Short run printers?

[slaughteredlamb]

I'm looking to design a mini brochure kinda thing in full colour but will only need something like 100 copies

What I'm thinking of doing is a kinda gatefold thing like a brochure where you have the main panel in the middle and then two 'wings' on either side that fold in, kinda like this:



What I'd want to do is be able to print on both sides so, for example, when it's folded there is something printed on the front of the 'wings' and when they are opened there is something printed on the inside of the 'wings' as well as the main content being in the middle.

Size wise I'm thinking that, with wings closed, it's no bigger than a DVD insert cover (whatever size that is) but obviously that will be larger when the wings are opened and that it would be printed on thick paper/thin card i.e. thick enough that the paper isnt easily creased and ideally could stand up by itself, around the thickness of a paperback books cover perhaps?

Questions:

1. How should I present artwork to a printer so that they know what should be printed on what panel?
2. As I suspect that I may be talking a custom paper size am I talking mega bucks to get printed, I don't want/expect them to fold it, I'll do that?
3. Anyone know of a printer that could do such a thing and handle a small print run? 100 Max is all I need and even that's probably double what I really need.

[chavalier]

would in need scoring or a straight crease stamping in it before you fold it?

[slaughteredlamb]

Good point, hadn't thought of that. Erm I guess crease stamping would be preferred but to be honest if this added a lot to the cost I'd probably just do it by hand myself.

[AndrewShanklin]

It's not so clear from the picture but if the central "small square" is half attached to one of the sides say the "invitation" side and then the opposite "wedding" side has the equivalent half cut out then the invitation will need die-cutting and then you will have the option to either add crease rules to add creases or cut-score (depending on the GSM of the board used)to add cut score creases. To save costs then you can fold the invite after the creases have been made.

However if its made in two parts e.g. the "small square" is printed and then attached / stuck to the gate fold invite then this will be printed separately and will obviously add more cost. This small square will also need die-cutting as it will be two small to go on a guillotine, you could however cut it out with scissors if its a small run.

To save cost, i would also setup the artwork to use as few colours as possible,

It looks like the invite part is 1 / 1 e.g 1 colour to the face and 1 to the reverse but the small "small square" could be 4/0 where as if you adjust your artwork you could probably print it as 2 or maybe 3 / 0 and save the cost of an extra colour.

In short, because of the "small square" aspect this might be quite expensive. Also try and setup you artwork to meet standard paper / board sizes otherwise you will end up with a printer who is running your invite one up on an SRA3 sheet when if you had made it slightly smaller you could run it two up and shorten the run.

Andy.