As a major international offset printer, we work with publishers large and small every day. Certain questions come up again and again. Here, we give you our answers!
Publishers often ask printers a variety of questions to make sure that their printing needs are met efficiently and effectively. At QinPrinting, we're always happy to help clients and potential customers to answer questions whether about our services or specific products. Here are the twelve most common questions publishers and businesses ask us, with our answers.
1. What types of printing services do you offer?
QinPrinting, with state-of-the-art facilities based in the beautiful city of Shanghai, China's key commercial hotspot and famed for its beautiful public gardens, waterways, and space-age skyline, offers a variety of printing services including:
Book printing
We offer book printing services for various types of books, including hardcover books, softcover books, coffee-table books, children's books, board books, pop-up books, art and photography books, school yearbooks, graphic novels, and more. While we work with mainstream publishing houses to print books, we also specialize in offering the same high-level products and services to small presses and individual creatives and self-publishers alike.
Catalog printing
QinPrinting provides catalog printing services for businesses looking to showcase their products and services in a professional manner. We produce world class catalogs for a spectrum of publishers in the retail, recreational, industrial, commercial, and arts sectors. Whatever your vertical, if you need a catalog, we can help you.
Brochure printing
We offer brochure printing services for marketing materials, promotional materials, event handouts, leaflets, booklets, tickets, coupons, stickers, and more.
Magazine printing
At QinPrinting — with the expertise, skills, and experience of our design team and qualified printing professionals — we can handle magazine printing projects, whether it's for small-scale publications and ‘zines or larger circulation journals, glossies, trade magazines and other similar projects.
Packaging printing
We are specialists in packaging printing services for product packaging, including boxes, labels, wrappers, and displays. Our specialist team of structural paper engineers is on standby to help you design a unique custom packaging solution suited to your products and branded with your business identity. From small retail boxes that pack flat and pop up to exquisite luxury product boxes with all the extras, we can fulfill all your packaging needs.
Calendar printing
QinPrinting regularly prints calendars for businesses, educational institutions, and individuals who need to create custom calendars for promotional purposes or personal use, from single sheet calendars to desk top standing calendars, wall hanging calendars, three-month calendars, pocket calendars and more.
Poster printing
We provide poster printing services for advertising, events, promotions, and decorative purposes. Whether for product advertising, information sharing — for example in the educational and healthcare sectors — or fine art and photography reproduction, we have everything you need to print high-quality, visually stunning posters.
Board game printing
At QinPrinting, we love games! That's why we started delivering our comprehensive board game printing and manufacturing services to cater to the needs of board game designers and publishers large and small, mainstream and independent. Our complete board game printing and manufacturing solution includes:
- Game board printing: We can print high-quality game boards according to the specifications provided by you, the client. This includes printing custom designs, artwork, and layouts onto durable game board material covered and finished according to your needs and wishes.
- Card printing: We offer card printing services for various types of cards used in board games, such as playing cards, character cards, action cards, and more. These cards can be printed on different cardstock weights and finishes to suit the needs of the game.
- Game box printing: At QinPrinting, we can print custom game boxes in different sizes and styles to package the board game components. This includes printing artwork, logos, and other designs on the game box for branding and marketing purposes.
- Token and component printing: We understand the range of components often needed for contemporary game designs and we provide printing services for game tokens, dice, player pieces, custom miniatures, standees, meeples, counters, and other components used in board games. These components can be made from different materials, such as cardboard, wood, resin, or plastic.
- Rulebook printing: We also print rulebooks and instruction manuals for board games, making sure that they are clear, concise, and professionally presented to enhance the gaming experience for the players and facilitate the ease of play.
- Prototype production: We offer our board game clients prototype production services for board game designers who want to create sample copies of their games for testing, review, and demonstration purposes. Prototypes can range from simple mock-ups to production-level examples indistinguishable from the finished game.
- Assembly and packaging: Here at QinPrinting we don't stop halfway! We handle the assembly and packaging of board games, including inserting components into the game box, shrink-wrapping, and adding any additional packaging elements such as snug-fit molded inserts, booklets, and the rest.
- Shipping and fulfillment: Our comprehensive board game solution includes shipping and fulfillment services to deliver the finished board games to their destination, whether it's directly to customers, distributors, stores, or fulfillment centers such as an Amazon warehouse, for example.
Overall, QinPrinting offers a one-stop solution for board game printing and manufacturing, helping designers and publishers bring their creative visions to life with high-quality production standards.
Card printing
We specialize in a wide range of card printing services to accommodate various needs and preferences. Some of the specific types of cards we can print include:
- Game cards: Our custom game cards are suited for board games, card games, trading card games, and other gaming purposes. These cards can feature custom artwork, designs, and text according to the specifications provided by the client.
