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Portfolio Printing
At QinPrinting, we specialize in professional custom portfolio printing for photography, design, illustration, window displays, fashion, architecture, and more. These high-end projects require precise color control, premium materials, and cover surface treatments that complement each creative vision. With over 25 years of offset printing expertise, we’ve consistently delivered impressive results and earned our clients’ trust. Let’s start your professional custom portfolio book—save over 40%!
Portfolio Printing Instant Quote
Custom Sizes
What size you choose to print your portfolio depends a lot on the photographs or art reproductions you include, the number of images, the text, layout and orientation, and so on. A landscape-oriented portfolio, say, of full-color art photography will be larger than a portfolio made for a boutique artisan jeweler which you’d expect to have a smaller, more intimate format suggestive of the qualities of handmade crafts.
- Common sizes for many of the portfolios we print are 8.5″ by 11″, 5.5″ by 8.5″, 148 mm x 210 mm, 6″ by 9″ and 9″ by 6″.
Smaller sizes are a good idea if you need to mail out a lot of copies. Larger sizes make a stronger impression. But you’re not limited to the suggestions above by any means. At QinPrinting, we specialize in creating totally individual, unique, custom portfolios in any size or format that’s right for your work and aims.
Portfolio Paper Options
While most portfolios contain both images and text, the trend in contemporary design is toward more photography and less text. In most cases, you’ll need to pick a paper that gives sharp photo reproduction and clear text. We recommend gloss or matte text paper for vibrant, faithful color, perfect contrast, and fine detail. If you want an eco-friendly, natural look and a writing-friendly surface, consider uncoated paper for your portfolio.
Cover Paper
- 200 gsm / 74 lb gloss cover paper
- 250 gsm / 92 lb gloss cover paper
- 300 gsm / 111 lb gloss cover paper
- 350 gsm / 129 lb gloss cover paper
- 200 gsm / 74 lb matte cover paper
- 250 gsm / 92 lb matte cover paper
- 300 gsm / 111 lb matte cover paper
Interior Paper
- 105 gsm / 71 lb coated text paper
- 128 gsm / 86 lb coated text paper
- 157 gsm / 106 lb coated text paper
- 200 gsm / 135 lb coated text paper
Hardcover Paper
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 2 mm grey board
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 2.5 mm grey board
- 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper wrapped on 3 mm grey board
- Other paper, vinyl, or leatherette wrapped on grayboard
Bindings
While we’ll make your portfolio to any specifications you choose, any shape and size you like, the choice of binding matters, too, because it alters the appearance and durability of your finished product. Let’s introduce the most common, professional-looking options. You can open all the following bindings flat.
We use this binding style for standard paperback portfolios. We collate the interior pages into a block, glued together, and then glued into a wrap-around cover made of heavier art paper or lightweight card stock. For portfolios with a higher page count, this is a great option.
We use this binding style for a lot of portfolios we print. We collate the interior pages into sets called signatures, which are then sewn together and fixed into a wrap-around cover made of heavier art paper or lightweight card stock. For portfolios with a moderate page count that needs to lay flat, this is a great option.
To saddle stitch your portfolio, we fold the printed interior sheets and stack them inside the cover sheet before stapling them together down the curved edge. Saddle stitch is only possible with a page count divisible by four, up to a maximum of 64 pages. But to make sure the catalog is neat and lies flat, we recommend a limit of 48 pages or fewer for this style of binding.
This binding is another popular choice for portfolios destined to “do the rounds” of potential clients, for its practicality and flexibility. We punch or drill holes into the pages down one side and then bind them with a plastic coil which spirals through the holes. We crimp the coil at both ends so the pages don’t come loose. You can turn the pages of a spiral-bound book through 360° and also lay the open portfolio completely flat. We can laminate the pages to make them extra-resistant to UV light.
In this binding, we organize the interior pages into signatures which are then printed, cut, and sewn, and glued into a hard casing covered by a printed sheet which forms the cover. This binding is the most durable and high-end, especially if you add a dust jacket, end sheet papers, and a marker ribbon, for example.
Whichever binding style you choose, we like to make it easy for you to design your portfolio. So, you can use one of our ready-made design templates if you like. And please ask us for paper samples. We’ll be happy to send them to you in the mail at no extra charge.
