In a perfect world, DIY printing would not only look like it was professionally crafted, but you would be able to do it on the cheap.   Whether you’re printing your business cards, flyers or brochures, if it looks unprofessional, your pieces can actually cost you money in the end.  The question to really ask yourself isn’t how you can print affordable, professional looking pieces on your own, but why those pieces look like they came from “loving hands at home.”

Professional Printing vs. Home Printing

There are several reasons why printing on your inkjet or even laser printer won’t yield the same results as a professionally printed piece:

1.  What you see is what you get. Home printers, even quality ones, just can’t produce the sharp images that professional printers can achieve.  They are also limited in the color spectrum.  While you may be okay with settling for a maroon or teal that’s not quite the hue you intended because your inkjet just couldn’t produce it, you’re doing so at a sacrifice.  (See our post about the Psychology of Color.)  Also, the quality of the ink in those little cartridges don’t keep their brilliance as long as what your printer will use.  If you’re looking to produce something that catches your consumer’s eye and have some longevity, printing via your home printer is probably not the way to go.

2.  It’s marginalized. Let’s face it, your printer simply cannot print a piece without having that annoying white border around your content.  And it’s a dead giveaway that your printing press is likely sitting on the corner of your desk.  Professional printers have the machinery and capability to print full bleeds (where the ink goes to the far edges of the paper) and your home printer does not.

3.  Size matters.  Want to print a marketing piece on anything larger than an 8.5×11 piece of paper?  How about glossy?  Thick card stock?  Even more, ever try printing multiple pieces and seeing the consistency of the ink vary or smudge?  Professional printers can print on virtually any kind and any size of paper or material and without all of the flaws that are inherent with home printers.

The Cost of Home Printing

Sure, it seems like you would save a bundle by purchasing a ream of paper at Office Max and a couple of ink cartridges to print off a few hundred pieces, but the fact is professional printing won’t cost you an arm and leg. Quantity is a price reducer when it comes professional printing; whereas it’s not necessarily the case when you use your personal printer because you aren’t buying your supplies in bulk.  You’ll get far more bang for your buck when you have a professional printer print your pieces, both in price and quality.

Professional Printers Are Professionals

Printers aren’t in business to do a job you can do yourself.  They have expertise that goes far beyond the average printing press.  They can see little bits of detail you can’t and based on experience, they can tell you what works and what can work better.  (See our latest case study where we actually saved Xona Resort Suites money on their collateral while producing high quality, durable pieces.)  While I am adept at repairing a small patch in my wall, I’m certainly not going to get out a ladder and replace my roof.  Printing may seem like an easy DIY project, but there’s a lot more to it that slapping some ink on a piece of paper  - it’s your marketing piece and something that helps connect your business and your brand to your consumer and ultimately entices them to buy.

Isn’t that worth the paper it’s printed on?

For more information on how Greenway Print Solutions can transform your ordinary collateral into something extraordinary, contact us today.