Print Calculator
The print calculator helps estimate print price and collect quote inquiries from your website.
What it does
The calculator can use print profiles and pricing settings to estimate a job from uploaded model data and selected parameters.
It is useful for:
- quote forms on your website,
- internal price checks,
- comparing print profiles,
- collecting customer inquiries,
- standardizing pricing logic.
Print profiles
A print profile defines how a calculation should behave. Profiles can represent different production methods, printers, or pricing setups.
Use separate profiles when pricing differs significantly, for example:
- fast draft printing,
- standard production printing,
- high-detail printing,
- large-format printing,
- special materials.
Pricing settings
Pricing can include several cost parts, such as:
- material cost,
- electricity cost,
- printer usage or depreciation,
- maintenance,
- labor or handling,
- margin.
Keep these numbers realistic. A calculator is only useful if the profile reflects your actual production cost.
Website embed
The calculator can be embedded on an external website. Use this when customers should be able to upload a model and request a quote without manually emailing files.
Before publishing the embed:
- create or choose a print profile,
- configure pricing,
- allow the correct domain,
- test the form from the real website,
- verify that inquiries arrive in Printerhive.
Customer inquiries
Calculator inquiries collect the customer request and uploaded model. Review each inquiry before accepting work.
Check:
- file quality,
- printability,
- quantity,
- requested material,
- customer notes,
- estimated price,
- whether support or post-processing is needed.
Common mistakes
- Using one profile for every material and printer.
- Forgetting to allow the website domain.
- Publishing the calculator before testing a real inquiry.
- Treating the estimate as a final quote without checking the model.