How two print firms are boosting Chennai's stock — The Noel D’Cunha Sunday Column

The hum of the Canon press is steady, the foot traffic modest but dependable. On a street once buzzing with printers before demolition crews intervened, Diamond Xerox survives as a corner-shop constant. Behind the counter is M Radhika, a woman with a postgraduate degree in botany who never planned to run a print shop but now owns every inch of it.

M Radhika with her husband  

“I had no idea how to run a print shop,” she says, recalling the moment she stepped in after her brother-in-law’s death in 2015. She was stepping into a world of files, substrates, and deadlines. What she did have was her family. Her husband, who runs an electrical business, stood by her and continues to help with operations. Her in-laws encouraged her to keep the doors open. The Canon press upgrade was her decision. The Fiery calibration tweaks, her experiments. 1,000 daily prints? All her doing.

Diamond Xerox proves there’s still room for the walk-in print shop. Quick jobs. Fast delivery. A handshake’s worth of trust. It’s not a print empire, but it’s a business with a beating heart.

From botany to CMYK
With her background rooted in botany and no formal printing experience, Radhika learned the trade on the fly. When the family needed someone to take charge, she stepped in, motivated by responsibility and guided by sheer adaptability. “I had to keep the business running,” she says.

In 2016, she made the decision to replace the older Xerox press with a Canon digital press equipped with a Fiery front-end. This has provided Diamond Xerox a sharper edge, including duplex precision, substrate flexibility, and improved consistency for everything from wedding invitations to waterproof labels. Her husband helped her navigate technical issues, and she soon began solving routine problems on her own, from print lines to registration mismatches.

Unlike larger firms with pre-press departments and design teams, Diamond Xerox runs lean. Clients arrive with ready PDFs or image files. For those without, Radhika collaborates with designers nearby. The goal is quick turnaround, no frills, just reliable prints.

Technology that’s just enough
The Canon press handles substrates up to 350-gsm, including synthetic and non-tearable media. “We print on paper, film, and just about everything,” Radhika says. The company’s daily output averages 1,000 sheets, though larger orders, anything above 500, are directed to offset printers to keep costs in check. Ease of use is key. Radhika can troubleshoot most issues herself with phone support from Canon engineers. “I don’t have to wait for someone to come down,” she says. That autonomy is critical when every minute counts for clients wanting same-day delivery. Pricing is straightforward: INR 20 for a single-side print, INR 15 for additional prints, with discounts for bulk orders that still leave room for a modest INR three to INR four margin. “It’s enough for our needs,” she says.

Post-press tasks like lamination and binding are outsourced to specialists nearby. This keeps the operation focused and efficient. “We stick to what we do best,” she says. And it works, especially in a market like Chennai where speed and consistency win clients.

Chennai’s print street soul
Post-pandemic, India’s short-run digital print segment has surged, spurred by the demand for just-in-time printing and event-specific customisation. Chennai, with its tight-knit commercial districts like Royapettah, reflects that shift. Amid high-tech print hubs and export-ready operations, walk-in shops like Diamond Xerox still serve a massive local clientele.

The shop’s original location, on a prime main road, brought in steady foot traffic until a nearby building demolition reduced visibility. “Our earnings dropped, but the regulars still find us,” Radhika says. Her client base ranges from students and wedding planners to local filmmakers, all relying on fast turnaround and consistent quality.

Unlike larger commercial printers chasing volume, Diamond Xerox thrives on immediacy. “Customers want it today. They want to see a sample, approve it, and pick it up in two hours,” she says. That speed, paired with colour accuracy, is what sets her apart.
A future in modest growth

Diamond Xerox isn’t aspiring to become the next big name in Indian printing. Radhika’s goals are clear and practical: upgrade to a new Canon press in two years, double daily output, and possibly relocate to a better spot to regain lost foot traffic. The current press, now nearing a decade in use, remains reliable. “But a new machine could help us do more,” she says. Her dream isn’t of expansion but of optimisation, better tools for the same loyal clients.

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Samy Shrinath, founder of Print & Design, has built a versatile printing firm in Chennai, blending digital and offset capabilities to meet diverse client needs. From a self-taught designer to a business owner, his approach fuels the company’s growth in the city. 

Samy Shrinath, founder of Print & Design

In a Chennai print shop, Samy Shrinath recounts his journey from a 19-year-old newcomer to leading Print & Design. “I learnt design software online, without classes,” he says, highlighting the passion that shaped his career. Starting at Saroja Printers in Shrinath, originally from Hyderabad, transformed his skills into a 14-year-old business balancing urgent digital jobs with high-volume offset printing.

Founded in 2011, Print & Design evolved from brokering print jobs to operating a Canon V900 digital press and a Mitsubishi offset press. Employing 56 staff across 5,000-sqft, the firm produces brochures, packaging, leaflets, and gift items for clients needing quick turnarounds or bulk orders.

