We do not publish a price list, but will be happy to give you an accurate estimate based on your order requirements. In many cases, we can estimate your order over the phone, and can advise you where you can save money. In any case, we can get a quote back to you by fax or email within 24 hours. If you're on the other side of the world, where it's nighttime in the U.S., email works great. It gets to us when you send it and we reply as soon as we see it. Like magic!
Printing costs are based, by and large, on the number of colors of ink being printed. The exception to this is direct digital output, for small orders and laminate inserts on plain card stock, which is full-color. For other orders, one-color printing is the least expensive and four- or five-color printing is usually as pricey as it gets. (We can and do print more than five colors for special jobs.) Color coded systems add only slightly to the cost of a pass order. We will be more than happy to explain the various ways to color-code your passes most cost effectively.
In addition to the obvious yielding, (how many passes can we get out of a sheet of stock?), there is the less obvious factor of the mix. While shape coding and hard categorization is vital in today's concert venues, their production can add considerably to the price of your pass system. We can advise you in general of the most cost-effective way to design your system, and can make specific recommendations of changes in quantity mixes to enhance your yield.
In general, the most cost-effective pass shapes are small squares and circles. Next, in the middle, are standard rectangles and triangles. The least cost-effective are standard circles, hexagons, octagons, and ellipses. The price of a mixture of shapes usually rises to the most expensive of these three groups that applies. In addition some proportion mixes, even at the lower price levels can add to the price of your system. Here, again, we can advise of changes to make the pricing more palatable.
Many processes and techniques that can enhance the appearance of your passes or their security add to their price. These can include hot-stamp leafing and the use of special stocks, such as laser foil and fluorescent papers. Custom die-cut shapes, while readily available, can add greatly to production costs and should be used sparingly.
Color-coded systems are virtually required in today's concert industry. Of the two possible types of systems, the least costly is the "daily"' color code, wherein all passes are coded in all colors. Code-by-category, where each type of pass, (Crew, After Show, etc.), is assigned a color for constant use requires the a plate and a press run for each code color, whereas daily code colors require only one. The only increase in cost that applies to the use of daily code colors is the washup charge to change the ink colors in rotation.
While it is convenient to have the actual dates of your shows printed on your passes, it can cause your system price to soar. Daily-dated systems have cost 6 to 10 times the cost of similar systems without dates. Special dating should be used only for extra special shows, such as those for holidays, charitable events, or big shows.
Yes, it is, but only to a certain extent. Items that are not covered include; frequent or extensive design revisions, image acquisition of non-digital source art (such as paintings), logo digitization, special color correction or image editing, multiple proofs, or custom design work. Revisions made after the proof has been approved will be charged at our hourly rate.
Just because we charge extra doesn't mean we don't do it or farm it out -- it's just isn't related to every order for passes. Since we specialize in printing passes, it seemed best to keep the prices focused on what's necessary. But that doesn't mean we can't do the other stuff. We have artists on staff -- and relationships with a number of freelancers -- who can do a lot more than just "paste up" pass designs.
The pricing for such work is based on time and materials at our prevailing rates. We won't pretend to work cheap, but you might be pleasantly surprised at how reasonably you can have a piece of original artwork for your project.
Also...
All material on this site is copyright © 1995, 2009, Otto Printing and Entertainment Graphics. All rights reserved. Criminal penalties for infringement. The name Otto and the 
bug are registered trademarks of OP&EG and may not be reproduced without the express consent of OP&EG. All images and service marks are the property of their respective owners and creators and may not be reproduced without permission. Third-party works appear by permission.
Please send comments, suggestions, or requests pertaining to this site to webmaster. Site created and maintained by Otto Printing.