There are many sites available on the internet where you can give format and size to your photos according to your own requirements. You can go right from digital photo printing to poster printing. You can easily enlarge your photo with the help of photo printing and Poster printing. If you have some of the requirements related with business then you can go for banner printing. Posters are the one means that has the capacity to attract and reach out to a wide variety of people. Poster accessories can in fact help you in putting up your poster nicely so that it appears to be more attractive to people whom you intent to get your message across. Posters can be used for different purposes and poster accessories can help you out in putting up the poster properly at the proper place so that people can know what message you want to convey.

Banners, posters, flyers, pamphlets and leaflets are some of the means that can be used for communicating a message to a large group of people. Communicating a message becomes all the more important when you are running a business and want to advertise about it. The electronic and the print media is good medium to communicate your message but you can also use other mediums like banners and posters for this. Banner and poster are good medium to reach the local audience where your business based.

You will need the services of professional to make poster and banner, make sure you are working with the best professional. If you have trouble finding out a banner manufacture, you can take the help of the internet. Where you can find all the information related to the Banner and poster printing. It is very important that you put the right information about your product in the banner. The most important thing is choose the appropriate place for your banner. You should analyze your target audience and study to find out what their tastes are and make banner and poster that attract them. You must be careful about the type of text, images, pictures, colors and words that are used for the banner. These are some of the few things that you have in hand to make a banner, so you must make sure that you make the maximum utilization of all that.

Various types of graphic techniques are also used now days. Graphics of the banner should be appealing and make a person to stop and watch it for at least a second. Posters should be planned in a systematic manner to achieve the aim and ambition of the organizations. The price of posters varies depending on its shape and size. Different posters aim at different sections of the people. A poster carries pictures, images, texts and punch lines. It should not be dull at all. Designing a large poster requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Making posters is not a fun because it carries the name and fame of any organization. A well designed poster raises the status of any organization.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Your colour choice should support your message, but it should also blend with the mission of your organization. For example, if you operate a business which caters children’s parties, your choice of colours should represent the happiness you create at your parties. In this example, you would probably prefer to use a variety of colours that convey a party atmosphere.

On the other hand, you might operate an organic health food store. In this case the colours used in your logo should convey a sense of nature and good health. The colours which would best convey the natural quality of your products would be natural tones such as field browns and grass greens. In this way you convey a down-to-earth image.

Abstract Recall

The old saying says that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is so true, but today’s savvy customers also like colour. The times black and white is usually seen as effective anymore is when it supports the actual theme of the business. For example, a clothing store that sells trendy fashions which are also timeless might use black and white as the primary colours.

The logo is critical to the business, because it is the picture which creates the lasting impression in the minds of people. Many times, customers will describe a business by its logo. The colour enhances the abstract recall which is why colour choice is so important.

You can think about like this. If you have a wedding planning business, and choose garish colours for your logo, the elegant image is lost. It doesn’t matter how carefully you choose your business name and message, the outlandish colours convey the wrong message.

Right Choices

Making the right colour choices is not always easy. It is advisable to consult with a professional printer who understands the importance colour can make in the design and printing of the logo. A professional printer has a wealth of experience in the printing field and is familiar with many different kinds of businesses. The printer even knows what your competition is using and can help you differentiate your logo by using colours that make the log stand out in the minds of customers and contacts.

The one thing you want to avoid is using too many colours in your logo. Sometimes people make the mistake of believing that the more colour used the better. This is simply not true. It is easy to use too many colours which creates a confusing image for viewers. Colours should be chosen to convey a direct message and also should be compatible with the logo design.

You can create a memorable logo which then becomes a marketing tool. One of the most important features of the logo is the colours. Choose the colours wisely and your logo will serve your business well for many years to come.

Colorcraft have a range of printing solutions to cater to your business objectives, whether it be high volume or small volume printing, stock management or print logistics. We have a brighter way of making it happen.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A brochure is commonly used media material in marketing programs. The brochure usually contains important and essential information about the business along with graphics and pictures to give it a more powerful impact on the reader. The goal is to keep the reader’s interest which is more likely when the brochure has been well designed.

Looking Good for the Reader

A brochure can be designed in a number of ways. It can take several forms ranging from the simple half-fold to a more elaborate accordion fold. But it’s the layout of the information on the pages and the use of colour which can make or break its usefulness. It’s entirely possible to create a brochure that is tossed in the garbage can more often than it’s read when not properly designed.

For example, a brochure that is too busy, and contains too much information that is confusing as a result of efforts to condense it into a small area, is not effective as a marketing tool. The brochure should also appeal to the audience you are targeting while maintaining the company image and theme.

A well designed brochure will have the following elements.

* Choose bright and bold captions using attractive print styles

* Only include relevant and important information which entices the reader to seek more information

* Order the information so that the most important is in the beginning in case the reader doesn’t finish reading the brochure

* Choose colours which reflect the message

* Limit colours to only those necessary and don’t try to use too many

* Use high resolution graphics and print so graphics and pictures are not blurred

* Balance the words and the images so that the brochure is more interesting

* Use colour graphics or an image on the front of the brochure in order to enhance its appeal

These are just a few of the elements of a well designed brochure. Using colour in the brochure is important, because the colours make the brochure more naturally appealing to the reader. Colour also can be used to break up the monotony of words printed in a single colour while supporting the company message being sent.

From Beginning to End

The goal of your brochure design is to convey the most important information about your business in limited space while getting the reader to read from beginning to end. You can get assistance from professionals who have experience with brochure design and layout so that your marketing material is as effective as possible.

The visual appeal of the brochure can be enhanced in a number of ways through graphics, photos and the use of colours. With today’s printing options, you can achieve high resolution and brilliant colouring which leads to a great brochure that serves as an effective information or sales document.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Traditionally because of expertise and cost of production, printing companies focused on one brand of printing. An envelope manufacturer handled your envelopes, a four color process plant handled your catalogues, a banner plant handled your banners and a forms manufacturer handled your forms. Like every other industry, the printing industry has evolved. Today print management companies, brokers and agencies handle all brands of printing. Why is this better?

It’s better for numerous reasons. If you consolidate all your purchases with one supplier, you have more clout. Second most good brokers or print management companies use a few manufacturers for each printing process. This leads them to get the best price for you and allows you to fill your rush orders more easily. If one press is busy with another company’s rush order, your order must wait no matter how urgent your job is too. If you have access to a number of like manufacturers the odds are great that someone will have availability for your job. These brokers or print management companies also have a lot more buying power than just one company.

Buyers and accounting people have less time than ever. If they can deal with one person it makes the buyer’s job a lot easier and having one vendor makes the accounting department’s people a lot happier. Less cheques means more productivity and cost savings for the company.

The good print management or print brokers invest their time learning the new technologies, investigating the latest print companies presses to see which ones best meet their client needs. With the cost of presses today running in the millions, not all companies invest in new technologies. Digital presses today have grabbed a greater chunk of the offset market and will continue to grow especially in the variable data market.

Another explanation for the growth of print brokers and print management companies is that many print companies have decided to only deal with these companies and have no direct sales force. This allows them to deal with companies who know printing and know what they need and also allows them to get away from constantly hiring sales people and watching them leave and take their clients with them. The print companies like to stick to what they know best and have the print brokers stick to selling and customer service.

The market is now turning global, I know from my own company, Solutions Ink that where I only purchased locally, today I purchase through out Canada, the United States and also the Orient. With the internet my client base has grown internationally and finding the best printer by quality and location for press approvals and shipping costs. With the advent of e-commerce ordering and proofing system, where your office is located,is less important, than what you can do for them.

If you need more help understanding the difference between dealing with brokers as opposed to actual printing companies check out numerous print management companies on the web or check out www.solutionsink4u.com. See why companies like Nike, Canon, Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, McGill University, and Governments have all been dealing with print management and print brokers.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The Internet has certainly not made the business card obsolete. On the contrary, the Internet makes them much easier to obtain. These days, web-based printing companies can produce cards quickly and more affordably than ever before. For printing shops, the Internet streamlines the process of taking orders and obtaining artwork, and they often pass these savings along to their customers.

The Web also makes it more convenient to place an order for business cards. Instead of driving to a print shop, choosing a design, and placing your order, you can now do it all online with just a few clicks. This is often referred to as a “web-to-print” production process, and understanding this process is the first step to utilizing it for your own business card needs.

How the Printing Process Works

Step 1 – This process typically starts with the design. You must either have a business card designed already, or you will need to design one before you can move forward. Many online printers offer design tools to help you with this process. This may include design templates that you can fill in with your information, online design tools, etc.

Step 2 – As the customer, you must then proof your card design and sign off with your approval. For small orders, or when color requirements are not strict, the proofing process can be done online by viewing a PDF of JPEG file. But with larger orders, or when a company has strict guidelines about color codes and such, a sample business card will be printed out for a “live” inspection by the buyers.

Step 3 – Once you give the design your final approval in some form, the cards will move into the printing process. This can be done with a digital printer or an offset press. Offset printing is most often used for business cards, because it’s cheaper to use an offset machine with larger quantities (as is often the case with these types of orders).

Step 4 – Once the cards have printed, somebody (usually an account manager) will visually compare them to the design proof that the customer approved. If everything looks good, the business cards will then move on to the packaging / shipping department.

Being a Smart Shopper

With a basic understanding of the web-to-print process, you will be better able to screen printing companies and ask the right questions when weighing your options for business card services. I hope this article has served that purpose for you, and I wish you luck.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Large format printing will give your business or product high visibility that will help you get noticed in a positive way. Many things can be printed using large format printing including:

* Banners
* Signs
* Posters
* Custom wallpapers and murals
* Custom floor graphics and carpeting
* Billboards
* Vehicle wraps
* Sandwich board signs
* Flexible streamers
* Building wraps
* Portable banners
* And backlit signs

Most consumers are very visually stimulated and make purchasing decisions based on what they see. That is why, when you need to be noticed, your best option is to go with large format printing.

When you are looking for a printing company to handle your large format printing needs there are a few things that you should be on the look out for. Look for printers that use state of the art equipment such as format digital printers, laminators, welding machines and other instruments to give you the highest possible quality for your image designs or message. You also want to find a company that can make it as big as you need it to be, without sacrificing the quality and visual integrity and appeal of the design.

By using large format printing you will be able to attract a lot more customers than when you use smaller printing options. Your potential customers are bombarded with images and messages all fighting for their attention on a daily basis. In order to compete with the assault to their visual senses you have to have an outlet that will generate interest and appeal and attract their attention.

Another important factor to consider when looking at large format printing is working with a company that is skilled, talented and professional. You want a quality product that will be delivered in a reasonable time frame. Be sure to research any companies that you are considering using to make sure that the work that they produce is up to par with your expectation. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions about how your images will be printed and how long the process takes. If possible get referrals from past clients and find out from them about the company’s customer service, quality of work and work ethic.

Your business or product is very important to you and you have a lot to offer to consumers. The message that you want to get out deserves to be seen. Choose a good quality printing company and large format printing to really make your product or business stand out among all of the competition.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Reliability: While there are thousands of online printing services available, the truth is many of these companies are less than honourable when it comes to customer service and quality. The challenge that you, the consumer, face is determining who is providing high-quality service and who is not. Two indicators to look for are longevity and reliability. Online printers who have been in business for years, who have a physical address, and have a history of providing quality printing products are the companies you should work with.

Quality Equipment: It really does not matter if your printing project is as simple as postcard printing or as complex as 4 colour printing, you want to work with an online printer that has the best equipment. An example of an excellent choice in online printing equipment would be the Kodak NexPress system. Online printing vendors who have invested in high-quality presses and the associated hardware needed to run those presses are eager to share this information with their potential clients, so look for this when you shop.

Versatility: The more often you need to work with online printers, the more important it is that you work with vendors who have a wide variety of experience and expertise. It is no secret that commercial enterprises, as well as non-profits and other organizations, send out a variety of printed material over the course of a year. From colour brochures to training guides, the list of possible printing projects any one concern may face is huge. It is much easier, and often more affordable, to work with one good-quality online printer who can complete all of the types of materials that you may need.

Delivery Options: As you already know, working with an online printing service will require some form of delivery. Many consumers will often overlook or simple skim over this part of the process before placing their order. This can be a mistake, and a costly one, at that. Before you place your order, spend a few minutes learning about the delivery options that are available to you. Many high-quality online printers will actually mail your materials to your customers or clients for you, if you choose. This can save both time and money for many smaller concerns. You will also want to explore the costs associated with handling and shipping. Some online printer charge a premium in this area as they try to increase profits. Be aware of that as you shop. If you often need added services such as overnight or overseas delivery, make sure the vendor can handle those for you. The time to learn about deliver options and costs is before you order, not afterwards.

Affordability: There is simply no reason for you to have to pay more than you should for online printing services. In today’s competitive market, high-quality, expert printing is available at affordable rates. By taking advantage of specials, discounts, and print on demand services, you can save on all the online printing services that you need.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

So what should you be looking for when you’re ordering color printing online? What should send up a red flag, and what should you avoid completely?

1. Dedicated Customer Service (Phone Support)

If the company doesn’t list a phone number, just walk away. If they do have one, give them a call. Does the person that answers speak English? That shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker, but if it sounds like the company is routing their phone calls to a call center in Mumbai, that’s not a good sign. Make sure you’re actually talking to someone at the company, preferably in the same building as the printing house. If the customer service reps don’t have a direct line of communication to their production people, you can bet you’re going to run into problems somewhere down the line.

2. Automated Quote Generator on the Website

This isn’t altogether common, but it certainly should be. A few companies have a price calculator built into their site so when you enter information into the order form, the calculator automatically updates the price of your job. This saves countless hours of phone support. If you have to call or email in to get a quote on a job, that’s indicative of a bigger problem. It suggests that customer service reps spend a lot of time running up quotes, which means they give less attention to detail on your job.

3. Green Companies

Take a look on the website and see if they give any information about their efforts to be sustainable. This industry is particularly wasteful, and it’s important to keep in mind the things a company could do to reduce their impact on the environment. Do they offer recycled paper? What percentage of it is recycled? Do they recycle their ink/toner bottles? Do they recycle paper waste? If not, find a different company.

4. Digital / Offset / Other

One of the first things you’ll want to check on is whether they run digital or offset presses, or a combination of both (or other sorts of traditional presses). Find out also what they’ll be using to do your job specifically. If you can, find out what sorts of digital presses they use. Some companies want to keep this a proprietary secret, which is ok if you can get some other assurance that the quality will be crisp and clear.

5. Samples

If the company will not send you samples of past jobs, just walk away. They clearly have something to hide. And when they’re not telling you what sort of presses they use, how are you supposed to know what quality you’re going to get?

6. Research the Company

Do a Google search and find out more about the company. Read what past customers have said, not just the cherry-picked testimonials on their website. Angie’s List is a good place to read consumer reviews. If a bunch of people were not happy with their jobs, chances are you won’t be either.

7. Proofs

If it’s your first time using a company, you should probably order a proof, especially if you haven’t seen samples. Most companies will charge you for a hard proof and then await your approval before running the rest of the job. If you’re not happy with the proof they will usually try to fix whatever is wrong with it, and if they cannot, you should not be charged for the job. Though you will probably still be charged for the proof, it’s better than having the whole job printed just for it to look bad.

8. Exclusively Online?

This does not necessarily indicate the quality of their work one way or the other. Some companies offer their services exclusively through their website. Eliminating walk-in business can allow them to focus on their specialties and keep the work flow smooth and consistent, which can improve the quality of service substantially. But others who operate exclusively online may be hiding something. It could just be some guy in his garage with a Xerox machine! So take the other suggestions into account before basing your decision solely on this criterion. Order samples or a proof and research them first.

Of course there are other things you need to keep in mind when choosing an online printer to work with, but these eight should be a good primer. Got an experience with an online printer you would like to share with us? Let us know in the comments section!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

But here’s the problem: 5×7 and 8×10 DON’T FIT when you’re taking pictures with a Digital Camera!

Here’s why. A digital camera’s sensor is usually pretty close to a 2:3 ratio. My 6 Megapixel Digital SLR has a sensor size of 3008×2000 pixels. So at 300 pixels per inch – my preferred printing resolution – this camera renders an original print size of 10.026 inches by 6.66 inches. My 6 Megapixel Point & Shoot camera has a resolution of 2816×2112 pixels which translates to 9.386 by 7.04 inches at 300 dpi.

So … you see the problem. Neither of these dimensions translates EXACTLY into the required dimensions for an 8×10 – which has, obviously, a 4:5 ratio. Other camera manufacturers vary slightly from these dimensions, and, of course, the total pixel count is different if you have a camera with a resolution that is greater or smaller than my examples.

But, across the board, this is pretty much what all digital photographers – both amateurs and pros – have to deal with.

So, let’s say you’ve taken a great photo of your entire family, all grouped together for a once-in-a-lifetime shot. And that you literally filled the frame from side to side with aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and kids.

After you take the picture, everybody “ooohs” and “aaahs” at the image on the screen of your camera, and tells you what a great photographer you are. And everybody wants an 8×10 print!

So you trot down to the local photo store or go to your favorite printing kiosk to get 8×10 copies for everybody. But when you get your prints back, Uncle Festus (on the far left) has been sliced down the middle so that only his belly shows, and Aunt Bea (far right) has disappeared entirely!

When you politely ask the photo clerk what happened, they shrug and tell you they don’t know … or that (and this is the truth) your file was the “wrong size.” And they can’t fix it! Neither can you – unless you know how to use Photoshop or some other image editing program, and can blend in more floor or ceiling – or whatever – to get the image to the correct proportions.

Of course, you could ask the clerk to give you prints that are wide enough. But, even if their equipment could do that – and if they knew how (which they probably don’t ) then you’d have prints that are 10 inches wide, but only 6.6 inches deep! Not a size you’re likely to find a pre-cut matte for at your local store.

What’s the solution?

