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Step 1
Choose a few potential vendors. At a minimum, you will need a mid- to large-sized commerical printer that runs large presses, either web or sheet-fed. Talk to the sales people and get quotes on 500 to 5000 books, or whatever your preferred quanitites are. You can also hire your own graphic designer if you like, but many companies this size will provide those services for you. This is the better way to go, as they will know how to set up and impose the files properly.
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Step 2
Once you get your quotes, call the printers back if anything doesn't make sense. Sometimes printers will quote you different things, and when you go to compare the quotes you are looking at apples and oranges, and cannot make a fair comparison. Once you have all the facts, make your decision.
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Step 3
Get your text in digital format. Microsoft Word is usually acceptable, but you will need to print out a hard copy for the printer to show exactly where paragraph breaks, boldface text, and other text effects will be because these are usually stripped out when imported in any graphic design program.
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Step 4
Provide everything to your printer and find out the expected timeframe for the first proof.
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Step 5
Review the proof carefully, as any errors after printing will be charged to you. Sign the proof and request another or okay the job. Verify with your salesperson that the specifications are the same and that the price will be what was quoted.
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Step 6
Do a press inspection on the day the book starts running to make sure your covers look good. Enjoy your new books.
