How-To Make Environmentally-Friendly Printing Decisions

Getting the word out about your new sustainable business practices

Your customers and employees care about how environmentally responsible your organization is, and your marketing materials are a great place to start and show them you care.  When you’ve done your homework to ensure that your printing comes from sustainable processes, spread the word!

You can add a line of text for the sustainable certification you use. You can also add a recycling label on your brochures, catalogs, business cards, and other marketing materials yourself to take your environmentally-friendly plan to the next level!

Learn about the realities of recycled paper or gain access to The Ultimate Guide: How To Decide if a Printer Is Green Enough for You for tips and tricks to help you choose a green printer.

Printing Adhesives

Sticking together, now there’s a nice concept. Not surprisingly, print adhesives are used when two print pieces need to be attached or when a single piece is connected to itself. Many methods of adhering are used in the commercial print industry. Printing glue can be applied to meet a myriad of product needs. The descriptions below should help you decide what will best fit your specific requirements.

Finger Lift Tape:

This glue method uses a double-sided tape applied with a machine to facilitate fast production times and high quantities. The machine capacity also permits the attachment of two strips simultaneously, thereby increasing production speed. Once this glue is applied and the paper attached or folded, the bond is semi-permanent. This glue is much thinner and smoother than hot glue options. It is virtually invisible between paper sheets yet remains quite strong.

This printing adhesive is available in ¼”, ½”, ¾”, and 1″ widths and can be applied flush to the edge of your printed piece.

Fugitive Glue or Tip-On:

Also known as “booger-glue”, this method is not permanent and allows you to remove the glue without destroying the base printed piece. You can simply peel it off without any residue or stickiness remaining. Gift cards or other promotional pieces are attached without any problem. The glue is strong enough to withstand handling, but is easy to remove with a rub of the finger.

Product Examples that utilize Fugitive Glue:

• Magazine Inserts
• Gift Card Holders
• Postcards with Credit Cards
• Greeting Card “Add-ons”
• Any Plastic Card can be attached to a Base

Creative folds and glue options can be combined to build a highly customized print piece. Printing adhesives can also be used in more standard designs to add a separate offer or bonus message with ease. Freshen up those old marketing materials without the expense of re-design. Simply incorporate a glued on piece and you are back in business.

Still not sure what printing glue is right for your project? No problem. Give a quick call to one of our print experts for a free consultation. They will partner with you in making your next print project a big success.

Using Die Cutting on Postcards

You’ve got a postcard with a clear call to action. It has bold, direct lettering. It’s a postcard, so you know it’s going to get held in your customer’s hand, it will get seen but it’s also only got a few seconds to make a lasting impression.

Try altering the shape of the card. It doesn’t have to be square. A postcard mailer can be any shape and if it’s unique it will cut through the clutter in the mailbox. This is called die-cutting. It works like a cookie cutter – a custom shape is made into a sharp, heavy die. That die is stamped onto your printed piece, cutting it out just like cookie dough.

Die-cuts can come in almost any shape you can imagine – printing technology companies can have a custom die turned around quickly. Fine cuts and highly detailed work are possible – you aren’t stuck with simple rounded edges or basic shapes. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re using die-cuts:

• Make sure the die cut area has enough support so it doesn’t make the postcard dimensionally unstable or easily damaged.
• Integrate the die cut with printed design elements to enhance visiblity and impact.
• Conncect the die cut shape to some element of your business or message to increase the branding potential of your postcard.

Here are some creative ways to use a die-cut:

Interactive folds and tabs. Use die cuts to create an interactive fold on your postcard, giving the reader something to interact with as they glance over your message.

Realistic shape. Use a die cut to cut out a realistic version of your product, logo, or something else. Pair it with scented inks. Imagine a postcard for a bakery, die cut to look like a cookie and printed in chocolate-scented ink. Or a postcard for a pizzeria, die cut in a triangle and printed to look like a slice of pepperoni pizza. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Rounded edges for durability. Rounded edges are a simple die-cut to make and they hold up to bangs and dents better than square edges. They will also stand out from the rest of the rectangular mail pieces in the mailbox.

Three dimensional designs. Use a folded postcard with an offer inside the fold, use a die-cut window or other design to peek through to the offer, creating a 3D effect.

Die cuts add a strong tactile element to your postcard. Using die-cuts makes your postcard visually interesting and fun to hold, touch, and use. Postcards can almost guarantee they’ll be held and scanned, and if they engaged the reader with more than one sense you’ve got a better chance they’ll remember your message and act.

