Print-on-Demand (POD) is a commonly used name for many digitally printed applications, but it is also a trademark of Cygnus Business Media. The name is often associated with self-publishing, specifically for digitally printed books that are produced as needed. Since many books are mostly black text on white paper, they are a very suitable application for many digital press models. Soft-cover books, stapled booklets, and annual reports can be easily printed and finished. Color is also being added much more often because of the ease in changing content and the elimination of lengthy makeready times that are commonplace with conventional color printing.

Print-on-Demand, specifically known as Books-on-Demand (BOD) in the book publishing industry, is an especially useful tool for first time authors who are interested in getting their work published quickly, albeit on a limited basis and for a fee, without going through the necessary steps of traditional book publishing: to persuade a literary agent that the work has merit so that he or she will attempt to market it to an editor of a publishing house. Of course, getting the work into the hands of an editor is no guarantee that the book will be accepted for publication.

A typical Books-on-Demand publisher is a small enterprise that produces small digitally printed press runs. Some bookstores have the capability to print books-on-demand on site. Books can be downloaded from the Internet from online libraries and printed quickly as the customer browses through other bookstore titles. This provides a medium for out-of-print titles to be published on demand. It also allows books to be written that may have such a limited appeal that they would never be published with traditional methods. The books can be written specifically for the Internet and placed in a virtual library, downloaded, and printed as needed.

Some BOD publishers are printing the simplest applications (with a shelf life expected to be short) with lower grades of digital 20 lb. bond paper to save money. Applications that must last for longer periods and must be of an improved quality are printed on higher quality digital papers, such as 60 lb. text or better.

BOD is also useful for traditional publishing houses for printing specialty books that are not expected to sell in great quantities and can be printed in small runs when the demand dictates. Regardless of the quantity printed, the cost per book is the same when using digital printing equipment, which is a definite advantage for small press runs. Digitally printed books become less cost effective as the quantity of the press run increases and therefore, traditional printing processes are usually the best option.

When book publishers use BOD, large inventories of digitally printed books do not have to be warehoused since the books can be printed easily and quickly whenever they are needed, which is not the case when using conventional printing processes, such as offset lithography. Subsequently, with digitally printed books, there is minimal waste since there are rarely any unsold books left in stock.

• Digital book publishing eliminates situations where a book is out of stock or even out of print and allows inventories to remain at a low level.
  
  
• Efficiency is increased and turnaround time is greatly improved.
  
  
• A large volume doesn't have to be printed in order to be profitable.
  
  
• New titles can be test marketed at reduced cost because large quantities do not have to be printed in order to be economical. Using digital printing, it is as easy to print ten copies as it is to print one-thousand, which ensures that large quantities will not be left in stock in the event that the title does not sell.
  
  
• Regional titles can be kept in print for longer periods.
  
  
• Digital on-demand book publishing allows customers to be reached anywhere in the world.

• There may be problems with publishers getting digital print-on-demand books to retailers, except for the largest chains.
  
  
• The production costs per unit are usually higher than books printed with conventional processes.
  
  
• Digital print-on-demand books are rarely seen on bookstore shelves because they are usually printed only when there is a request for them.
  
  
• Some book publishing equipment cannot print books in color except for the covers.