By Sabine Lenz

The only sure thing in life is change. Just remember, 15 years ago nobody had even heard of the Internet. And where would we be today without it?

With technology constantly advancing, even today’s printing papers have changed. They might look the same at first glance, but they have definitely evolved.

There is a lot of paper information available to you, and granted, it can be overwhelming at times. So, we have put together 10 easy steps to help you specify the right paper for your projects.

1. Consider paper early on
As soon as the preliminary design is done, spec your paper and get quotes from printers. Tell your printer you are open to suggestions – not substitutes, but suggestions. Read the rest of this entry »

By Fred Hernandez

Large companies with strong positions usually fare the best during recessionary periods and can even expect to grow during such times.

How can smaller businesses survive and actually thrive in the current economy? Take a tip from the big guys and adapt your business to meet the challenges of an economic downturn.

Bear the following in mind when preparing your marketing plans:

Know your customers. You need to know what your customers are expecting from you during tough times. Don’t assume that lower prices are the only thing they are looking for; try to understand how your customers are redefining value and adjust your product or service to meet their expectations.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Margie Dana

V-A-L-U-E     A-D-D

There’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on in the printing industry … surely you’ve noticed. Companies are changing in significant ways, and it’s generally good news for print customers, as long as you’re aware of the trend.

Printers are shedding their printing label, literally and figuratively. Some are changing their names. Out goes “printing” and in comes terms like marketing, cross media, communications and print solutions.

Today’s progressive printers have seen the writing on the wall: we print customers can buy ink-on-paper anywhere – across the country, overseas and online. Read the rest of this entry »

By Richard Romano

PaperSpecs’ Greenwashing Webinar with Scot Case has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 5, so we decided to start the greenwashing discussion with this insightful editorial by Richard Romano.

We believe the desire for sustainable products and services is here to stay and that the certification bodies and systems designed to stop greenwashing have only just begun. So read … then register for the Webinar (it’s FREE thanks to the generous support of Neenah Paper) and learn how to determine which environmental claims are relevant, meaningful and verifiable, and frankly, which ones are not! Read the rest of this entry »

Excerpt by Frank Romano

Described as the “overnight sensation that took almost forty years,” inkjet printing (a form of digital printing) grabs designers’ attention and print buyers’ dollars at an ever-increasing rate. Why the increased interest?

As Frank Romano writes in his latest book Inkjet!, “… it is the almost perfect printing process – if done correctly. There is no image carrier, no makeready, instant drying and integrated finishing.

Today, quality and production speed are coming into alignment with industry needs.”

We’ve selected this excerpt to present to you because it’s always best to start at the beginning – with the basics. They will likely clear up misconceptions you may have had and also provide the fundamental knowledge essential to being a savvy specifier of print. Read the rest of this entry »

By Sabine Lenz

My change of heart was almost overnight, so, I confess. I love foil stamping. Oh no, not foil stamping, you say. Those silver and gold Christmas cards …

Hold it. I have to admit, I had similar feelings about it. But this is not the old fashioned foil stamping anymore. Take a closer look at the colors, the intricate way the foil can be applied and it will open up a brand new design frontier.

It worked for me. After I saw several pieces that showcased the skillful artwork from Foils & Dies, a Denver, Colorado-based specialty printer, I was convinced that this was something truly dazzling.

What is foil stamping?
Let’s start at the beginning. Foil stamping is the process of applying color pigments, often opaques, to paper or plastic with the help of a die. Heat and lots of pressure cause the colors to be released from a plastic backing and transferred to the paper. Read the rest of this entry »

By Brian Dougherty

The following excerpt from Brian Dougherty’s soon-to-be released book, Green Graphic Design, gives just a taste of the many flavorful morsels you’ll find throughout the contents. Our first installment deals with the outer layer of Dougherty’s “design avocado.” Our upcoming selection in November will go straight to the avocado seed. – PS

There are three different ways of thinking about a graphic designer’s role: designer as manipulator of stuff, designer as message maker and designer as agent of change.

I like to think of design as a big ripe avocado. The outer layer of this avocado represents the physical world of paper and print. This is the obvious part of design that we immediately see – the layer of stuff. Yet if we peel back the skin of the avocado, we discover the meat. This is the realm of brand and information. All of that stuff on the exterior really exists in order to convey information and deliver messages. Read the rest of this entry »

By Margie Dana

As a preview to the recent Print Buyers International Conference in Boston last month, Margie Dana interviewed Daniel Dejan, who delivered two sessions at the conference. We thought it would be appropriate to run this interview for you as well because Mr. Dejan will be leading our next Webinar on October 7, 2008.  –  PS

Daniel Dejan is one of the industry’s best-known and most popular educators - he’s certainly one of my favorites. He is the North American Print & Creative Manager for Sappi Fine Paper/North America, and he speaks to all sorts of audiences in the graphic arts.

Daniel can unravel highly technical concepts - such as color management - like no one else can. His mastery of this subject, plus his experience as a designer and art director, give him a unique edge. And Daniel’s a great presenter. Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Gabrielle Centamore

As companies seek greater opportunities to grow their business, but not at the expense of the environment, the demand for suppliers who invest in more sustainable practices is rapidly increasing.

Certification offers reassurance that trees, for example, are being harvested responsibly, that land-use is being closely monitored and that across the board, best-practices in management and environmental stewardship are priority.

There are numerous paper and forest certification organizations throughout the world. Several that are becoming prominent in the United States are the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forest Initiative, Inc. (SFI), which is a member of international forest certification group, Programme for the Endorsement of Read the rest of this entry »

By Sabine Lenz

There is just something special about translucent papers.

The way they allow you to see through them, but diffuse the view just enough to cause images to be obscure.

If they appear as a flysheet in a brochure or are used as a wraparound cover for a booklet, you immediately feel you have come across something special and that someone has made a particular effort to create this unique effect.

What are translucent sheets?
Always on the curious side of life, I was wondering how translucent sheets are actually made. My first port of call, as is for many of us these days, was to Google “translucent paper.” Hmm. Not much explanation there. Read the rest of this entry »