Designing for Print

5 Things You Need to Know to Prepare Your Designs for Print

One of the greatest things about being a printer is seeing all of the amazing designs created by graphic designers and artists. It's fun to see someone's creativity and ideas become a tangible and beautiful piece of printed art.

However, we run into a few common problems when receiving artwork from designers. These five steps will help you prepare your design files to prevent lost time and money.

---

1. Include bleeds and remember to keep content inside the safe zone. Since most printed items will be cut to a specific size, we need the colors and background images to extend a small amount past the actual final trimmed size. That way you won't end up with a white border around the edge of your design.

When you set up your document in Illustrator, InDesign, or other programs, make sure you add a bleed to your file. The standard bleed for most printed material is 1/8" (0.125) on each side. Forgetting to add bleed is one of the main reasons we send files back to the designer for fixing before we can print. For more information on setting up your design with bleed and safe zones, visit our designer resource page.

A safe zone in your document will make sure all of your text and any images you don't want cropped are far enough away from the edge that they won't be trimmed off. This is especially important for text.

2. Make sure your artwork is created in CMYK format. It's easy to forget that printers use the CMYK color profile when many images and online designs are created in RGB. Unfortunately, RGB doesn't convert perfectly to CMYK, so your best option is to set up your document in CMYK and make sure any images you add are converted from RGB to CMYK so that you can make any necessary color adjustments in your design. Visit our color profiles page for more information.

3. All designs and images should be created at print resolution, which is 300 dpi. Often designs for the web are created at 72 dpi, but this will look blurry when printed. For the sharpest images, make sure all your photos are 300 dpi. Also, your design should be created at the same size and dimension as your final printed product (plus bleeds). So, if you are creating a flyer which will be 8.5 x 11 inches, create your design file at 8.5 x 11 inches plus a bleed of .125 on each side at a resolution of 300 dpi.

4. Outline your fonts before saving as a pdf. For specific instructions on how to do this, check out our previous blog post on outlining fonts. Another option is to include your font file with your design file, but we prefer to have the fonts outlined. This converts the fonts into simple vector layers which means that they won't change appearance when we open them on our computer. Once your artwork is completed, you should save or export your design as a print quality pdf (and be sure to include bleed and trim marks).

5. Before sending your final design to the printer, print out your design and have someone else proofread it. For some reason, mistakes are more apparent once they have been printed. We recommend that you print your design on your home or office printer. Even if it's smaller than the actual design, you will quickly notice things that aren't obvious on a computer monitor.

Check to make sure your spelling and contact information is correct, but also make sure all important information is included. Did you include the date and location of your event on your postcard design? Do you have an expiration date on your coupon design? Is there a website or phone number on your ad so people can get in touch with you? Is the author listed on the book cover?

A surprising number of people forget these items and although we try to do our best to catch these errors, we don't always know the information needed and that leads to delays in printing and sometimes costly reprints.

---

If you want more information on setting up your design files for print, please visit our new designer resource pages. You'll find detailed instructions on preparing your artwork for your printer. We look forward to seeing your next design and assisting you in making your masterpiece into reality.

To schedule a tour of our facilities, please contact us. We would be happy to show you the process of printing. We are proud of our craftsmanship and artistry.

Print is Big

Print is Green

Did you know that spam email wastes 33 billion kilowatt hours annually - the greenhouse emissions equivalent to 3.1 million cars using 2 billion gallons of gas? Check out this cool website with statistics about how print is a thriving industry that supports green efforts:  http://printisbig.com.

Cutting Edge Equipment & Technology

McNeil Printing is Proud to Introduce Our New Cutting Edge Equipment

McNeil Printing recently acquired a new routing and cutting machine which is one of the best of its kind currently on the market. We are excited about our expanded capabilities to achieve the highest quality products for our customers.

Zünd Cutting Systems offer greater flexibility and adaptability than any others can offer. These superior cutting systems deliver unsurpassed cut quality. This capability is the result of precision mechanics, perfectly coordinated system components, and intelligent control technology.

Ask your sales rep how we can put this new machine to work for you. Stop by our Orem office for a quick tour and we would be happy to show off our new capabilities!

May 2016 Special

Get 500 Trifold Brochures for Only $195 During the Month of May

We are offering an awesome discount on double sided trifold brochures for the month of May. Get 500 beautiful brochures for only $195! That's 35% off our regular prices.

Your trifold brochure will be digitally printed on 80# matte cover stock. Choose from 8.5” x 11” or 9” x 12” sizes. Make sure you mention the May special when placing your order!

Earth Day 2016

HAPPY EARTH DAY from McNeil Printing!

Paper is one of the most recycled materials in the world and can be recycled up to 7 times.

Did you know...

1. Two out of three papers produced in the United States comes from a mixture of recycled paper, wood chips, and saw mill scraps. This reduces the need to cut down trees for every paper-making process.

2. The tree population in the US has increased by 20% since the first Earth Day, which was held in 1970.

3. We are doing our part! We have systems in place for recycling paper and other material and we’re always looking for new ways to improve our techniques.

For more information on how we're doing our part, contact your customer service rep.

Utah Valley Marathon Discount

Save 20% On Race Registration!

We are proud sponsors of the 2016 Utah Valley Marathon on June 11th.

The Utah Valley Marathon includes your choice of Half-Marathon, Marathon, 10K, a free Kids 1K, and a K9 Dash. This race offers breathtaking and diverse scenery and ends in the heart of downtown Provo.

Both the marathon and half marathon are USATF certified, and the marathon course is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Races benefit four charitable organizations. The Utah Valley Marathon has become the fastest growing road race in the state of Utah, so register before it sells out.

Use coupon code mcneil20 to save 20% when you register for the race.

