The Printing Process: Offset Printing
What happens when you submit your files to print? Have you ever wondered how the printing process works? If your project is using offset printing, here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what happens at the plant. Prepress In offset printing, the colors are added to the paper in layers: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. This is referred to as CMYK. Those four letters each represent a color. The K represents black, but actually stands for the word key, key color or…
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The Benefits of Coated Vs. Uncoated Paper
Different commercial printing projects call for different kinds of paper. There are many variables, including the choice of coated paper versus uncoated paper. Coated paper has a surface coating applied to it, made from minerals and chemicals, which gives it a specific “feel”, can impact the shade of the paper and impacts brightness, or the amount of ambient light reflected back from the surface. Think of it a little like varnish on wood or primer on a wall you’re about…
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What’s in the Mailbox? Consumers Still Like Receiving Mail
As I kid, I remember going to my grandmother’s house and rifling through the catalogs she kept on her coffee table. Many of them sold clothes that could have been worn by an extra on “The Golden Girls.” Even though I was deep into my off-brand JNCO jeans phase, I still spent hours looking through the catalogs and magazines she accumulated. I still love looking through catalogs and magazines. And I’m not alone. The data shows that consumers enjoy receiving…
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Left on Read: How and Why Gen Z Values Print
Despite being defined as “digital natives,” Gen Z values print, and their actions and words show it. Many of the group, who are largely categorized as being born between 1997 and 2012, spend plenty of time on phones and other screens but turn to print when they want a break or need to really focus. So what is it about print that draws Gen Zers? Why Gen Z Prefers Print Gen Z values print because it’s better for learning, easier…
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USPS Announces New Prices for Market Dominant Rate Classes
The United States Postal Service has announced plans to change pricing for all Market Dominant Mail Classes. This pricing needs to be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The announcement is expected in late May or early June. The increase will affect First Class, Periodical, Standard/Marketing Mail, Package Services Bound Printed Matter, Media/Library Mail and other USPS miscellaneous fees. To see how other classes will compare to the 5.4% increase for First Class, here is a chart. It appears that…
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Choosing the Best Paper Stock for Your Commercial Printing Projects – Printing Basics
From basis weight, grade and finish to opacity, caliper and brightness, every aspect of paper plays a crucial role in creating a high-quality finished product. In this series, we detail the properties and functions of commercial printing paper, explore various paper types and their benefits, and provide insights into how to make informed decisions about choosing the right paper for printing projects like books, catalogs, and magazines. What is paper stock? In printing, the words “paper” and “stock” are often…
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