Well, I always try to shoot a little wider than I might, and leave enough space on both sides so that when the picture gets cropped at the lab – which it will if I order an 8×10 – I get what I was hoping for. In fact, while processing every picture in the computer before they go to my Shutterfly Pro Gallery or my Cafepress site (where I sell my photos), I go ahead and crop to an 8×10 dimension … because I know from experience that’s the size most people are going to order.

But, hey! I do this for a living! It’s become second nature to me.

You can do the same – and in the process make everybody happy with your final prints. Even Uncle Festus and Aunt Bea!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Most digital cameras and most computers now operate on what is called “plug and play,” meaning you can simply hook the camera up to the computer and they can interface, with no need to install programs or drivers. Using this function, you can plug your camera into your computer and transfer the images from the camera onto the computer. Once they are there, they can be printed just like you would print any other picture or document off of your computer. Depending on your intended use for the picture, you can buy special photo paper that will greatly increase the picture quality of your final printed image. You can also adjust the settings on your printer to give you the best resolution and image settings possible.

Maybe you want to get more from your digital pictures though. There are many software programs available that help you optimize your pictures for printing. These programs range from very inexpensive ones that may have even come free with your camera or printer to the very expensive ones that can cost nearly a thousand dollars and boast professional quality printed pictures. Whatever level you choose, these programs will offer features such as red-eye reduction, cropping and contrast adjustment that will allow you to tweak the picture prior to printing them. These are some of the primary advantages of digital over film photography, as many of these options are either non-existent or very difficult with film. With digital though, they are just a mouse-click away.

Maybe you’re not into the do-it-yourself printing, though. In the old days of film photography, there were places to do it for you. Department stores, drug stores and specialty photo shops offered to develop and print your pictures for you, and they still do. Most of these developers will now allow you to bring in your digital camera or its memory stick, and they will print the photos for you. In some cases you can even email the pictures in to them. By using their services, you can get the same quality prints that you used to get with film.

Your digital pictures don’t always have to remain digital. You can bring them into the real world via printing them, just like you got your old film photos developed. By exploring the options in printing digital pictures, you will gain a better understanding of the advantages of digital over film, as well.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1. Instant gratification. Unlike traditional photo processing, which can take anywhere from an hour to several days, you’ll be able to instantly tell how your photographs will turn out when you are using a digital camera. Instead of finding out too late that an important photograph didn’t turn out, you can immediately decide whether or not a photo needs to be retaken. For times like these, when pictures really matter, it’s important to have the ability to quickly retake a photograph.

2. More control. Before you send your wedding pictures off to a traditional processor, you may want to think about how they are going to turn out. Unless you want the groom standing there with red eyes, or Aunt Bertha’s head chopped off in the print, you may experience some issues with traditional photo processing. However, when you are using a digital camera, you can easily edit these pictures before sending them off for digital photo printing. This ensures that all of the pictures you will get will be perfect.

3. It’s easier to share. One of the best parts about wedding pictures is the fun that comes from sharing them with others. Since digital photo printing is so economical, you can easily print and share your photos with everyone you know. In addition, many of these services also provide online galleries where your photos can be displayed and shared.

4. It’s great for gifts. One of the nicest ways to say thank you to special guests from your wedding is to provide them with an album of the event. Most digital photo printing services will allow you to order an album and have everything arranged before they are sent out. You can then choose to have the pictures sent directly to your guests, or you can decide to pass them out on your own. This is a unique gift idea that is quickly becoming very popular.

5. Better results. When you combine the ability to edit your photos beforehand, and the fact that digital photo printing results are usually far superior compared to traditional photo processing, you’re getting the results you need for your special photographs. With an event this important, you just don’t want to take chances. It makes sense to go with the medium that works and is more cost effective.

If you are planning a wedding, don’t forget to include digital photo printing and a free online photo album in your plans. You’ll be able to get pictures back that will immortalize your special day, and thanks to the power of these services, you’ll have complete control over how they turn out.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As you look to the future, and increasingly use digital platforms to communicate and do business, will you be able to do away with offline processes such as printing? Constantly keeping your digital systems at the forefront of technology may improve your online productivity, but without an efficient printing system to support your offline needs, your business could suffer.

As day-to-day employees’ working practices travel further up the digital stream – some now operating only in a digital space with emails, web and network connections – it’s important to keep up with the times. Even by having the most state-of-the-art email, hardware, database and networking systems, there is currently still a need to have hard-copies of information as a back-up, for legal reasons or simply for ease of use. Therefore, whilst the digital revolution is increasing business efficiency and information accessibility, the need for printing is currently still strong. Paper is something that is engrained in our society and the concept of an entirely paperless office still looks to be well off in the future.

One of the biggest challenges faced by companies is how to effectively manage and integrate their offline printing solutions. A simple, secure network of printers may no longer suffice. To make your business’ printing the most efficient it can be, an in-depth look at the current printing needs and situation is needed: the more complex and fragmented the printing network is, the greater the likelihood it is not as effective as it should be.

Integrating your business printing solution with your online systems is very important, as it will allow users to access, create, process and distribute content and information easily.

The environmental impact of printing should also be considered, and an integrated printing solution that allows fast, high-quality duplex printing is a must in today’s business society. Not only will this help reduce the company’s environmental impact, it will help save money too.

Therefore, an assessment of your current business needs, whilst considering your existing online systems, would be highly beneficial to any business. With the right printing solution and your existing, efficient online systems, your business will be able to achieve maximum online and offline productivity.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

But here’s the problem: 5×7 and 8×10 DON’T FIT when you’re taking pictures with a Digital Camera!

Here’s why. A digital camera’s sensor is usually pretty close to a 2:3 ratio. My 6 Megapixel Digital SLR has a sensor size of 3008×2000 pixels. So at 300 pixels per inch – my preferred printing resolution – this camera renders an original print size of 10.026 inches by 6.66 inches. My 6 Megapixel Point & Shoot camera has a resolution of 2816×2112 pixels which translates to 9.386 by 7.04 inches at 300 dpi.

So … you see the problem. Neither of these dimensions translates EXACTLY into the required dimensions for an 8×10 – which has, obviously, a 4:5 ratio. Other camera manufacturers vary slightly from these dimensions, and, of course, the total pixel count is different if you have a camera with a resolution that is greater or smaller than my examples.

But, across the board, this is pretty much what all digital photographers – both amateurs and pros – have to deal with.

So, let’s say you’ve taken a great photo of your entire family, all grouped together for a once-in-a-lifetime shot. And that you literally filled the frame from side to side with aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and kids.

After you take the picture, everybody “ooohs” and “aaahs” at the image on the screen of your camera, and tells you what a great photographer you are. And everybody wants an 8×10 print!

So you trot down to the local photo store or go to your favorite printing kiosk to get 8×10 copies for everybody. But when you get your prints back, Uncle Festus (on the far left) has been sliced down the middle so that only his belly shows, and Aunt Bea (far right) has disappeared entirely!

When you politely ask the photo clerk what happened, they shrug and tell you they don’t know … or that (and this is the truth) your file was the “wrong size.” And they can’t fix it! Neither can you – unless you know how to use Photoshop or some other image editing program, and can blend in more floor or ceiling – or whatever – to get the image to the correct proportions.

Of course, you could ask the clerk to give you prints that are wide enough. But, even if their equipment could do that – and if they knew how (which they probably don’t ) then you’d have prints that are 10 inches wide, but only 6.6 inches deep! Not a size you’re likely to find a pre-cut matte for at your local store.

What’s the solution?

Well, I always try to shoot a little wider than I might, and leave enough space on both sides so that when the picture gets cropped at the lab – which it will if I order an 8×10 – I get what I was hoping for. In fact, while processing every picture in the computer before they go to my Shutterfly Pro Gallery or my Cafepress site (where I sell my photos), I go ahead and crop to an 8×10 dimension … because I know from experience that’s the size most people are going to order.

But, hey! I do this for a living! It’s become second nature to me.

You can do the same – and in the process make everybody happy with your final prints. Even Uncle Festus and Aunt Bea!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

PPI refers to the number of pixels per inch in a file. It is an electronic figure, purely digital. PPI is important because it affects print quality and even the way an image displays on a screen. While about 72 PPI is all is needed for web images, it is generally too low for printing. The result would be jagged edges and pixels showing in the print. Giclee printing in particular is demanding because professional grade nozzles are not very forgiving of low resolution files. Generally speaking, textured materials such as canvas or watercolor paper will print well at a lower resolution. Smooth, photo type papers will need a higher PPI.

DPI on the other hand refers to the printer resolution. One pixel does not equal to one dot. One dot represents one color while one pixel will render 4 or more. DPI is an important measure of quality for printers but not the only factor. There are expensive machines that only have a 300 DPI capability but produce extremely high end prints. This has to do with the screening technology employed and it is beyond the scope of this article.

Interpolation of a file to boost PPI before printing sometimes helps but it has to be done with care. A 20 PPI will not print well, no matter what software and hardware is used. Generally an interpolation factor of about 200% will create a good print. Be aware not all files size up with the same quality. Digital photographs are easier to enlarge because there are no dots to start with. A film scan from ie a 35mm negative will not be as easy to interpolate because of the inherent film grain. A well exposed image with good values is also a better candidate than a poorly prepared file.

The old say in digital imaging, “garbage in, garbage out” is true. Start with a good resolution file, proper highlites and shadows, and you will be able to produce outstanding prints. A poorly prepared image cannot not be salvaged to create an equally beautiful reproduction.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

So what should you be looking for when you’re ordering color printing online? What should send up a red flag, and what should you avoid completely?

1. Dedicated Customer Service (Phone Support)

If the company doesn’t list a phone number, just walk away. If they do have one, give them a call. Does the person that answers speak English? That shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker, but if it sounds like the company is routing their phone calls to a call center in Mumbai, that’s not a good sign. Make sure you’re actually talking to someone at the company, preferably in the same building as the printing house. If the customer service reps don’t have a direct line of communication to their production people, you can bet you’re going to run into problems somewhere down the line.

2. Automated Quote Generator on the Website

This isn’t altogether common, but it certainly should be. A few companies have a price calculator built into their site so when you enter information into the order form, the calculator automatically updates the price of your job. This saves countless hours of phone support. If you have to call or email in to get a quote on a job, that’s indicative of a bigger problem. It suggests that customer service reps spend a lot of time running up quotes, which means they give less attention to detail on your job.

3. Green Companies

Take a look on the website and see if they give any information about their efforts to be sustainable. This industry is particularly wasteful, and it’s important to keep in mind the things a company could do to reduce their impact on the environment. Do they offer recycled paper? What percentage of it is recycled? Do they recycle their ink/toner bottles? Do they recycle paper waste? If not, find a different company.

4. Digital / Offset / Other

One of the first things you’ll want to check on is whether they run digital or offset presses, or a combination of both (or other sorts of traditional presses). Find out also what they’ll be using to do your job specifically. If you can, find out what sorts of digital presses they use. Some companies want to keep this a proprietary secret, which is ok if you can get some other assurance that the quality will be crisp and clear.

5. Samples

If the company will not send you samples of past jobs, just walk away. They clearly have something to hide. And when they’re not telling you what sort of presses they use, how are you supposed to know what quality you’re going to get?

6. Research the Company

Do a Google search and find out more about the company. Read what past customers have said, not just the cherry-picked testimonials on their website. Angie’s List is a good place to read consumer reviews. If a bunch of people were not happy with their jobs, chances are you won’t be either.

7. Proofs

If it’s your first time using a company, you should probably order a proof, especially if you haven’t seen samples. Most companies will charge you for a hard proof and then await your approval before running the rest of the job. If you’re not happy with the proof they will usually try to fix whatever is wrong with it, and if they cannot, you should not be charged for the job. Though you will probably still be charged for the proof, it’s better than having the whole job printed just for it to look bad.

8. Exclusively Online?

This does not necessarily indicate the quality of their work one way or the other. Some companies offer their services exclusively through their website. Eliminating walk-in business can allow them to focus on their specialties and keep the work flow smooth and consistent, which can improve the quality of service substantially. But others who operate exclusively online may be hiding something. It could just be some guy in his garage with a Xerox machine! So take the other suggestions into account before basing your decision solely on this criterion. Order samples or a proof and research them first.

Of course there are other things you need to keep in mind when choosing an online printer to work with, but these eight should be a good primer. Got an experience with an online printer you would like to share with us? Let us know in the comments section!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1. Instant gratification. Unlike traditional photo processing, which can take anywhere from an hour to several days, you’ll be able to instantly tell how your photographs will turn out when you are using a digital camera. Instead of finding out too late that an important photograph didn’t turn out, you can immediately decide whether or not a photo needs to be retaken. For times like these, when pictures really matter, it’s important to have the ability to quickly retake a photograph.

2. More control. Before you send your wedding pictures off to a traditional processor, you may want to think about how they are going to turn out. Unless you want the groom standing there with red eyes, or Aunt Bertha’s head chopped off in the print, you may experience some issues with traditional photo processing. However, when you are using a digital camera, you can easily edit these pictures before sending them off for digital photo printing. This ensures that all of the pictures you will get will be perfect.

3. It’s easier to share. One of the best parts about wedding pictures is the fun that comes from sharing them with others. Since digital photo printing is so economical, you can easily print and share your photos with everyone you know. In addition, many of these services also provide online galleries where your photos can be displayed and shared.

4. It’s great for gifts. One of the nicest ways to say thank you to special guests from your wedding is to provide them with an album of the event. Most digital photo printing services will allow you to order an album and have everything arranged before they are sent out. You can then choose to have the pictures sent directly to your guests, or you can decide to pass them out on your own. This is a unique gift idea that is quickly becoming very popular.

5. Better results. When you combine the ability to edit your photos beforehand, and the fact that digital photo printing results are usually far superior compared to traditional photo processing, you’re getting the results you need for your special photographs. With an event this important, you just don’t want to take chances. It makes sense to go with the medium that works and is more cost effective.

If you are planning a wedding, don’t forget to include digital photo printing and a free online photo album in your plans. You’ll be able to get pictures back that will immortalize your special day, and thanks to the power of these services, you’ll have complete control over how they turn out.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Most digital cameras and most computers now operate on what is called “plug and play,” meaning you can simply hook the camera up to the computer and they can interface, with no need to install programs or drivers. Using this function, you can plug your camera into your computer and transfer the images from the camera onto the computer. Once they are there, they can be printed just like you would print any other picture or document off of your computer. Depending on your intended use for the picture, you can buy special photo paper that will greatly increase the picture quality of your final printed image. You can also adjust the settings on your printer to give you the best resolution and image settings possible.

Maybe you want to get more from your digital pictures though. There are many software programs available that help you optimize your pictures for printing. These programs range from very inexpensive ones that may have even come free with your camera or printer to the very expensive ones that can cost nearly a thousand dollars and boast professional quality printed pictures. Whatever level you choose, these programs will offer features such as red-eye reduction, cropping and contrast adjustment that will allow you to tweak the picture prior to printing them. These are some of the primary advantages of digital over film photography, as many of these options are either non-existent or very difficult with film. With digital though, they are just a mouse-click away.

Maybe you’re not into the do-it-yourself printing, though. In the old days of film photography, there were places to do it for you. Department stores, drug stores and specialty photo shops offered to develop and print your pictures for you, and they still do. Most of these developers will now allow you to bring in your digital camera or its memory stick, and they will print the photos for you. In some cases you can even email the pictures in to them. By using their services, you can get the same quality prints that you used to get with film.

Your digital pictures don’t always have to remain digital. You can bring them into the real world via printing them, just like you got your old film photos developed. By exploring the options in printing digital pictures, you will gain a better understanding of the advantages of digital over film, as well.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1. The quality of your camera will dictate the results. While there are a few things that you can do to optimize an image, the type of camera you are using will have a big impact the finished results for digital photo printing. Newer cameras usually have a high enough resolution, or pixels per inch, to produce high quality pictures that will print very well. However, camera phones, webcams and older digital cameras may not have a high enough resolution to get good results. A good rule of thumb to follow is to use a camera that has at the very least more than 1 megapixel resolution. Over 3 megapixels is ideal.

2. Editing your photos is important. In order to get great results from digital photo printing, you may need to edit your photos a little bit. Whether it’s fixing a problem in the photograph, such as a light orb or red eye, taking the time to edit these issues out of a photograph will help you get better results. You can do this by using photo editing software and the process is very easy. Each different type of software will have a little different method for taking care of these problems, but tutorials are widely available.

3. Use the right scanner. If you are scanning in old photographs in order to use digital photo printing for restoration an extra copies, it is a good idea to get a very good scanner. Once again, the resolution that the scanner can produce will have a big impact on your finished results. In addition, it is important to use a flatbed scanner to avoid the risk of having your images warped or torn while they are being scanned in.

4. Remove any photos you don’t want to be printed. Unlike traditional cameras, when you are using a digital photo printing service, you get to control which pictures will be printed. This is an economical alternative to traditional processing and you’re in complete control over which pictures do and do not get printed. It’s a good idea to organize all of your photos into one folder. Then, you can go through them all and find which ones you don’t want to print. Simply move these into another folder and you’ll be ready to go.

5. Uploading is necessary. In order to get your pictures printed by a digital photo printing service, you’ll need to upload them to their website. Generally, most services will provide you with a secure account area where your images will be stored. You can then place your order right from your account and decide how many pictures you want to have printed.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Businesses big or small should include marketing as an integral part of their yearly business plan. It’s the third most important aspect of maintaining business success. Many businesses assume that once they are up and open people will just come knocking on their door. However, experience has taught me that nobody knows who or where you are unless you tell him or her! Sounds simple but it is amazing how many businesses fail every year because of this simple assumption. Remember there is always another business just waiting to take your place. Marketing is for everyone.

2. ‘We don’t have time’

Quite simply – make time! The first thing to do is review your business, products or services. Focus on areas that need bringing to your customers’ attention. It’s amazing how many businesses don’t think ahead. Hiring a brand and marketing professional to help you create a simple marketing plan will help you manage deadlines, and will keep you one step ahead of your competition.

