April 15th, 2013
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Web Presses Offer Economical Option
In most cases, you have two options for printing multi-signature publications and books. The first is sheetfed offset custom printing. In this case, sheets of printing paper are fed one at a time into a small to mid-sized press. In most cases, you print one side of the sheet (sending it through four or more ink units) and then air dry the sheets. Once the ink has dried, you re-feed the press sheets into the press to print the opposite side of the paper. (In some cases, on “perfecting” presses, you can print both sides of the sheet in one pass, but this is not always an option.) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Web Presses Offer Economical Option
April 10th, 2013
Posted in Packaging | Comments Off on Custom Packaging Printing: Blister Packs and Clamshell Packaging
I learned a new phrase yesterday: “clamshell packaging.” So I did some research, and I checked out the online photos. I saw a vast expanse of commercial printing opportunities within the arena of packaging, including medical supplies like gauze pads in blister packs with printed peel-off lids, and pharmaceutical samples in fold-over blister packs that allow you to push a pill out of the packaging through the printed foil cover. I saw hardware supplies (screws, for instance) in plastic clamshell packages with fold-over lids. I even saw hamburgers in printed cardboard or cellulose clamshell packages. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Packaging | Comments Off on Custom Packaging Printing: Blister Packs and Clamshell Packaging
April 4th, 2013
Posted in Brochure Printing | Comments Off on Brochure Printing: Scrutinize Specs for Recurring Jobs
“The specs will be the same as last year’s job.”
As a printing broker, I love recurring publications, anything from book printing to brochure printing jobs. However, I don’t like to make assumptions. So when I read these words recently in an email from a client, I carefully reviewed the specs from last year’s job. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Brochure Printing | Comments Off on Brochure Printing: Scrutinize Specs for Recurring Jobs
April 3rd, 2013
Posted in Postcard Printing | Comments Off on Postcard Printing: Analysis of a Sample Postcard
I just received a postcard today from a local printer. I happen to know that this commercial printing vendor specializes in multichannel marketing: i.e., helping clients increase their ROI (return on investment) by coordinating multiple channels of information, from offset and digital printing to email blasts and PURLs. They provide solutions. They don’t just put ink on paper. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Postcard Printing | Comments Off on Postcard Printing: Analysis of a Sample Postcard
March 27th, 2013
Posted in Prepress | 2 Comments »
Every so often someone asks me whether they can design their commercial printing projects in MS Word. This is particularly true for staff at large companies in which most people have a copy of MS Word, or for government workers who initially draft their publications in MS Word. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Prepress | 2 Comments »
March 23rd, 2013
Posted in Self-Publishing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Self-Publishing as a Labor of Love
I wrote a blog article a few months ago about a self-published World War II personal history book. I have had some insights as the print book design has progressed, and I thought you might find them useful in your own design work. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Self-Publishing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Self-Publishing as a Labor of Love
March 20th, 2013
Posted in Book Printing, Negotiations, Soft Cover Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Polybag Scuffing Problems in the Mail
For the past few years I have been designing, laying out, and brokering the printing of a non-profit educational foundation directory. For the most part, the process has gone like clockwork. It’s good money, and I enjoy working with the organization. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing, Negotiations, Soft Cover Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: Polybag Scuffing Problems in the Mail
March 13th, 2013
Posted in Prepress | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Quark Xpress Is Still Alive and Kicking
I just read an article about Quark in the 12/26/12 online issue of www.creativepro.com: “Catching Up with Quark” by Jay J. Nelson. I was pleased to see that Quark is still alive and kicking. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Prepress | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Quark Xpress Is Still Alive and Kicking
March 10th, 2013
Posted in Prepress | Comments Off on Commercial Printing: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
I’ve been receiving Adobe Creative Cloud promotions in the mail for several months now, so I thought I’d do a little research into the new service. After all, I do a little graphic design on the side in addition to my writing and commercial printing brokerage work. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Prepress | Comments Off on Commercial Printing: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
March 8th, 2013
Posted in Envelope Printing | Comments Off on Envelope Printing: Standard Envelopes Need Not Be Boring
Many months ago in a PIE Blog article, I listed a number of envelope printing options. I focused on paper weight (the thickness of the custom envelopes you might choose for a business letter vs. a formal invitation, for instance) and on how to leave enough space for the enclosure without needing to print and convert an odd-sized envelope for a premium price. (That is, you should choose a standard envelope printing size first and then create a slightly smaller enclosure that will fit. If you design the insert first, you may need a custom-made envelope to fit your piece.) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Envelope Printing | Comments Off on Envelope Printing: Standard Envelopes Need Not Be Boring