Professional printing is always the preferred route for AHG materials as budget allows. Professional printing keeps colors, paper stock, and finish consistent with the brand standard. This page walks through how that process actually works, from first idea to final print run.
How the process works
After the Content Editing process is complete, every professionally printed project requires a Graphic Design Specialist—here's how that partnership actually runs, start to finish.
Submit a Design Request
This gets a Graphic Design Specialist assigned to your project—required for anything professionally printed (please do not use templates for these projects).
Concept Meeting
Spell out your specs with the design team—size, page count, cover type, quantity, timeline, and anything else that defines the piece.
Get a quote
Specs must be finalized first—a quote built on incomplete specs is effectively useless once things change. While projects can be requoted, the desire is to minimize margin for error with the print error.
Once the quote's approved, the project goes to print with your chosen vendor. The Visual Brand Manager will assist in getting final artwork to the vendor.
Getting a quote
There are two ways to get a quote once specs are locked in—either works, but pick one and say so clearly to avoid confusion about who's driving it
Your team gets the quote
Reach out to the vendor directly with your finalized specs and bring the quote back to the design team. (This is oftentimes team preference for online, quick-ship vendors like UPriting or Vista Print as a way to confirm the project is within budget.)
The Visual Brand Manager arranges it
Ask the Visual Brand Manager to request the quote on your behalf once specs are set.
Specs (size, page count, cover type, etc.) need to be fully decided before requesting a quote—a quote based on specs that later change is effectively useless and has to be redone, which increases the margin for error with the vendor.
Who pays for it
Professional printing for your department's own resources and materials comes out of your department's budget, not the Marketing budget—unless the piece is specifically considered a MarCom resource.
Check with your Manager or Director before moving forward to confirm the cost is budgeted for.
Choosing a printer
Preferred vendor
POST Printing
AHG's preferred printer. Start here for most projects—but a competitive bid should still be sought, every time. Oftentimes operates on a 4 week turnaround (large quantities impact this timeline).
Alternative vendors
UPrinting & VistaPrint
Both can offer competitive pricing and turnaround—worth checking especially when a project is on a tight deadline or has a low quantity/budget.
Always get more than one bid before committing. It only takes a few minutes and can meaningfully change the cost or timeline!
Specs to lock in before requesting a quote
Bring these to your Concept Meeting so the design team can nail down the specs in one pass.
Common print products
Before it goes to print
Always request a proof
Catch color, cropping, or typo issues on a proof, not on a full print run you can't take back. *Note that AHG errors found in print often result in a $25/page charge from a printer, so the in-house editing and approval process should be airtight!
Build in extra lead time
Plan for more than the vendor's stated turnaround—shipping and last-minute revisions eat into the timeline fast.