Which printing technologies do we use?
At Books Factory, we use two main digital printing approaches:
- standard printing (electrophotographic, toner) — high quality and precise reproduction,
- economical printing (high-speed inkjet) — cost optimisation while maintaining good quality.
Both technologies differ in visual effect, application and cost efficiency depending on the project.
Standard printing (electrophotographic, toner)
This solution is focused on quality — especially where graphic design plays a key role.
- available in colour (4+4), mono (1+1) and mixed (4+1) variants,
- very good optical density and detail sharpness,
- excellent reproduction of contrasts, blacks and solid ink areas.
It works best for.
- albums, reproductions and illustrated books,
- comics and projects with high graphic coverage,
- publications requiring high print precision.
It can be used on all papers available at Books Factory — both coated and uncoated.
Economical printing (high-speed inkjet)
This solution is designed for cost efficiency and production speed. It is available in two variants.
Economical mono
- intended mainly for text-based publications,
- works best for simple illustrations without strong contrasts or large solid ink areas,
- most cost-effective for higher print runs.
Used exclusively on uncoated papers (e.g. uncoated, Munken, Eco-Book).
Economical colour
- dedicated to colour publications and mixed mono/colour interiors,
- more versatile than the mono variant,
- cost-effective even for lower print runs.
It works well for most projects, except highly demanding albums with large solid ink areas. It can be used on most coated and uncoated papers.
How to choose the right printing technology?
Technology selection depends on several key factors:
- publication type — text-based, illustrated or album-style,
- print run — from single copies to large series,
- graphic detail level — including solid ink areas, contrasts and fine details.
In practice:
- graphic and premium projects → standard printing,
- text-based and economical publications → inkjet printing.
Paper and printing technology
Paper type directly influences the final effect and should be selected together with the printing technology.
- coated papers — better for graphic-heavy projects and standard printing,
- uncoated papers (uncoated, Munken, Eco-Book) — ideal for text-based publications and inkjet printing.
This combination determines readability, contrast and the overall visual perception of the book.
What next?
If you already know your publication type and paper choice, you can proceed to the calculator and check how the selected technology influences production cost and parameters. For more complex projects, it is worth comparing several variants — especially for colour and illustrated books.
