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Est. 2026 — Allentown, PA
Printed with intention · Designed with care
"A small home printshop. Every title, regardless of run size, treated as an object worth owning."
We specialize in small-run editions of picture books, comic books, poetry chapbooks, novels, and curated paperback editions of open-source and public domain literature — alongside print-for-hire work for clients who value craft.
About the press
Greenhouse Press is a home printshop and micro-publisher operating out of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Every book is printed, bound, and finished by hand on our equipment — not assembled from outsourced components, but made here, under this roof.
The name comes from the belief that certain books need to be tended carefully and grown in the right conditions — that literature, like something planted, rewards patience, attention, and the right environment.
Typography and whitespace do the work. Our house style is minimal, typographic, and consistent — a catalog that looks like it belongs together.
Cream uncoated paper, soft-touch matte covers, tactile surfaces that reward handling. Nothing we print is trying to hide what it is.
Open-source and public domain literature treated as seriously as any new title. Great writing deserves a beautiful home regardless of copyright status.
Every copy ships with a Greenhouse bookmark. Every cover is laminated. Every run is considered. Small details, compounded.
A different kind of printing
Risograph is a screen-printing-adjacent process developed in Japan in the 1980s. In recent years it has become the defining medium of independent publishing — beloved for its warm textures, unexpected color interactions, and handmade character that no digital process can replicate.
At Greenhouse Press we use Risograph printing selectively — for our own catalog titles, for projects where the medium genuinely serves the work, and for clients who come to us specifically for what Riso does.
Available ink colors
What we print
Small runs. Thoughtful editions. Every format treated on its own terms.
Public domain and open-source literary fiction in minimal typographic covers. Cream uncoated interiors. Soft-touch matte laminated covers. Sprayed page edges available as a premium finish.
Novel-length works with Risograph-printed woodcut and engraving illustration plates — drawn from the vast public domain archive of Doré, Beardsley, Tenniel and others. A different kind of collector's edition.
Short-run poetry in a considered format. Saddle-stitched or perfect-bound. Designed with the same care as any longer title. Runs of 25–100 copies.
Independent and open-source comics. Saddle-stitched. Two-color Risograph printing for the right titles — the medium the format deserves.
Small-run illustrated picture books for independent authors. Bring us your manuscript and illustrations — we'll produce an edition your family will have for decades.
Self-published novels, artist books, zines, catalogues, limited editions. If it's printed and bound, we'd like to talk about it. Get in touch.
Our editorial focus
"Great writing deserves a beautiful home — regardless of when it was written or who owns the copyright."
We produce considered paperback editions of literature that has entered the public domain or been released under open licenses. These aren't print-on-demand dumps — they're typeset with care, designed with intention, and produced as objects worth owning.
Suggest a titleComing to the catalog
Titles subject to change · catalog growing
Print for hire
Beyond our own catalog, Greenhouse Press takes on print-for-hire work — short runs, considered projects, clients who care how things are made.
You bring the files. We print, bind, and finish your book — whether it's a family keepsake, a self-published novel, a personalized picture book, or an artist's edition. Any quantity from 1 copy upward.
A growing number of families are creating picture books for their children using AI illustration tools. We print them beautifully. Full color, professionally bound, the kind of book that gets kept.
Posters, flyers, event programs, bookmarks, business cards, and other printed materials. Short runs where commercial printers won't bother — handled with the same care as everything else we produce.
For artists, musicians, and makers who want their printed work to feel like it was made by someone who cares. Small runs, interesting stocks, saddle-stitched or folded formats.
How we finish
Printing is only part of what we do. Every Greenhouse Press book passes through a finishing process — binding, laminating, trimming — handled in-house with the same care as the printing itself.
Every color-printed cover we produce is finished with soft-touch matte laminate — a velvety, scuff-resistant film that feels as good as it looks. Applied in-house on our 27" hot roll laminator. This is standard on all our print-for-hire book work, not an upgrade.
Novels and longer poetry collections are perfect-bound — a flat spine, square-shouldered paperback. Shorter works, comics, and zines are saddle-stitched. Both are done in-house. We trim all books to final size on our guillotine cutter for clean, consistent edges.
A hand-applied color treatment to the trimmed page edges of a book — a tactile, visual detail that turns a paperback into an object. Applied by hand to each copy. Available as an add-on for novels and poetry collections. Ask about color options when you get in touch.
Frequently asked
What's the minimum order quantity?
For print-for-hire work, one copy. We genuinely mean it — if you want a single perfect-bound copy of your manuscript, we'll print it. For our own catalog titles, minimum run is typically 25 copies.
Do you design books too, or just print them?
We can discuss design consultation on a project-by-project basis. For most print-for-hire work we expect print-ready files, but if you need help getting there, ask — we're not unreasonable about it.
What file formats do you accept?
PDF is strongly preferred and produces the best results. We can work with InDesign and Affinity Publisher files. For picture books, high-resolution image files (300dpi minimum) work well.
How long does printing take?
Typically 5–10 business days for print-for-hire orders, depending on complexity and current workload. Rush jobs can sometimes be accommodated — get in touch and we'll be honest about what's possible.
Can I get a proof before the full run?
Yes, and for most projects we recommend it. A single proof copy is charged at the per-unit rate for the print run. We'd rather you see it in hand before we produce 50 copies.
What's Risograph printing and can I get it?
Risograph is a screen-printing-adjacent process that produces a distinctive warm, textured result beloved in indie publishing. We use it selectively for our own catalog. For client projects, ask — we'll talk through whether it suits your work.
Can you help me prepare files for Riso printing?
Yes. Riso requires artwork separated into individual grayscale layers — one per color. If you have finished artwork and need help preparing it for the process, we offer file preparation at our hourly rate. We're happy to work through color separation, registration, and halftone decisions with you.
Does all your print-for-hire work come with soft-touch lamination?
Yes — soft-touch matte lamination on covers is standard on all perfect-bound and saddle-stitched print-for-hire work, not an extra. We think it makes a meaningful difference to how a book feels in hand, so we include it rather than offer it as a paid upgrade.
Do you ship?
Yes. We ship domestically via USPS and UPS. Local pickup in the Allentown area is also available and welcome.
What makes Greenhouse Press different from a regular print shop?
We care about the same things you care about. Every project gets considered, not just processed. We're a small operation and that's entirely intentional — it means the person you're emailing is also the person printing your book.
Get in touch
Whether it's a print run of your novel, a dozen copies of a picture book for your family, a poster for your show, or a wholesale enquiry — we'd like to hear from you.
We respond to every message, usually within a couple of days. We're a one-person operation and we're not going to have you fill out a form just to get an auto-reply.
hello@printedbygreenhouse.com
printedbygreenhouse.com
Allentown, Pennsylvania