Planet ink Fine Books - Offshore Printing LinkedIn
Deciphering Offshore Printing with Planet ink Fine Books
Our quantities vary, based on need and type of project . An average run for our sheetfed presses are from 3,000 to 10,000. Smaller quantities of a large, hardcover book can still be cost effective. We can produce web printing for quantities over 50,000. One digital copy of a book is possible, as well, but it is much more cost effective if you are printing a larger quantity sheetfed and need pre-production copies for a meeting or presentation.
In lithographic printing, photographs and other tonal images are reproduced by converting them, through a screening process, to dots of various sizes. Basically, the higher the number of dots or lines (of dots), the smoother the image's gradations appear and the better the reproduction. These are referred to as line screens - an 85 line screen, generally used in newspaper printing, is fairly low while a 175 line screen can be used in high-end, graphic reproduction. However, to complicate things further, there are several different methods of converting images to dots, some more suited to certain projects than others. After evaluation of a project, we make a recommendation based on the artwork, paper stock specified, and type of project. We have found that some projects that initially seem to lend themselves to a random dot pattern (equivalent to 400 line screen) actually reproduced with much more clarity, color acuracy and sharpness with a 175 line screen.
Paper weights and printing nomenclature differ throughout the world. For example, the various types of paper we use in the US are referred to by different names in Asia. While US papers are calibrated in pounds (lb or #) and points (pt), Asian and European papers are specified using millimeters (mm) and grams per square meter (gsm). China and Hong Kong use millimeters and grams per square meter, but their standard paper weights are different than the rest of the world using mm and gsm designations. For example, a standard sheet in China would be 157 gsm compared to Korea, Japan and Italy's 150 gsm.

The following charts indicate recommended equivalent Asian paper weights for commonly specified US papers. Since equivalents are rarely exact, the Asian papers may vary several points or pounds more or less. These equivalent paper weights are some of the most commonly used and readily available papers in various Asian countries.
Paper Types and Weights
There are various types of binding numerous pages into a book. Here is a brief description of the basic styles.
Book Bindings
Hardcover binding
A hardcover book (also called hardback, hardbound or casebound) is bound with stiff, protective covers. These covers are usually chipboard covered with cloth, heavy paper, leather or fabrics. Endpapers are used in the front and back of the book to attached the cover to the block of pages. Ends (as endpapers are sometimes called) can be plain, printed, or made from specialty papers. The spines of hardcover books can be sewn and/or glued. Hardcover books can also be wrapped with removable, printed paper dust jackets.
Softcover binding
A softcover book (also called paperback or softback) is one with covers made with paper or paperboard and are usually held together with glue. There are several different methods for gluing softcover books, some methods being more durable than others.
Wire-o binding
This is a bookbinding technique that winds a circular double-wire strip through pre-punched holes in the cover and pages of a book. The wire is covered with a plastic coating that is available in various colors and diameters. The covers of the book may be hard or soft covers. There are a couple variations on the configuration of the covers which either conceal or partially conceal the wire-o binding. One advantage to these variations is that they create a printable spine.
Wire Bindings
Spiral binding/comb binding
These two techniques are similar to wire-o binding in that the covers and pages of the book are pre-punched. A spiral binding uses a covered wire coil, available in colors, that is spun through the perforations. A comb binding uses a round plastic spine with tangs that lace through pre-punched rectangular holes in the cover and pages of a book. Larger diameter comb binding spines can be printed with titles or other information.
Specialty Bindings
Spiral bindings can also be used on easel-backed covers for calendars and presentation pieces. We can also produce block day-by-day calendars backed on a plastic easel. Leather-bound soft or hardcover books with gold gilded page edges are also possible.
Before printing your project, we supply you with digital proofs output from your electronic files for your approval. Our printers use CTP (computer-to-plate) pre-press environments and calibrate your proofs to their presses. This process shows you, as closely as possible, what the printed project will look like as well as indicates if your files have output accurately.
Planet ink Fine Books prides itself on realistic timeframes for production and delivery of your project. We want to deliver your project to you as soon as possible but we don't make unrealistic promises which often only leads to disappointments and/or jeopardizes a positive outcome. We have a good track record for meeting delivery within a day of our given date. We would caution against ardent promises of quick delivery unless there is an airplane involved.
Prepare your files using the same criteria as you would for US printers. If you are unfamiliar with this process, let us know and we will provide you with instruction and guide you through the process. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

Photos need to be scanned at 300 dpi or greater. The final image size should be the same size as they appear in your layout program. Save the images in CMYK, not RGB. If you have questions, please bring them up early in the process so you won't have to spend time revising your files. To get files for large projects to us, send them to us on CDs or DVDs. Files for smaller projects can be transferred using ftp sites. We will provide user names and passwords for our site(s).
If you need books to be stored for future shipment, we work closely with a safe, bonded warehouse near the port of Oakland (CA). From there, your products can be drop-shipped, one at a time or in bulk. Call us for current rates. We will bill you on a monthly basis. Shipment is via FedEx or UPS. This can amount to a good savings for you, particularly if you are located in the central areas of the US.
We like to pass on industry news as we hear about it. Whether it is paper shortages, increases in shipping costs or interesting projects we see, we think you would like to know.

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