Print Folding

Folds can be anything from a standard brochure tri-fold to a more complex snake-fold. Folding as part of the design concept offers an affordable way to increase the impact of a printed piece. Print folding is not for brochures alone. Business cards, menus, hang tags, catalogs, and newsletters can all incorporate folds to increase appeal. If you will be designing your own piece, utilize the folding resources on our site and the information below to help you get the best results.

Panel dimensions, paper weight and layout specifications are among several considerations when designing your folded piece. For example, it is a common mistake to lay out a tri-fold brochure as three same sized panels. The panels actually need to be slightly different sizes, which can cause imagery and copy to be off-center when not taken into account. We have many resources to help you understand paper folding and to provide inspiration for folded marketing pieces. Contact one of our friendly print experts for assistance at 800-930-6040.

Brochure Folding:

Standard folds include tri-fold, half-fold, Z or accordion fold, 4 panel or double parallel fold, quarter fold, gate fold, and half then tri-fold. Printing for Less offers downloadable templates for each of these so that you can design your layout confident that it meets printing and folding guidelines.

We are also able to work with you and your designer on custom folds that require more hands-on attention. Call one of our custom experts at 800-930-6040.

Business Card Folding:

You may not think of folding when you consider business cards, but perhaps you should. Folding a standard sized business card allows for twice the real estate to communicate important information while keeping it compact, easily fitting into a wallet. A simple half fold is usful and attractive, and a trifold can even act as a mini-brochure.

Card Folding

Postcards, greeting cards, hang tags, bottleneck tags, and direct mail pieces are all candidates for incorporating a fold. Folds are perfect for including more product detail while remaining compact. A “Z” or accordion fold can be used with a die cut to create a commercial piece that reflects well upon your brand and gives customers all of the information they need.

Using Embossing on Postcards

You’ve probably seen embossing on greeting cards and wedding invitations. Postcard embossing has been around since the turn of the 20th century, when people would paste their own images onto generic embossed cards and send them to friends.

What is Embossing?

Embossing uses heat and a pair of etched metal dies to raise a design above the surface of a sheet of paper. The bas relief (or male) die pushes the image up, while the mold-shaped (or female) die presses on the paper from above. The result is a raised, embossed image on one side, and an indented, or debossed, image on the other.

Embossing gives postcards an appealing dimensional effect, both tactile and visual. It can be used for letters, logos, graphics, borders or other design elements that you want to stand out.

Because they have a raised pattern that’s visible from both front and back, embossed postcards create some special design considerations.

• Choose a cardstock and an image that are well-suited to embossing – and to each other. Certain card stocks produce better embossing than others, so consult with your printing company. The same is true of images. An image with a lot of fine detail may not be a good candidate for embossing.
• The type of stock you use will affect how the embossing looks. Softer, thicker card stocks will produce greater detail in the embossing while others will create a deeper image.
• Embossing is more visible on paper stocks with a lower brightness.
• Don’t plan any embossing in the areas where the address and postage will be. Addresses must be easy to read.
• Avoid printed text in the embossed areas.
• Use the embossed pattern as a design element on both sides
• Remember that embossed text will appear backward on the postcard’s reverse side.

When embossing is used alone it is known as blind embossing. It can also be paired with ink or colored metal foil (using a combination embossing and foil stamping die) to make the embossed design really “pop.”

As an alternative to a raised image, some design elements might work best as an indented image, which is known as debossing. In this case the male and female dies are reversed.

Using Embossed Postcards

An embossed postcard is a great way to attract attention to a product, service or event. When paired with colored inks or foil stamping, embossing opens up a whole range of design possibilities – from understated and traditional to colorful and edgy.

Embossing can help you convey a particular message, promote your brand, and encourage people to act.

• Embossing makes an invitation to a sale, seminar or event feel special. Embossed invitations are common for special occasions like weddings and galas. By embossing your postcards, you suggest that your event is special as well.
• Embossing suggests that something is official, certified or guaranteed. Blind embossing is used for official government seals, and we’ve all heard of a “seal of approval.” Embossing on a postcard can imply quality and credibility.
• Embossing is a good way to promote upscale products and services. An embossed postcard feels (and is) more expensive than a standard one, and it sends a strong message about the luxury qualities of a product or service.
• Embossing gives postcards a texture that stands out. With its raised design, an embossed postcard feels different than a plain one. An embossed postcard instantly stands out from the rest of the mail, increasing the chance that the recipient will read the card and act on it.

Embossing can turn a postcard from ordinary to exceptional. We carry a wide range of custom stocks, ink colors and foils to give your embossed postcards a unique, custom look.