- Tarot cards: We offer printing services for tarot cards, including traditional tarot decks as well as custom-designed tarot decks. Tarot cards can be printed on high-quality cardstock with different finishes for durability and aesthetics.
- Oracle cards: We also print oracle cards for use in divination, meditation, inspiration, and personal growth. These cards can feature images, symbols, affirmations, or other messages chosen by the client.
- Flash cards: Our printing services include educational flash cards used for learning purposes, such as language learning, math practice, vocabulary building, and more. Flash cards can be printed with text, images, or both, depending on the intended use.
- Thank you cards: At QinPrinting, we can print custom thank you cards for personal or business use, including greeting cards, note cards, and appreciation cards. These cards can be printed with personalized messages, artwork, logos, or other designs.
- Custom cards: In addition to the types mentioned above, QinPrinting offers printing services for custom cards tailored to the specific needs and preferences of our clients. This includes birthday cards, holiday cards, invitation cards, and more. Just ask.
We provide options for different card sizes, shapes, materials, and finishes to make sure that the printed cards meet your desired quality and aesthetic standards. Whether it's a large-scale production run or a small batch of custom cards, QinPrinting can accommodate various printing needs with professionalism and attention to detail.
Custom printing
In short, at QinPrinting, we offer a truly comprehensive range of custom printing services to meet the unique needs and specifications of all our clients. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of businesses, publishers, authors, and individuals looking for high-quality printing solutions. We've been printing for almost 30 years now and during that time we've built a solid global reputation for the high quality of our products and our sincere commitment to world-class customer service.
2. What printing methods do you specialize in?
At QinPrinting, we focus on offset printing of various specifications, but we also use digital printing for samples, prototypes, and very short runs. Here's an introduction to the printing techniques we offer.
Offset printing
Explanation: Offset printing, also known as lithography, is a traditional printing method that involves transferring ink from a plate to a rubber blanket, then onto the printing surface. It's ideal for high-volume printing jobs with consistent image quality.
Advantages: Offset printing produces high-quality images with sharp details and vibrant colors. It's cost-effective for large print runs and supports a wide range of paper types and sizes.
Digital printing
Explanation: Digital printing involves directly printing digital files onto various substrates without the need for plates. It's a versatile and efficient printing method suitable for short print runs or single sample prints.
Advantages: Digital printing offers quick turnaround times and cost-effectiveness for small batches. At QinPrinting, we use it for test runs, samples, and prototypes.
Silk screen printing
Explanation: Silk screen printing involves pressing ink through a mesh stencil onto the printing surface. It's a versatile method suitable for printing on various materials, including textiles, resins, and paper.
Advantages: Screen printing offers vibrant and durable prints, making it ideal for items like posters and promotional products with clear, bold imagery. It supports a wide range of ink types and can achieve unique effects like metallic or fluorescent colors.
Each printing method has its strengths and suitability for different applications. We deploy each method either singly or in combination as needed to meet the diverse needs of our clients, guaranteeing high-quality results for various printing projects.
3. Can you provide samples of similar projects you've completed?
Of course! We're proud of our work and always happy to provide samples upon request. We like to make ourselves available and accessible to our clients and potential clients. So, we make it easy to get in touch! You can reach out to QinPrinting directly through our website contact form, email, telephone, Skype, or the online chat. Get in touch.
Depending on the product, we can provide physical samples, digital samples, or video samples. Additionally, you can read testimonials from satisfied clients on Trustpilot to get a better understanding of our printing services and customer satisfaction level.
4. What is your pricing structure? Are there any additional fees or charges?
Pricing can vary depending on factors such as the type of printing services required, the quantity of items ordered, the materials used, and any additional customization or finishing options.
So, we provide quotes based on the specifications of the project provided by the client. You can request a quote directly from us by providing details such as the type of printing service needed, the number of items, the size and specifications of the materials, and any additional requirements. We aim to make pricing and quotes as simple and transparent as possible. We have a unique, custom designed online quote engine which you can use to get a price for most projects. Just input the details in the form and it will automatically calculate a price for you.
When requesting a quote, please remember that certain types of proofing, samples, and prototypes may attract small additional fees and that our basic quote doesn't include shipping and handling fees.
To obtain accurate pricing information and details on any additional fees or charges, we recommend reaching out to us directly. We'll then provide you with a personalized no-obligation quote based on your specific printing needs and requirements.
5. What is your typical turnaround time for printing projects?
Turnaround time can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the project, the type of printing service required, the quantity of items ordered, and the current workload we're experiencing.
We aim to provide a competitive turnaround time while guaranteeing that the quality of the printed materials meets our client's expectations. For standard printing projects, turnaround times may range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the factors mentioned above.
