FAN EXPO Chicago Printing
The ultimate guide to production deadlines, shipping dates, and Indie Comics and Graphic Novels for FAN EXPO Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.
"FAN EXPO Chicago is a premier pop culture event celebrating comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. It brings together fans for celebrity Q&As, cosplay, panels, and a vast exhibitor hall."
* Please note that attendance and artist alley information may be estimates, inaccurate, or based on previous years.
Why Print With MCE?
Professional printing for FAN EXPO Chicago attendees and creators.
100% In-House & Private
Unlike other print shops where production is outsourced, we do everything in-house. Only our team (the exact same demographic buying your products!) will ever be working on your files. Completely streamlined and secure.
Specialty Offerings
Large commercial printers will often completely reject complex Artist Alley finishes or outsource them immediately. We produce custom foiling, soft touch lamination, and unique bundling directly under one roof.
Japanese Print Technology
We utilize over 12 different swappable screens in our state-of-the-art Japanese production presses, bringing you the absolute best premium halftones, flawless edges, and solid colors without the need for massive minimum runs.
Domestic & Uncensored
Because our facility is domestically operated here in the U.S., there is absolutely zero need for censorship. We proudly support independent artists creating whatever art they want.
What Creators Say
Join thousands of artists trusting us with their table inventory.
"Really crisp accurate quality on the internal pages! I always worry about screen tones coming out either blurred or too dark with other printers, but this looked perfect! The customer service was also really quick, helpful and communicative through my bumbling. Shipping was also fast and packed very securely. Highly recommended! "
"The cover and interior pages came out so nice! I especially love how crisp the black ink printed out in the interior pages. Production turnaround was also very fast!"
"Turnaround time was fast! Interior pages are crisp. Looking forward to trying uncoated paper for interior pages next. Also excited for future new cover stock options for saddlestitch :D"
Important Deadlines
FAN EXPO Chicago
Chicago, Illinois • 8/14/2026
The Ultimate Sizing Guide
Not sure what sizes to order for your booth? Here is what successful table vendors stock. ‡
Art Prints & Posters
4"x6" & 5"x7"
Extremely popular sizes for affordable bundle deals (e.g. 3 for $10). Mini prints are giftable, highly collectable, and don't require the customer to carry a large poster tube, increasing conversion rates fast.
8.5"x11" & 8"x10"
The classic letter-size bracket. These feel much more substantial than mini prints but remain highly affordable. 8x10 is especially popular because it fits readily available, cheap frames.
11"x17"
The undisputed industry standard poster size for Anime and Comic conventions. Fits perfectly in standard vendor display portfolios and commands a higher price point while still being manageable.
12"x18"
For your absolute best artwork that demands attention. Hang these high on your wire grids as anchor pieces to draw attendees in from across the hall. Standard commercial 12x18 size allows for flawless bleed edges.
Books & Doujinshi
B/W Doujinshi
Authentic, high-volume black and white doujinshi printing. We use advanced commercial halftone screening to ensure your screentones, gradients, and inking map perfectly to paper without moiré patterns.
Color Doujinshi
Premium, vibrant full-color doujinshi and artbook printing. Ideal for convention artists looking to showcase digital illustrations, photography, or colorful graphics with stunning accuracy.
Western Comic
Perfect for shorter-run zines, floppy comics, and fanzines. Featuring full color interiors and beautiful saddle-stitch binding for that classic comic book feel that easily lays flat.
Standard Manga
Industry standard paperback styling. For any story over 40 pages, or if you want a professional spine to display on a shelf at an Artist Alley table, perfect binding is the superior choice for your graphic novel.
** Book pricing examples are dynamically calculated for Full-Color Covers on premium 100# Silk Cover stock. Interior pages are 60# Uncoated Text. Rates fluctuate based on paper selection, page count, and material availability.
‡ Prices shown are base estimates and do not include applicable taxes or calculated shipping.
Top Products for FAN EXPO Chicago
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