3. ‘We don’t have the budget’

Every business should set aside at least 5 – 10% of revenue for marketing every year. But marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. There are hundreds of low cost ways to promote your business, from promotional t-shirts (everyone loves a useful freebie!) to blogs – items that either evoke a response or that customers get to keep. Word of mouth is obviously one of the best forms of public marketing.

It also helps to use a variety of different marketing methods; just ensure you have a strong message with a clear call to action that captures your customers’ attention.

Whether you are a new enterprise or established business, you should have a clear marketing plan on how you aim to promote your business 6 – 12 months ahead. Keep your ear to the ground for up and coming social or seasonal events that could create great promotional opportunities.

4. ‘Now is not a good time’

Just think if every business thought the same way. Imagine what kind of opportunities we would all be missing. There is no doubt that a recession puts a strain on a business’ ability to maintain its marketing.

However, the ones who hold their own, and even thrive in the recession, will do so by increasing, and more importantly, using targeted and Internet Marketing.

5. ‘We’ve tried it and it doesn’t work’

It’s true, there are no absolute guarantees. However, you can increase your chances of marketing success by testing your ideas with friends and colleagues. Low cost digital printing and email is another way to test-market your promotions before a big launch. Carrying out monthly customer reviews, and questionnaires, can also be a great way to find out your customers’ wants and needs. Just don’t stop. Your marketing is your Olympic flag, so fly and swoosh it higher than everyone else!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Nowadays, designing has gone to the new age of advanced technology that utilizes computers and programming. As a designer used to handling tangible products such as the ever reliable crayons, computer technology is oftentimes scary and heart palpitating. With all that computer code and HTML tags and styles, it’s no wonder that most designers break out in cold sweat every time they are forced to put computer code around a text in a Word document to get the layout they want.

To help designers and artists alike to make their lives simpler, Adobe offers a complete package that brings designs straight from concept to the online world. On the other hand, Corel has also introduced new programs to help ease the burden of creating works of art with the use of the computer.

The new applications ensure that every designer’s nightmare will be gone, helping him/her to sleep more soundly at night. These programs can help designers utilize simple sites quickly and effectively.

The CS Advantage…

The new Adobe Creative Suite combines Adobe’s graphics applications and an efficient workflow that answers the needs of nearly every creative professional, from conceptualization to implementation, from print to Web. Not only do designers get one program at a time; rather, a whole suite of the latest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and GoLive software. It also includes the new Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional software to Acrobat Professional.

The Creative Suite is Adobe’s attempt to bind the applications together. Now, Adobe’s creative products use not only the same graphics engine but also the same type and color-management engines. Files that are created in one application can open easily in others with all their features intact. With a consistent user interface, moving from one application to another is easy.

And holding it all together is the new file-management and version-tracking technology Version Cue. The Version Cue lets you create and publish content for print and the Web faster, more easily, and more affordably. That’s why Adobe is introducing this one whole package as “the complete design environment for print and Web publishing”.

 Adobe Photoshop for image editing- easily manage your images with the improved File Browser, quickly share design variations with Layer Comps, and instantly improve contrast with Shadow/Highlight correction; perform more precise editing and retouching with expanded support for 16-bit images and monitor changes to your image in the Histogram palette, which dynamically updates as you make adjustments.

 Adobe Illustrator for drawing and vector graphics- with powerful new 3D features, advanced typographical controls, and a host of groundbreaking new design tools, this powerful upgrade from Illustrator 10 delivers the performance you need to make the most of your creativity; import Photoshop image compositions directly to Illustrator- or create drawings in Illustrator and import them directly into Photoshop; create native Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files using settings and options consistent with Adobe Acrobat Distiller software and get fast, consistent print results with features like Fit to Page, Print Preview, and support for Print Settings.

 Adobe InDesign for page layout and design, and Adobe GoLive for Web layout- import your native vector and bitmap artwork directly into InDesign CS software for sophisticated print layouts or into Adobe GoLive CS software for powerful web pages. With the support of Adobe PDF and XML, you can easily output your pages to both print and the Web.

The Corel Advantage…

With the introduction of Corel Painter IX, commercial designers, photographers, and professional artists are able to use their natural talents and techniques to create breathtaking works of art. Corel ensures that the new program is a must-have software for creative professionals, whether they’re in film making, game development, commercial design, illustration, photography, or even fine arts.

With regards to performance and productivity, the Corel Painter IX boasts of significantly improved speed, new and enhanced Brush Control Palettes, Frames-per-Second Control, and Customizable Shortcut Keys. Professional users can extend their creative possibilities with new enhancements that include Artists’ Oils Painting System, Snap-to-Path Painting, improved Digital Watercolor, and Quick Clone.

What is exciting about this new software is that the Corel Painter IX is more compatible with other professional technologies, providing enhanced support to Adobe Photoshop, Wacom (including the Wacom Intuos3), and Color Management.

What’s more, getting started is easier than ever. Corel has provided various support guides to help end-users control their fear of tackling a seemingly intricate world of softwares and programs. Corel has provided a revitalized User Guide, the Painter IX Handbook that includes tutorials from leading creative professionals, access to free training videos, and academic courseware specifically designed for educators.

With powerful applications such as the Adobe CS and Corel, artists and designers alike can now combine both worlds of traditional art and sophisticated technology. The intricate tones of traditional art skills and techniques they’ve developed during their formation years as artists can be integrated with the incredible benefits that digital media can provide. Every creation can now be worthy of the exaltations and awe reserved for those found in galleries and exhibits. In addition, these art forms are now made at a faster and quicker rate than their original counterparts.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

This is why advertisements play a huge part in our lives. We see thousands of advertisement every day, many without even registering them in our mind. The advertisements we see and like are the ones we usually follow up on, and then end up buying the specific product.

One of the best means of advertisements is signs on roads like billboards, or signs in other places out in the open. This is great because people will see the sign whether they are driving, jogging, walking, or just passing by. If they can clearly see the sign, they will register it in their minds and might buy the product if they need it.

Frontlit signage are signs that have lights on the front that throw the light back at them like a trough light instead of having light behind them, or no lights at all, This system is much more useful than old fashioned no light signs which could not be seen at night.

Since a lot of people are now out in the streets after dark, it is important to have signs that are visible at night. Frontlit signage makes sure that your signs are visible by lighting them up brightly thus making them look as clear as possible during the night time as well.

Frontlit signs are also an alternative to back lit signs. In a back lit sign, the sign is being lit from behind the advertisement. This is done through a thin material on which the advertisement is printed. When the light is added to the back of the material, it allows the writing on it to become very apparent and clear. However, these are expensive since the material used for printing is different and thus costs more.

However, frontlit signs can be printed on any material may it be cheap or expensive, and then the added lights in the front light it up. This means that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on marketing, but can still get the benefit of backlit signs as frontlit signs also provide advertisement at night.

Frontlit signs are present in various forms like banners, signboards, billboards, and even flags. Along with the lighting and printing, some companies also offer other services like choosing the right fabric, cutting, and printing of the advertisement through digital printing or solvent printing.

The best way to lit evenly a frontlit sign is by using a trough light. This offers a sleek look with great lighting since trough lighting systems use polished mirror-finish reflectors. They also come with a multi-positional fixing bracket, and the profile of the sign can be supplied in any length and the powder coat can be painted in any colour.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

There are several factors to consider before purchasing a card printer, and this article will deals with some of them.

Card printers will generally print a card of the standard and accepted dimensions. The standard is the CR-80 Card, which is 30 microns thick, or .75 millimetres, by 85.5 millimetres long and 54 millimetres wide with rounded corners. We have come to expect a plastic card to be this size, though different sizes can be accommodated for special purposes.

Card printers range from those suitable for high volume needs to the simpler card printers suitable for the occasional use. It is likely, however, that most people will be more interested in the latter. As with paper document printers, card printers are capable of printing at different speeds. It will be especially useful to have fast speed capabilities if you need to print both sides of a card. Printers offering this are likely to be more expensive.

Card printers come in a variety of sizes. If you lack office space, then a printer with a small footprint that takes up minimum space will serve you best. Larger printers may also be noisier, and in a small enclosed office space this will be a factor to consider, especially if you will be doing regular printing.

Not everyone is an instant expert with modern technology. For this reason card printers that have a difficult operating learning curve should be avoided. The best card printers are those that anyone with minimal technical experience can get to grips with, in the minimum amount of time. Remember that while an employee may be comfortable with operating a standard printer used for A4 documents, card printer can prove an unfamiliar challenge. Choose a printer that is simple to set up and is easy to use.

Card printers use a thermal digital printing process. There are two distinct types of thermal printing, depending on what you wish to achieve.

Mass transfer printing is most suitable for printing bar codes and machine-readable text. The print is usually only black and the quality can be somewhat variable. This method works well when precision is not a requirement.

The other thermal printing method is dye sublimation. This method is used in card printers to render photo-realistic images on cards in full colour. It can print very accurately and is increasingly the printing method of choice.

Other considerations when choosing card printers include using good quality stock plastic cards to achieve the best results. A specialist card printer retailer or manufacturer will be to advise you on this and help choose the best type of card printer for your particular requirements.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Advances in digital technology have revolutionized the print industry in recent years, digital print was once a novelty, but now has become a major part of most commercial printers portfolios. As the speed of digital printers has increased, and production costs have fallen, the use of digital printing and variable data printing software will continue to increase its share of print jobs in the coming years.

Many companies who have large in-house print shops have either been earlier adopters of the print software, or are now considering their first purchase. It’s a difficult task, the cost of the software product is high, and companies need to consider all possible uses for in-house applications to make an effective decision. The decision is made more complicated by the increased capabilities of all the major software vendors. In the past, customers could choose products based on their anticipated end use. An extensive database application such as statements and invoices were better suited to some products due to faster processing speeds. Marketing applications, which featured a greater need for design flexibility might value flexible design features to gain increased customer response from a mailing. Today, however, the lines between vendors and their traditional capabilities are blurring as processing speeds and design capabilities differences between products begin to lessen due to advancements in capabilities among all products in this category.

To add to the difficulty of the purchasing decision, there are new software candidates that are coming from a category that hasn’t been typically considered previously. Some correspondence software, which originally only moved paragraphs has become more sophisticated and powerful, providing new choices.

Software Purchasing Considerations

As might be expected, it has become critical to anticipate all possible uses for a software application to make a cost-effective decision for the mid-sized to large corporation. These considerations include:

1. How is company correspondence being handled currently? This is an important question for companies which have a large volume of correspondence such as insurance companies. Will the new variable data printing software be expected to handle this chore?

2. What will be the data crunching capabilities for the new product? How many files will it be expected to handle? What calculations and business logic will be involved? This is a vital concern for financial companies and utilities which will do massive calculations on a regular basis.

3. What will be the marketing demands for the software? How sophisticated will the final design work be? Will it need to be able to handle design applications such as “beveled” letters, etc.

4. Who will be using the software? How intuitive is the user interface? Some products are strong, but the ongoing skill level needed to work with the software seems to demand a full time staff working along cross functional lines.

These are some of the considerations involved. For further research an article that profiles some of the major companies see link in resource box for variable data printing software companies,

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Since then newsletter printing has become much more efficient, and much of that can be attributed to the use of online printing services. What used to take a dedicated staff, on-site, can now be completed by experienced, qualified printing professionals. And the best news is online printing does not cost much more than doing it yourself, and for some, it may cost less.

For those new to online newsletter printing, here is brief explanation of how the process works:

You create the content of your newsletter using virtually any text editor. MS Word would be an example of a text editor. Even though you will be using digital printing, you are still in control of the format you want, including font sizes, colours, and borders.

In addition to the text, you can add photos and images to your newsletter, but these must be rendered into a format that the online printer can use. An example of this would be the jpeg format for digital photos.

Generally speaking, this is all you need to get started with digital online printing. The next step is to find an online printing service that can fulfill your order to your expectations.

There are literally thousands of online printing services on the Internet today, and wading through them, one by one, is simply not an option for most people. A much better option is to narrow your search.

For example: Some of the better online printing services offer their customers access to a document creation panel. This allows you to actually input your text and images into the printer’s system and gives you absolute control over how the end product looks. Not all printers offer this service, but it is well worth looking into, as it makes your work much easier.

You may want to narrow your search to online printers that offer what is known as print on demand. This allows you to order just the number of newsletters you need, when you need them. Using print on demand can save you a lot of money as you do not have to order materials that you do not need. This type of service can also be used for materials such as brochure printing, leaflet printing, and even post card printing.

Another search option is to find online printers who will mail your newsletters to your recipients for you. You provide the vendor with a database of names and addresses and they will mail the newsletters out for you.

These are just a couple of ways that you can refine your search in order to maximize the benefits you can receive through online printing. By working with reliable, experienced vendors your newsletter printing hassles can be a thing of the past.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Online Printing – Answer to all Print Needs

Everything nowadays can be done online, even with your printing needs such as wholesale printing, on-demand printing and more. And it couldn’t be simpler.

Step 1:

Choose the product that you’ll need. Choose from a selection of single pagers or multi-pagers. Offset products vs. large format prints, card stock and more.

Easily enough, you can click on the product name itself and disregard such categories – business cards, postcards, catalogs, flyers, posters and so on.

Step 2:

Upload your files on their Web site. The company’s team of technical experts will review the files for you. Such service may as free but then others will charge for proofs whether electronic or not. Most of the time, however, hard copy proofs are extra an expense you need to pay.

Waive the proof if you must. You can give the printing company this instruction. You call the shots to the final output of your prints. However, you must always be confident that your files are exactly the way you want it printed or else, your file is in danger of being misprint just because of the waived proof.

Step 3:

After you have approved a proof and paid in full, the files are then sent directly to be printed. Your project will be shipped to you according to your shipping address. However, it is best to remember that the shipping time is not included in the production time.

The Story of Offset and Digital Prints

Whether your project is only for personal use or to be utilized as a marketing aid, offset and digital can both deliver the same excellent materials and four-color prints that produce with sharp images, rich colors, and crisp quality..

Short Run to Wholesale

Offset print does short run orders of 250 business cards, postcards, posters, flyers, brochures, catalogs and many more to wholesale such as thousands of prints.

This is also ideal for book printing, whether you are an independent author wanting to publish their own works or for publishers who want to maximize their budget without sacrificing the durability and class of the final output.

Custom Sizes, Custom Materials

If you want a size done to your own preference and on a material beyond paper, then digital printing is the one you want. This type of printing too is for people who have to make their projects done as soon as possible and with such short notice. Print anything from documents to advertisements, window displays, signs and labels among many others.

With fast turnaround time, consistent quality materials and access to the company’s technical experts to know the status of your project, a printing company truly allows you to be the boss that you really should be.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digital printing has and will keep on having a constructive impact on the expansion of backlit advertisement. Because digital medium is suitable for small to medium-run lengths, more businesses can meet the expense of including image displays in their promotion budgets.

While the demand for backlit signage is escalating, it’s imperative to note that not all backlits are created in a similar cost or have the similar effect. The hardware and media requisites for backlits vary based on the application. Therefore, it is understandable that there can be some variation in the cost of the signage.

Different materials are employed in the making of backlit signage like Calendered vinyl with pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), Polyester, Papers, and there can be many more. Calendered vinyl with pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) on one side generally is used for producing backlit signage. Vinyl is low-priced, stretchy, and long-lasting. The bonding agent enables graphics to be applied without the need for mounting hardware connected with inflexible and non-adhesive media. The adhesive must be amendable and forceful, yet trouble-free to eradicate after the advertisement has finally been made.

Polyester backlit films can be slithered in between two pieces of Plexiglas for fortification. Depending on the category of polyester media and the span of time the display will be showing in the open, the material may attribute a waterproof covering and may or may not need lamination after printing. Polyester films can also be mounted to a stress-receptive clear promoter for added stiffness or to Plexiglas or acrylic panels with an optically clear pressure-sensitive bonding agent.

Papers that have superior consistency can be used for backlit signage. However, paper products should be plastic-coated, edge-conserved, and confined with Plexiglas. Papers are not as dimensionally steady as vinyl or polyester films.

Backlit graphics are generally produced using one of three printing methods: screen printing, inkjet imaging, or photo laser printing. The kind of printing technology used to create backlit graphics depends on numerous factors, the most imperative being the life duration required for the printed graphic along with the size of graphics required.

The new invention of grand-format and solvent inkjet printers has turned into a trendy pick for screen printers that are devoted to incorporating digital production. Grand-format and solvent inkjet printers are principally designed for printing on uncoated vinyl. This technology also bids an excellent explanation for producing enduring backlit graphics, mainly for open-air displays such as transport shelters. Grand-format printer tender superior quality resolution and enhanced print speeds, thus making them perfect for large graphic applications.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The artist would sign off on those prints that met their criteria, date them for the year of production and number them in the order they were printed. Each print was a little different from all the others with the greatest difference being between the first and last print of the series.

To a certain extent this was also true of printing from film negatives and although the number of prints being able to be pulled was greater it wasn’t infinite. And if produced by hand in the photographers darkroom there would also be slight differences between prints.

With advent of digital storage and computer printing the original artwork never comes in direct contact with the printing process. Consequently, aside from stuff ups by the printer, the same image can be reproduced a countless number of times with fidelity to the creator’s expression.

As more and more artists, working across all mediums, embrace digital storage of their creations and use those copies of their work to produce prints only prints produced by hand utilizing the old methods will need to be of a limited number. Any artist using digital technology who places a limit on the number of prints they can produce is just trying to manipulate the market with this artificially imposed barrier. When one considers the difficulty of making a living as an artist, to expect an artist who produces a popular work that can exceed a run of to 300 to 500 prints to stop that income flow is a big ask.

That the quality and the longevity of top end digital prints exceed their hand produced counterparts is a given. The latest development in printing technology with pigment inks produce vivid colours and subtly of tones that are a match for what has gone before and if the claims of the major printer manufactures are to be believed their longevity exceeds that of their predecessors.

