Although each of our projects are unique in their production and process, they all follow the same general workflow. We’ve provided some helpful hints for getting started as well as a step-by-step guide to our production process below.
Getting Started
Gather Inspiration
If this is your first time making a book, congrats you are on an exciting journey! We recommend spending time with physical books to get a sense of the object you want to make, this will help inspire your project and inform your production decisions. If possible, visit bookshops and libraries, attend a book fair, or purchase artist books online (directly from the publisher, ideally) to find projects similar to what you want to make—from materials, cover design, production details, and price point.
Sample Materials
Choosing the materials for your project is one of the most exciting parts of the process, the paper stock, cover material, binding style, and other seemingly small details, all play into the overall feeling of the project and message to the audience. Check out our materials page for samples!
Find the Right Fit
Finding the right printer can make all the difference in the experience and outcome of your project. The following list outlines our capabilities and what makes us unique as a printer, if the following criteria applies to your project, then we’re a fit!
Print Quality
We produce all types of books, but those with concern for the quality of their image reproductions are especially fitting. As artists and makers, we understand the importance of quality printing and craftsmanship. We work closely with our clients and provide one complimentary printed proof with each project to ensure there are no surprises in the final print. We also provide a duotone process for black-and-white image reproductions.
Small Editions
We specialize in print runs ranging from 5 to 500. Economically, it makes sense to print digital offset when smaller editions. We also work with clients to produce editions in batches, so if you aren’t ready to commit to 500 copies, we can produce in batches of 100 at a time. If you are looking to produce anything more than 1000 copies, we recommend using an offset printer.
Custom Materials
We stock a wide variety of interior paper stocks in-house and also work with different vendors for custom materials. We are happy to experiment with form and material to help bring out the unique characteristics of your project.
Turnaround Time
Please allow 3–4 weeks (paperback) and 6–8 weeks (hardcover) for the proofing, printing, and binding of your books. We find that rushing the process often results in compromising the production quality. If you want to experiment with materials or binding processes, please allow extra time for prototyping. If necessary, we can expedite certain projects with applicable rush fees.
InDesign Knowledge
Since all of our books are custom to order, we do not have a preset template. We accept high-resolution PDFs or packaged InDesign files (if printing duotone or hiring us for prepress work). We provide step-by-step instructions on our Tech Specs page to help you through the process. If you are a complete novice with InDesign, we recommend connecting with a book designer!
Our Production Workflow
Price Your Project
The first step for every project produced with Conveyor Studio is to fill out an Estimate Request Form. Depending on the complexity of the project, we will respond with a quote in 1–3 business days. If the estimate doesn’t fit your budget, don’t worry, we are happy to discuss solutions to bring the project scope into your price point.
Prep Your Files
Once the project estimate fits your budget, it’s time to prepare your files for the proofing process. Please review our Tech Specs to ensure your files are correctly formatted for our press.
If you have any questions regarding the process contact us via email, we are happy to help! We are also available for hire for prepress work at an hourly rate.
Proof Your Project
We offer one complimentary printed proof with each project. After purchasing a Printed Proof, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to our Proof Upload Form.
Once your files are submitted, please allow 1–2 business days for our team to review the files and confirm that they are ready for press. Allow 7-10 business days from file upload to delivery.
When you receive your proof, review it carefully. If you need to make significant changes to the files, we highly recommend repeating the proofing process until you are happy with the result and ready to print the full edition.
Go To Press
Fill out the Final Order Form. Here, you will enter the estimate number, confirm your shipping address, and upload updated files if needed. Please allow 1–3 business days for our team to review the files and confirm that they are correctly formatted and ready for press. From there, we will send you a final invoice that reflects any updates in the production specs.
Payment is required to begin production on all projects. By making a deposit, you agree to our Production Terms. Please read carefully, as there is also important information about the process in detail. Once the deposit is made, the project will be scheduled for press and you will receive an email with an estimated completion date as well as a follow up email when the project is ready to ship.
Please allow 10–14 business days for paperback books and 4–8 weeks for hardcover books. If you have custom components or materials, timeline is subject to their availability from our vendors. If you want to experiment with materials or binding process, please allow extra time for prototyping. When necessary, we can expedite projects with applicable rush fees.