Don’t Put All Your Marketing Eggs in One Basket

5 Reasons to Incorporate Print Into Your Marketing Campaign

As marketing experts increasingly turn their focus toward digital advertising platforms, it can be easy to forget that printed media still delivers a significant ROI for building brand awareness and driving sales. With lower costs and improvements in digital print quality, the ability to personalize printed communication brings a wealth of opportunities to marketers.

“Businesses continually face the challenge of growing revenue, improving operational efficiency, and advancing business performance to a higher level. There is a significant opportunity untapped by many companies to help meet these goals by more effectively unlocking the power of print,” said Jo Ann Froelich, Head of Sales at McNeil Printing.

By personalizing postcards, catalogs, coupons, and other direct mail, a company can easily drive customers to their online store or website and vice versa. More and more companies are taking advantage of a variety of both digital and print media to maximize their customer reach. A press release from Pitney & Bowes explains that “The majority of small businesses, 76 percent, agree their ideal marketing mix includes a combination of physical and digital communications.” ⁽¹⁾

We’ve put together just five reasons we believe print is an essential part of an effective marketing campaign.

1. Printed material is more memorable.

“When creating a marketing campaign, most entrepreneurs spend a great deal of time figuring out what that campaign will look like—but rarely ask themselves how that campaign will be experienced,” says Vladimir Gendelman, founder of Printwand.

He continues, “When people experience something for the first time, they use all the senses available to them to create a memory. This is why we often associate the holidays with our sense of smell or have a stronger emotional connection to a movie when the soundtrack sets the tone. The more senses your audience can use to create a memory of your brand, the more your audience will feel engaged.” ⁽²⁾

By incorporating the tactile experience of physically interacting with a printed piece, your brand message will last longer in the minds of your customers.

2. Print ads stand out among the noise of digital ads.

Studies show that people have developed “ad blindness” while searching online. They have trained their eyes to avoid looking at online ads while reading on the internet or using social media.

Amy Hansen with MPA Media says, “Readers of print media are more immersed in the content and tend to be more receptive to the publication's print ads. In today's world of email overload, a well-designed print ad can easily stand out, grab attention and cut through the overwhelming amount of online clutter we are exposed to on a daily basis.” ⁽³⁾

3. Print is perceived as a more credible source of information.

According to PrintintheMix.com, 56% of consumers trust print marketing more than any other advertising method. ⁽⁴⁾ You may have noticed that financial service providers are still heavily using printed materials for their marketing. The marketers in this industry understand that using printed material implies that the information is coming from a credible source.

“There is a common belief among consumers that if someone took the time to design it and print it that it must be valuable information.” Las Vegas Color Graphics states that, “7 out of 10 Americans report that they find direct mail advertising more personal than online ads. This personalization is what makes this method the most effective. Anyone can send an email blast and use software to create an online ad but consumers value the fact that the company went to the added expense of printing out and mailing the marketing material.” ⁽⁵⁾

4. Print reaches customers where they live.

Many people spend the majority of their work day staring at a lit screen and they enjoy unplugging when they get home. Printed materials provide the opportunity to influence your customers when they are most receptive to your message.

Vladimir Gendelman stated in 2014, “Compared with how often and how quickly you check your email, consider the daily ritual of going to the mailbox and checking your postal mail. You set aside a few moments to take the time to look at every piece of mail before going back to whatever it was you were doing before. That means your print materials are likely to receive extra attention—especially if they look unique.” ⁽⁶⁾

5. Print media can be used for personalization.

The possibilities with personalized printed promotional material can be really exciting for marketers. Printed media can be used to boost online interaction by driving customers to a personalized subdomain of a website, suggesting a hashtag for use on social media, or simply incorporating QR codes to drive consumers online.

Historically, one of the biggest problems with print has been the inability to track the data and measure the effectiveness of a campaign. With personalized print, it becomes much easier to target your ideal client and measure what actions are taken as a consequence.

Speaking specifically of printed magazine ads, Dr. Michal Galin says, “When it comes to joining a social network or the use of a QR code, print magazine ads are moving consumers into a digital universe where longer term relationships can be developed and tracked. The result is deeper connections with brands, and a greater likelihood to buy.” ⁽⁷⁾

As a way to nurture and develop relationships with potential and current clients, print and digital are best when used together in creative ways. Imagine sending your customer a direct mail piece and then sending an email telling them to check their mailbox for a surprise. By building interest online and sending something unique and tangible through the mail, you can build customer loyalty and boost brand recognition.

Kelly Caldwell, an editor at Imagination, says, “It’s no longer a question of print vs. digital, but how best to provide content in a manner that creates demonstrable value for both the audience and the brand. And for a growing number of marketers, the answer is print.” ⁽⁸⁾

For more ideas on incorporating print into your marketing campaign, visit our blog, tour our factory, sign up for our monthly newsletter, or contact us today at 801.221.2555. We would be happy to help you discover the possibilities with print.

SOURCES:

(1) Pitney Bowes Survey: 76 Percent of Small Businesses Believe Ideal Marketing Mix Includes both Physical and Digital Communications, May 2011

(2) How to Get Customers to Remember Your Brand, Vladimir Gendelman, March 2013

(3) The Value of Print in Your Media Mix, Amy Hansen, MPA Media Marketing Services Coordinator, September 2010

(4) Study: Direct Mail Matters In Connected World, Print in the Mix, July 2013

(5) Lucky 13 Print Marketing Statistics to Impress your Boss, Las Vegas Color Graphics, November 2014

(6) Print's Not Dead: Print Marketing Will Thrive in 2014 and Beyond, Vladimir Gendelman, January 2014

(7) Magazine Ads Continue to Engage and Motivate Consumers, Michal Galin, April 2014

(8) Pub Power: Why So Many Are Rediscovering the Power of Print, Kelly Caldwell, November 2015