Hey, folks. I'm nearing the end of a project and I'm realizing I have no clue which printers are any good anymore. The last "who's a good printer" thread was over a year ago. Can anyone who has published a book recently help me out with a recommendation?

The particular project I'm working on is digest sized, saddle stitched (probably), color cover and B+W interior. Probably around 36 pages or so. I'd love to get the costs under about $1.50 a book or so.

Ron, who did you use for Sw/M? I like that book.

yrs--
--Ben

Hi Ben,

I stayed with Publishers Graphics after doing some searching around for alternatives last year. They did a good job of busting out multiple titles for me this past January. I haven't really made any rigorous comparison, but the illustrations and text in the books they do always seem crisp and clean to me. I did find some companies that looked pretty good, like United Graphics, and I might try them on a project to see how it goes.

Best, Ron

I've used 360 Digital for my recent printing needs, and they've been fantastic on service and price.

Hey Nathan,

Do you use their fulfillment service? Publishers Graphics has a service like that now, but I haven't used it, staying with the more ordinary but occasionally aggravating 100-book runs.

Best, Ron

I don't use their fulfillment service, no. I still fulfill direct and via IPR.

Hey Ben,

For reference and comparison, S/Lay w/Me was $1.13 per book for the last print run. That's a black-and-white cover and a few less pages than what you describe, so I doubt you'd get that low a bid from the printer I used. Could they get it under $1.50, though? I don't know.

Best, Ron

Ron: That is mighty tantalizing. We'll see what the quote says.

yrs--
--Ben

I've used 360digitalbooks.com for Blowback and everything since, and they are fantastic, fantastic, fantastic. Incredibly low prices, especially on color, and they don't skimp on the quality. I can't recommend them enough.

I'll second Publisher's Graphics. Once files are uploaded and you've had your first samples, it's easy to reorder. They are slow, reasonably priced and reliable.