Perhaps most advantageous and cost effective catalog size is standard format (8-3/8" x 10-7/8") with 32 pages. Outside of this format, next most cost effective formats are standard format catalogs with page counts in increments of 16 pages, such as 48, 64 or 80 pages.

Send your mailing list to your printer or mail house at least 7 days before scheduled binding/addressing date so that estimated postage may be calculated and list analyzed to prevent delay. Send your postage check at least two business days prior to mail entry date.

Scheduling is a critical factor because web presses normally run 24 hour a day, 6-7 days a week. If you see that your disks and other concerns may not get to your printer on time, be sure to tell them right away. You can prevent delay if you file delays in advance. Web presses may still have flexibility to make alteration in schedule that will allow you to meet your deadliest deadlines.

A heat-set web press is standard catalog and magazine printing press. It has a heating unit that dries printed ink as it exits press. This press allows high speed printing on coated papers such as gloss. It also produces brilliant, crisp photo reproduction for catalogs. Heat-set web presses are huge, complicated presses that necessitate several people to operate and setup. It is only reasonable to use this type of press for print runs of 10,000 copies or more and in increments of 8 pages, preferably 16. Ninety nine per centum of all mail-order catalogs are printed on this type of press.

Cold-set web press, on other hand, does not include a heating unit so printed ink must air dry. This press can only print on uncoated papers which allow ink to absorb into paper. Cold-set web press produces a fairly dull, fuzzy photo reproduction for catalogs. This kind of press is smaller and simpler than heat-set web presses, costing less and requiring less setup time. This can be a good press for very small quantity catalog print runs starting at 1,000 copies.

Another method of catalog printing is sheet-fed press. This press is a customarily low volume press that prints on pre-cut sheets of paper. Because of its more precise printing method a sheet-fed press produces sharpest printing of these three press types. It can print on a wider variety of paper weights. However, because of its sluggish speed it is most costly of all print methods. Sheet-fed press is commonly used for small print runs or job which necessitates most excellent printing.