Want to create custom print materials faster and more affordably? Discover how Web-to-Print solutions are transforming the printing industry for businesses of all sizes. These platforms, also known as W2P, Web2Print, print eCommerce, or remote publishing, connect traditional printing with modern online convenience. Whether you run a small print shop or a large enterprise, Web-to-Print simplifies how you design, order, and produce printed materials.
What Is Web-to-Print?
Web-to-Print is a cloud-based or on-premise software solution that enables users to create, customize, and purchase printed products online. These platforms streamline the entire print process, removing manual steps and making print accessible 24/7.
At its core, web to print technology bridges the gap between digital design and physical printing. It transforms the traditional, often time-consuming process of ordering printed materials into a streamlined, self-service experience that’s accessible to everyone.
Modern web to print solutions combine several key components:
- An online design editor that allows customization
- A product catalog with various printing options
- Template management systems for brand consistency
- Automated workflow systems that handle orders from submission to production
- E-commerce capabilities for seamless payments
Whether you’re a print service provider looking to expand your business online or a company wanting to streamline your print procurement, web to print systems offer the perfect solution for today’s digital-first world.
Origins and Terminology
Web-to-Print started around the same time as desktop publishing (DTP). Like DTP software, web to print solutions let users work with templates to make good-looking designs. Over time, these simple tools grew into complete online stores with automatic processes, payment options, and production systems.
How Does Web-to-Print Work?
Front-End Experience
For customers, using a Web-to-Print website feels a lot like using basic design software. They can work with ready-made templates through online editors to customize their materials, without needing design skills.
- Create an online storefront: This is your digital print shop where customers can browse products, templates, and options. Your storefront can be branded to match your company’s look and feel, creating a seamless experience.
- Pick and personalize a product: Customers select the item they want (business cards, banners, brochures) and use the online editor to customize it. They can add their text, images, colors, and more, all while seeing a live preview of their design.
- Check and approve the design: Before finalizing the order, customers can review their creation from different angles. Many web to print platforms offer proofing tools that check for common errors like low-resolution images or text outside print margins.
- Pay for the order: Integrated payment gateways make checkout easy. Customers can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other methods depending on your web to print solution. Some B2B systems also offer invoice payment options.
- Automated order processing and printing: Once payment is confirmed, the system automatically prepares print-ready files and routes them to the appropriate printing equipment. This automation eliminates manual file handling and reduces human error.
- Shipping and delivery: Completed print jobs are packaged and shipped to the customer. Many web to print systems integrate with shipping providers for real-time rates and tracking information.
- Customer support and reordering: After delivery, customers can easily reorder the same items, provide feedback, or get help with any issues. The system stores their designs for future use, making repeat orders incredibly simple.
This comprehensive, start-to-finish automation transforms the traditional printing process, making everything faster and dramatically reducing mistakes and manual work. The beauty of web to print workflow is that once it’s set up, much of the process requires minimal human intervention.
Benefits of Web-to-Print Solutions
- Order anytime, anywhere: Customers aren’t limited by business hours or location. With web to print storefronts, they can place orders 24/7 from any device with internet access. This convenience leads to higher customer satisfaction and more sales opportunities.
- Significant cost savings: By implementing web to print systems, printers can group similar jobs together: cutting waste, reducing setup times, and lowering overall production costs. These savings can be passed on to customers or improve your profit margins. Additionally, the reduction in manual administrative work means your staff can focus on higher-value tasks.
- Brand consistency across all materials: For businesses with multiple locations or departments, maintaining brand standards can be challenging. Web-to-print solutions solve this problem by using pre-approved templates that lock brand elements like logos, colors, and fonts. This ensures every printed piece represents your brand correctly, whether it’s ordered from headquarters or a remote franchise location.
- Faster turnaround times: Traditional print ordering involves multiple back-and-forth communications about designs, quotes, and approvals. Web-to-print platforms streamline these steps into one fluid process. Automation speeds up how quickly orders move from submission to production to delivery, giving customers their materials when they need them.
- Perfect scalability for growing businesses: Web-to-print systems work equally well for both single custom items and large bulk orders. As your business grows, your web to print solution can scale with you without requiring significant changes to your workflow or infrastructure.
