normally print on standard paper substrates. For casebound books, plexiglass, linens, and acrylics have really taken off. There are lots of different substrates we can print on and offer to our customers.鈥�

A Team Effort

So, how many pairs of hands work together to create a book? Drew estimates that a typical project involves somewhere between 30 and 40 skilled workers across various departments.聽 From the prepress employees who create impositions to the bindery workers who make sure our books are securely bound, and everyone in between, a 抖荫短视频 book print is truly a team effort.

Tips for a Smooth Printing Journey

For authors and publishers embarking on their printing adventure, Drew offers some valuable advice: keep an open line of communication with your dedicated Customer Service Representative and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions. 鈥淢eeting with your CSR and laying all questions out on the table gives us a chance to tell you yes or no or test what you want to be done before we commit to the project,鈥� said Drew. 鈥淎n experienced printing company like 抖荫短视频 will be happy to accommodate an author鈥檚 design and printing specifications to help achieve their vision.鈥�

The Unexpected Wonders of the Printing Press

Even though books are a part of most of our daily lives, the vast majority of people have never seen books being printed or even set foot in a printing plant. When asked if there鈥檚 anything that might surprise the average person about the book printing process, Drew replied: 鈥淗ow crazy technology is on these presses. Printing 18,000 sheets an hour, both sides of the sheet, and aligning the four CMYK dots down to the micron level to achieve optimal color and registration 鈥� it鈥檚 absolutely amazing.鈥�

More Than Just a Job: How Drew Found a Home at 抖荫短视频

Even though Drew Elliott didn鈥檛 originally set out to work in print, he is thankful for the career he鈥檚 built at 抖荫短视频.聽 He finds joy in the connections he’s built, the challenges he tackles every day and the ever-changing nature of the work. 鈥淚 love the people I work with, truly every day is a new day,鈥� said Drew. 鈥湺兑穸淌悠� has been good to me and my family 鈥� I met my wife working here.鈥� Drew鈥檚 story is a reminder that the world of book printing is more than just ink and paper; it’s a world of dedication, precision, and a shared passion for bringing the written word to life.

If you鈥檙e ready to partner with passionate people like Drew to create your next book project, contact 抖荫短视频 today to get in touch with one of our Sales Representatives! Or, if you鈥檙e interested in working for a family-owned company with over 87 years of printing history, .

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Here’s how a printer can become your partner in your publishing success:

Navigation and Expertise

The world of printing can be full of unfamiliar terms and technicalities, especially for an author new to self-publishing. A good print sales representative can act as your guide, offering informative consultations to answer your questions and explain the printing process step-by-step before it begins.

From there, an experienced printing team will advise you on everything from paper selection and binding options to file formats and printing schedules. They can also help you navigate industry standards and ensure your book meets all the technical specifications for distribution. There are a lot of potential hiccups along the way when taking a book through the printing and distribution process 鈥� a quality printer can help you save time, avoid headaches and produce a high-quality, professional-looking book.

Quality Control

As an author, entrusting your book to a printer can feel like a leap of faith. For your peace of mind, a good book printer will work hand-in-hand with you to ensure a high-quality, error-free product. You will be given digital proofs of your book to fully review and approve before the print run begins. This is a very important step: pay close attention because mistakes are far less costly if caught at this stage rather than after printing is complete!聽 Specifically, look for typos, errors in layout, trim marks and any other formatting before it鈥檚 too late.

Reputable printers use only high-quality materials and advanced printing technologies to ensure your book looks and feels professional. After all, this is your masterpiece 鈥� the final printed book should fill you with pride every time you pick it up.

Design and Layout Support

Don’t have design experience? No problem! Some printers offer design services and can recommend qualified design partners. This takes the pressure off you to create a print-ready file and ensures your book’s cover and interior layout are visually appealing and translate well to physical form. Aspects of book design to consider include page layout, typography, cover art and much more. All these factors can have a huge effect on how your book is perceived and whether it sells 鈥� if you鈥檙e not confident in your skills as a designer, consider leaving it to .

Inventory Management and Distribution

Once your book is fully printed and bound, the work isn鈥檛 done just yet 鈥� have you considered distribution? Many printing companies offer warehousing and fulfillment solutions, storing your books and shipping them directly to retailers or customers upon order. If you鈥檙e just getting started as a self-publisher, you may not have the space or time to handle storage and distribution. This frees you up to focus on marketing and promotion while letting the printer handle the logistics. Plus, an experienced printing company will be well-versed in mailing systems, ensuring your books get to their destinations as quickly as possible.

Cost Management and Flexibility

Budgeting is crucial for new publishers. Reputable printers understand this and offer a variety of printing options to suit your needs and budget. They鈥檒l ensure you鈥檙e well informed of all paper, binding and finishing options to help you find the perfect specifications to fit your budget. Whether you choose a smaller print run for initial marketing or a larger quantity for wider distribution, an established book printer can provide competitive pricing and flexible solutions.

Building a Long-Term Partnership

Assuming you find the perfect printer, there鈥檚 a good chance your relationship won鈥檛 end after just a single project. If you plan on continuing to self-publish in the future, look for a company that values long-term relationships. 抖荫短视频 can become your trusted advisor, offering guidance and support as you grow your readership and write more bestsellers. An ongoing partnership ensures consistency and quality for all future book projects.

