Market & Graphic Agencies

July 7, 2023

Graphic design companies are closely related to the printing business. Graphic design is a fundamental component of the printing process as it involves creating visually appealing and effective designs for various printed materials. Design firms often work closely with printing companies to ensure that their designs are accurately reproduced and printed to meet the desired quality and specifications.

Graphic design companies may collaborate with printing businesses in several ways:

  1. Design Preparation: Design firms create artwork, layouts, and designs that are ready for printing. They ensure that the designs are print-ready, with appropriate file formats, color modes, and resolution, to achieve optimal printing results.
  2. Print Consultation: Design firms may provide guidance and recommendations to clients regarding printing options, materials, and techniques. They help clients make informed decisions about paper selection, finishes, and other print-related considerations.
  3. Print Management: Some design firms offer print management services where they handle the entire printing process on behalf of their clients. They work with printing vendors, oversee production, and ensure the final printed materials meet the desired quality and specifications.
  4. Collaboration with Printers: Design firms collaborate closely with printing companies to achieve the desired print outcomes. They communicate specifications, provide print-ready files, and work together to ensure accurate color reproduction, clarity, and consistency in the final printed materials.

Overall, graphic design and printing businesses have a symbiotic relationship, with design firms relying on printing services to bring their designs to life, and printing companies benefiting from the creative designs provided by design firms. This collaboration ensures that businesses receive visually appealing and professionally printed materials that effectively communicate their messages and enhance their brand image.

So, why not expand into print services?

It can offer graphic design firms and similar businesses several opportunities:

  1. Increased Revenue: By providing print services, design firms can generate additional revenue streams beyond their design fees. They can offer printing as a value-added service and charge clients for the production of the final printed materials.
  2. Complete Solution: Offering print services alongside design allows firms to provide a complete solution to their clients. They can manage the entire process from conceptualizing the design to producing the finished printed products. This streamlines the workflow for clients and ensures a seamless transition from design to print.
  3. Enhanced Client Relationships: Providing print services allows firms to strengthen their relationships with existing clients. By offering an end-to-end solution, they become a trusted partner for all their clients’ design and printing needs. This can lead to long-term partnerships and increased client loyalty.
  4. Competitive Advantage: Offering print services sets design firms apart from competitors who may only provide design services. It positions them as a comprehensive solution provider, giving them a competitive edge in the market and attracting clients who prefer a one-stop-shop for their design and printing needs.

However, it’s important for design firms to assess their capabilities and resources before venturing into print services. They should consider factors such as equipment, print production knowledge, staff expertise, and the ability to handle additional workload. Proper planning and investment in the necessary resources are crucial to ensure successful integration of print services into their existing business model.

PriceCal can empower a graphic design firm start a printing business by providing essential tools and capabilities for pricing, order management, and automation. By leveraging PriceCal’s features and functionalities, a graphic design firm can effectively venture into the printing business with confidence, streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and providing a seamless customer experience from design to print.

Moving forward…

  1. Explore the full functionality of PriceCal by visiting our Online Demo Store
  2. If you have any pre-sale questions, our team is here to assist you.

With PriceCal, your graphic design firm is equipped to thrive and excel in the dynamic realm of online printing.

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API

SC-Sheet calculates printing costs by determining the number of large sheets required based on material, size, printing method, and quantity.

For example, if a customer orders 1,000 business cards (89mm x 54mm), SC-Sheet calculates how many fit on a standard sheet, the total sheets needed, and the printing cost. Additional finishing like lamination or diecut is factored in separately, ensuring precise pricing while optimizing material usage and profitability.

What products are best suited for API?

Click on the products below to see API in action!

SC-Sheet

SC-Sheet calculates printing costs by determining the number of large sheets required based on material, size, printing method, and quantity.

For example, if a customer orders 1,000 business cards (89mm x 54mm), SC-Sheet calculates how many fit on a standard sheet, the total sheets needed, and the printing cost. Additional finishing like lamination or diecut is factored in separately, ensuring precise pricing while optimizing material usage and profitability.

What products are best suited for SC-Sheet?

Click on the products below to see SC-Sheet in action!

CSV

CSV is the most flexible way to manage and price products with fixed options or variations that don’t require dynamic calculations. Ideal for products with pre-set combinations of attributes like size, material, finish, and quantity, CSV enables
printers to create custom pricing tables in Excel (CSV format). Once the table is computed, simply upload it into PriceCal, and our Price Calculator will convert it into a systematic selection, generating the price based on the chosen options.