Where does this leave the serious collector who wants more than a mass produced artifact? Like the pre-digital artists the digital artist can check that the actual print does meet their expectations, digital printing isn’t perfect, a mismatch between the digital file and the printer interface can cause colour shifts and other strange things to happen. When the artist is satisfied they can sign off on the print by hand and date its year of production.

As with the limited edition print the collector will have a print they know has been approved by its creator and isn’t that what it is all about? That the artist may improve their income and be able to continue making their art is a win, win situation for all concerned.

Addendum (March 2007)

As one looks at the increases in digital printing quality, it is improving all the time, it does tend to turn the issue of the limited edition on its head especially with the introduction of print on demand. Unlike traditional prints it is the later prints that will be of the better quality. I would suggest that a new numbering system for Collectible prints be put in place. Instead of the traditional 1/100, 2/100…..100/100 I would suggest a system of double dating prints. The first date for the year the print was actually printed and the second date for the year that the image was made and or first printed, looking something like 2007/2004. This will give the collector a sense of where in the historic record of the images life their print is placed and will also account for the variations between prints due to improvements in printing technology.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

There is a ready market for this kind of industry. Wherever you go, there’s no way for you to ignore their presence, because they’re just there for the entire world to see- in big, bright and larger-than-life sizes of digital prints. From busy highways to the smaller roads and streets, billboards are everywhere.

Although the field of large format digital printing is vast and lucrative, many providers are providing caution and tips to those who want to venture into the business. So when you want to break into the billboard market, you need to…

Invest in high-end large format digital printers

The market for large format digital printing is a very competitive one. It is full of aggressive prices, optimum print quality and quick turnarounds. Almost all of the providers can guarantee to provide you these things. But to be able to meet these expectations, one must invest in a high-end large format digital printer particularly designed for this kind of printing.

One provider, who was into the silk screen printing business for so many years decided to shift to billboards. After careful planning, he went for a high speed, solvent-ink printer that is not only expensive but ensures production of even the maximum size for billboards, as well as optimum speed rate. According to that provider, what you invest in equipment will definitely show in your output. And an output of less quality and brilliance will reflect how you manage your business.

Use connections and current roster of clients

One of the key advantages of having previous business experience is that you can bring your roster of clients into the new business. Unlike those starting from zero, you can offer your new business to people and clients who already know you and the kind of service you provide. Just as long as you have a good reputation, former clients will definitely go where you are.

Try new ways to compete with the existing market

Despite your capability of being able to produce quality work with quick turnarounds, you still have to depend on new ways to offer the service to your clients.

One provider relates that he dropped his prices to be competitive with the existing providers of large format digital printing. And he went after volume of jobs to keep the press running. Sooner or later, he found himself with a steady source of clients with volume jobs.

Be ready to face challenges… with a dedicated purchasing agent

Large format digital printing is full of challenges and complexities. Despite having polished and planned everything, there will come a time when you will overlook some elements.

A provider cautioned that you have to be ready to face challenges along the way. Trial and error is required particularly with identifying the inks and media that you’re going to use for your printer. Aside from time, the best way to work out this part of the business is to hire a dedicated purchasing agent. For issues on materials, a good and reliable purchasing agent will help you get loads of hassles and problems off your chest; so much so that you’ll be able to dedicate more of your time to more pressing matters.

Breaking into the billboard business needs careful planning and management, as any business would. To be successful, one requires a focused sales effort. People have come to a point where price don’t matter much. And at the end of the day, clients will always look for quality and on time delivery first, and price second.

About Digital Printing Company

Digital Printing Company offers high impact digital printing solutions from prepress scanning and graphics design to customizing documents using Variable Data Imaging technology. They specialize in short run printing of books, manuals, and flyers, as well as large format printing of posters and trade show graphics.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Print on Demand involves the complete transmission of the digital data on a printer. It eliminates the basic needs for the use of the printing plates in usual offset printing. Lately, the demand has increased for high-speed digital printing systems, allowing the quick delivery of changeable data jobs or short run jobs from the user guides.

Users of commercial printers think that printing is a combination of art and science.

Listed below are some stores in the United States that have Commercial Printers.
• Sammons Commercial Printer – The commercial printers of Sammons can design and print everything such as business cards, envelopes, letterheads, invitations, catalogs and brochures. Printing can be done whether it is a simple two-color flyer or a full color publication. The Sammons Commercial Printer has the capability to complete your printing project with a distinctive quality. Their capability includes many peripheral needs like typesetting and layout as well as professional design. It also offers creative and innovative ideas to enhance your picture and maximize the impact of your printed materials. Sammons commercial printer is located at #664 Downtown Newport News, Virginia. You can also contact them at 757-247-1101.

• Full Color Commercial Printing Service – This commercial printing service offers digital printing services such as full color printing and gives their customer a great satisfaction with the image they print. They also create logos, custom graphic designs, business cards, catalog sheets, greeting cards, posters, rack cards, brochures, banners and in-house mailing services. This commercial printer store is located at #4431 Street Lubbock, Texas and you may contact them at 1-800-794-5594.

• Bayside Commercial Printing Company – This Company has been a trusted resource for commercial printing services within the Houston area. They create products such as marketing brochures, annual reports, newsletters, posters and much more. The Bayside Commercial Printing Company is located at #160 Lockhaven Drive Houston, Texas. Customers may call or fax them at (281)209-9500 and (281)209-9569 respectively.

• Newman Printing Company – This printing company offers secure and climate-oriented warehousing for their customers. It also offers commercial printings, sign graphics, digital printings and many more. This company is situated at #701 South Austin Street Bernham, Texas. Their contact number is (979) 830-1177.

• Bacon Printing Company – This Company provides their customer the high quality printing services within Central Maine. They offer a wide variety of print services such as envelopes, paper, forms, books and brochures. They also design and set up the images. Their friendly, fast, customer service may help you in many ways like walk-in price quotes. They open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00pm. It is located at #1070 Hammond St. Bangor.

• Seaway Printing Company – This Company makes any picture beautiful on the paper. They also offer their customers a full color printing, direct mail, Docutech printing, newsletter rock brochure, booklet binding, drilling holes, online printing, scanning, shrink wrapping and much more. It is located at #1609 Western Avenue, Green Bay. Their contact number is 920-468-1500 for phone and 920-468-0443 for fax.

• Magnum Magnetic Printing Company – This unique printing company provides superior customer service as well as high quality flexible magnetic strip and sheet. It also offers a printable magnet, standard sheeting, custom magnet, magnetic receptive and magnetizers. This Company is located at #801 Masonic Park Road Marietta, Ohio and their contact numbers are 1-740-373-7770 for telephone and for fax is 1-740-373-2880.

• Reed and Witting Company – Every time a customer calls, a real live officer of the company answers the telephone. Their sales staff as well as service representative have decades of printing industries experience. They offer floor stands, easel signs, toppers, entry boxes, literature holders, channel strips and much more. It is situated at #5000 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh. If you want more information, call them on their hotline which is 412-682-1000 or fax them at this number 412-682-1043.

• Independent Printing – This Company has a knowledgeable service and sales staff that may lead their customer through the most complex printing job. They also offer wonderful printing quality, state-of-the-art technology, and much more. It also creates booklets, business cards, full color printings, newsletters, brochures, envelopes and many more. This company is located in USA. For more information, you can contact 386-252-7351 for phone and 386-254-0657 for fax.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Web-based Marketing

There is no question that the Internet has revolutionized the world of marketing. It has dramatically lowered Marketing’s cost per contact and significantly enhanced its reach. It not only provides new ways to contact potential customers, online marketing also encompasses digital management of customer data and support systems that facilitate customer relationship management. Web marketing’s most powerful feature, however, is its ability to provide direct and immediate customer feedback to the marketer as a driver of the Web 2.0 phenomenon.

Web-based Printing

Long time print industry veterans often cry the blues as they see many traditional print applications replaced by online and digital technologies, including “threats” like email marketing and more recently Web 2.0. However these same technologies have driven a whole new generation of business communication opportunities, many of which still drive print. Printing is not dead by a long shot, it has just changed format and the future of the print business now belongs to the nimble and the tech savvy – printers who understand the implications of landing pages, open rates, blogs and twitter. Customers still have business communication challenges and still need innovative solutions, and in many cases the most effective solutions still involve ink (or toner!) on paper. Online digital printing, or web-to-print, does not refer to a newer generation of Internet technology, but rather to the growing trend by business to take full advantage of the Internet by building applications and services around its unique features. Web-to-print applications are an integral part of this process, for both B2B and B2C markets.

What is Web-to-Print?

Web-to-print, also referred to as remote publishing, is the new typesetting and plate making – but without the typesetting and plate making! It refers to the use of a web interface to create, personalize, approve and distribute print-based marketing collateral. The promo piece can be a postcard, brochure, letter, flyer or even a large poster. The user logs into a secure online interface, chooses a specific print product from an online catalogue, selects an appropriate pre-designed template and then customizes the relevant areas of the piece by entering text, uploading personal images and graphics or selecting them from an online library (Digital Asset Manager).

The final piece is then approved, a delivery method selected and if a distribution list is needed it is uploaded from either a client list or an integrated online CRM platform. The job is paid for with a credit card, the shopping cart closed, sent to a digital printer for production and then delivered to the shipper, often within 48 to 72 hours.

How Does Web-to-Print Work?

Web-to-print is enabled by the web but is a result of the flexibility of the digital printing press. This print technology makes it possible for each printed impression to be unique. It dynamically merges the variable data from the client database with a digital template (Portable Document Format, or PDF) from the online library to complete the personalized document, eliminating the need for traditional printing setup (plates, films, chemicals). This variable data printing process enables thousands of individually customized pieces to be printed in one run, using digital presses such as the Hewlett-Packard Indigo, Xerox’s iGen and Eastman Kodak’s NexPress.

The power of web-enabled digital printing is its ability to support cost-effective personalization and one-to-one marketing, either as an individual personalized print project, a standalone mailing campaign or as a component of a multi-channel marketing strategy also involving web and email marketing. Not bad for a “dying” industry!

Integrated Marketing That Leverages the Combined Strengths of Print and the Web

Printed direct mail or web-to-print can also be integrated with web response pages where recipients of print pieces produced online are provided with a unique “PURL” (Personalized URL). The PURL page can call the viewer to action in a number of ways including a request for online information or a follow-up contact, updating their contact information, answering a survey relating to the seller’s products and services, registering for a promotional incentive, or even providing a link directly to an Ecommerce site where they can buy products.

Once the online PURL form is submitted the customer contact information, “click through” path and survey data are captured by the customer database / CRM platform, used to update the customer’s profile and preference records, and are immediately available to drive intelligent personalization in new printed or online marketing campaigns. Analysis of this data (Analytics) provides an unprecedented opportunity for integrated and highly personalized marketing campaigns, leading to better response rates and new revenue opportunities.

The “old” and the “new” don’t need to be at loggerheads when it comes to communication strategies; leveraging the strengths of print and the web together in an integrated strategy actually delivers a broader reach and stronger results than the individual technologies on their own.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Many individuals and organisations will have more than likely experienced the same printing problems of having to wait long periods of time to receive one sheet of paper, in black and white. Times have changed and expectations have also exceeded; there is no time to waste from using a slow printer for it only to produce mediocre quality. The introduction of digital printing has brought positives for industries in the form of print quality of the highest standards, with results available in a much shorter duration. It also provides the added bonus of allowing you to select what you need printed, and with many individuals attempting to become more environmentally friendly, this encourages the elimination of waste in resources such as chemicals and paper.

There are now printers available for purchase, which have a printer, scanner, copier and fax all in one. Choosing the right printer will possibly come down to your requirements for the quality of the print. There are many uses nowadays for digital printing including commercial use such as publications and posters, and also producing pictures taken with a digital camera. The type of printer that may suit one type of individual or business may not suit another, and the normal considerations of cost, time and use of resources will be contributory factors. The type of paper you choose will also be an important factor in how your print will appear. However, with digital printing you can you can choose from any type of material to use for printing your text, pictures or graphics material.

Therefore, if you want to produce important commercial information or remove those memories from the camera, then photo printing may be worth considering. There are online printing services also available, which offer storage of your digital images after you have correctly uploaded your photos online. The photos are then produced and sent back within a few days, which can be a useful option should you require a service that is cost effective, and not to mention saving your own personal time. However, online services do have a time lag in terms of the arrival of photos because of the waiting required in having them delivered to your doorstep.

Whether it is for commercial or personal use, digital photo printing has the ability to meet all your requirements to the highest quality standards. Printers have proved their place in society, making a strong impact on how businesses and individuals alike present their own material. The important point to remember is that with the selective option digital printing provides, then the only possible difficult decision required to make is “to print or not to print”.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

If you are new to computers or photography, the process of editing and preparing your digital photos for printing may seem confusing and overwhelming. The good news is that most sites are designed for those who may not be particularly proficient with computers. Most sites have easy to use interfaces that are not to difficult to get accustomed to. If you need more assistance, there are also tutorials and support personnel that can help walk you through the process.

In order to get the best prints, you need to start with the best image file you can. When you are using your digital camera to take pictures, take the time to look at each image before moving on to the next frame. This will give you an opportunity to try again if you didn’t like the way that the picture turned out. If you are pressed for time, you can always go through the camera’s memory card to find out which photos you can use and which ones you can’t.

After you have selected the best pictures to use for digital printins, you need to transfer them to your computer’s hard drive. This is an important step because most digital photo printing sites will require you to upload your pictures through your account page. It is a good idea to get your user account set up ahead of time and to carefully read the instructions on how to upload your images first. This will expedite the uploading process when you are finally ready to send your pictures along for printing.

Once the photos have been transferred to your computer, you should go through each one individually to pick out the ones you want to use. This is where digital photography is more convenient and cost effective than traditional photo processing. Your image viewer will allow you to click on the file name of each image and see it right away, so you can weed out any bad shots before paying to print and deliver them. You can usually find a number of free tools that will allow you to edit your photos before printing them. The free tools are often limited to minor changes like resizing and cropping the image. There are also more advanced programs available that give more complicated options like improving an image or even adding special effects.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The prices of the various online printing sites can be vastly different, depending on the options each site offers. As an example, a 4 x 6 print can range from 9 cents on the low-end sites to as much as 35 cents. Some common features to look for include online photo albums you can customize and share, online photo storage, and photo editing tools.

The amount of storage offered can vary quite a bit, so shop around to find the best deal before signing up, especially if you are going to upload large numbers of photos. The free accounts on most sites fill up quickly, so you may need a premium account, no matter which site you choose. If you plan to print a lot of pictures, the premium account may be worth the money anyway. Some sites give their premium members a discount on the price of each print.

Online photo printing sites are an easy and convenient way to show your pictures to your family or friends. You can usually email the photo or link to your album directly from the printing site, or set up your pictures as a public album for people to view. Many sites will allow you to limit viewing to only those account holders who are on your friends list, so you do not have to expose your private photos to the entire world just to share with family. This can be a nice way to show the entire family what happened at the latest family reunion, wedding, or birthday party.

The quality of prints produces by most sites is far better than all but the most expensive home printers. Not only is the quality better, but the price per print is also much less when you order prints online.

The one drawback to using an online printing service is the time it takes to receive your photos. You do have to plan ahead because it will take a few days to ship your prints to you, where the local store can usually print out your pictures in an hour or less. Like anything, you will pay more if you need the expedited service. Traditional photo printing services are generally quite a bit more expensive than any of the online services.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Back to the Fundamentals
A print ad, a television commercial and an online banner may seem all the same – all of these may be used as marketing or advertising materials. Yet each of these possesses distinct strengths and characteristics.

Ask these questions in order for you to surmise on what important grounds you should employ these media.

1. Production Cost
The costs for the production and execution of each media can vary. Commercials costs a lot of money since you would have to pay for air time, aside from hiring a whole production crew.

Online banners, however, may be cheap since it need not be produced in reels or prints. But buying ad spaces online can be just as costly, with pay per click charges or even ad spaces paid for each day.

Prints like postcards or flyers can easily be designed by a graphic designer and then sent out. It may just be the cheapest among the options.

2. Exposure
The frequency with which your materials are seen are relative to your audiences. Nevertheless, both television and internet requires users to switch on the TV or log on to the internet in order for them to be exposed to such ads.

Print ads, on the other hand, can be mailed out and read, placed in strategic locations and handed out to audiences who need not do anything else but to look what is already placed in front of them.

3. Time
How long it takes to create a commercial production may take a few days and that still goes without editing.

Online banners are made by graphic designers who can readily submit it to sites online. Prints require graphic designers to submit such files to online printers and wait for it to be processed. But other than this, once the design is done and meets the requirements of the printers met, there are no other delays.

4. Audience
Commercials have a wide range of audiences that you can tap into markets locally, nationwide coverage or internationally.

Internet users, however, still have a huge and varying range of users too but with which you can easily tap because of the niches and communities present.

Prints can also conquer local markets, nationwide coverage and more. It can also tap into niches with the use of mailing lists.

These are just some of the reasons and observations you should put into consideration. It really isn’t just about the money, but the usefulness of what a commercial ad, a digital printing press, and an online banner can do for you goals and objectives. Review what you need, what potentials you can explore in each medium and use it to your full advantage.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Some of the main commercial printers are HP Indigo press manufactured by Hewlett Packard, Oce VarioPrint 6250 by Oce, InfoPrint system by InfoPrint Solutions Company, the iGen3 by Xerox and Nexpress by Kodak.

There are two types of format. The small format is used in business offices and libraries and is up to ledger size sheets. The wide format is used for drafting and designing and is up to 3′ or 914mm, rolls of paper.

There are different types of printing technologies that are used. Chemical technologies use blueprint. When the characters have to be pre-formed and applied individually, daisy wheel is used. When array of dots are used to print, dot-matrix is used. When ink is sprayed on paper to create the desired impression, ink-jet is used. This also includes bubble-jet.

Laser printing is done when the toner in desired colors is melted and applied on to the paper to create an impression. Line printing is done when pre-formed characters are applied to paper by means of lines. When heat is transferred to special paper, like in earlier fax machines, it turns black to form the printed image and then we have heat transfer. The benefits of using digital printing are many.

