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When we print a job on the 4-color press, typically we
employ gang run printing unless it is a custom run. Printers
use the term "gang run" or "gang" to describe the practice
of placing many print projects on the same sheet or
piggybacking a project on a vacant, unused portion of a
print sheet.
When full color press printing jobs are
done, the job cost is attributed to fixed costs of setting
up the job on the printing press - in the case of gang run
print jobs; many different printing jobs can absorb these
fixed printing costs. Therefore, it reduces overall printing
costs. Typically, we save hundreds of dollars when printing
on a gang run. Sheet fed presses are generally "full sheet"
(28" x 40"), "half sheet" (28" x 19") or "quarter sheet"
(13" x 19").
In offset printing, the first sheet costs more
than the next 1,000. Gang run printing allows multiple jobs
to share the setup cost. For example, a 28" x 40" sheet can
hold 9 4" x 6" at 5000 or 18 2500 postcards (each card takes
4.25" x 6.25" on the sheet to accommodate full bleed. Gang
run printing has been one of the driving forces in the large
drop in the price for full color printing.
There are
projects where gang run printing cannot be employed, however
in an effort to reduce costs, we attempt to print custom
projects on specific schedules in order to attain the lowest
possible pricing for our customers.
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