When requesting a quote or placing an order with QinPrinting, we encourage you to discuss turnaround time expectations with us upfront. We will be able to provide you with an estimated production timeline based on your specific project requirements. Additionally, if you have a deadline or specific timeframe in mind, make sure to communicate this to your named consultant as soon as possible so we can accommodate your needs accordingly. For urgent or time-sensitive printing projects, expedited or rush services may be available for an additional fee, although we will always try to accommodate your delivery needs without added costs wherever possible.
To get the most accurate information about QinPrinting's typical turnaround time for printing projects, we recommend reaching out to us so we can provide you with a tailored timeframe based on your project specifications and requirements.
6. Do you offer design services or assistance with file preparation?
QinPrinting primarily specializes in printing services and so we do not offer full design services. However, we're always here to help and advise our customers and provide whatever assistance we can with file preparation. On our blog and our support pages we offer a wealth of detailed file preparation guidelines along with video tutorials on our YouTube channel. You can also download ready-made design templates to assist you in preparing your files for printing.
Once you submit your files, our experts will manually check them to make sure they're print-ready. If we find any errors, we'll get in touch, explain what the problems are and help you fix them. This service is standard for all customers.
7. What types of paper or materials do you have available for printing?
QinPrinting offers a comprehensive variety of paper and materials for printing, catering to different needs and preferences. Some common options and popular choices include:
Coated paper: Typically used for high-quality printing, coated paper provides a smooth finish that enhances color reproduction and image sharpness. It may be coated on one side or both.
Uncoated paper: This type of paper has a more natural texture and is often chosen for its tactile appeal. It is commonly used for items like stationery, brochures, and book interiors. It also works great for workbooks, coloring books, and notepads, as it's easy to write and draw on either with pencils, ink, or paint.
Cardstock: A thicker and stiffer paper stock, cardstock is suitable for products like business cards, postcards, invitations, and packaging materials, along with board game components and cards of various kinds.
Recycled paper: For environmentally conscious customers, QinPrinting offer recycled paper options and FSC-certified stocks, which are made from post-consumer waste or come from sustainably managed forestry and contribute to sustainability efforts.
Specialty papers: Depending on the specific requirements of the project, we can also offer specialty papers such as textured paper, metallic paper, holographic paper and specialty finishes like matte, gloss, of soft-touch.
Other materials: In addition to traditional paper options, QinPrinting provides printing on synthetic materials like vinyl, leatherette, and cloth which offer durability and style for a range of products, including book covers, boxes, and slip-cases, for example.
For the most up-to-date information on the paper and material options we currently offer, check out our paper information page which explains all the options and their use cases. You may also be interested in ordering our paper, printing, and finishing sample book. Just ask and we'll send it to you just for the cost of mailing it to your chosen address. Find out more about the samples book and order your copy here: Paper Samples.
8. Can you accommodate special finishes or embellishments (e.g., foil stamping, embossing)?
We do indeed! Our specialty finishes and surface coating options cover everything you could need for your print project. We enjoy keeping up-to-date with the latest techniques alongside our more traditional offerings. The most popular and commonly requested surface finishes and specialty techniques are:
- Varnishing and UV Coating — including matte, gloss, and spot coating options
- Lamination — including matte, gloss, and soft-touch
- Embossing and debossing — which we can also combine with other techniques such as color printing and metal foiling
- Foil stamping — we have a wide range of metallic foils to choose from, including more unusual color choices beyond the basic gold, silver, copper, and bronze options.
- Die Cutting — we use die-cutting in packaging manufacture but can also apply die-cuts to enhance book covers, in pop-up design, and more.
To get more detailed information about our special surface and finishing options, check out our resource page, Surface Options. Examples of all of these options are included in our sample book, too.
9. Do you offer any eco-friendly or sustainable printing options?
QinPrinting is a printing company actively working to make all our operations and products as eco-friendly as possible and to reduce our impact on the environment. We offer recycled and FSC-certified paper and card stock, as well as vegetable-based biodegradable inks. Using these eco-friendly options can provide several benefits:
Environmental sustainability: Using recycled paper and FSC-certified materials reduces the demand for virgin materials and helps preserve forests and natural habitats. It also minimizes the environmental impact associated with paper production, including energy consumption, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Responsible sourcing: FSC certification ensures that the paper and card stock come from responsibly managed forests that meet rigorous environmental, social, and economic standards. This certification promotes biodiversity, protects endangered species, and supports the rights of indigenous communities and forest workers.
Reduced carbon footprint: Choosing recycled materials and eco-friendly inks can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the printing process. Vegetable-based inks are derived from renewable resources and emit fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to traditional petroleum-based inks, leading to lower air pollution and protecting the water supply.
Health and safety: Vegetable-based inks are generally safer to handle and produce fewer harmful emissions during printing, contributing to a healthier work environment for our printing industry workers.
