Publishing

How to Crowdfund and Print with Kickstarter and Mixam

Learn how to start a campaign and print your project for crowdfunding.

Mixam

16 Oct 2025 — 8 min read

Introduction

Creators everywhere are rediscovering the joy of print. In a time when so much happens online, holding a finished book, zine, or art print feels personal and real. In this post, we’ll show you how to launch a crowdfunding campaign, explore printing options, and create work that backers will love to support.

Introducing Mixam: Your Printing Partner

Mixam delivers outstanding custom print products worldwide. Our intuitive platform allows you to design, upload, and order prints with an extensive range of customization options, making printing fast, simple, and affordable. From comic books and graphic novels to photo books and magazines, Mixam gives you the tools, resources, and support to self-publish printed work that keeps your campaign moving and helps you reach your funding goals.

Why print with Mixam?

Free Instant Quotes: Simply enter your project specifications into our Instant Quote Calculator to see transparent pricing with no hidden fees and estimated shipping dates. Mixam’s bulk printing service also lets you save more as you order larger quantities, maximizing your profit margin.
Wide-Ranging Customization Options: You can choose from over 4,500 possible print combinations, including a variety of sizes, paper types and weights, binding options, and cover laminations, giving you the flexibility to tailor every project to your needs.
Free Built-In Design Tools: Our built-in design tools streamline the design process. You can download free templates to guide your layout in your design program or use our Design Online tool to create print-ready files with pre-made layouts, typefaces, and graphics. Our Photo Book Editor is better suited for creating photographic projects.
Sophisticated Online Proofing System: Our proofing system catches common printing issues automatically when you upload your files, such as low image resolution or missing bleed. You can also download proofs or view your project as a virtual flipbook to check page order and overall layout.
Dedicated Support: Our team of experienced print experts is available by chat, phone, and email to make sure your files are ready for production. Plus, our AI Smart Print Assistant can help you find the right product, get quotes, and answer print-related questions. It can even recommend specifications that best fit your project!
Print-On-Demand Service (PrintLink): Mixam’s PrintLink makes it easy for creators to sell and ship print products without handling inventory or distribution. Copies are printed only when an order is placed, so you avoid upfront costs and reduce waste. You can update pricing at any time, and each product comes with a personalized, shareable link that can be added to your website or a third-party platform.

Why Print Matters: Brandon Stosuy on Creativity and Tangibility

Brandon Stosuy is the cofounder and editor in chief of The Creative Independent and the Head of Editorial Strategy at Kickstarter. He was the director of Editorial Operations at Pitchfork and curates the Basilica SoundScape festival in Hudson, New York. He has also worked with MoMA PS1 and The Broad Museum. Brandon is the author of Make Time for Creativity, Stay Inspired, How to Fail Successfully, and Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears.

We asked Brandon to share his insights on how print helps creators connect with their audience and how Mixam makes the process easy and accessible.

What did you print with Mixam?

Over the years, I’ve printed a number of TCI zines at Mixam. There are four core zines that we’ve reprinted twice: On making a living as an artist, On dealing with creative anxiety, On finding your voice, and On feeling healthy.

We also did a collaborative zine with my friend Elia Einhorn about sobriety and creativity, which was called Sober 21. And, actually, as we speak, we’re at work on a Kickstarter zine for the Essen Spiel game fair (in Essen, Germany)—this zine takes the form of a roll-and-write game and teaches folks how to run a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Why do you think print still resonates with so many, and what does it bring to a crowdfunding campaign?

These days, folks seem a bit burnt out on being online all the time, and so there’s been a real return to print and analog in general. I’ve seen it in different areas of my life! It reminds me a lot of when I was a kid, doing zines in the 90s. I know a bunch of people now, who are teens or in their early 20s, who are making zines again, putting on their own DIY shows, etc.

As far as crowdfunding campaigns, print just does feel really special. It’s cool to get something in the mail and to be able to hold it in your hands. Having a physical object to share (and to receive) is such a satisfying thing. It really feels like a prize. Everyone loves getting mail, right?

What advice would you give to someone considering Mixam’s printing service?

I’d say don’t be afraid. I’m really not a designer, but I found it easy to use and super intuitive. Also, I love that the folks at Mixam will give you feedback if they think an image is too dark, or a font is not readable, or if something isn’t going to print well, etc. That kind of back-and-forth has given me a real safety net as I’ve worked on zines and zine reprints.

So, yeah, I’d say: No need to be a print expert or a designer, but in the end, when folks see what you’ve made, you’ll 100% appear like a print expert and a designer. Mixam really does help make things easy.

Why did you choose Mixam?

For these, we wanted to make sure all aspects of the production were self-contained and quick. We also needed to ship the zines to different conferences in both the US and abroad, and Mixam was able to do that seamlessly. Then, after that, because the first project went so well, we stuck with Mixam as our go-to.

Top Benefits of Crowdfunding

Expand Your Reach and Grow Your Community: You can attract and connect with a global audience who is genuinely excited about your work. The more people who see your campaign, the faster you can reach your funding goals. Many creators also gain brand recognition and media coverage, helping their campaigns get noticed beyond their immediate network.
Retain Creative Independence: You control every aspect of your project, from content and design to pricing and timelines, without needing publisher or investor approval. This creative freedom allows you to innovate while staying true to your vision.
Test Ideas and Generate Excitement: Crowdfunding provides a safe space to try new concepts. You can offer special editions, limited-run products, or complementary items to see what resonates with your audience. It’s also a great way to generate pre-orders and build excitement before your launch.
Bypass Traditional Funding Limitations: Traditional funding options can be restrictive or require loans and repayments. Crowdfunding lets creators get funding directly from their audience, so you can spend more time creating and less time worrying about finances.

Bring Your Crowdfunding Campaign to Life with Mixam

Backers love receiving something they can hold. With Mixam, you can create beautiful printed rewards that enhance your campaign and leave a lasting impression.

Plan Your Project: Define your concept and audience. Ask yourself: What story does your comic, zine, or art book tell? Who do you want to support it? Careful planning at this stage ensures your campaign stays centered and increases your chances of reaching your funding goals.
Start Your Campaign: Set rewards, deadlines, and funding targets. Consider offering exclusive or limited-edition items to generate excitement and motivate backers. A well-structured campaign gives backers clear reasons to pledge and helps you build early momentum.
Create Your Prints: Select your print specifications, start designing your files, or use Mixam’s design tools. Even if you’re a novice, you can create beautiful prints that impress backers and offer memorable rewards.
Fulfill with Print: Use Mixam’s bulk printing or print-on-demand service to produce and ship your items efficiently. High-quality printing strengthens your credibility and encourages backers to share your campaign.
Engage Your Backers: Printed rewards spark excitement, encourage feedback, and help you grow your audience. You can invite backers to post photos or reviews to boost visibility and attract new pledges.

How To Get Started with Mixam

As of October 9th, 2025, we’re inviting all Mixam customers to print any items they need to get their campaigns started faster.

Get Started:

Register: Sign in to your Mixam account or register and enter KSSMX in the Invite Code field.
Start Your Order: Get a free quote on any item and add it to your cart.
Apply Your Discount: Enter Kickstarter5 at checkout for 5% off.

Eligibility: Offer expires December 31st, 2025, 11:59 PM local time. Payment must be received within the promotional period to qualify. One discount per customer; cannot be used more than once or combined with other promotions or referral codes.

Register an account on Mixam’s website today and get 5% off your next order. For instant print support, visit Mixam’s website and talk to our print experts via chat. For Kickstarter-related questions, visit Kickstarter Support.