Information Pack Printing - simple and very effective

I like producing products that are simple, clever and work really well.

We often get asked for a smart, cost-effective solution to folders and information packs. Well this little item is just the ticket. Prints up on a cost-effective sheet size, simple die-cut and then supply flat.

 The velcro fastener is an optional extra but quite often we supply with a tuck-in tab that is produced at the die-cutting stage

The benefit of such a design is that there is no gluing - this removes a lot of the labour -  by storing flat and only being made-up when required, they always look fresh and sharp.

Effective use of metallic inks for brochure printing

Metallics inks such as gold and silver can enhance the impact of your brochure but you must follow the tips below:

1). Always print onto coated stock. To achieve the desired iridescent effect the metallic ink must sit smoothly onto the paper surface. Uncoated papers and boards will kill the effective and the ink will look very flat.

2). Never cover the metallic inks with a Matt lamination. Printed brochures and catalogues usually have a lamination to the cover. Howver if you have metallic ink on your cover, a matt lamination will kill the iridescent effect. You will find, metallic silver will look grey, and gold will appear to be a standard brown.

3). Use Spot UV: if you do have to have a matt lamination to your brochure or catalogue and you want your metallics to stand out and not look flat then apply a spot UV to the metallic area - you will find that the metallic iridescent effect will return. Gloss lamination enhances the metallic effect so if you need to laminate and spot UV is not in your budget then go this option.

4). Increase metallic coverage area: the larger the printed metallic area, the better the metallic effect. So for example, if the inside of your product catalogue is plain then this is an opportunity to cover with a metallic.

5). There are other metallics other than gold and silver: ther are some great metallic ink colours on the market - choosing one of these can make your marketing brochure stand out out from the rest.

Corporate Invitation Printing Ideas & Tips - London

In a world of emails and texts, receiving a beautifully printed corporate invitation can make a huge impact and be the difference between success and failure of an event.

Here are 3 Tips and ideas worth considering when producing and designing a Corporate Invitation

Tip 1. Whatever you design or wish to have designed make sure there is an envelope to fit. There is a way round this, but if you have a tight budget use a quality standard envelope

Tip 2. If you only need a few invitations then it makes sense to print these digitally. A good digital press will bring outstanding results, but if your design requires Pantone specials or metallics then you are forced to print litho - this is more expensive and takes longer to produce.

Tip 3. Choose the correct material. If you are going to write on the inviations then coated boards can be a problem. We have produced matt laminated invitations and then used CD pens to write on them - so there is often a work round.

Quite often, less is more, I really like this one; not only is it simple but it has it's own sleeve & envelope and is more economic to produce than other designs.

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.