 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | 1. | Use "shells" and "imprints’ to save money on business cards | | | A good way to save is to preprint a larger quantity of "shells", which include your company's permanent information (logo, company name, etc.). Then, you can "imprint" each individual's information (name, title, phone, e-mail, address, etc.) in a smaller run. | | | | | | To minimize set-up costs (film, plates, press set-up, etc.), try to use only one color for the "imprint" and incorporate the other colors in the "shell". Increasing the number of names included in the "imprint" also reduces costs. For instance, if one person needs a card now, but you know that three others will need them soon, run all four together and the cost will be only slightly more than for a single "imprint". That's because business cards run at least 4-up on a press sheet. And the cost for film, plates and set-up time is the same whether you’re running one name up-four times or four names up-one time each per sheet. The only difference is paper and press time. | | | | | | | | | | 2. | Proof your document carefully before giving it to your printer | | | Print a laser copy of your document and check it for typos, copy changes, additions or deletions before it goes to your printer. If you wait until proofing to make revisions, you'll be charged for the changes because your printer will have to output new films. Re-outputting 4-color films can get very expensive. Simply adding a comma could require outputting of four new films. So, remember to thoroughly review your laser copy before films are made. And, always include a final laser copy with your disk so your printer can verify that what he or she sees on screen matches what you want. | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | 3. | Use a red pen/pencil for proofing | | | Familiarize yourself with the basic proofreader marks and always try to do your proofing in red. That way your corrections and changes will stand out on the page and be harder to overlook. | | | | | | | | | | 4. | Whenever possible, print on a converted envelope | | | It's less expensive and time-consuming to print on converted envelopes. If an envelope must first be printed flat and then converted, you'll add about four to six weeks to the process. Here are a few tips to help you design envelopes that won't require converting: | | | | a. | Don't bleed images off any edges. | | b. | Limit to two colors – three or four colors may be possible if registration isn't an issue. | | c. | Avoid solids that cover envelope seams. | | | | | | | | | | | 5. | Know your mailing requirements | | | Paying attention to basic mailing requirements up front can save you dollars down the line, especially for self-mailers. To ensure your piece goes through the Post Office’s automated equipment, the design orientation should be horizontal with the fold at the bottom of the mailing panel. Size and orientation determine whether your piece needs one or even two tabs. The bottom line: always make sure to check with the Post Office or mail house BEFORE printing a self-mailer to make sure it meets all postal requirements. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6. | Know the difference between CMYK and PMS spot color printing | | | Printing in spot color means the only color that can show up is the chosen PMS color or a screen (percentage) of that color. It’s accomplished by taking the selected color of ink from a can and putting it in a unit of the press for printing on paper. NOTE: A duotone is an exception. | | | | | | CMYK or 4-color process printing uses four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) to create all the colors of the rainbow. You get the whole spectrum by using these four colors in the press (CMY and K) in different combinations as small dots on paper. | | | | | | Printers can try to imitate a PMS color by "building" it in CMYK. The imagesetter (equipment that images your electronic file to film) outputs a combination of dots on film as close to the PMS color as possible. However, it isn't an exact match. If you need an exact match, you should add that PMS color to a fifth unit on the press and run your project as a 5-color job. | | | | | | | | | | 7. | Why do ink looks different on coated and uncoated paper? | | | Uncoated paper absorbs ink while coated paper keeps the ink on top reflecting more light and making the color(s) seem brighter. Metallic inks offer the biggest contrast. A silver metallic will look like an ordinary gray on uncoated paper. PMS colors also differ depending on the use of coated or uncoated stocks. Keep this in mind when you’re choosing inks and papers for your projects. | | | | | | | |
