What you can make · Paper & print
Book, zine & card printing
Paperbacks, hardcovers, comics, zines, photo books, calendars, greeting cards, notebooks, business cards. What they cost by quantity, the ways to get them made, what manufacturers need from you, and who makes them.
Commish turns your idea, or a photo of something close, into a spec with request images and a price ladder, then collects quotes from the manufacturers you pick. Free; you pay the manufacturer directly. In ChatGPT, install Commish once, then describe what you want.
What it costs
| Quantity | Per piece | Total | Cheapest way |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pc | $4-$30 | $4-$30 | Print-on-demand |
| 10 pcs | $3.80-$29 | $38-$290 | Print-on-demand |
| 50 pcs | $3.80-$29 | $190-$1,450 | Print-on-demand |
| 100 pcs | $3.80-$29 | $380-$2,900 | Print-on-demand |
| 500 pcs | $1.37-$6.07 | $685-$3,035 | Offset print run |
| 1,000 pcs | $1.19-$5.05 | $1,190-$5,050 | Offset print run |
Planning ranges in US dollars, including one-time setup (screens, molds, samples), before shipping and import duties. Real quotes depend on size, colors and materials.
Ways to get it made
Print-on-demand
Offset print run
Design rules
- Add 0.125 in (3 mm) bleed on every side and keep text 0.25 in inside the trim.
- Export print-ready PDF at 300 DPI (CMYK for offset).
- Saddle-stitched zines need a page count that is a multiple of 4 (8-64 pages).
What manufacturers need from you
- Format: paperback, hardcover, saddle-stitch zine, photo book, calendar, cards, notebook
- Trim size: e.g. 6 x 9 in, A5
- Page count (optional)
- Interior (optional): black & white, standard color, premium color
- Paper / cover finish (optional)
Files
- Print-ready interior PDF
- Cover PDF with spine (from the printer's template)
Who makes it
Manufacturers Commish works with for this, in a fixed order. You can also ask any manufacturer to quote through Commish, including local shops.
Lulu
Print-on-demand books, comics, photo books and calendars. Needs a free Lulu account to order.
Order on Lulu ↗Gelato
Prints close to the customer: faster delivery and fewer cross-border duties. Needs a free Gelato account to order.
Order on Gelato ↗Vistaprint
Business printing, signage and promo items.
Order on Vistaprint ↗Printo
Business printing and merch in India.
Order on Printo ↗Zazzle
Huge catalog of customizable products; good for one-off gifts.
Search Zazzle ↗Get quotes for your own design
Describe it in chat and Commish writes the spec, shows the price at each quantity and sends it to the manufacturers you choose. They reply on a private link, no account needed.
Do you make this? List your company free and get quote requests with a full spec.