Printing: Multiple Copies

You can easily print single copies of your drawing using your desktop printer. For larger quantities (tens, hundreds or even thousands of copies) you have to decide on the most efficient way of printing.

How many copies?

This is the most important consideration. Some processes are only cost effective for a few copies. Others involve origination and setup costs so are economic only for printing 500 or more copies.

Note: this advice is based on our experience and knowledge. Conditions in your locality may be different from ours and so this advice might not necessarily apply to you. Also some technologies, such as digital printing, are evolving rapidly and so may become economic for larger or smaller jobs than at present.

What are the choices?

For printing a few copies: Depending on the speed of your desktop printer you might be able to print multiple copies on your printer.

For tens of copies: Probably the best option is photocopying. This gives good results especially for black and white copies. Print out a single copy (the ‘master’ or ‘original’) on your desktop printer and take the printout to your local copy bureau.

Of course this isn’t possible if your desktop printer is black-and-white and you want a color original. You need to find someone who can produce a color printout of your document. Ask the copy bureau (they may know a local company who can do it). A service bureau
may also be able to help but this could be expensive.

For hundreds or thousands of copies: For large numbers of copies you have to use a print shop who will have the necessary equipment to handle your job economically. Some advice: when you have decided which print shop to use, give them details about the job. They know their equipment and know any special requirements.

There are currently two main options for printing in volume: digital printing and litho printing. There are other specialized processes, such as screen-printing, which are not covered here. If you are preparing work for these processes, you should talk to the print shop who will be doing the work.

At present digital printing is economic for a few hundred copies. There are relatively few print shops who can offer this process. Generally the print shop will require your document in electronic form (for example, floppy disk or SyQuest). The print shop can give you details relevant to their particular system.

Litho printing is probably the most common volume printing process in most countries. There are probably several print shops with litho presses near you. In some cases you can just give them your Xara LX document in electronic form and they do everything else. Usually though you have to supply them with a printout of your document. For simple work, a printout from your desktop printer may be suitable. More complex jobs require the printout on photographic paper or film.

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Printing