In the traditional methods, thousands of impressions of the same image were made using a set of printing plates. Now, every image can be different. Conventional ink got absorbed into the substrate. The ink and toner now used does not absorb into the substrate. It forms a layer on the substrate. There is less wastage of paper and chemical used in the ’set up’, that is, in checking the right color and the right position before printing.

It is very good for rapid protoyping. Short-runs are very economical. Many types of designers find it easy to use. In some machines the substrate is positioned upon and this travels through it in a conveyor belt.

Other advantages are that this can be used for Print-on-Demand. With Variable Data Printing (VDP) personalized children’s books with their names can also be printed. Postcards, where each one differs from the other in form, style and image can be printed.

Postcards can also be addressed in a presorted manner, cut, finished and then mailed. Booklets of varying sizes and quantities can be printed. Labels with variable data can also be made.Different types of binding such as, saddlestitch, perfect bound or wire or plastic spiral can be undertaken.

In digital printing an electric charge is used to transfer the toner or ink to the substrate that it is printing on. Earlier only black and white or single color printing could be done. Now with digital printing you can use any color or a combination of colors. IGen3 and Nexpress use toner particles. Indigo uses liquid ink. Toners are more expensive than inkjets.

Digital printing is now the most used form of printing. In terms of the quality of the printed material and the quantity that can be printed, with personalized printing, the customer can be assured of the best services.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A few years ago you had to send everything to the printer, which could end up costing you quite a bit of money several times per year. Digital printing has changed all that and this new industry has greatly changed the way people run their businesses. Currently, with digital printing devices such as ink jet and laser printers that come fully equipped to handle many types of paper and printing jobs, you can save yourself and your business a few dollars each year by printing your required documents on your own.

For speed a laser printer would be the best digital printing choice for a business. Particularly if there is the need to print out a lot of documents. Laser printers characteristically give at least fifteen hundred printed sheets per toner cartridge, and these types of cartridges do not dry up over time as ink jet ones tend to do. If your business needs to do a lot of full color printing, there are color laser printers available, but they cost quite a bit more than the more common black and white lasers. Laser printer prices generally start at eighty dollars and go up from there, with the color ones coming in at around two to six hundred dollars apiece! The consumables for these printers also costs around eighty dollars.

If you don’t need a laser printer, ink jet printers are a lot cheaper, and their ink refills also cost considerably less than toner does. If you are going to be printing color then ink jet is probably the best option. If your company requires less digital printing than the standard business, and it also needs more color prints, then I would advocate buying an ink jet printer for your digital printing services. There are many brands available, and they all cast about the same price – about forty to two hundred dollars. Most stores have great sales on inkjet printers many times throughout the year, so be on the lookout for price reductions.

The biggest differences between laser and ink jet printers are the speed at which they digitally produce documents and of course, the amount they cost. The ink jet printers are considerably slower at printing than the lasers. A laser printer is so fast it will have your document to you in the time it takes you to turn from the computer to the printer.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Label and sticker printing using digital printing machines has become fairly common nowadays. Today, digital printing has improved quality, time, and lessened the effort and investment. For less, you get more value. Today, all types of companies and businesses are choosing digital printing for their custom labels and stickers and that’s just one reason why you should try it too. The actually benefit from this means goes far beyond the dollar. Since today advertising budgets have become less thanks to effective and superior quality printing techniques, it’s time you forgot about the traditional printing methods and considered digital printing!

Here are some of the top reasons why you should choose digital printing for your custom labels and stickers printing.

1. It lowers the initial costs and doesn’t require use of plates. That means that digital printing is quicker and has a shorter turnaround time.

2. You can print shorter runs and save on your marketing materials (if it’s a limited time product offer etc). You can save money by cutting down on unnecessary expenditure, besides reducing wastage.

3. Since your custom labels and stickers proofs will be printed on the same material as for the bulk, it allows you to actually experience, first-hand, how your label and sticker will look once it’s been printed.

4. Using custom labels and stickers increases your response rate. In fact, according to a research carried out by PIA/GATF, it was found that by adding color and personalizing merchandise, response increased by 134%! How does printing digitally help? By digitally printing your labels and stickers, you are benefitting from what is known as “variable data printing (VDP).” VDP allows business owners to change either text or graphics on every piece of printing material in real time basis. VDP has many levels, from simple to complicate.

When employing personalization techniques, it’s definitely advisable to use digital printing. After all, a good looking and high quality custom sticker and label is bound to attract more attention and have a higher recall value than a badly printed one. Besides this, by digitally printing your custom labels and stickers you will be able to see a sharp increase in your profits due to increase in sales. You can easy calculate your ROI through your response rate data and see the facts for yourself. As costs are reduced, more responses are created, your personalized logo merchandize advertising campaign is only going to grow from strength to strength.

Remember there are plenty of benefits to custom labels and stickers digital printing. You’re your customers flash your label or sticker you can be rest assured that your company and product will be remembered for some time. Therefore, just follow the basics and you’ll be able to beat your competition for sure.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What is digital printing?

It simply means transferring digital images (or pictures that are stored in computers, USBs, and other storage devices) to a physical surface or paper. It is so different with other forms of printing since, this does not require any printing plate. In fact, there are already a number of ordinary printers that can handle digital printing. You can also save on paper and chemical since there is no need to adjust color or settings of the printer. It is also a lot cheaper than other printers that are sold in the market.

What are the benefits of digital printing?

There are a lot of reasons why digital printing is becoming more in demand these days. For one, it is cost-effective. You see, when you have templates for your designs, you may have to manually adjust them to fit the modifications that you have in mind. Digital images do not have to go through manual processes. With the use of image software, it will be a lot easier for you to manipulate how your images look like. You can customize them to fit your preference and need as of the moment.

This also means that digital printing is more economical. You can use the technique for on-demand printing. This refers to the procedure wherein you only print materials when you need them or if there is demand from the market. For example, if you have on-demand brochures, you only have to print them if your target customers are currently looking for them. The entire design then can be kept in the computer.

Digital printing also allows the colors and the sharpness of the images to really become very visible. Moreover, the colors do not easily fade or bleed when they are exposed to various light sources, such as sunlight. They also tend to last longer than those that have been printed in other ways.

Where can you use digital printing?

Digital printing has played a huge part in business advertising. For one, businesspersons are looking for ways on how they can reduce their marketing costs, which usually make up 20 percent of their overall business budget. Because they print only when it is needed and they can change the design to fit the needs without using other templates, they do not end up wasting a lot of materials in the process.

This printing style also permits them to play around with images, which definitely speak more than words. With it, you can create better and eye-catching brochures, leaflets, billboards, signage, building wraps, and a lot more. Digital printing may also be used for the production of corporate items, such as shirts, mugs, and key chains.

Digital printing is one of the best ways to go for manufacturing your advertising materials, such as digitally printed vinyl signage. AdpHence can support all your needs for digitally printed signs at a more affordable and reasonable cost.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Still not clear on the difference between digital printing and making color copies at the local 24-hour shop? The main difference is quality, which is best explained by how digital printing actually works. Digital printing is actually a bit of a misnomer, as the process doesn’t apply as much to the printing itself as it does to the way the image is transferred to the printing device. Think of it this way– with a traditional copy machine (even with the highest quality color copier), when you place a piece of paper through the machine to be copied, the resulting page can only ever be as good as the original in your hand. That means if you have a slight crease where you held it in your hand or a speck of dust on the copier, it will show up in the results. With digital printing however, the image, whether it be text or a full color photograph, is taken directly from a computer file and output through the printing device. The end result will be as good as the original every time because there is never a physical piece of paper being copied.

It seems like with technology this foolproof, everyone would be using it, but that is clearly not the case. According to theprinters.com, a company specializing in digital printing, the printing industry has remained behind the times when it comes to digital printing. Newer high-speed digital printing devices have been able to produce single and multi color images for over a decade, but less than 5% of printing companies have actually installed these devices. There are approximately 30,700 printing companies in the United States alone according to the 2006 U.S. Industry & Market Outlook by Barnes Reports so it is difficult to understand how such a large industry can be so slow to embrace new technology.

Perhaps the amount of time it is taking for the printing industry to catch up with the newest advances is rooted in its long history. After all, this is a process which has been slowly evolving for centuries. Woodblock printing was already in use in China by the 6th century, and methods were steadily updated over the years, with the biggest leap forward being made when Johann Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press in the 1400s. Of course, the advances did not stop there. According to Wikipedia, several innovations occurred at the end of the eighteenth century including a new method of using engraving tools, lithography, and relief etchings. By the early nineteenth century, new types of presses were being made which were far more durable than anything produced up until that time. Arguably one of the greatest advances, at least for the every day consumer, was when Chester Carlson invented the process called Xerography, or photocopying, in 1937. His invention is considered the “technological foundation of printing today” according to PrintOnDemand.com.

Advances in digital printing make it the best option for individuals and businesses that are looking for high quality marketing materials at an affordable price, and companies like theprinters.com make the technology easy to use. Incorporating the internet with digital printing seems like a natural step, and this company allows its clients to transmit files via FTP, electronically warehouse various documents, forms, catalogs, etc. with the option to edit the stored data securely online and print on demand the amount of each item needed. With copies that match the original every time, low cost, and that level of convenience, how can you go wrong with digital printing?

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Digital printing is a printing service that cuts off the lengthy production process of traditional printing. It eliminates the use of films and proofs in printing. Instead of manually doing the cutting and folding of the prints, there’s software that is used to print your documents in the right sequence and produce your files in that instant. Mainly digital printing employs various types of printing engines which are dependent on the kind of printing process. There’s the inkjet printing and electrophotographic printing.

And as the years pass by, digital printing presses have become more advanced to the point that its quality can compare with the traditional offset printing. It is very suitable for small runs of print jobs, thereby allowing the marketers to accomplish their projects right on time.

If you’re looking for quality digital printing services, there are large numbers of commercial printing companies who offer digital printing. It is important to choose what’s best for you and your marketing campaign. Whatever your printing needs are, digital printing services can solve them. Whether you want a poster in full color or short runs of brochures and flyers, there’s a high quality printing at hand.

It’s a fact that there are copious numbers of printing companies in the market. And each of them has different things to offer. So in choosing a printer for your digital printing needs you should be paying special attention to your order size and if the printer has the capacity to handle it. Ask first to yourself what it is that you want to do with your project? Which commercial printer can accommodate what you need? Can they deliver it on time? Are the printing services cost effective? It would also be best to know what the capabilities of the printer are. Are they offering the suitable services that you need? If you’ve already determined the answers to these questions, then it’s time to rush to that printer and submit your project.

Today digital printing services are all over the market. Many kinds of services are available with different specialties of their own. All of them have the same goal and that is to persuade you to print your projects with them. Many options can be utilized but to save your job from further trouble, it would be much safer if you would plan for it carefully.

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Think like a Customer

Before you bombard your potential clients with ads predicting what will be good for them when you don’t even have an idea of what they look like. Before you tell them that your product will make their skin softer, unaware that they already have flawless skins. Before you think like an advertiser, think first like a customer.

Place yourself on their shoes to have an idea of what they will feel upon seeing your schemes. You can do this through the following:

1. Look around you. Look at the ads surrounding your everyday lives.

2. Pick the one or number of things that catch your interest.

3. Take note of why those ads appealed to you and what was your first reaction upon seeing the ads.

4. While you’re at it, also note down why didn’t you like the other ads. Write down everything that constituted your negative reaction to the ads. And what do you think can be done to improve them.

5. Just let your instincts lead you. If the ads are really effective, you’ll make the purchase. If they’re not, you won’t really care.

6. If you followed what the ad contained, how are you going to make your purchase? Are you going to the store by yourself? Or are you going to tell people about it first so they might also be interested in joining you?

7. If you go to the store and find a long line purchasing the same product that you wish to acquire, are you going to join them? Or are you going to leave the store without buying what you want?

8. If you decided to leave, are you going to come back some other time to check out if there are lesser customers in the store? Or are you just going to completely forget about purchasing the product?

9. If you have availed of the product, are you happy that you have been influenced by its ads?

10. And lastly, are you going to purchase from the same store again? Or are you going to tell people about the products you’ve purchased and how the store treated you as a customer?

Think About Your Own Ads

Now that you already know how the customer thinks, you can tweak your own advertisements to suffice to the way they react to them, the way you reacted to them.

Digital printing makes it easier for you to come up with ads that contain images which can really attract eyes. Not only that, you can have your materials done fast. This makes the print medium even competitive. You can beat the other service providers by providing ads that really stand out from the rest and will make your clients think really hard before they trash them out.

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If you are new in the field, you must know how to play the game. Introduce yourself to people, market yourself, and win loyal supporters be it for public office or otherwise. But do not overdo everything, or you might lead people to think the wrong way about you.

Tips on Running Your Campaign and Campaign Materials

1. Choose the right printing company.

• Know your budget. You don’t want to overspend even though you’ve got people backing you up or providing for your financial needs.

• Set a limit. In everything you do, you must know when it is enough.

• Study your opposition’s strategy. This will be useful for you to know what will work and what will not.

• Learn from the winners. Just by observing and researching what those people in the position have done to win, you can also do the same or play the game the way they did.

2. Innovate.

• TV ads are costly. But if you have to make one and you can afford such, then by all means, do it. But you must be creative to make your ads work. People have to look and listen to what you have to say.

• You have a lot to choose from if you opt for the print medium. But whether you use flyers, posters, stickers, brochures or even calendars as giveaways, you must make people like such that they would think twice before throwing your materials out.

• Radio can also help you promote yourself. Volunteer as guest to shows where they are featuring your expertise. Through this, you will be able to introduce yourself and make people realize your potentials.

• The Internet is also a popular choice to go about campaigning. Through this medium, you’ll be able to reach out to the younger audience. You can also strategize using the available materials on it like viral videos, blogging or forum posting.

3. Be true to yourself.

• Do not promise things that you can’t do.

• Do not pretend about your accomplishments or it might backfire on you.

• Be transparent in everything that you do.

• Do not succumb to the pressure of the people who want to influence you the wrong route.

4. Be seen.

• Make sure that you make your presence known.

• Attend important events where there are important people and activities where there’ll be various types of people.

• Campaign hard. As long as there is an opportunity to do so, do it.

Politics is indeed a serious business. You can only imagine what the people in power now have done to obtain their posts. But you also have to bear in mind that they have all gone through what you are just starting to go through now.

Aim to succeed. Look for the right people that can help you, whether on the TV business, digital printing company and the Internet. Obtain people’s trust and respect and you’re sure that you’re on the way to success.

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Online Advertising

There is a vast opportunity available in the web for you to promote your brand and your business. It is already a must for establishments these days to create their own web site. This gives people a feel of what it would be like to avail your services. You can highlight your most-bought products and list out their features. You can also include positive testimonials from people who have tried out your products. You can also have your services availed online. This will make it easier for other people to avail your services.

Aside from your own web site, you can also resort to other online marketing tricks such as blogging, search engine optimization (SEO), banner advertising and a lot more. You can hire people, even freelancers that you can find online to do the task for you. If you are going to explore the opportunities that the Internet can do for your business, you will be amazed at how much you can gain from the experience.

Print Advertising

It is ideal to have your ads on TV and radio. But not everybody can afford to penetrate the broadcast medium. The main reason for such predicament is budget. It is very costly to market your ads using the broadcast route. And this is where the print medium comes into the picture.

In print, you have a variety of options to choose from. You can avail postcards to be mailed directly to your target market. You can also create brochures and catalogues that you can have as leave-behinds or as inserts to other publications. These can also be distributed during special events such as on trade shows. You can have flyers that can easily be handed out to random people. There are also large format types like posters and banners that can be processed through digital printing.

With such information to guide you, here are some of the things that you must be aware of before you proceed further with your plans.

1. You must have already determined your target market. Ask the help of professionals if you do not know how you can achieve with the right list. This is very vital for all your marketing strategies to work. You have to know who are going to be interested with the types of services and products that you offer.

2. Distribute your budget accordingly. You must learn to allocate your money in ways that you will be able to spend it wisely on things about your business that need your focus. This way, you will be able to plan ahead and know how much money will be going out and coming in.

3. Think about the gimmicks that you need to resort to in marketing your business. Utilize whatever technology is offering you, like the Internet and digital printing, to your advantage.

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It is a fact that digital printing paved the easier road for business owners and professionals to be able to market out their products and services easier and at more affordable mediums. But no matter how time flies and how fast the development with regards to technology might be, you must still make it a point to check if you are following the basic rules of advertising.

Here is your checklist to help you keep your focus when you are trying out even the most high-tech mediums available for you.

1. The right list. Have you done your market research? Have you figured out who must be included on your list? How did you do that? You can hire a pro to do this for you. This way, you will be assured that you will get more accurate results. If you already have a list, this step must still not be ignored. You must aim to add names on that list. Through time, you will be able to refine that when you already have loyal clients that seek you out for what you can provide for them.

You must also omit the names on the list that have been unresponsive for quite a time. It will be better to focus your attention to those who will bring in the sales than to those who have turned deaf ears on whatever types of offers you give to them.

You may never have the perfect list. But you must aim at least for the right one. This means that most of the people on that list have shown interest, if not have already sought you out for the kinds of services that you have in store for them.

2. The right materials. You have lots of options these days when it comes to the tools that you can use for your marketing ventures. It depends on the mediums where you wish to place your promotions. You must check your own resources before you commit to anything. You don’t want to be faced with the dilemma of having to adjust the budget of your business in a rush even though this is not on your original plan.

3. The right plan. Planning ahead is a must when it comes to marketing. You must check all elements that will be necessary for the success of your strategies. This includes checking out the materials being used by your competitors. Study how they are moving so you can think quickly as to how you can beat that.

4. The right implementation. Advertising must be done periodically. It is important that you remain visible on your target market’s eyes. Your silence may be deadly in this regard. You may be giving your competitors the kind of opportunity that they have always been waiting for.

