If you've worked with a commercial printer for any length of time, it's likely that at some point they've asked you to supply your files in CMYK, or they may have told you that the color of your job shifted because your files had to be converted to CMYK. If you didn't know that meant, and were brave enough to ask, your printer undoubtedly told you that CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.
Unfortunately, you were told wrong.
If you've ever worked with a commercial printer, chances are you've heard them mention paper weights in relation to your job's cost and quality. You can usually get the basic idea that heavier weights amount to higher quality and costs, but it can get really confusing once you start comparing text weights to cover weights, and so forth.
Also, you might wonder why your printer tells you the paper is 26 lbs, but the finished product is considerably lighter — where does that measurement come from, and how do paper weights work anyway?
Picas, pronounced PIE - KAH, are a typographic measuring system developed in 1785 by François-Ambroise “L'éclat” Didot that replaced the traditional cicéro measurement system. Comprised of 12 “Points,” Picas are still the standard measuring system for typography today, but many designers still prefer to use more widely accepted measurements such as inches and millimeters. So today we'll try to answer the question: What are Points and Picas - and what's the difference?
Recently, PrintInTheMix, published the results of a study detailing the influence of “Print, Digital, and Social [Medias] on Today’s Purchase Decision”.
The study broke the purchase decision process into three parts;
What do you say when confronted by someone convinced that online billing statements will save the environment from the damage done by the traditional paper statements we send through the mail?
We as consumers can challenge some of the inaccurate statements that are being represented as fact.
“Well I guess this digital thing isn’t just a trend,” I overheard "Fred" say as I walked the floor of Graph Expo last week in Chicago. For those who don’t know, Graph Expo is the biggest annual Print and Graphic Communication trade show in North America. For "Fred" and other career printers like him, this year’s expo must have been a total cultural shock. Certainly, the past two years have not been easy on the printing industry. However, what was glaringly obvious is that out of that struggle has emerged a bright new digital future for the industry.
Something happened to me the other day; I received a piece of direct mail. Now normally this would not be a momentous occasion. After all, we all receive piles of direct mail every day. However, what made this particular piece of mail extraordinary was the sender – GOOGLE!
When it comes to Internet giants, Google stands out as greatest behemoth of them all. The company is pervasive in our daily lives, and its brand name itself has become a verb (“google it”). So what does an innovative, online company like Google do when it wants to market a service or offer a special promotion? They send out a printed direct mail piece!
The Printing Industry is full of jargon that serves to confuse and frustrate customers and outsiders. Below are some common terms used in the printing industry.
Against the grain: Folding or feeding paper at right angles to the grain direction of the paper. On some stocks folding against the grain can result in quality control issues.
Aqueous Coating/Flood Coat: A coat of varnish applied to a sheet on press that protects a printed piece from scuffs and scratches.
Basic size: All papers have an assigned basic sized. For example; 25 x 38 for book papers, 20 x 26 for cover papers, 22 1/2 x 28 1/2 or 22 1/2 x 35 for bristols, 25 1/2 x 30 1/2 for index.
Basis weight: The weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper at basic size (see above). Example, 50# Book paper: 500 sheets at basic size of 25" x 38" weighs 50 lbs.
Blanket: A rubber-surfaced fabric wrapped around a cylinder that is used to transfer an image from the plate to the paper. A primary component of offset printing.
Print is unique amongst all other forms of communication in that it is textural as well as visual. Both the “look” and the “feel” are benefits of print.
Paper selection is one of the most important aspects to consider when designing and producing a printed piece. Paper selection can have a profound affect on the finished quality of a job, and yet it is often overlooked. Paper selection is not as easy as choosing the most expensive paper available for high quality jobs, or choosing the cheapest paper in order to cut costs. By remembering a few important steps you can ensure that right paper is being used for your job and learn how to choose the right paper.
Okay, okay. I am a printer but I admit it: The Internet is an amazing media tool. As providers of traditional print communications, we need to NOT be Ostriches. Instead, we need to strive daily to keep our heads firmly out of the sand and see the value of electronic media. Having admitted that, nevertheless, the forecast for print is bright indeed.
Now hold on, Casey Printing may be located in a little farm town in rural California, but we do have electricity, and consequently, access to the World Wide Web. Yes, it’s stupendous, glorious and sexy, but, like the frosting on a cake, its only part of the mix. When you want to have your cake, and eat it too, you better put print in the mix.
Consider the following from the 2008 Publishing Advertising Trends Study:
