Essentially, print on demand is exactly what the name suggests – the ability to print any project, whether a book, a flyer or a wedding invitation. It is a form of printing technology that allows one item at a time to be printed so that you are not bound to print hundreds of copies.
It has only been around since digital printing became the norm in the printing world but it has revolutionized the way in which many print companies work as well as the opportunities that are valuable for authors today, as it gives them the option to print just a few books and not get stuck with extra copies.
The best thing is that no matter what the size of the project, the writer remains in control of their own work. This cuts the costs for publishers and individuals alike. Furthermore, it’s a huge benefit for a printing business to offer this service as the customer can make any change and send to print without leaving their home.
This software works on-line, so a client can simply log-in from home, even at 2 in the morning and make changes, load graphics and images, and change text. Only after the final approval, the client can send the project to print, from 1 copy of a book for his family, to 200 copies of a wedding invitation.
Print on demand is available without the added fees that used to come with smaller print orders. It also reduces paper waste resulting from unused copies, making the practice better for the environment as well.
Other benefits of on-demand printing are the lack of storage costs for warehousing large volumes of printed items and the flexibility of adding updates or changes to print-on-demand projects. This technology helps eliminating any extra costs of having unsold and outdated inventory recycled or destroyed.