Annual Report Printing

A report containing large amounts of financial data has different requirements to one built around photography and impact stories.

Paper surface, shade and opacity all influence readability and image reproduction. Where a report needs to do both, a good all-round stock can provide the balance without unnecessarily increasing the specification or cost.

Pagination, paper thickness and binding are closely connected.

Lower page counts are often well suited to saddle stitching, while thicker annual reports can benefit from perfect binding. If you’re close to the point where either method could work, ask us to price the alternatives before the design is finalised.

Annual reports frequently use tables, charts and double-page photography, so inner margins are particularly important.

Perfect bound publications don’t open completely flat. Allow sufficient space at the binding edge so figures, text and important elements aren’t pulled into the spine. If you’re using saddle stitching, remember that your total pagination needs to work in multiples of four.

Consider who genuinely needs a printed copy before repeating the previous year’s order.

Digital printing makes smaller quantities commercially practical, so reports intended primarily for key stakeholders, board members or meetings don’t necessarily require a large print run. Additional copies can be produced when there’s a genuine requirement.

If you’re perfect binding your report, don’t guess the spine measurement.

The finished spine depends on both pagination and the thickness of the chosen paper. Confirming the stock first means we can calculate the spine correctly before your designer prepares the final cover artwork, avoiding unnecessary amendments later.

Both can work well.

Saddle stitching is cost-effective and particularly suitable for lower page counts. Perfect binding creates a square spine and is generally better suited to thicker reports.

Paper thickness also affects what’s possible, so it’s worth discussing the specification before artwork is finalised.

Yes, our digital presses make high-quality short runs commercially viable, which is useful where printed reports are only required for directors, trustees, shareholders, meetings or other key stakeholders.

For larger quantities, our litho printing capability provides greater economies of scale.

Yes. Annual reports commonly contain a mixture of small text, tables, graphs, photography and other graphics.

Sharp reproduction and accurate colour are particularly important for this type of publication, which is why we’d recommend supplying print-ready PDF artwork and checking fine text and charts carefully during the proofing process.

Yes. The Graphic Design House, our fully owned creative agency, has a seven-strong design team that can provide anything from additional creative resource to complete annual report design.

Working closely with our production teams also means print considerations can be taken into account while the report is being designed.

Yes. Matt, gloss, anti-scuff and soft-touch laminates are available, alongside decorative finishes including spot gloss UV varnish, foiling and embossing.

Not every annual report needs specialist finishing, so we’ll help you determine what adds something worthwhile to the publication and your budget.

Yes. Digital printing provides flexibility where you need different covers, content or other variations across smaller quantities.

Tell us what needs to change between versions and we’ll advise on the most practical production method.

Yes. Through The Mailing People, our fully owned mailing house, we can manage fulfilment and mailing after production.

Print moves directly between our facilities without an additional delivery charge between sites, and we can accommodate requirements such as individual addressing, packing and multiple destinations.

Turnaround depends on quantity, binding, paper availability and finishing requirements. Ideally, you should allow 5-6 days from proof approval.

Annual reports are frequently deadline-driven, so we’d always recommend discussing your required delivery date with us as early as possible. If you’re already working against the clock, speak to us and we’ll tell you honestly what’s achievable.

Annual reports require accuracy, dependable print quality and reliable production, often against a fixed deadline.

At Bishops Printers, digital and litho printing are supported by extensive in-house binding and finishing equipment and an experienced production team. That gives us the capacity and control to manage annual report projects from shorter digital quantities through to substantial litho runs.

And when timing is tight or the specification isn’t straightforward, you’ll have experienced people at the end of the phone who can help.