Why Choose QinPrinting to Print Your Portfolio
QinPrinting offers affordable, high-quality printing with custom options and expert support for your portfolio.
High-Quality Printing
25+ years of experience ensuring vibrant, detailed prints.
Exceptional Customer Support
Friendly and professional assistance throughout the process.
Affordable Pricing
High-quality results at competitive prices.
Custom Options
Choose from various paper stocks, finishes, and sizes.
QinPrinting Rated Excellent for Portfolio Printing
From start to finish, Jane was incredibly informative and helpful.
Also great communication.
My books arrived, and are beautiful!
Jane was prompt and had GREAT attention to detail were exceptional. Most of my emails were answered within 24 hours, and Jane went above and beyond by sending pictures, samples, and clear explanations to help me understand all the technical aspects of book printing. She even reviewed my proofs thoroughly and pointed out a few important adjustments I needed to make to my PDF files.
Shipping was faster than expected, and when I compared the final copies from Qin Printing with those from IngramSpark, Qin’s quality was far superior. The materials looked more polished; paper is higher quality, and the print was crisper. Each book was carefully wrapped.
I ended up saving 75% of my printing budget, and communicating in English was no issue at all. It felt like Jane cared about the project as much as I did. I can’t recommend her and Qin Printing enough. Thank you so much for helping bring my book to life!
FAQs
You can get an insight into the cost of printing a custom portfolio from our at-a-glance price charts.
Paperback Portfolio Printing Price Chart (8.5″ x 11″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96pp + 4pp | $7.53 each $753 total | $2.17 each $1,083 total | $1.41 each $1,410 total | $1.08 each $2,158 total | $0.92 each $4,579 total | $0.86 each $8,583 total |
| 160pp + 4pp | $11.68 each $1,168 total | $3.42 each $1,712 total | $2.24 each $2,237 total | $1.73 each $3,454 total | $1.45 each $7,268 total | $1.37 each $13,712 total |
| 240pp + 4pp | $16.85 each $1,685 total | $5.00 each $2,499 total | $3.29 each $3,292 total | $2.53 each $5,066 total | $2.13 each $10,650 total | $2.01 each $20,131 total |
- Cover: 250 gsm / 92 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination
- Interior: 128 gsm / 87 lb coated text paper, full color printing
- Please note that all prices are EXW our facility and do not include shipping costs.
Hardcover Portfolio Printing Price Chart (8.5″ x 11″)
| Quantity | 100pcs | 500pcs | 1000pcs | 2000pcs | 5000pcs | 10000pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64pp | $9.85 each $985 total | $2.78 each $1,388 total | $2.05 each $2,047 total | $1.75 each $3,503 total | $1.52 each $7,603 total | $1.46 each $14,569 total |
| 96pp | $12.67 each $1,267 total | $3.57 each $1,787 total | $2.59 each $2,589 total | $2.15 each $4,295 total | $1.81 each $9,061 total | $1.73 each $17,342 total |
| 128pp | $15.49 each $1,549 total | $4.38 each $2,191 total | $3.11 each $3,105 total | $2.53 each $5,062 total | $2.10 each $10,518 total | $2.01 each $20,114 total |
- Cover: 157 gsm / 58 lb coated cover paper with matte lamination wrapped on 2.5 mm thickness greybeard
- Inner: 157 gsm / 106 lb coated text paper
- Please note that all prices are EXW our facility and do not include shipping costs.
No. Website images are generally low resolution. For high-quality portfolio printing, images or photos should be at least 300 dpi to ensure clear, crisp results.
Feel free to share your artwork with us through email, Sprend, or WeTransfer to [email protected]. Or send us a share link via Dropbox or Google Drive.
For printing purposes, we require artwork in high-resolution PDF format, which includes 0.125 inches / 3 mm bleed.
Offset printing uses the CMYK color space.
You can get acquainted with our quality, products, and paper stocks by ordering a sample pack from here.
Let's Talk!
If you’re an independent creative professional or work for an agency or corporation and you want to print a gorgeous portfolio of unparalleled beauty and at an astonishingly accessible price, we should talk. Get in touch today to chat through your needs or to ask for a no-obligation quote. We can’t wait to help you make your portfolio a masterpiece!