- Reduced errors and reprints: With predefined templates and automated preflight checks, web to print platforms catch potential problems before they reach production. This means fewer mistakes, less waste, and higher customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced customer experience: User-friendly interfaces make designing custom print products accessible to everyone. Customers appreciate the control and transparency of seeing exactly what they’re ordering, including instant pricing updates as they make changes to their design.
- Valuable data and insights: Web-to-print systems capture detailed information about customer preferences, popular products, and ordering patterns. This data helps you make informed decisions about inventory, pricing, and marketing strategies.
These powerful benefits explain why web to print ecommerce solutions are quickly becoming essential for printing businesses that want to stay competitive in today’s digital marketplace.
Example Print Products You Can Offer
Commercial Print
Business cards, brochures, flyers, posters, and signs for business use. Catalogs, price lists, pricebooks.
Custom & Promotional Products
T-shirts, mugs, caps, tote bags, and other branded items.
Photo Products
Photo books, calendars, wall art, and framed prints using customer photos.
Packaging & Labels
Custom boxes, stickers, and labels for small to mid-sized businesses.
Large Format
Banners, backdrops, and outdoor signs in any size you need.
Types of Web-to-Print Solutions
Depending on your business model, there are several types of Web-to-Print platforms:
1. Web-to-Print Workflows
Target: B2C and small B2B businesses
Purpose: Enable users to choose a product, personalize it online, and send it to print.
Key Features: Online editor, customizable storefronts, print-on-demand
Examples: Vistaprint, Zazzle, OnPrintShop
2. Marketing Asset Management (MAM)
Target: Large enterprises and franchises
Purpose: Manage and distribute marketing materials while ensuring brand consistency.
Key Features: Permission-based template editing, multilingual support, DAM/PIM integration
Examples: MarcomCentral, BrandMuscle, XMPie
3. Warehouse & Order Management
Target: Multi-location businesses or vendors with complex logistics
Purpose: Automate inventory and order fulfillment for printed goods
Key Features: Inventory monitoring, order routing, print-on-demand + static products
Examples: Propago, EFI MarketDirect Fulfillment
4. Data-Driven Document Automation
Target: B2B companies with large product databases
Purpose: Automate creation of complex documents like catalogs and price lists
Key Features: InDesign integration, PDF output, API workflows, manage multiple document versioning
Examples: Pagination, priint:suite, EasyCatalog
Create Marketing Collaterals Starting from Your Data
If you manage large volumes of structured data and need to create high-quality marketing documents, like catalogs, price lists, or technical datasheets, Pagination is a perfect fit. Unlike traditional web-to-print storefronts, Pagination automates document creation by connecting directly to your data source. You can generate fully designed, print-ready PDFs using your custom InDesign templates, with support for multilingual and multi-version output. This approach eliminates repetitive work, reduces errors, and ensures fast turnaround across multiple markets.
Best Web-to-Print Platforms
Looking for the right web to print solutions? Here are some top-rated options:
- Vistaprint: Best for general B2C printing
- MarcomCentral: Best for brand control and marketing teams
- OnPrintShop: Great for SMBs needing flexibility
- Pagination: Ideal for high-volume, data-driven documents
Web-to-Print vs. Web Offset Printing
Don’t mix up Web-to-Print with web offset printing. W2P is the online ordering and workflow system, while web offset printing is a specific printing technique for large print runs. Many printing companies use both: customers order through a W2P platform, and the final printing happens on a web offset press.
Ready to Streamline Your Print Workflow?
Ready to streamline your print workflows? Contact Pagination for a custom demo of our document automation platform.
FAQ – People Also Ask
What is Web-to-Print in simple terms?
Web-to-Print is an online system that lets people design and order printed products directly from a website.
What are examples of Web-to-Print products?
Business cards, custom t-shirts, brochures, photo calendars, and packaging.
What are the benefits of Web-to-Print?
Convenience, cost savings, faster delivery, and brand consistency.
What is the difference between Web-to-Print and Offset Printing?
W2P is the ordering and production workflow. Offset printing is a technique used to print the final product.
Which is the best Web-to-Print platform?
It depends on your needs. Pagination is ideal for document automation, while Vistaprint is best for B2C products.