A very common job at many print shops/copy centers is the production of booklets for presentations at meetings etc. Often, one or more pages will require a color copy in the midst of several black and white copies. For professional copier operators and bindery workers, including a color copy in a book full of black and white copies is not difficult.



Most printers and copy centers have more than one of each type of copier available for running different jobs. One of the easiest ways to include the color copy in amongst the black and white copies is to split the original book into different parts.

Running the first section of black and white pages collated together on one black and white copier until the correct number of sets is produced can be handled at the same time a page with color is being copied on a color copier nearby. Another section of black and white only pages can be run as a collated set on the same or a different black and white copier. Again, color copies may be run on the same or another color copier.

After copying each page or section, the copier operator or bindery personnel can collate the sections and color pages together so that all are in the proper order. Bindery workers can then bind the books and finish them out so that they are ready for the customer. The entire project can be completed the same day it is ordered in most cases.

Another way to incorporate a color copy in a project that contains black and white copies is to scan the entire project into a computer and print it using an inkjet printer/copier. A computer can be set to print the pages in order so that each set is collated when it comes off the printer. However, given the price of printer ink, this is far from the most economical way to include a color copy in a project with black and white copies.

Another way to accomplish this is to copy an entire booklet or job on a color copier. Color copiers are capable of producing black and white copies as black is one of the four colors of ink used by color copiers to reproduce color images and photographs. Again, this is not the most economical method of getting a color copy included in a project with black and white copies. This is, however, less expensive than using inkjet printers.

There are some different options that a person can use to get a color copy included in a project that contains several black and white copies. Copying the entire job on a color copy is one, though not the most economical. Using an inkjet printer to copy the project is another, though very expensive. The best is to have a print shop/copy center make the copies and collate them into the finished unit and bound for presentation.