Professional portfolio printing

The university portfolio is for academic reviews (Belle Arti, NABA, IED, RUFA, Quasar, Koefia): it contains project plates, preparatory sketches and renders, usually gathered in A3 or A2 format with spiral or Japanese stab binding. The professional portfolio, on the other hand, is the book of finished work a freelancer presents to clients and commissioners: it includes real case studies, editorial photos, finished renders and a layout matched to a personal visual identity. Often more polished graphically than the academic portfolio.

Three main options. Plastic or metal spiral: affordable, lies completely flat, ideal for evolving portfolios that are updated often. Japanese stab binding: an exposed binding with coloured thread, a handcrafted look prized in fashion and graphic design. Bound photobook: custom hardcover + sewn interior, the look of a published book, for definitive portfolios to present to large studios or commissioners.

For standard academy portfolios (Belle Arti, NABA, IED): coated paper 170-250g, matte or glossy, with vivid colour reproduction for graphic and photographic projects. For premium photographic portfolios: Modigliani Fedrigoni paper, hammered 200/260g with a painterly tactile feel, or premium photo papers (glossy/satin/matte) depending on the style. For architects and product designers: matte 200g paper (discourages glare that gets in the way of technical reading). Come to the shop: samples are much easier to choose in hand.

The three most requested: A3 (30x42 cm), the most common format for academic portfolios, balancing legibility and portability; A2 (42x59 cm) for architectural and industrial-design portfolios that need room for large renders and technical detail; square 21x21 or 30x30, much in demand in fashion and photography for the modern editorial look. Custom formats (e.g. 25x35 panoramic) are always possible.

Yes. For important portfolios (studio presentations, international competitions, final academy exams) we prepare, free of charge, a high-resolution PDF mockup that exactly simulates the finished book: real dimensions, safe area at the edges, bleed, and any cover areas affected by the binding. You approve, and only then do we start printing. For experimental projects even a single physical sample is possible for a small surcharge.

For academy portfolios with a ready file and spiral binding: 24-48h. For photographic portfolios with Japanese stab binding: 3-5 days (hand binding takes time). For bound photobooks with a hardcover: 5-7 working days. For rush portfolios tied to academic-competition deadlines: we can speed up to 1 day for reasonable orders, with a surcharge for top priority. Call the day before so we can organise.