Print Design
Brochure and Print Design in Glasgow: Costs and Getting Files Print-Ready
What brochures, leaflets and large-format print cost to design, and the print-ready checks that stop a job coming back from the printer.
Published 17 October 20266 min read
Print still earns its place
For many Glasgow businesses, print is still where customers actually pick something up: a brochure on a hotel reception desk, a menu on the table, a leaflet through the door, a banner at an event. During my agency years I produced press, brochure, flyer and collateral suites for major hotel groups and monthly campaigns for a motor group, and the difference between good and average print almost always comes down to clarity and production quality.
What print design costs
My starting prices: a single print design or campaign graphic from £125; a brochure or sales sheet from £175 (A4 or A5, single or multi-page); large-format and signage artwork from £175; multi-format campaign artwork from £250; vehicle graphics artwork from £350. If you already have a design and just need it prepared properly, print-ready artwork setup and artwork checks start from £75.
Brochures: plan the content first
A brochure works when every spread has a job. Before design starts, decide who it is for, what you want them to do after reading it, and what goes on each page. Page counts for printed brochures normally run in multiples of four, so it helps to plan content to fit 4, 8, 12 or 16 pages rather than discovering at the end that there is one page too many.
Getting files print-ready
Most print problems come from files that were not set up for print. The essentials: bleed (usually 3mm beyond the trim edge on every side) so colour runs right to the edge; important text kept inside a safe margin; images at around 300dpi at the printed size; colours set up for print (CMYK or the printer’s specified profile, not screen RGB); fonts embedded or outlined; and a PDF exported to your printer’s spec. When I prepare artwork, these checks are done before anything is sent.
Working with your printer
If you already use a Glasgow printer you trust, I will set files up to their exact specification and can send them directly. If you do not have a printer, I can handle print management for you, so you have one point of contact from brief to delivery. Either way, ask for a printed proof on anything large or expensive; colours on paper never look exactly like they do on screen.
Large-format and signage
Banners, pop-ups, window graphics and exhibition stands follow different rules from a brochure: they are read from further away, so type and imagery need to be bolder and simpler. I have produced artwork at large physical scale, including factory-floor environmental graphics for Coca-Cola during my agency years, and the same principle applies to a shop window: one clear message, readable from across the street.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does brochure design cost in Glasgow?
- From a senior freelance designer, brochure and sales sheet design starts from around £175 for A4 or A5, with the final price depending on page count and content.
- What does print-ready mean?
- A file set up exactly as your printer needs it: correct size, 3mm bleed, safe margins, high-resolution images, print colour settings and embedded fonts, exported as a press-ready PDF.
- Can you send files straight to my printer?
- Yes. I can supply print-ready files directly to your printer, or manage the print job for you.
- How long does print artwork take?
- Standard print artwork typically takes 3–5 working days after the brief is agreed and content is supplied. Urgent turnarounds are sometimes possible.
Written by Ross Boag
Need help with design, websites or branding?
Ross Boag is a senior freelance graphic designer in Glasgow with 12+ years of agency and in-house experience, for brands including Hilton, Volvo and Jim Beam. He also designs logos and brand identities and websites, and prints the work through his online print shop, for businesses across Glasgow, Scotland and the UK.