The invention of the printing press by Johannes Guttenburg in the 1400s revolutionized the world of publishing. Suddenly, mass-producing information became affordable and accessible, creating a new gateway to communicate with the world. Today, we have an even more versatile innovation in printing and publishing – print-on-demand!
Print-on-demand is a method of digital printing that enables you to print only the required amounts of a score or book, even a single copy. Previously, publishers or authors had to produce larger quantities, but with print-on-demand, a score is produced only when a customer places an order.
Here are four key things you should know about print on demand:
- Cost Efficiency
Although the cost to print a single copy can be slightly higher than for a short print run, print-on-demand eliminates the need for investing all your money upfront with the hope that composition is a major hit. Editions are only printed when the order is placed.
- Reduces Waste
Prior to print-on-demand, publishers would have to estimate the interest in a book, score, or product and produce a run based on sales projections. Because of the upfront costs associated with publishing (artists, legal, editing), publishers need to recoup as much of their investment as possible to make a profit. However, if a work fails to sell, money and paper are wasted. Print-on-demand allows you to produce a single copy only when a customer places an order. This way, you can gauge the success of the work over time before printing a short run of copies to reduce printing costs.
- Eliminates Inventory or Warehousing
With print runs, you need to store the inventory until it is sold. However, if you are not set up to keep inventory in a clean, controlled environment, this can be a costly investment. Since print-on-demand allows for shipping directly from the manufacturer, you no longer need to warehouse any inventory.
- Flexibility to Make Changes
If you discover a glaring error in your symphony or book, you can make changes without having to live with misprints or editorial errors when orchestras or readers purchase your work in the future. Since print-on-demand doesn’t require producing a large number of copies upfront, you have the flexibility to make corrections when you find them. However, we still recommend hiring an editor and engraver for all your projects. This way, you can ensure that your work has less errors and is of the highest quality before going to print.
Does Songburd offer print-on-demand?
Yes! We offer print-on-demand for most common formats and sizes. Check out our different print options.