Shrinath emphasises innovation over price competition. “We prioritise quality and service,” he says. A new offset press planned for 2025 and specialised finishing aim to capture Chennai’s growing demand for enhanced prints. Resilience forged during the pandemic and strategic investments position Print & Design to thrive. By merging digital flexibility with offset capacity, the firm delivers quality outputs in a competitive market, meeting varied client expectations.

From humble beginnings to dual operations
Print & Design started in 2011 after Shrinath, then 23, left Saroja Printers, where he managed accounts and learnt design for two years. He arrived in Chennai at 19 due to his father’s migration. “I knew nothing about printing,” he admits, but self-taught design software online, driven by enthusiasm.

As an agent, Shrinath outsourced jobs to local presses, building a client base. In 2016, he acquired a Canon C800 digital press, enabling in-house printing of small-batch jobs like invitations, leaflets, and brochures. This shift allowed the firm to meet urgent demands efficiently.

In 2019, Print & Design invested in a five-colour Mitsubishi offset press to handle larger orders, expanding its capabilities. Post-recovery from the pandemic, the firm upgraded to a Canon V900 digital press in April 2025, supporting jobs such as posters and multi-fold leaflets.

The company operates two units, with a third planned for expanding to 8,000 square feet. This setup caters to both short-run and high-volume clients, offering flexibility across a range of print applications.

Chennai’s print sector, bolstered by post-Covid digital adoption, supports firms like Print & Design that blend digital and offset technologies to serve clients needing both speed and scale.

Technology for flexibility and scale
The Canon V900 digital press handles jobs up to 13x51-inches and supports variable data printing with PDF imposition software. “It calibrates colours automatically,” Shrinath explains, minimising manual tweaks.

The five-colour Mitsubishi offset press manages orders exceeding 100 sheets. Offset colour matching uses a monitor-based system, with operators adjusting density via printed strips. “Digital suits runs below 100,” Shrinath clarifies.

Digital presses handle a variety of substrates, while offset demands stricter tolerances. “They serve distinct needs,” he notes. This duality supports a wide range of print jobs.

Clients supply PDFs for pre-press, with the team handling minor adjustments like bleed and CMYK conversion. “We guide clients on RGB issues,” Shrinath says, ensuring files are print-ready.

Canon’s service team resolves issues swiftly, often within hours. In-house finishing includes cutting and centre-pin binding, with specialised tasks like lamination outsourced to keep operations lean and efficient.

Automation and operator skill drive consistent output. “Automation cuts waste, but operator skill is crucial,” Shrinath says. This approach aligns with Chennai’s shift towards efficient digital presses, driven by fast-turnaround expectations.

Operational model for diverse demands
A custom-built software system, developed with a freelancer, manages estimation, billing, and job scheduling. “It oversees every step,” Shrinath says, streamlining the process from order to delivery.

Digital printing handles urgent jobs under 100 sheets, such as 10–20-leaflet runs. Offset presses support bulk work like 1,000-unit packaging orders. This division optimises output and resource use.

The firm produces brochures, letterheads, wedding cards, stickers, leaflets, and paper bags, alongside outsourced gift items. This diversity helps meet varied customer expectations in a competitive environment.

Quality control relies on trained operators. Offset jobs involve manual colour matching, with proof approvals for key jobs. The V900’s auto-calibration ensures consistent output for time-sensitive assignments.

Print & Design achieves three-lakh impressions monthly and generates INR 21-lakh in billing. “We’ve recovered INR eight-lakh of the V900’s cost,” Shrinath says, with full recoupment expected within six months.

The facility supports in-house finishing; outsourcing is limited to highly specialised jobs. This hybrid model lets Print & Design balance agility with scale, ensuring client satisfaction.

Future plans in a shifting market
In 2025, Print & Design will add a 20x32-inch offset press in its third unit, expanding its footprint to 8,000-sqft. “It will boost packaging capacity,” Shrinath says, aligning with a broader market pivot as traditional commercial printing declines.

He is evaluating a INR one-crore investment in blue foil and UV finishing, citing a rising demand for embellished outputs. “Clients demand embellished prints,” he says. This upgrade aims to distinguish the firm in a market where speciality finishing is gaining ground. Shrinath replaces machines every five years to maintain technological relevance. He plans to retire the V900 by 2030, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to quality and consistency.

He advocates a broad client base. “Avoid relying on a single client,” he advises, cautioning against dependency on exclusive accounts. Diverse, high-value work offers insulation from market shifts and economic uncertainty.

Print & Design is also exploring online foil finishing to reduce material wastage. With a skilled team and planned investments, the firm is positioning itself for sustained growth in Chennai’s evolving print ecosystem.