Print Your Magazine: 5 Great Reasons to Print Your Own Magazine

Print Your Magazine: 5 Great Reasons to Print Your Own Magazine

Looking to print your magazine? Whether you’re an artistic type or a business-minded entrepreneur, having your own magazine is a great way to show your creativity, prove your brand, and keep control of your image.

Many people write and self-publish their own books. Those who write and self-publish magazines are in the same category. They don’t want to be told “no” when it comes to expressing their ideas. They want full control over how they communicate with the world, and they’re ready to take on the risks involved in doing it alone. If that idea speaks to you, it may be time to print your magazine.

Print Your Magazine: Make Some Decisions

Before rushing out to hire a printer, take a moment to consider your expectations. You must have a clear direction for your magazine. Writing, editing, and printing any publication will require challenging work and many hours. It’s essentially going to be a full-time job. Are you prepared to invest the time and effort required? Think about these questions before you print your magazine.

• Purpose: What type of magazine do you want to create? Will it be a business or technology journal, a community news outlet, a specialized industry publication, or an artistic portfolio? Figure out who your readers are and what type of information you want to share. These decisions will shape the content and design of your magazine.
• Vision: What is your vision for this publication? Do you want the chance to express yourself through your artwork or writing? Do you want to be a place for fellow artists to share? Do you want to be the last word in your industry or business sector? Find the direction early on. It will guide your decisions on everything from content to design.
• Run size: Do you plan to have a short run of 50 to 500 copies, or a longer one of 1,000-plus copies? How many issues do you plan to publish each year? Short runs cost more per unit. You can mitigate the cost by using pre-orders or combining digital and print launches to print your magazine.
• Content: What type of content will your magazine offer, and where will the content come from? You may choose to write some of the articles and hire freelancers for the rest. Consider what type of artwork, photography, and other images you want to show in your publication. Where will you find contributors for artwork?
• Funding: Where will the money to print your magazine come from? You may choose to sell advertising or find investors. Plan how you’re going to pay for contributors, printers, and others. If you’re putting your own money into it, be sure you have a solid financial plan to print your magazine.
• Name: What will your magazine’s name be? Spend some time coming up with a name that explains your vision and goals.

5 Reasons to Print Your Magazine

People publish magazines for many reasons. You may find yourself agreeing with one or all of the following.

1 You want complete creative control. Working for a magazine owned by someone else means having to follow their vision and voice. When you print your magazine, you set the voice, layout, artwork, content, and vision without going through gatekeepers. You can set your own publication schedule. You’ll be the guiding voice.

2 You want faster turnaround and more flexibility. Since the final decisions rest with you rather than a team of editors, you can go quickly from initial concept to final printed version.

3 Boost your branding and audience building. A magazine increases your authority and shows that you’re a well-rounded individual who’s willing and able to learn new skills. It shows that you take your image seriously and are willing to make an investment in yourself.

4 If you sell, you keep the profits. You’ll get higher margins by selling subscriptions and advertising directly.

5 Give a voice to others. Owning a magazine allows you to hire like-minded contributors who share their work and ideas with your readers. This is important for writers, artists, and other creatives who may not have other outlets for their work. It’s also a good gathering place for industry and business professionals who feel they’re being shut out from mainstream publications. This is a key reason to print your magazine.

Print Your Magazine: Working with a Printer

When you print your magazine, you must take charge of the printing process. Find a printer with experience in magazine work.

It’s important to have a good working relationship with your printing company. You’re relying on them for continued issues, and the right printer can become a true partner in your magazine business. Collaboration will make life easier for both of you.

Request a physical proof of the issue before you approve a print run. Make all corrections well ahead of time. Share your publication schedule, so your printer knows when to expect each new issue to be sent.

Trim and Bleed Sizes

For an 8×11, full-color magazine, export a single, print-ready PDF with all images. Include a bleed of .125 inches (3 mm) on all sides for full-bleed images. Extend backgrounds to bleed.

Use a safe zone of .25 inches (6 mm) inside the trim. Keep critical text and images inside the safe zone.

Color and Print Proof Guidelines

• Resolution: Use images and artwork at 300 dpi at the final print size for all photos and raster art. Use vector art for logos and line art.
• Color: Convert all art to CMYK. Avoid unconverted RGB or spot colors unless requested by the printer. Embed ICC profiles if possible.
• Fonts: Embed or outline all fonts. Avoid system substitutions because they may not be exact.
• File format: Use PDF or the printer’s preferred format. Don’t include printer marks unless requested.
• Spine: Provide a separate spine file, or ask your printer to calculate the spine width. Use the printer’s formula for spine thickness. Upload a spine image if asked.
• Proofing: Order a single physical proof or short proof run to check color, registration, resolution, and binding.

Paper and Binding Options When You Print Your Magazine

Choose perfect binding. Saddle-stitch isn’t a viable choice for 100 pages or more. Perfect binding creates a clean spine and a high-end, professional look.

Paper choices will vary, based on your budget and the way you want your magazine to look.

• Economy: For an affordable print run that produces a readable magazine, choose 200-250 matte paper for the cover, 200-250 gsm uncoated for the interior pages, and perfect binding. This is a viable choice for any magazine where you’re trying to keep costs low.
• Premium: For a high-end portfolio suitable for photography or fashion issues, select 300 gsm silk laminated for the cover, 100-120 gsm silk or gloss for the interior, and perfect binding. This produces a premium magazine that prioritizes the look and the artwork.
• Balanced: To create a professional consumer magazine that’s on par with most of the ones you see on the newsstand, choose 250 gsm gloss for the cover, 80-100 gsm coated gloss for the interior pages, and perfect binding. This is a balanced approach that results in a great-looking magazine with good color resolution.

Are You Ready to Print Your Magazine?

Writing, editing, and publishing a magazine is an ambitious goal. It will require a large investment of time and money, but the payoffs can be huge. You’ll have a vehicle for your viewpoint, artwork, and personal branding. Working with an experienced printer like Publishing Xpress will ensure that your magazine has the high-end, professional look that it deserves.