With these basic pointers that you must bear in mind, you can then proceed with your digital printing project with the right attitude and confidence that can see you through it all.

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So if you want to achieve higher sales revenue, this is the time to keep your mind focused towards that. You can make that happen. With the help of the tools that you can get through digital printing, you can hone the art and techniques on how to close that deal. To help you make it happen, here are some tips that you can follow to ensure success in this regard.

1. Instead of thinking about how you will be able to close a deal fast and make that sale, set your mind on other aspect. Focus on the client. Understand their needs. Get to know them better. This way, you will be able to build a lasting relationship with them. This will serve you better in the long run. Establishing good connection with people will help you close more deals in the future. If they are not going to buy from you, they will surely recommend you to other people whom they know will be interested. But that will only happen if you have created a good impression and some bond of fondness between the two of you.

2. In order to set the mood towards friendship between you and the client, you must know how to talk your way through. It is understandable that you want to get your job done fast. But do not bombard your clients with sales pitch that they have heard before and many times through the years. Resorting to such, you will only make them feel off and you might get the rejection even before you are done with your practiced speech.

So instead of getting down to business fast, talk about casual things at first. Set the mood right and let the conversation start flowing easily.

3. You must never let a rejection hinder you from attaining success. Just let it be. This is the reason why it is always better to begin a good relationship with your clients. They might turn you down but they will always be open to call you or recommend you whenever they know someone who might need the services that you offer.

4. If people are objecting with the things that you are saying about the products and services that you offer, do not get into an argument by defending what you think is right. Listen to them. Listen to their complaints and some problems that they have already encountered with the same service. Then give your opinion after. Explain to them the solutions that you have for the arguments that they have presented. There are more chances that they will listen to you and might be even convinced in the end because you also took the time to hear them out.

These are only some tricks for you to utilize your materials processed through digital printing help you in setting the right attitude in attaining sales and adding your revenues.

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That is not the case in marketing. It is your business. You are the one in charge. You hold the key to your own success. The technology is there to guide and help you but how you will make something happen out of nothing at all is up to you. This is your chance to enhance your persuading power. You rely on people’s acceptance to what you are saying. That will be your bread and butter. That will be a very important factor for you to succeed with your biz.

It may not be easy at first. How are you going to persuade people into believing that what you are saying is believable? How are you going to convince them that your products will really make a difference on their lives? How are you going to persuade them that they must allot a budget to be spent on the products that you are offering?

Here are some of the easy steps to start honing your persuasion skills. You can integrate these when you avail digital printing services for your marketing tools.

1. Believe in your own products. Before you go on convincing other people how good your products are, you must be first convinced that they really are. This is why it is important that when you are starting a business, you must choose the one that you are passionate about. This way, there will be more room for growth and you will never tire from learning the ropes of the maze that you have ventured into.

2. Research a lot. Keep on finding out new tricks and tips in order for you to better serve your target market. This can be achieved once you understand their needs perfectly. You must also suit your ads on their preferences. They are your boss. Your business will thrive based on how they will accept you. For this reason, it is important that you fully understand what they want so that you will know how you can serve them better.

3. Try out different marketing tools. The digital technology has also brought about a lot of options in this regard. You must test the market and give them a lot of options as well. If you cannot capture their attention through conventional postcards, flyers or brochures, you might as well go large format and try out posters and banners. You can also innovate and avail other types like artist canvas, vinyl signs and window clings.

4. This will all boil down on your message. Write it in a way that you will be able to make people understand your points. You must make them want what you are offering. You must create enough buzz in order for your target market to feel the urge that your products must really be tried.

Do the above mentioned the next time you avail digital printing services and you will sure be on your way to your road to your business’ success.

Loves to read and talk anything under the sun. From current events, magazines, social life, metro lifestyles, traveling etc. Not a born writer but experience could make a difference. He also loves to eat especially travel in different places. Going to beaches and mountains really completes his life.

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What choices do you have? With the advent of professional digital printing, you can choose to have standard-sized ads like postcards, brochures and catalogs that they can mail out. You can also choose large format types like posters, vinyl banners and window clings. The main advantage of getting these materials through the digital printing process is the turnaround time.

Now you can focus on every aspect of your business because the materials that you will need for advertising purposes can be acquired even when the date when you’ll need them is already near. But even when you avail of these tools at such hurried manner, here are the vital considerations that you must not neglect when you are preparing your ads.

1. Draw in the attention of your target market by using an efficient headline. Be clear and concise in presenting this part of the ad. Use words that sound compelling for your audience to believe that they can benefit from what they’re reading.

2. The fonts that you use on your advertisements will dictate the voice of your message. The fonts will relay the kind of emotions that you want your audience to feel upon reading your marketing message. So make sure that you choose the kind of font that will suit whatever you want to say to your audience.

3. Use colors wisely. Do not get too giddy in picking the colors for your marketing tools. You have to make sure that such element will suit the overall theme and feel that you want your advertisement to create. If it has to be colorful, then do it. But if fewer colors will suffice, then you must make sure that you follow it.

4. It is better to have simple layout, design and execution when it comes to your marketing tools. This way, you won’t confuse your audience as to what you are really trying to say. You will be able to convey your message direct to the point and in a manner that they will easily get.

5. Do not fill out every space available on your marketing materials. Allow your audience’s eyes to breathe and rest. Allow them to have that extra white space wherein they can focus on a bit to contemplate whether they will agree with what you said or drop the idea.

6. Make sure that you use call to action that will be easy for your audience to follow. This must also entice them to do what you want them to. You must also focus this part of the ad on the benefits that this will give them to create the excitement over availing your offers and promos.

By following these tips when you next avail professional digital printing services, you are more assured that the outcome will be positive. Through this, all your efforts and money that you will spend on the venture will be all worth it.

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Business Q and A

When you were setting up your biz, the focus is more about what.

• What do you want to sell?

• What is the goal of your business?

• What should be done in order to start up the company?

• What are the tools you should adapt in order to promote?

• What are the types of market that you want to target your products to?

When the business is up and about, you acquire the best digital printing services to come up with the ads of your dreams. You do everything to promote.

• You want to get the word out about you fast.

• You create promotions and gimmicks for people to get lured to try you out.

• You put up signs like banners and posters to market your products.

• You send out postcards, catalogs, brochures to reach out to more people.

Now that you think that you’ve already done all the hard work and you can afford to rest, you are mistaken.

1. Look back and read your own ads.

2. Keep in mind the promises that you have made to the clients you have attracted through those tools.

3. Stay true to those promises.

Good Business

A good business looks good on paper as well as in person. Yes, you may have gotten people’s interests by getting the services of the best printing company.

You have already attracted many eyes through the quality of your ads. You have the most effective tag lines. And you’ve matched up all those with glossy pictures and even 3D graphics. Now your focus must be shifted to doing your best with regards to customer service.

1. Treat your customers right. It doesn’t matter if the client is big time or ordinary, you must treat both with same politeness and skills.

2. If your clients encounter problems with your services, resolve them as quick as possible. They may understand the first time that the problem has occurred. But if that would happen too many times, that is already something else.

3. Do not ever trick a client by having false claims on your advertisements. This will not be a good start of a business relationship. And they will not seek you out the next time they will need that type of service that you offer.

4. Impress the clients with how organized your business is. Give them what they want when they want it. Such impressions would last. And for sure, they’d be happy to pass the word around.

5. You must act professional in every business transaction. As the head of the company, you must make sure that your every employee follows the guidelines. And they must apply professionalism and courtesy with all the clients of your company.

With those pointers in mind, the money you’ve invested with digital graphic printing will be worth it. And in the end, your business will reap from the benefits of placing importance as to how you do things.

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These are standard printing services that are offered by many commercial printing companies. However, there is more to printing than what you know. There are custom-finishing jobs that would make your prints look and feel richer.

So if you want more out of your prints, then couple your printing options with other custom-finishing jobs. Imitate those intricate designs and patterns without the trouble. Incorporate all the details you want and you can easily ask your printer to do it for you.

Do it for any of your printing projects, from business card, postcards, greeting cards, and folders just to name a few. You can make that impressive print that you want without going through so much trouble. You can let your printer worry about that.

Custom Jobs

Go beyond digital printing services and acquire these custom jobs that will create a myriad of possibilities for you and your projects. Astound your readers and audiences and do it with highly-unique and colorful prints.

1. Letterpress

If you want a detail that you readers can see and feel with their hands, the letterppress easily does that for you. As one of the oldest form of printing, it actually produces images and text that are rich with detail. The letters are raised a bit while distinctly recreating a texturized feel to your print.

2. Die Cutting

Die cutting can be done to shape your prints other than the rectangular or square shape you always end up with. It can form basic shapes such as triangles or circles for starters and be used to create business cards slots as well.

Aside from these things, die cutting makes it possible to carve out your card in the distinct patterns you want, aside from hearts or diamonds. With today’s technology, you can shape your cards to the outline of your own design and images as well. The borders can be cut to hug the details of your image.

With laser die cut, you can easily create intricate and more detailed shapes, patterns, holes and more. You need not limit yourself for you can place cut-out designs on your prints as well – just like lace patterns on your prints.

3. Themography

Thermography is a type of raised printing done to give your texts a rich and raised effect. This is done without putting any stress on your paper.

Your name can have that rich feel with this process where resin are sprayed on wet areas which needs the raised ink effect. It is then slowly melted and dried so you have a clean and detailed print.

4. Foil Stamping

If you want more color on your print more than your CMYK offset printing can produce, then go for foil stamping. Add colors that range from gold to pearlized inks.

Businesses use it to render a more formal yet eye-catching detail on business cards, applying it on logos or even names. But more than this, it produces great contrast with your text and design. The reflective and rich colors of gold, silver, copper, nickel and bronze can do it for your print projects.

Digital printing services can give these custom-finishing jobs you need. However, it might do well to familiarize yourself too of any conditions which you need to prepare for to get a successful print run.

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This new generation method of printing out images has became increasingly popular locally in Denver due to the many benefits it offers the artist. The set up time is reduced dramatically and the ability to create short runs or small print orders is much easier. The method is much more cost effective and produces much less waste. The environment is benefiting as well as fewer hazardous chemicals are being used to create these quality prints. And this is very important for people in Denver who recognize that the city is ahead of the game in many areas with respect to taking care of the environment and want to keep it that way.

The use of digital prints offers the artist an unlimited creativity outlet. The ability to create paper thin images or huge panoramas creates a sophisticated technique that most artists appreciate. Printing Denver specialists agree that the new technology has benefited all artists, photographers, architects and painters included.

The printing industry has accepted the use of digital prints as their new way to do business. The method is used by all types of artists and even draftsman and designers are using it to create cost effective and high quality work. The electronic files are easy to create and can be transmitted to any printer in the world with a simple click of the mouse. This benefit is huge for those who want to send examples, portfolios or finished projects to another location without the worry of prints being destroyed in the delivery. And with the ever growing size of Denver, including all the surrounding cities like Aurora, Arvada, Littleton, Golden, etc., being able to send electronic files is a huge time saver as opposed to past methods of a local artist showing their work.

The many digital printing Denver specialists offer a new avenue for artists. The printing process is used around Denver for signage, textiles, portraits, photographic images, brochures, envelopes, letterheads, flyers, business documents, pop art, paintings, annual reports, and even the reproduction of old prints and restoration of art pieces. Digital printing is even used for transparent films.

Printing Denver specialists and craftsmen can help you create the perfect image, with careful editing and use of colors to contrast the image. The image seen on the monitor will be the printed final, so it is important to work with a local printer that you know and trust to get the creative edge of your images and not lose the quality of your work.

The paper selection is extremely important to your quality of work also. Choosing a paper that is the correct weight with the right absorbency, opacity, grain, and color will have a huge impact on the outcome of your work. Many digital printing Denver specialists can assist you in finding the right font and paper as well as creating the correct layout, color background, margins, spaces, and other important aspects to create the cleanest and highest quality design. Again, getting this right really is a reflection of finding the best local printer for your needs. In fact, working with a few different local printers to get a feel for their work is strongly suggested.

Obviously, the turnaround time for the printing job is one of the largest benefits to using digital printing, but the many other benefits such as high quality, ease of creativity and the benefit to the environment are all strong reasons why most artists are turning to the digital world to create their work. And believe it or not, our choices here play a factor in helping keep the Rocky Mountains just as beautiful as ever.

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- Fast service
- Low setup and production cost.
- Facility to personalize documents easily.
- Customers can customize printed materials according to their requirements.
- Digital images can be formed virtually in any size ranging from few inches wide to more than sixteen feet wide. Nevertheless, there is possibility of even larger size image.
- The most beautiful aspect is – it permits swift turnarounds and the facility to change images ‘on the fly’. Hence, it simplifies the process. And
- Digital printing company can diffuse its business across the globe etc.

Apparently, Digital Printing Technology establishes the perfect harmony between the advanced technology and professional expertise of graphic designers and provides you various following Digital Printing Services:
Custom Text Banners – custom text banners is a tool to make a good impression by scripting stylish and unique words. The stylish words generate excitement in the mind of customers and hence fulfill the purpose of respective company. There are various ranges of text banners in terms of quality of materials, size of banners, designs, and style and colors of fonts so; you can choose custom text banners as per your need.

Pre-designed banners – sometimes in your life you do not have time to research or create new design then you can directly go and select a suitable pre-designed banner for your business from the list available on the website. Almost all digital printing companies offer very stylish and in various sizes pre-designed banners for different purposes.

Text Banners – A “text banner” is a sort of message that indicates many sorts of succinct promotional information related to company and its products.

Poster Printing – when you are launching a new product or new business/event etc. you need a poster printing. The quality of poster printing is – it is very attractive and eye-catching, its size and stylish design are large and attractive so that, it attracts the public at large.

Custom Color Banners – is highly discernible and durable outdoor banners which create an impressive impact in the mind of public. It has very attractive colors; the text is legible from recognizable distance. Therefore, it has potential to give your business a force start.

Banner Signs – It is used at the occasion of someone’s birthday, marriage anniversary, on the launch of new product etc. Therefore, banner signs are one of the most common banners which people need frequently.

However, there are various digital printing companies who are providing online printing solutions, hence, before taking service of any company, you need to take following few precautions whereas you could get the best service for your business:

- Read about the company properly
- Read the reviews posted by the customers who already used its services
- Very carefully read the terms and conditions
- First time do not give order in bulk etc.

These are requisite steps to take care, if you do this, you will certainly enjoy the best digital printing solutions.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digital printing is used for many reasons and in many places. From billboard to printing out family pictures, all these tasks involve digital printing media.

The most common form of digital print media is digital photograph printing. Everyone these days owns a digital camera, be it a standalone camera or one integrated in mobile phones. Therefore, there are more chances of pictures being printed, shot by either a digital camera or a mobile phone camera. This is why, there is a booming demand for printers who can print digital photographs.

While many people opt to go to professional shops to get the printing done, a lot of people buy a printer so they can print the pictures themselves. Many printing chains allow you to submit the pictures through email on their website, and then pick them up an hour later at a location near you.

While the costs of printing at home or in the shop are almost the same, the convenience of being able to make as many prints as needed is there. In addition, the freedom of modifying and editing the pictures in case you are not happy with the results is the reason why people buying their own printers these days are increasing. The only thing you need for printing is an Inkjet printer or a specialised photo printer. You can even buy mini printers that are relatively small and will not consume much space in your house.

The other most common form of digital print media you will see is vinyl signs as advertisements. They act as displays for promoting products or services, and everyone sees at least a few dozen every day. Vinyl signs come in a variety of sizes; you can choose a size that is most convenient for you.

The smallest size can be as large as a pamphlet. If you want something larger, you can get banner sizes or if you want huge advertisements, you can get printing done on vinyl hoardings that are taller than a man. Obviously, the costs for each one are dependent upon the size is, so you should try and get one that is most suitable for your needs.

Digital media also comes in other less common varieties, such as printing for other purposes (like business cards, books) or advertisements that are printed out. The convenience of this kind of media is that it does not take as much time as previous forms of printing used to take. Usually, you can get your printing done in a few hours or at maximum in a few days if your order is large. The cost is even less, as the printer virtually has to make no effort in printing the pictures.

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However, there are certain limitations that traditional offset printers cannot overcome. Those brought about the creation and the development of digital printing technology. Digital printing technology helps in plugging in the limitations of traditional offset printing.

Here are some of the services that digital printing technology gives you:

Short run printing
Traditional offset printing usually has a minimum order requirement that you have to meet before you can print your materials. This is to allow the printing company to cover for the expenses that they incur during the printing process. Traditional offset printing methods employ several mechanical methods that costs the printer money to produce.

This is not the case in digital printing. With digital printing, you can go straight from the computer to the printer and not worry about a minimum number of prints that is required. In fact, you can even print a single copy of your materials if you wanted to. The direct to printer method allows people and especially printers to create prints in the short run at a very affordable rate.

Order anytime and anywhere you may be
The development of digital technology coincides with the popularity of the internet. Since both digital printing and the World Wide Web have been the products of various digital innovations, it does not come as a surprise that these two digital services can work together to make printing your materials easier.

Today, there are plenty of printing companies that offer their services via the internet. This means that anywhere you are and at anytime, you can place an order for your prints. Just key in your product specifications and upload your file – your orders will be processed in no time. You no longer need to go personally to your printer, just do your transactions on line. It is faster, it is easier and is more practical.

There are also a ton of value added services that you can get when you go and order your prints through the net. One such service is the free online design tool that you can use to create and design your own printed materials. you can edit photos, manipulate text and upload any image that you want at no additional cost.

Another service worth mentioning is the free project quotes that you can have when you in order to help you in balancing your budget. Project quotes show you how much your orders cost even before you commit to an order. They can also show you the breakdown of your bill so that you can see where your money is going. The project quotes that these companies are offering is a great tool that allows you to manage your resources well – especially when you are on a tight budget.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Knowing full well what you can be capable of achieving is one of the best ways to let your imagination loose. Know some of the advantages you can get from quick digital presses and actualize the designs you want.

