Looking to print short run (5) perfect bound 6x9

Printing and Prepress
#1

Hi everyone. I haven’t been here in quite a while. (Last time when I was here, the virtual graphic designers who can design stuff in 1 second were not even existent yet… yes, it’s been that long of a time since I was here.)

I wouldn’t normally seek for answers here, but I ended up here because apparently what I’m looking for is not widely available in the US, and it’s my first time doing too. I am printing around 20 different self-promo books at very limited amounts – only 5 of each for the beginning. Of course one set will be kept for my own portfolio, while the rest will be given as gifts to my relatives, and also for reviewers.

Due to my requirement for a short run only, my selection of companies immediately got reduced because not many places print short runs. Okay, but that’s not the end. I searched online for 3-D gloss, varnish, and embossing in addition to the short run, and at this point I’ve found only one company, and I haven’t been contacted back by several others that I contacted (because I guess I am a weird case).

Ideally, I plan to do 4 runs for each of the covers. Correct me if I am wrong here. Is this how it’s done?:

  1. color-printing
  2. 3-d gloss for the title
  3. embossing for the title
  4. varnish for everything outside of the title

Yes, I am looking for something that stands out. Unfortunately, I am guessing that the cost for the embossing would be astronomical, and I may have to surrender and not do it. The idea for the varnish background + 3-D gloss for the title gives more contrast, so I want to keep that… But again, I may also give up on the varnish if it’s too expensive, and I will end up with just 2 runs: the color printing and the 3-D gloss for the title (on the cover and on the spine maybe). Is 3-D gloss title better on smooth finish cover, or is it better on dull (non-reflective) cover paper?

I am located in the East coast, and so far I found a company in the West coast that has all the checkmarks. I don’t want to post it here because it’d be considered spam.

Keep in mind that this is my first time book-printing. A while ago I did a large quantity magazine printing, and to reduce the cost I manually enhanced each magazine with additives such as objects and foldouts. But the manual enhancing will definitely not work with the embossing, varnishing, and the 3-D gloss.

Does anyone have suggestions for me? Am I looking for an avalanche of a large bill?

#2

How do you want to bind the book? Saddle stitch, case bound, double loop wire binding, something else?

No matter what, this is going to be expensive. So be prepared to either buck up and pay for what you want or pare back your expectations.

I’ve been doing this a long time and have not run into the 3-D gloss term before. What is the advantage of doing 3-D gloss varnish and embossing on the title? Wouldn’t one be enough?

There are plenty of print companies that have digital presses that can print a short run — the question is going to be what sort of varnish capabilities they have in combination with the digital press. There is one printer in my area (Midwest U.S.A.) that runs an HP Indigo 7K press. They do “digital embossing” by utilizing 250 hits of ink to create the effect. No idea what something like that costs, but at least it’s out there.

Bottom line, I don’t think any of us here will have a magic wand that will produce what you’re looking for without shelling out some serious money.

#3

So, since it’s digital (and maybe more sophisticated than the older printers), they don’t have to do a separate plate for the embossing I guess? Send me the contact for them in PM, and I will tell them that you referred them to me. And if it works out with them, you should ask them for a discount if you do services with them.

The Embossing – pops up the title of the book.
The 3-D gloss – creates extra special glare of the title.
When both are combined – it starts looking like the expensive books you see on the shelves of the bookstores.

I have actually seen the 3-D gloss, you can check it out on the web. It looks like a 1mm of glossy superglue on the top of the paper.

The books are soft cover perfect-bound. What does it mean high cost? Let’s say a color run on glossy paper is $50 per book, is it going to be $500 per book if the book (looked like something you see in a bookstore with embossing)?

#4

Google Search’s AI feature can be useful. For example…

Are there national short-run printers that print and bind booklets and are also capable of digital embossing, media coatings, and varnishes?

Several national printers specialize in short-run booklets that utilize digital “haptic” effects—such as digital embossing, tactile varnish, and spot UV—which mimic traditional embossing without the need for physical dies.

National Short-Run Specialist Printers

  • Bookmobile
    • Capabilities: A premier choice for short runs (starting at 25 copies), Bookmobile is unique in offering both traditional embossing/debossing and advanced digital options.
    • Binding: They handle perfect binding, hardcovers, and French flaps for short-run projects.
  • Alexander’s
    • Capabilities: This “Web to Print” expert uses 100% digital technology to provide digital foil and spot varnish with varying thicknesses to create tangible depth.
    • Specialty: Ideal for prototypes and one-off pieces, they can personalize every single piece in a short run with unique varnish effects.
  • Aura Print
    • Capabilities: Offers fine finishing for booklets as small as 50 copies, including custom shapes and specialized tactile finishes.
    • Varnish: Known for high-impact visual and tactile covers that increase perceived value.
  • Gorham Printing
    • Capabilities: Focuses on custom short-run book printing (25 to 5,000 copies) with a heavy emphasis on personalization and specialized craftsmanship.
    • Quality: They are highly rated for indie authors and small businesses requiring bookstore-quality finishes.

