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TECHNICALAdvice
Paper Types.
Bond
Usually used for letterheads and
business stationery. The paper can have a watermark (eg. Conqueror) but this can
add a lot to the cost. We can source paper that is just as good in quality
as Conqueror, but cheaper in price.
Gloss Art
The most commonly used paper for
magazines, newsletters, booklets, leaflets, fliers and posters. Has a glossy
finish but doesn't need 'sealing', meaning that if you use gloss paper, your
quote will usually be a bit cheaper than silk paper (see below).
Matt Art
Also used for magazines, newsletters
and leaflets - although it is not as common as gloss art. It is generally a
little bit more expensive than gloss art. However, if you want your publication
to stand out from the crowd, matt art can sometimes look really nice. It depends
on the particular print job. Call us for advice on which one to choose.
Silk Art
As the name suggests, this is a
half-way-house between gloss art and matt art. It gives a slightly shiny finish
to most magazines, newsletters and leaflets, but is not too glossy. Silk art
paper itself is usually pretty similar in price to gloss art paper. However,
your overall print quote will be a bit higher because silk art paper needs to
have a 'seal' applied to prevent the ink from smudging.
IMPORTANT NOTE: some unscrupulous
printers try to cut costs by printing on silk paper without applying a seal.
This is a big risk as your finished job could end up looking terrible if it
starts to smudge. If you do choose to use silk art paper, you must insist that
the printer uses a seal.
Card
At the risk of stating the obvious,
this is usually used for postcards. If you are having a postcard printed then
you will usually also want a gloss or matt laminate applied on one or both sides
of the card.
Lamination
If you require the paper to be
laminated, please put this in the 'Other Details' section, stating whether you
require matt laminate, gloss laminate or spot UV. Call us anytime if you need
some friendly advice.
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Binding Methods.
Saddle Stitched or Stapled (up to
about 80 pages)
The vast majority of publications (eg.
magazines, newsletters, etc) are 'saddle stitched'). This is actually just
another name for having 2 staples on the spine. This is by far the cheapest
method and is recommended for any publication up to about 60 - 80 pages.
Perfect Binding (over about 80 pages)
This is the same style as a paperback
book. If you have more than about 80 pages, then you need to use either perfect
binding or wiro/spiral binding. Perfect binding is the cheaper option, but if
your publication is going to be used frequently and the pages are going to be
turned a lot, then it is usually better to use wiro/spiral binding (see below)
for durability and ease of use.
Wiro or Spiral Binding (any
number of pages)
This is the most expensive option. It
is generally used for publications that need to have a long shelf life and will
be referred to regularly. Because of the way the pages are bound, they can be
turned 360 degrees, making this method very useful for technical manuals,
directories and booklets where the pages need to be turned frequently.
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Paper Weights.
We
offer the full range of paper weights and you can choose whichever weight you
prefer. However, below is a general guide to the different weights you would
normally use for various printed items.
It is
worth noting that as long as you stick to the standard weights listed below,
there isn't a vast difference in prices.
So don't think that having a heavier
weight will necessarily cost a lot more money. It's usually worth paying a
little bit more for a heavier weight if it's going to improve the quality of
your publication.
80gsm -
used for sales brochures
with lots of pages (60+) where you want to keep your postage costs to a minimum.
However, this weight is not recommended unless you are sending out a very large
number of copies and therefore postage costs are a major issue for you. It is
generally too thin and flimsy for most items.
100gsm -
commonly used for
letterheads printed on bond paper.
130gsm -
used for magazines
and newsletters with 24+ pages.
Also often used for leaflets and fliers
- although we would normally recommend using 150gsm to give your leaflet a more
substantial feel.
150gsm
- commonly used for magazines and newsletters.
This weight gives more 'bulk' than 130gsm, so if your newsletter has less than
24 pages, we recommend you use 150gsm as it will give the publication a better
feel and make it more sturdy. This paper weight is also often used for
leaflets, fliers and posters.