For instance, when calculating the price for a roll-up standee, printers can set up variables like type (e.g., Standard, Deluxe), size (Small, Medium, Large), print method (Digital, Offset), and quantity (e.g., 1, 5, 10). These variables are then organized in a CSV file, and upon upload, the system will automatically generate the correct pricing based on the selected options.

What products are best suited for CSV?

Click on the products below to see CSV in action!

  • Banners (Size, Material, Print Method, Quantity)
  • Packaging Boxes (Type, Size, Printing Method, Finishing)
  • Signage (Material, Size, Print Method, Quantity)
  • Stationery (Size, Material, Print Method, Quantity)
  • Promotional Products (Type, Design, Print Location, Quantity)

SC-Packaging

SC-Packaging is designed to handle pricing for packaging products such as boxes and cartons by calculating costs based on material, size, and finishing components. Through our strategic partnership with Pacdora, printers gain access
to a wide variety of box models, including double tuck boxes, auto-lock boxes, mailer boxes, and more.

This tool works similarly to SC-Sheet by calculating the open size of the selected box model and using the input dimensions to determine material usage, printing costs, and additional finishing. Components like gluing, die-cutting, and assembly costs can be seamlessly factored into the pricing

For example, if a customer orders 2,000 auto-lock boxes measuring 200mm x 150mm x 100mm, SC-Packaging will generate the total material required based on the box’s flat layout, calculate the printing and die-cutting costs, and include any finishing or assembly charges.

Exciting Benefits from Our Pacdora Partnership

Thanks to this collaboration, printers can now:

✅ Retrieve dielines instantly upon customer order.

✅ Offer customers access to Pacdora’s design studio to create and edit packaging
artwork effortlessly.

What products are best suited for SC-Packaging?

Click on the products below to see SC-Packaging in action!

SC-Item

SC-Item is designed for pricing single-item print customization, making it ideal for products like apparel, drinkware, and promotional merchandise. Unlike other pricing tools, SC-Item allows for flexible order quantities across different variations, such as sizes, colors, and print locations.

For example, in t-shirt printing, customers can choose to print on the front, back, or sleeves and place an order with specific quantity breakdowns—20 Large, 10 Small, 15 Medium, etc. SC-Item calculates the cost based on the print locations, total quantity, and any additional customization options like embroidery, heat transfer, or DTF printing.

What products are best suited for SC-Item?

Click on the products below to see SC-Item in action!

SC-Booklet

SC-Booklet is designed to generate precise pricing for multi-page products like booklets, catalogs, and magazines by calculating the material cost, printing method, and binding requirements. It determines the number of sheets required to fulfill an order based on the total number of pages, paper type, and sheet size. Additionally, SC-Booklet supports various binding methods, including saddle stitching and perfect binding, ensuring flexibility in product customization.

For example, if a customer orders 500 copies of a 32-page booklet, SC-Booklet calculates the number of large sheets needed based on the imposition layout. If the inner pages are printed on 150gsm matte paper and the cover on 300gsm glossy
paper, it determines how many sheets of each material are required and factors in the printing and finishing costs accordingly. The system also accommodates add-ons like spot UV, lamination, and special finishes.

What products are best suited for SC-Booklet?

Click on the products below to see SC-Booklet in action!

  • Corporate brochures
  • Annual reports
  • Event programs
  • Product catalogs
  • Training manuals
  • Magazines
  • Cookbooks
  • Portfolios
  • School yearbooks
  • Art books

SC-Area

SC-Area calculates printing costs based on the total print area (sq ft). When a user enters the length and width of the final print, SC-Area determines the total printable area and generates the cost accordingly. It also factors in additional finishing based on the perimeter, making it ideal for products that require eyelets, frames, or poles.

For example, if a customer orders a banner measuring 10ft x 3ft, SC-Area will calculate the total print area (30 sq ft) and generate the cost. If finishing options like eyelets every 2ft or a poles are added, SC-Area factors in these costs based on the perimeter. This tool is perfect for large-format prints such as banners, buntings, billboards, and signage, ensuring accurate pricing and seamless cost calculation.

What products are best suited for SC-Area?

Click on the products below to see SC-Area in action!

  • Magnetic signs
  • Metal / Aluminum signs
  • Die-cut stickers (large format)
  • PVC boards (Forex board prints)
  • Corflute / Corrugated plastic signs
  • Canvas prints
  • Tension fabric displays
  • Construction site signage
  • Directional & wayfinding signs
  • Table covers & table runners
  • Street pole banners
  • Retail window clings
  • Estate agent boards
  • Event standees & cutouts
  • Door signs & nameplates

PriceCal bags Best eCommerce Fulfilment Award 2023

PriceCal, conceptualized and brought to life by Welson and his dynamic team, emerged from a vision to revolutionize the print industry's approach to online sales....