Print Methods
Digital Printing - "Digital printing technology excels at producing on demand and short print runs quickly and cost-effectively. Digital printing is also an ideal platform for personalisation. If you want to easily modify images and messages using variable data printing (VDP), then digital printing is the only way to go. With advancements in print quality and speed, digital printing’s previous disadvantages are quickly disappearing, and digital printing machines are closing the gap on offset output."
Screen Printing - "When it comes to screen printing, one of the major benefits is that it’s a really effective solution for bulk printing as its extremely cost-efficient. However, One of the main disadvantages of screen printing is that it has a much higher initial setup cost than digital printing and takes more time."
Print on Demand?
To truly create a better outcome than before, I feel it is essential to print this publication through high quality means, and the only way I could see this happening (given the current climate) is to use online services. I decided the best way to do this would be to look back at some previous print on demand services I had used for past projects/publications, and look at their strengths and weaknesses, see what worked and what didn't. Basically review them.
Mixam
I have fair bit of experience using Mixam's print on demand service. I've used them for a College publication (Mono Magazine) and University publication (Century). Both results were produced to that of a high material quality and print quality was good. With my second time using Mixam I did notice there were some issues with the curling of the paper - this was something I was concerned about as it seemed to happen whenever it was taken out of its plastic packaging.
Overall, I think they produce a high end product at a reasonable cost (around £30 - £50). However, because these are small runs, there is a lack of care on their end I believe.
Newspaper Club
I used Newspaper Club's print on demand service for a project last year, where I re-published H.G. Wells 'The First Men in the Moon'. The results from using a service that specialises in a specific print process for a publication that was intended for this meant I achieved a perfect print. The end result felt and looked like a newspaper, I achieved the end result because I used a company that specialises in what I was trying to achieve.
Overall, I feel that Newspaper Club is 100% the wrong choice for my publication, because i'm making a magazine. Looking back at this, has helped me to realise I need to look for a print on demand service that has experience, knowledge, interest and successful results at printing magazines.