170gsm
- Sometimes used for magazines and newsletters,
but we wouldn't recommend it for more than 16
pages as it will feel a bit too bulky.
170gsm can also be used for leaflets and fliers
if you want them to be quite substantial in feel.
170gsm is a good weight to use for larger posters (eg A2)
especially if you want them to be
fairly durable.
200gsm
- Occasionally used for fliers (ie. like a leaflet, but with no folds). However,
we don't recommend this weight for folded leaflets or magazines.
300gsm
- Sometimes used for postcards, but it feels slightly lighter than a standard
postcard.
350gsm
- The weight usually used for postcards. Please note that this weight is almost
always unsuitable for digital printing machines as it can make digital machines
jam up. Therefore, if your print run is quite small and you choose to use a
digital printing company (rather than litho), then we would advise the use of
300gsm card.
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Number of Pages.
When producing newsletters,
magazines and booklets it can sometimes work out more economical if the total
number of pages is divisible by 8. This isn't always the case, but it is worth
bearing in mind when deciding how many pages to have.
For example, if your magazine has 12
pages, you might want to consider increasing it to 16 pages as it won't add a
massive amount to the cost. Likewise, a 20 page publication would not cost a lot
more to print if it had 24 pages.
Much
depends on the printing method that is used and the actual size of your
publication. If you are unsure, give us a call on 0113 279 6844
and we'll be happy to give free and impartial advice.
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Environmental Issues.
FSC/PEFC labelled products are
made with consideration for sustainability of the forest and its people,
wildlife and the environment. It guarantees that the trees harvested are
replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally. FSC is the only wood certification
scheme to be endorsed by the major environmental charities such as WWF, Friends
of the Earth, Greenpeace and The Woodland Trust.
FSC/PEFC is a chain of custody,
giving information about the make up of the paper (its post-consumer,
pre-consumer and virgin content). The paper then can be traced back from the
printer through the supply chain to its original source. A paper trail proves
its origin, allowing a claim about the paper content to be accurately made.
By selecting an FSC/PEFC paper
you can use the FSC/PEFC logo on your printed brochures, leaflets, posters, etc,
therefore demonstrating your ethical stance.
If you would like more
details please contact us by clicking
here.
NOTES
Forests Stewardship Council (FSC) is an
international organisation that brings people together to find solutions which
promote responsible stewardship of the world's forests.
PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit organisation which promotes
the sustainability of forests.
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Artwork and Graphic Design.
Doing
the Graphic Design yourself
1. Our preferred format for providing
artwork is high resolution PDF set at a minimum of 300 DPI.
2. Artwork can be also supplied in
formats such as Quark Xpress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft
Publisher, Microsoft Word and various other software. Please call us for full
details.
3. Please allow 3mm bleed on all edges
of the document.
4. Please provide electronic copies of
all fonts that are used in the document.
5. We provide you with pdf screen
proofs free of charge. However, we cannot guarantee exact colour matching with
screen proofs, so If you require exact colour matching then we recommend you
have colour calibrated paper proofs made, which we can provide for a small extra
charge.
We can do the Graphic Design
for you (possibly FREE !!!)
Our team of professional graphic
designers can design the item for you for a small additional charge. You will
probably find that we offer a better quality of design work at a lower price
than you are currently paying your design agency. So it's worth letting us quote
for design work as well, even if you decide not to use our design service.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
depending on the nature of your print job and the
quantity ordered, we might be able to also offer you completely FREE graphic
design facilities. Please call us for details.
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Any other Technical Questions?.
Unlike a lot of the 'men in
suits' that earn huge commission working as salesmen for printing companies, we
are genuine experts in all aspects of printing.
We will answer all your questions in a
totally independent and honest way. And unlike a lot of people who work in
print sales, we will never give you the answer that earns the most commission!
So if you have any other technical
questions email
info@printnet.org.uk or call us on
0113 279 6844.
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PRINTnet
Passionate about Print
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The News Hound Ltd,
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Lane House, Leeds, LS3 1AA
Company No. 592560
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