Nottingham has a long history of independent creativity, and plenty of zines start life in student accommodation, shared studios, coffee shops, and creative workspaces across the city.
One challenge many Nottingham zine makers face is moving beyond DIY printing methods. Home printers can struggle with image quality, colours often look different from screen to paper, and assembling larger quantities by hand quickly becomes time-consuming.
For students, graduates, and independent creators, another common issue is finding a way to print professional-looking zines without ordering hundreds of copies or stretching an already limited budget.
That's where Ex Why Zed can help.
We specialise in short-run and custom zine printing, making it easy to produce anything from small personal projects to larger independent publications. With flexible quantities, multiple paper stocks, and a range of binding options, Nottingham creators can print zines that look polished and professional without losing their independent character.
Whether you're creating your first zine or your latest edition, we're here to help you get it into print.
Most people do not come to us with perfectly prepared print files and a spreadsheet full of paper specifications.
Typically, it begins with a folder named “final_final_v2”.
Maybe you are still changing layouts. Maybe you are unsure about page counts. Maybe you have never printed a zine before and just want someone to guide you without making things overly technical.
That is exactly how we like working.
Here’s How The Process Usually Goes:
There is a big difference between seeing a zine on-screen and understanding why it feels so good in your hands once it is printed.
Our video guide takes you behind the scenes of zine printing at Ex Why Zed, from paper stocks and binding styles to the small finishing details people usually only notice subconsciously when they pick something up and instantly love it.
You will see how different creative projects come together physically, why some papers completely transform photography and illustration work, and how format choices can change the entire personality of a publication.
Choosing a zine size is a bit like choosing the mood of the project itself.
Some zines are meant to be discovered folded inside jacket pockets, passed around at gigs, or picked up cheaply at indie markets. Others deserve full-page photography, oversized artwork, bold typography, and enough space for every detail to breathe properly.
At Ex Why Zed, we print zines in all shapes and sizes for Nottingham artists, photographers, illustrators, designers, students, and independent publishers who want the format to feel just as intentional as the content inside it.
Here are some of the most popular choices creators go for:
Smaller sizes are usually more budget-friendly for short runs, while larger formats create a much bigger visual presence in print.
If you are stuck between sizes, we are always happy to help you figure out what will work best for the type of zine you are creating.
You can spend weeks perfecting layouts, sequencing images, editing text, and choosing colours… then print everything on the wrong paper and suddenly the whole project feels off.
Paper quietly controls almost everything.
The weight of the pages.
How colours bounce off the surface.
Whether people flick through quickly or slow down naturally.
Whether a zine feels more like an art object, a magazine, a sketchbook, or a handmade collectable.
Here are the papers creators usually gravitate towards:
Paper thickness changes the personality, too. Lighter stocks feel rawer and more traditional, while thicker pages create a cleaner, more substantial feel.
Most Nottingham creators printing with us choose 115gsm or 130gsm because it balances quality, weight, and affordability really nicely.
It is strange how much a couple of staples or a square spine can change the whole mood of a project.
The exact same pages can feel underground and DIY in one format, then suddenly feel like a beautifully produced indie publication in another. That is usually the moment a zine stops feeling like files on a laptop and starts feeling like a real physical thing.
Most Nottingham creators printing with Ex Why Zed usually lean towards one of these two binding styles:
1. Saddle Stitch Binding
This is the classic stapled zine format people instantly recognise from indie publishing, gig culture, comic fairs, student shows, and self-made art publications.
Creators love saddle stitching because it feels:
Saddle stitching works best for zines under 40 pages.
2. Perfect Binding
Perfect binding gives your zine a clean square spine, instantly making it feel more like a magazine or art book.
It is popular for projects that need a more refined presentation or larger page counts.
Creators usually choose perfect binding for:
Perfect binding is usually best for projects over 40 pages.
3. Hardback Binding
Hardback binding offers the most durable and premium finish available for zine printing. It transforms a publication into a keepsake-worthy piece that is built to last.
Creators often choose hardback binding for:
Hardback binding is ideal for creators who want their work to have a professional, book-quality presentation.
If you are unsure which style suits your project best, we are always happy to help you figure it out before printing starts.
Zines rarely get printed months in advance. Usually, there is a deadline attached to them.
An art fair. A launch night. A last-minute opportunity. A tutor ing where the final copies are. A friend texting, “Wait… you DID send it to print, right?”
That is why fast turnaround matters so much in independent publishing.
At Ex Why Zed, we are used to helping Nottingham creators work against very real clocks without making the final zines feel rushed, flimsy, or thrown together at the last second.
