Project planning
What do you need for an accurate print quote?
You do not need to know every technical term. A clear brief makes quotations easier to compare and reduces avoidable follow-up questions.
Describe the item, its use and finished size
Instead of asking only for a catalogue, explain its purpose: a product booklet for sales meetings, a restaurant menu or a piece mailed to customers. Intended use helps establish suitable stock, construction and finishing.
Give the finished dimensions. For folded items, say whether the measurement refers to the open sheet or the closed piece. For booklets, state the page count and whether it includes the cover. If the format is undecided, ask for a recommendation rather than supplying an arbitrary size.
Separate quantities and explain the desired result
State the number of copies for each design, name or language. If you are considering two quantities, request both prices against the same specification. This makes changes in total cost easier to understand.
Include single- or double-sided printing, any chosen stock and the required finishes. Words such as thick or premium can describe many different outcomes. A reference sample or a short explanation of the feel you want often communicates more than an uncertain paper specification.
Explain artwork readiness and the required arrival date
Say whether you have a final PDF, editable artwork, a previous printed sample or just text and a logo. New design, a small content amendment and technical file checking are different pieces of work and should be described clearly.
Provide the required receipt date, not just the date of an event. Include the delivery area and whether the order is split between locations. Timing needs to be confirmed against the specification and the condition of the artwork, rather than assumed from the product name.
A short brief you can adapt
Illustrative request: “We need an A4 corporate brochure, with 12 pages including the cover, in one Greek edition. Please compare 300 and 500 copies. We have text and a logo but need design support. Delivery is to one address in Athens before the date we will specify. Please recommend suitable paper and binding.”
This is a fictional example, not a quotation or a standard product specification. Before approving an actual order, confirm the final artwork version, quantities and what the agreed price includes. Keep changes in one consolidated reply so that an earlier draft is not mistaken for the approved production brief.
These guides provide general information. Specifications, pricing and production timing are confirmed separately for each project.