Partner With 抖荫短视频 for Self-Publishing Success

The printing process doesn’t have to be a struggle for new self-publishers. By partnering with a reputable book printer like 抖荫短视频, you gain access to expertise, quality control and valuable support services. That way, you can focus on your passion 鈥� writing and publishing fantastic books, while the printer handles the technical aspects and ensures your book reaches readers quickly and in a professional and polished format.

Remember, a good printer is more than just a service provider; they’re your partner in bringing your literary vision to life. Contact 抖荫短视频 today to learn more about our print and design services and to see for yourself why our family-owned printing company has been successful for over 87 years.

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Most readers are familiar with the various types of books that are widely available today; textbooks, coffee table books, novels, etc. They鈥檙e printed on paper of various weights and bound with either a hard or soft cover. But how were the first ever books made? How were they bound, and what were they printed on?

This blog will dive into the history of book printing, from the very first books to the latest best-selling novels.

The Early Days of Bookmaking

In the beginning of their history, books were printed on a variety of materials, including fabric, papyrus, parchment, vellum and paper, depending on what was regionally available. However, it would take thousands of years before anything resembling a modern book would emerge.

Scrolls

Long before the invention of the printing press, the earliest form of “books” were scrolls; long stretches of papyrus (an early form of paper made from the papyrus plant) containing writing in columns. Unlike books, scrolls are not bound with multiple pages. Rather, the entirety of a scroll鈥檚 text is contained on a single sheet, and it is rolled up when not in use. Scrolls, while prevalent, had limitations. They were cumbersome to store and navigate, making them less than ideal for quick reference. The first uses of scrolls .

Wax Tablets

Wax tablets, generally made of wood and covered with a sheet of malleable wax, Wax tablets were often bound together in pairs so the contents could be closed off and protected and so the writers could benefit from the use of two wax surfaces. These wax tablets offered convenience from the fact that writing could easily be erased but lacked the writing space and permanence of scrolls. The tablets were simple to use; the writer would use a stylus to etch characters into the layer of wax, which could then be erased by using a flat, scraper-style tool.

Codices

Around the 1st century CE, a new format emerged: . This revolutionary invention, believed to have originated in the Roman Empire, consisted of individual sheets bound together at the spine, much more akin to a modern book. The codex offered significant advantages 鈥� it was far more portable, durable and user-friendly than scrolls.

Above all, the codex offered much more writing space than scrolls 鈥� a scroll long enough to hold the contents of an entire modern book would be incredibly heavy and difficult to use. The original codices were handwritten on papyrus or vellum, an early form of paper made from animal skin.

Woodblock Printing: The Dawn of Mass Production

Fast forward to China, where we find another crucial development in book history 鈥� woodblock printing. This method, dating back to the 2nd-5th century CE, involved carving characters onto wooden blocks, which were then used to press ink onto paper. This allowed for the reproduction of text in a standardized way, paving the way for the mass production of books.

Woodblock printing was initially used to print onto textiles, like linen or silk, but was later used on paper. , created using woodblock printing, is considered the world’s earliest dated printed book.

The Printing Press: Gutenberg鈥檚 Revolution

A huge development in printing technology was introduced in 15th-century Europe with invention of the printing press with movable type. Gutenberg鈥檚 system used individual, reusable letters that could be rearranged to create different words and pages. While the original Gutenberg press required much more time and labor than a modern printing press, his innovation dramatically increased printing speed and efficiency, leading to a surge in book production and literacy rates across Europe.

The first book printed on Gutenberg鈥檚 press was a bible, now known as the . Few copies of the Gutenberg Bible survived in the nearly six centuries since they were printed, and the handful that are still intact are highly sought after.

The Evolution of Book Printing

Gutenberg鈥檚 printing press wasn’t the end of the story. The evolution of book printing was just getting started. Over the centuries, book printing continued to evolve. Paper production improved, eventually leading to materials like papyrus and parchment being all but phased out. The improvement of paper also made books more durable and affordable.

Illustrations and decorative elements were incorporated, adding a visual dimension to the reading experience. Binding techniques were refined, resulting in the sturdy hardcovers and flexible paperbacks we know today.

On the press floor, modern printing presses are thousands of times more efficient than the original Gutenberg printing press. Modern web and sheetfed printing presses still emulate Gutenberg鈥檚 invention to this day, but have swapped individual letter plates for modern, laser-etched aluminum printing plates that are more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Modern Day Book Printing: Applications and More

Continued advancements in print technology led to invention of many specialty print applications, such as lithography, thermographic printing, embossing/debossing and much more. These applications, in conjunction with the many types of mass printing available today, mean that books are fully customizable and can be unique in every aspect. A professional book printing company has the capabilities to create gorgeous books that will last for years 鈥� all with a level of efficiency that the early pioneers like Gutenberg could only dream of.

The Enduring Power of the Book

From the earliest Egyptian scrolls to the first works of the printing press, books have endured for millennia, evolving to meet the needs of each era. The history of book printing is a testament to our enduring desire to share stories, knowledge and ideas. So, the next time you pick up a book, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable journey it took to reach your hands.

If you鈥檙e interested in taking the next steps to print your very own book, talk to the book printing experts at 抖荫短视频. Our cutting-edge print capabilities mean we can meet and exceed your vision while staying within your timeframe and budget. Contact us today!

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