Here is what we can turn around quickly:
Free tracked UK delivery comes as standard, and we offer fast worldwide shipping for international orders. Combined with reliable production schedules, it helps ensure your zines arrive when you need them.
So whether your zines are heading to a Nottingham print fair, an artist market, a gallery table, or straight into online orders, they arrive looking properly finished and ready to be picked up immediately.
Many creators want to reduce the environmental impact of their print projects, and we're happy to support that wherever possible.
We offer responsibly sourced paper stocks and work to minimise waste throughout the production process. By choosing suitable materials and efficient print methods, you can produce a high-quality zine while making more environmentally conscious printing choices.
Explore Our Sustainable Printing Guide
Our instant price calculator makes it easy to estimate the total price of your project in seconds. Simply enter your preferred number of pages, quantity, paper stock, binding style, and even a custom size if required.
Get an instant quote for your short-run booklet printing project. Simply select your page count, quantity, paper stock, binding style, and size to see transparent pricing in seconds.
No two zines ever arrive looking the same, and honestly, we love that. At Ex Why Zed, we’ve printed everything from underground music zines and photography projects to illustrated publications, exhibition catalogues, fashion editorials, student work, and beautifully niche passion projects for independent creators in Nottingham and far beyond.
"Quick, friendly, and personal service! They really helped me achieve better than I envisioned. Thank you!"
- Lindsay
The best UK zine printers combine flexible print runs, high-quality materials, and helpful support. At Ex Why Zed, we work closely with independent creators to make the printing process as straightforward as possible, offering practical advice and guidance before production begins.
Ex Why Zed remains popular for booklet printing, premium finishes, and responsive customer services supporting independent creators. Their print platform handles everything from saddle stitched publications to perfect bound zines, while maintaining high quality production standards.
Creators choose Ex Why Zed for fast turnaround, reliable shipping costs, and flexible small runs. Their advanced printing machines produce wiro bound projects, case bound zines, and hardback zine formats quickly while still delivering premium print quality.
Export your zine as a print-ready PDF at the correct size and include a 3mm bleed. If your project has a separate cover, supply it as an additional file. Ex Why Zed also provides free artwork checks before printing begins.
The cost of zine printing depends on factors such as size, page count, paper stock, binding style, and quantity. The easiest way to get an accurate price is to use Ex Why Zed's instant price calculator, which provides a quote in seconds.
Paper choice depends on the project style and whether enough content is available. Silk stocks suit photography, while uncoated papers complement illustrations. Creators use thicker inner pages, a stronger outer cover, and a carefully planned spine width for professional results.
Turnaround times depend on binding style, quantity, and delivery location. Many printers dispatch saddle stitched projects faster than flat spine perfect bound books. Digital proofs are usually approved first, then printed items move through production before tracked shipping begins.
Many independent printers like Ex Why Zed now prioritise environmental management through responsibly sourced papers, lower-waste production methods, and sustainable packaging choices. Some also maintain a certified plant list showing approved sustainable materials and production partners.
Yes, many online printers like Ex Why Zed support single order quantities and affordable small runs for creators. Whether producing a wiro bound zine, perfect bound project, or a simple booklet, flexible print systems allow artists to test ideas before.
Ex Why Zed is widely recommended for magazine and zine production because their team supports everything from cover design and spread design to front cover design, spine design, and back cover design. Their friendly guidance helps creators produce polished publications.
Always avoid RGB files and prepare artwork using CMYK colour settings before exporting. Keep important content away from the quiet area, especially near the middle of the zine. Carefully plan front cover, inside front cover, inside back cover, and back cover layouts for balanced presentation.
Before uploading your inner file PDF or print file PDF, confirm the cover file, inside front cover, and back cover design all align correctly. Ensure the print system recognises your order number, supports full use of our web uploader, and accepts custom spread design layouts.
Yes, many professional printers provide digital proofs before final production, helping creators review cover file PDF layouts, inner file alignment, and bleed area. This process helps spot issues around the middle of the zine, spine width, and important content placement.
Provide a single PDF made up of single pages, including any blank pages. You may also need a separate inner file, inner cover, or spine file. Use CMYK colour artwork, keep black text crisp, and ensure the file size meets any maximum file upload requirements.
If you're looking for fast-turnaround zine printing in London, Ex Why Zed offers high-quality zine printing with quick production times, expert support, and free UK delivery. Whether you need a small batch or a larger print run, their team can help bring your project to life efficiently.