Technology to Look For

When contacting printers, asking for these specific machine-based finishes will help you find those capable of “digital embossing” (also called 3D spot UV):

  • Scodix Ultra

: A digital enhancement press that adds raised textures, gloss, and 3D effects like “Scodix Sense”.

  • MGI JETvarnish 3D

: Allows for digital embossing from 3 microns up to 232 microns thick, perfect for booklets and brochures.

Other Short-Run National Options

  • Lightning Press: Specializes in quantities of 10–2,000 with professional Saddle Stapling and Perfect Binding.
  • Total Printing Systems: Provides ultra short-run digital printing and a full house bindery for case binding and PUR binding.
  • GreenerPrinter: Offers fully customizable short-run booklets with various high-quality finishes using sustainable materials.

Are you looking for a specific binding style (like Lay-flat or Case Bound) to go along with your embossed cover?

#5

Thanks Just B, I focused on 3 of them that may allow 5 copies per book.

I am looking for Perfect bound; yet when I see some images on the web, I don’t like it how some of them seem to have vertical grip marks on the cover.

As far as me asking them if they have this or that machine, I will probably leave it to their expertise to decide. If I have two vendors who are giving me a quote, I am not knowledgeable enough to turn down one of them on the basis of what machine they are using; and I’ll trust that the cheaper option will not give me a worse quality work.

But in the future if the digital press technology goes super small in size – where I can actually fit a printer in a home room, and the cost is affordable, I may actually make myself a big gift by getting one of them so that I can print my own artworks, posters, and magazines with customizable features for varnish, gloss, embossing, foil, etc.

#6

3 days later none of the ones that offer 5 copies per book has replied to my emails; it’s either bad customer service… or I am just a weird case that doesn’t need to be responded to.

I’ll actually take the advice for the digital presses and search on the web for the printers that have those machines.

#7

They probably get hundreds of emails a day, and some will inevitably end up in spam or never reach the right person.

It’s only been three days, I’d follow up with phone calls. Ask if your email was received and if you can speak directly with a salesperson. If they can’t do what you need, ask whether they know another printer who can. A good sales rep will usually try to help or at least point you in the right direction.

You might also have better luck going through a print procurement agency or a design/print studio that offers print as an add-on service. Many larger agencies and logistics companies have print procurement arms with established relationships and buying power across multiple vendors. They’ll take a cut, but they often get trade pricing, so the final cost can actually be lower than going direct as an individual.

For very short runs, another option is that they may be able to gang your job onto the end of a larger run to hit the minimum quantities.

That said, be aware that many vendors have minimums, 5 copies may simply be too low, and you might need to accept 20 or 50. If that happens, you could bundle variants together (e.g. 10 titles x 5 copies = 50, or 4 titles x 5 copies = 20) to make the numbers work.

Overall, I think a print procurement agency gives you the best chance of getting this done without paying a truly eye-watering premium.

I’m not sure these are East Coast or not - I’m not in America but Googled some

Email today - then call tomorrow if you haven’t heard back.

Chances are they’ll now someone who does do it, if they don’t do it themselves.

#8

As you want suggestions, have you ever think in the future to make an e-book ? May be in PDF format ?

#9

Smurf2,
I looked through them. These procurement companies specialize in large businesses: how large businesses can reduce costs for their printing needs, plus outsourcing the printing to be outside of US. Even if I start to look up printers in Asia myself and find a place that can do custom work, the issue is that the shipping may complicate things.

#10

mluxgd,
I always have PDFs of my work and they will always be free for readers because the files don’t require printing costs, plus my work is more or less social activism and I am not trying to profit out of it. The hard copies of my books I will be using as a background for my podcasts; and I will also send them to reviewers and publishers; and I will also use them as a submition portfolio to try to enroll in a Phd program at university. But why do I want elaborate-looking covers instead of just regular looking? Because I am jealous of how good some of the books at the bookstores and the libraries look.

1 Like
#11

Well I wasn’t saying you have to use them, but contact them, they’ll know people, that can accommodate you. Email and a call cost relatively nothing.

I did get printing done in Singapore before, but the shipment had to be done by sea (air fare was too high) and there was a 3month delay due to shipping and handling from port to port.

But you have relatively small quantities so you could be alright with an airfare.

That being said - keep looking at Print Procurement companies, that will be more helpful than contacting print vendors directly.

Usually print vendors will shy away from small runs (no value in it for them and much bigger fish to fry). But procurement places have relationships with them and will often do a few on off ‘favours’.

Good luck with it.