Perfect Binding and PUR Binding for brochures and catalogues

It is important when you have your brochures and catalogues printed that you choose the correct type of binding for the job. The following are factors to consider:

How many pages will the finished product have. The number of pages along with the weight of paper will determine the size of the spine. For most brochures and catalogues under 40 pages then stitching the document will be the ideal solution. Stitching with 2 wires is neat, durable and allows the document to lay flat on the table or desk.

Saddle-stitched programme for pantomime

If the catalogue is more substantial and you require a spine then there are a two options: Perfect binding or PUR binding. The main difference is the adhesive used in the binding process.  Perfect binding uses ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) adhesives whereas PUR uses polyurethane reactive (PUR) adhesives. PUR adhesive offers better adhesion over EVA and also the ability for the bound book to lay flat without compromising the binding strength. PUR binding is more expensive and also requires longer to 'cure' therefore taking longer to finish.

PUR Binding for Wine List

Wiro binding is ideal when you require a the brochure to lay completely flat on the desk - you lose a spine but wiro is fantastic for presentations where you need everyone to 'stay on the page'.

Wiro binding for Suzuki Document

Property Brochure Printing - enhancing value

High value properties and developments require quality marketing collateral to create prestige and add value. Cheaper properties never make it to'paper' these days which immediately suggests a clear separation between cheap and expensive properties. So by definition if you produce a brochure for your property you automatically enhance its perceived value.

With digital printing, high quality short run jobs become economically viable, with print runs as low as 30 copies.

The brochure below, La Durantie is printed on an uncoated stock to create a rustic yet upmarket look and feel. This is a development in the French countryside so the stock chosen is an important aspect of the finished product.

Making the brochure interesting with pockets and location maps, pull-out plans all add to the interest and engagement of the reader.
 

High Quality Digital Printing in London and Kent

There are many companies offering digital printing but the quality variations are huge as are the prices. There are many different presses on the market and they are improving almost on a six monthly cycle.
At Avenue, we fit the press to the job, (as opposed to most printers where the job has to fit on their machinery) thereby ensuring the very best quality and value for each job.
In addition to this, there are digital manufacturers who are better priced for multipage short run  brochures than say flyers or printed stationery.
One of the other benefits to digital printing other than economic is the speed of turn round. Again we find that some of our manufacturers may take a little longer than average but produce a superior job. This is also true of finishing; I have witnessed beautiful print only to be let down down by appalling trimming and binding.
If you find the right digital printer to do your job you will get the perfect job for a lot less than you thought.

Catalogue printing builds customer loyalty

Catalogue printing can appear to be something of a luxury when it's so easy to pop your products up onto your website and wait for the orders to come in.

OK, you've got to make sure you can be found by the search engines or you may have emailed prospective clients a link to your website. This is standard practice but it also means that everyone else is doing the same as you and that when your prospect searches for a product you may not be in the Google top 5 and never get a look in.

A printed catalogue is an invaluable tool to send to customers and prospects. Only last week, Next reported 11.8% increase in their Directory business as opposed to 3.5% fall in profits in the rest of their business. Once someone has your catalogue they are no longer looking at the competition. This helps ensure you not only keep their bsuiness but also helps maintain your margins.

So next time you think "can I afford to produce a printed catalogue"  or invest in brochure printing , the question you maybe should be asking is, "Can I afford not to?"

2 quick tips to save money on printed folders

Most companies are trying to save money in this economic climate but not all want to compromise on the quality of their printed marketing collateral. If you send information out and think you can't afford a beautifully printed folder to put your brochures, leaflets and price lists in then here's 2 easy ways to save money on your print.

1). Glued Pocket folder or self-locking folder?

With self-locking folders you simply make them up as and when you need them. They are die-cut,  creased and flat. Not only do they take up less storage but also it's 'you' making them up so you're not paying for the print finisher to apply a glue strip, make the folders up and then repack in boxes. In addition to this labour saving, your self-lock folders take up less room in storage. If you like a sample(s) of different types of folder mechanisms then contact us and we will send you some.

Capacity pocket folder or non-capacity folder: If your folder needs to hold more than 15 pages  and standard weight paper (anything up to 170gsm) then you do not need capacity. Anymore than that then the folder needs capacity which means putting in a double crease on the spine and pocket. So, typically if you're sending a lot of information out you will need anything from 3mm to 10mm capacity. You can still have a self-locking mechanism but they do take longer to make up.

2). Make the pocket smaller. For a  folder to take standard A4 items, a pocket of less than 100mm  means that your folder can be printed on a SRA2 sheet rather than B2 sheet. This can save a few hundred pounds in some cases. 

The perfect print finish for brochures and catalogues

Clients often ask us what the best lamination finish is for their brochures and catalogues. There are two main factors to consider here: the look and feel and then secondly the practicality. Lets look at the pros and cons for each laminate

• Gloss lamination : Pros: Hi gloss finish, doesn't show any scratches, increases colour print intensity, durable and protective print finish. Cons: can give the document  the 'Chinese takeaway menu' factor.


• Matt lamination: Pros: soapy, silky feel, non reflective. Cons: flattens the colours (ie Black print looks more grey in tone), scratches and marks easily. If you were to run your nail onto a matt laminated cover a dark line would be visible. Although durable, the covers could look tatty due to marking.

Personally I prefer the look and feel of matt laminate over gloss lamination. So, if the final printed item is more design led then this would be my preference. Conversely if the you are looking to produce a printed product catalogue, then gloss is probably the best option.