Pros

Digital printing can always be compared to other printing presses. Nevertheless, here are some points you should consider when opting for digital-made prints.

a. No matter how complex your print may be, you can always rely on digital technology to make your design details possible. Digital presses calls for accuracy while maintaining the colors and resolution you need on your prints.

This translates to vibrant colors that resemble your original design. This also means contrast and sharpness for your pictures so you have images that truly translates the ideas and messages you want.

b. The versatility digital technology would also give you utmost convenience. You can print business cards to large format prints if you have a digital print provider. To this, you can easily avail yourself short-run prints at a minimum of 25 orders for brochures, a single poster order for large format prints, and even custom jobs for a variety of print products.

c. It would give you best quality images at a short span of time. The photo-quality like images are easily captured so you can enjoy the same best results again and again, with turnaround time varying from next-day turnaround time for wide-format prints to 1 day turnaround for popular printing jobs.

d. The biggest thing is that through digital technology, you can easily have custom prints produced without difficulty. Digital technology could very well provide you with the possibility of printing your design on a variety of materials – stickers, cover stock, recycled paper, plastics, and more.

e. Digital print services are as competitive in delivering the materials you want in time. Rush printing services are easily accommodated through this print option while giving you the quality you need.

Guidelines

However, this is not to say that digital presses can do everything by itself. There are certain rules to remember and to follow.

• Always observe the printing requirements set by the printing company. For all else, if there is something wrong with the file, you may end up delaying your own project.

• Second, by not following the printing requirements, your print may be compromised. The quality of your input is also the quality of your output.

• Finishing jobs are additional processes that could take time even though you opted for digital or rush printing services. Die-cutting, embossing or debossing may add a day or so, depending upon the complexity of your job.

• Last but not the least, always ask the turnaround time for your custom jobs and take into consideration too the shipping time of your orders. If you acquired mailing service, then it pays to know the transit time.

Take these precautions well and make your digital printing worth the effort but less the trouble.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As an owner of a new business, your foremost need is to ensure that you get the best quality stationery at the most reasonable prices. However, just because a printing company offers you the cheapest rates it doesn’t mean that it will give you the best results. Therefore it is very important to choose the best online custom digital printing company. Here are some of the things you may want to consider.

Wide range of printing services – Whenever you choose a printing company make sure it is in step with the latest technology and offers you the widest range of printing services. Of course, today digital printing is the way to go, but the company staff should be trained to handle your needs and translate them into the necessary product. From large to small prints, from vertical to horizontal digital prints, your chosen printing company should be able to fulfill all these needs and more with a smile!

Printing experience – One of the most important questions to ask when choosing a printing company is if it gives you an excellent custom digital printing experience? Any printing company that has been offering printing services for some time will understand your needs perfectly. If they can’t understand your needs they are bound to make a mess of things. They may not use the best products like inks, paper, vinyl etc in an attempt to give you cheap prices. An established printing company with a strong online presence is your best bet and the one you should finally choose.

Printing technologies used – Since there are several different types of new age printing technologies, it can become a difficult choice. However, ask questions regarding the use of various technologies like chemical, daisy wheel, dots, ink-jet, laser, and line printing. Also ask which print technology will bring out the best custom digital printing results. Check out some samples or the company’s digital printing portfolio to get a better idea of which printing technology to opt for.

Printing cost – Of course, this is always one of the determining factors for getting the job done. However, before placing your order make sure that you get the quality that you pay for. Never choose a printing company based on the price they offer you. A good bargain may sound tempting, but you don’t want to end up with an inferior product. So, weigh the pros and cons before you give in!

Keeping these things in mind will help you derive the maximum benefit from your custom digital printing job!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digital printing services are full range services which are designed to meet the needs of customers in a variety of ways. But first you need to understand the basic definition of digital printing.

Digital printing is a computerized image that is applied to paper or other media directly from a digital file. There are no plates or film needed. The days of the lone typesetter setting letters in a printing plate are disappearing and almost gone. Instead, a brilliantly coloured digitized file is created which can be recreated in the same brilliant image on paper.

Obvious Benefits

There are some obvious benefits to skipping the labour intensive plate setting and film developing process. The first is time of course. But that is just the first, because there are many other benefits which you can take advantage of, and in the process net a high quality product in stunning crisp colour.

The set up costs of traditional printing methods have become more and more expensive, because they are labour intensive. You would think the costs would have declined due to technological advances, but the real advances have come through computerization and not through improvements in old processes. That’s why digital technology offers both stunning printing results and significant cost savings over the traditional printing methods.

Get What You Need and Not What They Make You Buy

Once the digital image is created, the transfer process is so simple you are able to finally only order what you want and not some arbitrary staggered limit. It’s aggravating for businesses to need 5,000 brochure copies and discover they have to buy 7,000 to get the real price break. It’s not only aggravating, but it’s costly to the bottom line.

But that is just the beginning of the benefits your benefits will experience with digital printing. Others benefits include the following.

· Ability to meet short deadlines
· Order when you need the specified quantity which means you don’t have to maintain large print material inventories
· Easy adaptation of company logos and other marketing designs so your final product looks exactly the way you want it to look
· Ability to make quickly make changes to images and print designs and layouts as needed without the changes becoming cost prohibitive

How many times have companies found themselves with a closet full of outdated brochures and pamphlets? In order to maintain competitive market status, you need to have a responsive marketing plan. That means the marketing print material must be easily adaptive.

Digital printing is convenient, but its real benefit is the high quality on-demand printing that results in brilliant and crisp images for your marketing materials. Your customers will notice right away that your printed brochures, business cards, folders and reports stand out from the rest….and that’s because quality always takes front row.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digital printing services can very well answer to the demands of today as it is designed to perform with speed and accuracy. Through this, you can achieve variable data printing, large format printing, short-run printing, and so on.

Digital Printing

Without the need for printing plates that the conventional offset printing utilizes, digital printing makes printing more affordable. It uses laser and the ink-jet printing methods so that every drop of ink is precisely where it should be.

The process of digital printing is simple. Your file or image done through a computer application or software is directed to the printer. Your project will be printed in no time. You can also have materials printed per piece.

Go Digital

Are you still thinking of reasons why will you choose this over the other printing processes? Here are only some:

• This process is environmentally friendly.

The technology has less room for errors. For this reason, the waste materials are also being lessened compared with the other types of printing.

Also, other types of printing methods use solvents that can be poisonous to the environment. Digital printing does not require such tool.

• You can have your projects printed in lesser quantity.

You avail of the service only when you need something done and based on how many pieces do you really need. You don’t have to order for too much per material just to be able to make the printing company’s requirement for a minimum order.

• This enables faster turnaround time.

The output from the old type of presses must be dried out first before they can be cut or folded. By going digital, the printouts come out ready to be used.

• You can easily update your materials without the burden of trashing out obsolete items.

Because you can have your marketing tools printed in lesser quantity, you will not find it hard to make the necessary changes when needed.

For examples in catalogs, the prices usually change from time to time depending on so many factors. As a company, you can’t afford to stock up on too many pieces of this type knowing that you have to update them within a month or less.

Talking about environmentally friendly, with just enough materials on hand, you don’t have to throw away too many outdated pieces all at once.

Although the technology is continuously developing, that is why there are still many rooms for improvement with digital printing.

If you haven’t tried inkjet printing or large format printing, it is time you contemplate on getting digital printing services for your marketing schemes. Quit thinking and go for it. This will not only save you money, you will also save the environment from acquiring more waste.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Let’s take a look at a few FAQs

Qs.1 What quality of printing will I get with Digital Printing?

Ans: Digital Printing is very different from conventional presses like offset printing. Digital printers use toners whereas offset printing uses ink. Toner based digital printing has a slightly shinier look then offset, but with today’s technology you really can’t tell the difference between the two.

Qs.2 Can I choose the paper for my printing?

Ans: Yes. You can choose any paper that you want as long as the printing company agrees that it will work well on the digital press and give you the best quality possible. Printing companies are not restrictive as long as the paper can be printed by their available machinery.

Qs.3 Can I use different kinds of paper for the same job?

Ans: This answer depends upon your printing company as they must have the equipment to accommodate different papers at one time. But yes if you require it, it can be done. The NexPress 2100 can accommodate up to 3 types of paper but any more than that the company needs to have that equipment.

Qs.4 What about Pantone Colours?

Ans: Now most digital printing machines convert Pantone Colours to the CMYK equivalents so that they can be printed that way. Some presses allow you to specify your own combination or conversion formula and since converting Pantone colours to CMYK colours is an offset technique you may not have any problems.

Qs.5 What is the best way to proof my job?

Ans: Proofing is done in the usual manner which involves a high quality desktop inkjet printer. If you want to be completely sure then you can ask the printing company to proof the job on the same machine as the one that will do the job. Digital printers unlike offset printers can print a few copies before you finalise anything.

Qs.6 How small can the text be and still be legible?

Ans: The quality of digital printing is only improving day by day and so you don’t have to worry about small fonts. You can use the regular 10 or 12 point font. Avoid using anything lower than 4.

Qs.7 How do I make the black look richer?

Ans: You can use a mixture of CMYK as C-60 M-40 Y-40 and K-100. This is the same formula for offset printing. When you add other colours to black it forces the toner to overload the area with toner or ink. This can be used to make your text pop too, just reduce the black (K) a little.

This was just an overview of the FAQs about digital printing.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

On Demand Printing

The most useful aspect of digital printing services is that you can order any number of printed materials that you want while specifying the exact date that you want them to finish.

Consider this; your company is currently under a lot of stress since it is the launch of a new product line that the company has invested a lot of money in. To your horror, you discover that the posters you produced for tomorrow’s launch is short of about 25 copies. What are you going to do?

Traditional offset printing is now totally out of the question. First of all, finding an offset printer that will accept your job order is very hard to find. And even if there is an offset printing company that accepts your request, the production of the plate needed for the printing process will eat a lot of time and will cost you a lot of money. Also, by printing only a small number of prints, you can’t maximize the use of the plate that have just been made.

Considering the circumstances, digital printing is your best bet. Since digital printing does not present itself with the problems mentioned above, digital printing is very well equipped to handle the specific job requirements.

You do not have to produce plates so you that saves you time and money. By printing directly from a computer, you can print your poster in no time. Also, because digital printing does not need plates to create prints, it is very cost effective even in printing small quantities of prints.

Full Customization Options

The way that you can customize and create your very own printed materials according to your desired specifications is another aspect of digital printing that is very useful for your business. In this market driven world where company identity is very important, there is nothing more valuable than having an image that you can call your own. Digital printing services can make this image or design a reality.

Custom sizes – in using digital printing methods, you are no longer confined to the standard sizes offered by traditional printing methods. You can now have your design printed no matter how big or small they are. If you want, you can also have your designs cut in the shape that you want.

Custom “paper” – paper is not the only thing that you can print on today. You are no longer confined to printing on cover or text paper. Digital printing has opened the doors to other materials like vinyl and artist canvass.

Vinyl is a flexible yet very durable material that can withstand heavy wear and tear. It is ideal for advertising campaigns that requires to be exposed to the elements. Artist canvass meanwhile is a material that can be used in various ways. It is much like paper but provides a more artistic feel to whatever is printed on it.

Know when and where you can fully avail yourself the advantages of digital printing services and get the solutions you need.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

For photographers too, printing has been made very easy and consultative. More photographers have switched from the old style to the modern enlarged printing with the use of digital inkjet printers.

With the modern use of digital cameras now taking into effect to make perfect digital shots, photographers no longer have to go through the process of scanning of the negatives from the pictures taken This is the one of the main reasons more photographers have switched over to the digital age technology.

Digital image printing is developed in corresponding software such as PhotoShop, CorelDraw and may other types of software. However, among them all, Photoshop is the most commonly used software application to meet the demands of clearer and precise digital prints. In fact, it has now become difficult for photographers to sell the equipment formerly used in the darkroom.

With the growth of printing technology, new issues have also sprung up, such as whether digital printing is really as aesthetic and long lasting. Critics wonder if digital printing can contain the same level of output as that of traditional images. For others, printing in inkjet printers is akin to imitating the original as they are printed with the use of ink, while the traditional method contained natural mixture for photography purposes. Nevertheless, even with the advancement in digital photo printing, a number of people still appreciate the old technique of printing.

In case you’re wondering about when the debate of digital printing over traditional was sparked off, it started with doubts over the long-lasting effect of inkjet prints over emulsion printouts. Critics have questioned if inkjet prints can endure the exposure longer and maintain their quality. However, some have proven that the traditional prints have not lasted as long and have slowly been fading in time as well. This observation strengthens the belief that no image can withstand exposure for a long period of time yet. Given that the developments in digital technology are ever increasing, questions and issues regarding its performance have been lessened for it has played its role well till date.

Inkjet prints have greatly contributed to giving an eventual effect in the uniqueness of images. The technique of inkjet printers involves spraying a number of tiny dots onto the paper, making the image sharper and more defined. This is perhaps a simple example of how the new printing technology has played its part of contributing to creativity and has now defined its own field of artwork.

The acceptance of inkjet prints has been quite unpredictable so far. In some exhibitions and art galleries, inkjet print designs are easily allowed, whereas some follow strict rules against the display of such prints. Alternatively, some designers still prefer the traditional emulsion prints to be part of their artworks. For those who rely on digital printing, the choice is based on practicality and reverting to the traditional technique is not longer financially viable. Digital printing has also made enlarging of prints and images much easier than traditional printing. It has been suggested that in time, when digital printing will continue its rise in the world of technology, many will make the switch over from the traditional method to the digital one.

The use of digital printing requires refinement in art skills, and accuracy and precision should be followed and maintained. To enhance printing abilities, the aid of Photoshop, or similar types of software can prove to be very useful for acquiring spectacular prints.

Cyan And Magenta Explained

Moving on to ink cartridges used in printers, anybody who has purchased these cartridges would know that there is no blue or red ink. Cyan certainly looks blue and magenta definitely looks red — but have you ever wondered why they simply don’t call them blue and red instead of cyan and magenta?

Here’s the explanation — both monitors and printers use different ways to produce colour. While a monitor is a light source, printers are light reflecting. The only common ground between the two is something known as dithering. It is the process of approximating a colour that cannot be displayed with uniformly dispersed dots of other colours.

This technique assigns differing colour values to adjacent pixels, thereby reducing the contrast between dots of different colours or shades and generates a more flowing, natural impression. When viewed from a distance, these colours seem to blend into a single intermediate colour. Dithering is similar to the half toning used in black-and-white publications to achieve shades of grey.

Coming back to the discussion, both monitors and printers use primary colours; however, a monitor uses primary additive colours red, green and blue, while printers use the primary subtractive colours cyan, magenta and yellow. In both cases, the primary colours are dithered to form the entire colour spectrum. Dithering breaks a colour pixel into an array of dots so that each dot is either made up of one of the basic primary colours or intentionally left blank to create white.

Cyan and magenta are in fact old printing terms for blue and red, but since some form of differentiation is needed between the additive and subtractive spectrum, cyan and magenta are here to stay!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Prints differs from traditional printing process and it is a direct to output device process thus it does not employ a pre-press operation. Unlike the traditional print process, the image is created on the computer and transmitted directly to the output device. All the content of the job for digital printing is kept in digital form in number of formats like PDF, PPML EPS, PDF, Post Script etc. right from the start to end of the printing process.

Another distinction between the traditional printing and application is the connection between the tools and ink delivery system. Output devices like ink jet printers are designed with a specific ink and ink delivery system in place which is unique to each digital press. And, the kind of equipments and tools selected is also driven by the product produced. With digital printing technology, you can get various benefits that include:

• Excellent quality with higher response rate
• Delivers printed materials faster, cost effective and with big marketing impact
• Low setup and production cost
• Print or customize your job according to your needs
• No waste, your printing job won’t become outdated

Apart from that, the job printed with print design is extremely durable, waterproof, long-lasting and fade resistant. The digital prints can be printed on 8 color printer with high quality resolution. With the advancement in technology, digital print output has progressively improved from traditional color presses to sophisticated color digital presses.

In the current time where every business tycoon prefer perfection and quality to promote their business or services, Print services can provide high quality, eco-friendly and cost-effective prints in short span of time. According to your requirements and budget, you can get latest, innovative and creative designs using the digital technology and its integrated applications. In today’s competitive market, digital printing equipments and technology have developed and become so user friendly and environment friendly that one can design prints using their own imagination and creativity. More to say, digital printing technology sets up the perfect concordance between the advanced technology and professional expertise of graphic designers. Now, prints has the changed the face of banner printing, large format printing, business cards, and other marketing material.

Another good thing is that, print services are also available online. You can find various websites about providers that are specialized in digital printing and serve all of our business printing needs at affordable prices.

Summary: Digital printing has the changed the face of banners, large format printing, business cards, and other marketing material. Digital printing differs from traditional printing process and it is a direct to output device process thus it does not employ a pre-press operation and delivers printed materials faster, cost effective and with big marketing impact.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Off-set printing may still offer the clearest prints available, but the digital printing machines a digital printing company uses these days are quickly catching up to that level of quality. To fully realize the advantages of digital printing, read through the list below and see how you can benefit from this modern phenomenon.

Customizable sizes

Offset printers typically have set standard sizes. Be it for posters, brochures, booklets, catalogs and other print media, there is always a set dimension or size. This is because the whole printing machine has a set limitation on its dimensions at a given moment. It takes time to reset an offset printer for another task and size. Digital printers however do not have this limitation. You can print almost any size and shape using a digital printer and change its settings immediately. All the limitation a printer has is its actual physical size. With the increasing size of digital printers however, this is hardly a limitation anymore.

Faster production period

Digital printing offers incredibly fast production times for color printing. They can print anywhere from two or three days to a mere overnight rush printing. This faster production time is thanks to a more sped up process when compared to offset printing. Equipment can be adjusted quickly from one printing task to another within a few moments. In addition, the nature of quick drying inks today makes digital color printing immediately distributable.