Enhanced brand image: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through eco-friendly printing practices can enhance a company's brand image and reputation, appealing to environmentally conscious customers and stakeholders.
Compliance with regulations: Using FSC-certified materials and environmentally friendly inks may help you to guarantee that your print products comply with environmental regulations and meet the sustainability requirements of other clients and regulatory bodies.
Our policy on recycled and FSC-certified paper and card stock, as well as vegetable-based biodegradable inks, aligns with sustainable business practices and can contribute to environmental conservation efforts while maintaining high-quality printing standards. If you'd like to learn more about this important topic, you can read, How the Print Industry Is Adapting to Meet the Needs of a Sustainable Future.
10. How do you handle quality control during the printing process?
At QinPrinting, we employ various methods and techniques to guarantee quality control throughout the printing process. We have an expert team of quality controllers, all highly trained and enthusiastic. We believe the key to quality control is in active management and point-checking at every stage of design, preparation, printing, and post-production. Our systems include:
- Prepress inspection: Before printing begins, our pre-press technicians inspect digital files for any errors, such as resolution issues, color inconsistencies, or missing fonts. They will also perform “preflight checks” to make sure that the files are formatted correctly for printing.
- Color management: We use color management systems to calibrate and maintain consistent color throughout the printing process. This involves using color profiles, spectrophotometers, and densitometers to measure and adjust color accuracy.
- Press calibration: All our presses are serviced, maintained, and calibrated regularly to guarantee that they are operating within specified tolerances. This calibration process involves adjusting ink density, water levels, and plate alignment to achieve optimal print quality. We leave no stone unturned in our quest for the perfect print every time.
- In-line inspection systems: Our facilities are installed with the latest state-of-the-art machinery — which we constantly upgrade as new and improved versions become available — and are equipped with in-line inspection systems that automatically monitor print quality during production. These systems can detect issues such as ink density variations, registration errors, and missing or smudged text.
- Spot checking: Throughout the printing run, our press operators conduct spot checks to verify print quality and consistency. This also involves inspecting random samples of printed sheets for defects or imperfections. Our machines and automated QC systems are the best money can buy, but we like to keep a human eye on everything, too.
- Color proofing: Before starting the full production run, we typically produce color proofs or mock-ups to verify that the printed output matches your desired specifications. This allows clients to review and approve the print job before it goes into production.
- Post-printing inspection: After printing is complete, quality control personnel inspect the finished products for any defects, such as misprints, color inconsistencies, or physical damage. They also perform finishing checks to ensure that trimming, folding, and binding processes have been completed correctly.
- Customer feedback: Last but not least, we ask our clients. We actively solicit feedback from clients to gauge satisfaction with the finished product and identify areas for improvement. This feedback loop helps ensure that quality standards are consistently met and allows for adjustments to be made as needed.
By implementing these high-level quality control measures, QinPrinting can produce high-quality printed materials that meet or exceed customer expectations. We want you to be more than merely happy with your print products. We want you to be blown away. That's why we take quality control so seriously and go the extra mile to make sure everything's perfect.
11. What are your shipping and delivery options? Do you offer fulfilment services?
We offer both air and sea shipping options. When opting for air shipment, we work with reputable partners such as FedEx and DHL. As for sea shipments, you have two alternatives.
- For shipments exceeding two pallets, we'll arrange sea transportation, handle customs clearance at your local port, and then ensure the goods are delivered via truck after packing them onto pallets.
- If the total weight of your shipment is under 1000 kg, we'll use sea shipping, manage customs clearance at your local port, and arrange delivery through UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, or truck, depending on your location. In cases of delivery, we'll pack your products in master cartons without using pallets.
We can ship your orders to any valid address or split the order and send to multiple addresses as you prefer. We also ship to distribution centers and third-party fulfillment centers, such as an Amazon warehouse, for example, on request. If you need storage and distribution support, talk to us about our facilities and the options we have available. Find out more here.
12. Can you provide references from other publishers or clients you've worked with?
Yes and no. Although several of our clients ask us to sign confidentiality agreements with them, plenty don't and are happy for us to share the project we fulfilled for them for the purposes of advertising and promotion. As for testimonies and reviews, we could curate a carefully selected list to show how amazing we are — we are amazing! — but we believe it's best if those are obviously organic, genuine, and public so that you know you're getting an honest picture. So, we invite you to check out our public reviews on Trustpilot and ask within your professional networks to get feedback, testimonies, and reviews. And we are always willing to answer your questions. Just get in touch. We're always here to help.
Well, that wraps up our little question-and-answer session based on questions publishers ask printers! We hope that was helpful. Still have burning questions you want to ask? Drop them in the comments below and we'll get back to you with an answer just as fast as we can.