Versatility

Next, digital printing is versatile. Besides printing the usual standard print mediums like flyers, posters, booklets, brochures, catalogs a digital printer can make anything you can imagine that has to be printed in paper. In addition, it can do this without have to adjust any particular major thing in the equipment. You just have to enter the right kind of dimensions and settings to your software and it can print it. You do not even need professional setters to move components in the printer. It is all done using software.

Relatively lower cost

Lastly, digital printing can be done at a relatively low cost. In some offset printers, the first sample output is usually the most expensive since it takes effort to set the printer for the first production. For digital color printing the first sample printing is printed as easily as the others that will follow it. Therefore, a printing company can easily drop the increased cost for a sample printing. Some online printing companies even offer samples free. Because of this, you can adjust your designs before mass production begins. This saves you money in the long run.

Those are the advantages of digital color printing. So if this matches what you want for a printing company, then find a digital printing company near you and start printing those prints for your project or business. Good Luck!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Digital technology has also invaded the printing industry and it has made things easier to handle. The best thing about this is that printing costs have gone so much cheaper because of the presence of digital printing. The process is now more affordable for you and whatever type of business you are part of.

Digital Printing

Digital printing is the process of printing wherein your digital prints could be printed in a faster time without having to sacrifice its high quality. It has made the long and typical way of printing a shorter and a more convenient experience for you.

The Printing Flow

Digital printing has eliminated some of the long and arduous steps that a typical printing machine gives you. It lessens the printing time and at the same time it provides a more affordable printing price. If you are for faster turn around times, then you should opt for digital printing because its flow is much shorter than the one of offset printing.

Digital printing only goes through a short process. Let us say you want your pictures printed then, what will happen is this. Once the pictures are already taken, all you have to do is transfer your pictures to the computer that is attached to the digital printer. While it is on the computer, you would already be able to make all the necessary adjustments that you would desire for your image. Right after this, you could now pass the image to the printer and have it printed. This may not be your long and ideal process of printing images but I tell you, digital printers are highly capable of coming up with print jobs that could easily match the quality that your conventional printers come up with.

Pros and Cons

Just like in any printing process, there are certain advantages and disadvantages that you may encounter. One advantage of digital printing is that you could explore more and maximize the colors that are available for you to use. Because offset printing only mixes and matches four colors to come up with the other colors, some of the colors may not be accurate already but with digital printing, you could always expect a precise print most especially when it comes to the colors and details.

The disadvantage of digital printing on the other hand is that it fades faster compared to offset printing if you do not handle it well. Digital prints do not have protective coatings while the other type of printing has it. This means that the prints you do digitally are nit fully protected from the harsh elements of nature. It has no UV protection coating.

There would seem to be no problem just as long as you maximize the use of your digital prints well. Keep in mind that if you manage it well, then it could give you good results.

Loves to read and talk anything under the sun. From current events, magazines, social life, metro lifestyles, traveling etc. Not a born writer but experience could make a difference. He also loves to eat especially travel in different places. Going to beaches and mountains really completes his life.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The Digital Difference

Digital printing is not the same as litho, flexography, gravure and letterpress. There are some key distinctions between digital and those other methods of printing.

* Printing impressions that are made into paper can vary greatly from batch to batch. But if you make several hundred or even thousands of impressions of the same image digitally then it will all be uniform and equal.
* Digital printing requires less waste with chemicals and paper. It is more economical because less chemicals and paper are wasted in set up. Many times, with traditional printing methods there is a higher percentage of paper and chemical waste due to bringing the image up to color and trying to get just the right positioning or registration on the paper.
* The ink that is used for digital printing will not absorb into the substrate like it does when using conventional ink with traditional printing processes. Instead, the ink forms a thin layer on the surface of your printed material.
* Digital printing is useful for rapid prototyping and fast results. It is a very cost effective way to do printing jobs because it does not use plates or an excessive amount of color.
* Digital printing is ideal for printing jobs such as personalized children’s books that are customized with a child’s name and individual images.

Digital Technology

Digital printing is done using a computer. The basic technology has made many things possible that would not have been otherwise. By utilizing the latest innovations in technology digital printing can help your business save time and money. Here is how:

* Digital methods give your printing professional more options to use in printing.
* Printing digitally eliminates the distortion of images and gives you a clear and professional looking quality print.
* Digital printing gives you more options of substrates such as fabric, exceptionally thin paper and even ceramics. The sky is the limit and you can express your business in the manner that you see fit.
* Digital is fast and economical and has a great turn around time. And because printers that use digital printing save money, you save money too. It is a win, win situation for all parties involved.

Using digital printing will enhance your business by:

* Giving you a faster turn around time on printing projects
* Giving you increased printing capabilities to print what you want in the way you want, even in unconventional ways
* Saving you valuable money
* Getting a large quantity of printing done in a relatively short amount of time with a fast turn around time
* Helping you to meet your deadlines and goals by providing fast, professional and reliable prints
* Giving you more options and superior quality service

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

No Minimum Order

Of course, there are some projects that call for you to print thousands of items. But often, you only need a few pieces of marketing materials. Digital printing allows you to print exactly what you need, when you need it. You will no longer be forced to place bulk orders just because the offset printing company had a minimum order requirement. Plus, you can custom-tailor your printed materials for one event if you want. Set the dates, commission the printing, and avoid having a stack of leftovers once the event is over. Paying for bulk offset printing is only cheaper when you need bulk. Remember, anything that goes unused is money down the drain. Digital printing allows you to trim a lot of that waste.

Faster Speeds

If your company publishes an annual Christmas catalog, then chances are you can plan this printing project in advance. However, often you will need your materials as soon as possible. Maybe you’ve decided to create a special catalog with this month’s sales prices. Maybe you are attending a last-minute sales seminar and want to take extra brochures with you. Or maybe you just have tight deadlines that cannot wait for the turnaround time of a traditional printer. Whatever the reason, digital printing can get your finished product into your hands much faster than with other methods. There’s no more waiting or planning projects for months in advance. Digital printing works with your schedule. And since you can download the materials straight to the printer, in some cases, printing can be completed in a matter of days versus a matter of weeks or months it would take from the traditional printer.

Personalization

Let’s face it; people love it when things are personalized specifically for them. This can be specifically useful in advertising situations. For instance, mail that is marked “current resident” is almost immediately recognized as junk mail, and more often than not, it is treated accordingly. On the other hand, a letter with the client’s name on it is more likely to get opened and read. Digital printing allows you to customize each print the way that you want. Whether it is pre-printing addresses on postcards, giving individual numbers to event tickets, or simply placing the employee’s name at the top of the handbook, digital printing will allow you to take that extra step of thoughtfulness.

Digital printing is very useful in its own right. It can be faster, more affordable, and more customizable than other printing methods. If you want your products to truly stand out, then you should always choose digital printing for your printing needs.

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Reason number 1: There are no more mechanical processes involved in digital printing

The digital printing process utilizes direct to printer approach that can by pass mechanical process that are essential in traditional off set printing methods. For example, in order to have your prints produced through offset printing, you need to produce plates that will serve as a guide for your printer. You need film strippers for proofing purposes. However, this is not the case with digital printing. Through the digital process you can transfer your design files from your removable storage devices and transfer them to your printer’s computer. After this, just sit back and watch your prints run since the computer automatically transfers your image files to the computer for printing. With the digital printing process your prints can be ready literally within minutes.

For example, your ink jet or laser printer at home can print your documents straight from your computer with just a click of the button. When you click the print button in your computer, you can immediately see the printer print your document. The same principle is applied by digital printing companies albeit in a much larger scale.

Reason number 2: Different way of coloring prints

Also, digital printing’s ink distribution is different from traditional offset. In offset printing, the paper and the plates pass through several rolls that contain color inks in order to get the hue that you want. Through these rolls, layers of ink are “stamped” together in different amounts thus producing different shades. And while this method usually produces vivid colors, one drawback it has is when large amounts of inks are used, it is harder to for the ink to dry. Digital printers on the other hand spray the ink directly on top of the paper starting from the top to the bottom then coating it with an aqueous finish. This coating allows the ink to dry in an instant thus allowing digital printers to have quick turn around printing services.

A great example of this would be your photo printing services. Feel the paper after your photos have been printed. Can you feel a slight gloss coating in your prints? Digital printers use this same type of gloss in your prints. Other finishes such as UV coating and matte can also be requested.

Reason number 3: Easy proofing and editing

With the traditional offset methods, proofing your prints require a meticulous method called film stripping. This process involves the production of copies of your design on film. These films are then reviewed and edited by film strippers either by tearing or by using black markers. This process is no longer used in digital printing and you can easily see the proofs of your prints through the computer monitor. You can even magnify this copy so that you can check even the slightest details of your prints.

Editing is just as easy. Once you see something wrong with your prints or want some modifications on your layout, you can easily change them through your design software of choice and print when finished.

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Going Digital

1. With everything nowadays going digital, this method offers its clients faster turnaround time. A digital printing company no longer has to rely on plates to produce an output. With such process, the files are sent directly to printer making everything done fast.

2. The quality is not compromised even though your prints did not go under plating. Digital prints produce high-resolution images and vivid colors on any material, be it vinyl, canvas or paper.

3. For your printing needs, especially for tools that you can use for advertisement purposes, you can be sure of digital printing to give you a bigger and high-impact print. Perfect for indoors and outdoors use.

4. Pitched against the offset process, digital printing has its own strengths which are suitable for a whole different ball game. Digital printing allows you to print anywhere from a single to one hundred pieces.

5. Offset printing is affordable too, especially in bulk. But then again, you would have to print a number of prints to get your files done. Moreover, it limits itself to paper, card, and stickers.

6. On Demand – This allows you to readily print whenever you want. On-demand printing means you can afford to print when you have the resources for it. Reprint volumes of books without wasting your own money. Instead you can order your books printed once your own clients have paid for them. In this manner, you avoid risking and waiting for unsold books to sell themselves.

7. Digital printing can accommodate large type of files like posters and banners. Offset can also do such but the output will be done by parts because it cannot be fed larger sizes of paper which digital printers can.

Print as small as 8 x8 posters to as big as 58″ x 11. You can even go bigger as vinyl can reach to 61″ x 100″ and even extend its length further.

8. Except paper, most digital prints are hardy materials. They can be made resistant to the harmful effects of the weather. These materials may be water resistant so moisture does not easily damage it. UV protection makes color fast even when exposed to the sun for a long time.

9. Advertise in all the small or large spaces that you want. Through digital printing, there are no standard sizes. You can print down to the size you want with half-inch increments.

A digital printing company has many selling points, other than its short turnaround time which it is undeniably distinct for. And so, once again, while digital and offset prints are pitched against each other, you now know what its strengths are and what would work best for your own strategies and need. So go ahead and review your options for your print project needs.

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Sometimes you will need to customize your prints according to style and number, and if your printing company does not offer digital, then your prints cannot be done for you. And you would obviously not want this to happen.

Digital technology in printing allows for overcoming a lot of limitations in printing. Here are some of the advantages that you might be interested to know:

1. Digital printing allows for unique designs and impressions. If you need unique prints, or a number of prints that are slightly or totally different from one another, digital printing can easily provide this for you.

You do not need to limit yourself to identical print jobs anymore. This gives you more flexibility with regards to deciding what printing jobs need a particular effect, style, paper stock and more.

2. It is environment friendly. If you are concerned about how environmentally responsible your printing service is before you actually choose it, then you would be relived to know that digital printing saves a lot of chemicals and paper in the process.

Digital printing would be able to produce the right amount of materials you need for your prints. In this way, you don’t have any unused materials lying around. In this manner, both you and your printing company reduce paper waste.

3. Digital can prototype easily. Nowadays, digital is the recurring trend. Most people use cameras and computers to process things. If you need to have something printed, it is more likely that you use a digital method in producing a copy of your print.

If you need to use digital images and layouts, then a digital printing company will be able to provide for your need efficiently.

You do not need to go through the painful process of preparing for a print since the images or the layout is transferred directly from a digital apparatus to a digital printer. The two are easily compatible. Your images are sure to look most similar to how you view it in your digital device.

4. Digital allows for few prints. If you do not need a large amount of prints, and you cannot find an offset service that would print a few jobs for you without having you pay for extra charges, digital printing is a good alternative.

No matter how large or small your print job is, it would not matter with digital. You determine what you want, and digital prints it the way you want it to be printed.

5. Your images remain clear and vivid. You need not worry about the quality of your images. With digital printing, you are assured of quality print output.

A digital printing company can provide all these advantages for you. Keep this in mind whenever you might need to go for digital printing

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

As the computer gained popularity in society, so did graphic design. The ability to design unique graphics on computers has become one of the most sought out skills in today’s job market. More and more people are using their computers to create unique t-shirt designs. Still, computer generated designs were still printed on shirts using the screen process until the rise of digital printing. The digital process is the new era of t-shirt printing, allowing a printer to print designs from a computer directly onto a t-shirt. Digital printing is the 21st century alternative to screen printing.

Faster and Cheaper

Printing with screens is still widely used by t-shirt printing companies and is still a quality process, but the digital process has quickly become the chief alternative for small runs. The set up for digital is much easier and cost effective. In the screen process one has to set up a screen for each color the design takes, which means that the more complex the design is the more screens the printer is going to need. This increases the manual labor which is going to increase cost. When a screen printer prices their t-shirts, they always charge more for more colors. With digital t-shirts there are unlimited colors and no screens, just one flat fee per t-shirt. Instead of setting up all the screens beforehand, the only set up digital requires is a pre-treatment of the t-shirt, which gives the shirt a solid base and prevents the digitally printed ink from smearing. This is a much less time consuming pre-printing process.

More Control

Digital printing offers much more control during the printing process than screen printing. Digital printing gives a printer the option of auto-matching ink. Instead of mixing inks, the screen printing way, ink matching allows the digital printer to print any color from the original design directly onto the t-shirt. The digital ink process makes it easier to print multi-colored designs digitally on t-shirts.

For a large order of t-shirts screen printing is still going to be the main option most t-shirt printers choose. The only downside of digital printing is the manufacturer needs multiple printers in order to speed up the printing process. Screen printing can print more shirts at a time, making them ideal for large orders. This is the main reason why digital printing hasn’t completely taken over the market. Some day most t-shirt printers may only do digital printing if printers become large enough and are able to handle bigger orders. Until then screen printing and digital printing will continue to work together. It will be up to the printer to decide what process is more efficient for each individual order.

However, digital printing is making stride. A decade ago digital printers were rare, now most t-shirt companies have a digital printer and use it for all single t-shirt orders.

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Print was instrumental in changing the nature of reading within society.

Elizabeth Eisenstein identifies two long term effects of the invention of printing. She claims that print created a sustained and uniform reference for knowledge as well as allowing for comparison between incompatible views. (Eisenstein in Briggs and Burke, 2002: p21)

Asa Briggs and Peter Burke identify five kinds of reading that developed in relation to the introduction of print:

1. Critical reading: due to the fact that texts finally became accessible to the general population, critical reading emerged because people were given the option to form their own opinions on texts.
2. Dangerous Reading: reading was seen as a dangerous pursuit because it was considered rebellious and unsociable. This was especially in the case of women because reading could stir up dangerous emotions like love. There was also the concern that if women could read, they could read love notes.
3. Creative reading: Printing allowed people to read texts and interpret them creatively, often in very different ways than the author intended.
4. Extensive Reading: Print allowed for a wide range of texts to become available, thus, previous methods of intensive reading of texts from start to finish, began to change. With texts being readily available, people began reading on particular topics or chapters, allowing for much more extensive reading on a wider range of topics.
5. Private reading: This is linked to the rise of individualism. Before print, reading was often a group event, where one person would read to a group of people. With print, literacy rose as did availability of texts, thus reading became a solitary pursuit.

“While the invention of printing has been discussed conventionally in terms of its value for spreading ideas, it’s even greater contribution is its furthering of the long-developing shift in the relationship between space and discourse”.

The proliferation of media that Ong is discussing in relation to the introduction of the printing press, to the death of an oral culture and that this new culture had more of an emphasis on the visual rather than in an auditory medium. As such the printing press gave birth to a more accessible and widely available source of knowledge in the sense that it broke down the boundaries between the possessors of knowledge and the masses. The narrative or discourse now existed in what would become indirectly through time, the global village.

The invention of printing also changed the occupational structure of European cities. Printers emerged as a new group of artisans for whom literacy was essential, although the much more labour-intensive occupation of the scribe naturally declined. Proof-correcting arose as a new occupation, while a rise in the amount of booksellers and librarians naturally followed the explosion in the numbers of books.

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It took a long long time for print to penetrate Russia and the Orthodox Christian world, a region (including modern Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria) where reading ability was largely restricted to the clergy. In 1564, a White Russian brought a press to Moscow, and soon after that his workshop was destroyed by a mob.

In the Muslim world, printing, especially in Arabic or Turkish was strongly opposed throughout the early modern period (printing in Hebrew was sometimes permitted). Indeed, the Muslim countries have been regarded as a barrier to the passage of printing from China to the West. According to an imperial ambassador to Istanbul in the middle of the sixteenth century, it was a sin for the Turks to print religious books. In 1515, Sultan Selim I issued a decree under which the practice of printing would be punishable by death. At the end of the century, Sultan Murad III permitted the sale of non-religious printed books in Arabic characters, yet the majority were imported from Italy.

Jews were banned from German printing guilds; as a result Hebrew printing sprang up in Italy, beginning in 1470 in Rome, then spreading to other towns. Local rulers had the authority to grant or revoke licenses to publish Hebrew books.

It was thought that the introduction of the printing medium ‘would strengthen religion and enhance the power of monarchs.’ The majority of books were of religious nature with the church and crown regulating the content. The consequences of printing wrong material were extreme. Meyrowitz used the example of William Carter who, in 1584, printed a pro-Catholic pamphlet in Protestant-dominated England. The consequence of his action was hanging.

The widespread distribution of the Bible ‘had a revolutionary impact, because it decreased the power of the Catholic Church as the prime possessor and interpretor of God’s word.’

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