Design Tips and Tricks

Millfield Media Magazine Printing

Lithographic Printing or Digital Printing – What’s the difference ?

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Lithographic Printing explained

Lithographic Printing is a process using wet ink and printing plates.

It is more cost effective and suitable for larger print runs.

Why ? Because there is a lot of cost and time involved in making the printing plates and preparing the ‘spare’ material that is required for all the plate images to be processed and registered before the job can be run.

However, once this is done the cost per copy will be cheaper for bigger printing runs.

The turnaround time is longer with lithographic printing (usually at least 5 working days on average).

This is because time has to be allowed for the ink to completely dry before finishing. Longer run jobs have to be scheduled to run on the bigger presses.

Benefits of Lithographic Printing

📌Suitable for a wide range of surfaces including paper, card and plastics

📌The larger the order the cheaper it gets as the cost decreases as the quantity increases

📌Ability to cope with long runs with out losing quality

📌Special inks allow you to keep your brand consistency with your Pantone colours

Digital printing explained

Digital Printing  is a process that uses toners on a press and is more suitable and cost effective for shorter runs. 

This is because there is less initial set up involved making it a cheaper option for small businesses. 

Digital printing is what we call a four colour process reproduction method that uses electronic files (PDF artwork).

Dots of colour are used to produce an image using toner or ink.

(Unlike litho printing no printing plates are required)

This means there is less waste of the chemicals involved and paper because there is no need to make-ready.

Benefits of Digital Printing

📌 It is great for a quick turnaround as the job is produced in its finished format.

No additional drying time required.Its quick to set up so fast turn around of orders

📌Colours are bright, ideal for vibrant images on a vast range of materials

📌A much cheaper option for small volumes which makes it ideal for Small Business owners.

📌Personalisation is much easier as text and graphics can be changed on each item without stopping or slowing down the press

Although there are benefits for both options, it is also depending on the size of your business, your budget and your specific requirements.

Particularly if your brand colours are vibrant, and you want to keep the consistency of your Pantone colours.

Using a graphic designer will help you decide the best cost effective printing option for your business.

It will ensure that all your brand colours are consistent especially if you use business stationery so they should match specifically.

If you would like some further advice on brochures and leaflets, read our blog

If you would like any advice and guidance or a quote please contact us 

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Pantone Colour of the year 2020 is Classic Blue

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Pantone colour of the year for 2020 is Classic Blue

In their words is a “shade reminiscent of the sky at dusk” (credit to Pantone for the image).

Some designers will be absolutely delighted with this choice, and some businesses will want to ensure they include it in their mix of branding.

However, it is all down to personal choice, it will mix well with other colours so it is a good choice.

Your business card is a talking point and an important stepping stone to a potential client or collaboration.

Whether you are a business owner, an entrepreneur or starting a new job/career it’s a very important choice.

It also depends on the industry you are in and what your brand represents.

Certain colours have significance. You have to remember it’s a first impression of who you are and the brand that you represent.

Colour and texture is a good starting point to ensure you have a talking point that will catch people’s eyes, grab their attention.

Images are equally important to get you noticed, either a ;ogo, photo, or an illustration or design if that’s your line of work.

How many different types of business cards have you had since your career started ?. The question is when was the last time you changed yours and why?

If your card looks just like everyone else’s card, then chances are you have probably failed and you’re in the bin. So, in our opinion it is worth the time and effort.

What does the colours for Business Cards mean ?

White is standard, safe and used by many to fit into their business stationery and is an easy option.

This is fine but to stand out choose a logo and colour for your brand that will distinguish you from all the others in your field. 

If you want to make an amazing impression and to stand out with something really special then you need to strengthen your brand credibility ?

Red is bold, daring and exciting so the market leaders that spring to mind are Virgin, Lego, Coca-cola, Nintendo, Red Bull. 

Orange is confident, friendly and warm you think Fanta, MasterCard.

Blue is the signifies reliability, peaceful, confidence, and trust. NHS, Facebook, Twitter, Intel and Skype spring to mind as the leaders in this field also we at Millfield Media have chosen this colour too.

Pink is usually associated with feminine, symbolising sensitivity and love.. Barbie and Victoria´s secret are brands that use pink so they will be delighted at this choice

Yellow is sunshine, bright, happy and cheerful – Mcdonalds, Ikea, Post-it, Shell and Snapchat are a few that have opted for this colour.

Green presents balance, growth and nature. BP, Holiday Inn for example.

Black and White signifies importance. Nike, BMW, Apple, Disney and Harley Davison are the brand leaders in this field.

Purple cards suggest imagination, dreams and spirituality.

People from the holistic sector usually prefer this colour. Cadbury and Hallmark are brands that spring to mind for this colour choice.

Now think about the shape, everyone has a rectangle business card because it is the standard size, why? because they fit into a purse or wallet easily, but you want to be different right ?

Although Standard business card size is usually 85mmx55mm they tend to be a bit cheaper.

Have you thought about about dye cut, square business cards or mini business cards just to be different ?

These will bring a different element to your design, 

The shape of your business card should complement your brand.

Every detail from fonts/typography, which includes spacing between letters are an important factor to consider.

Then decide do you go funky, traditional or elegant?

Again, think of the message and your brand and choose wisely to compliment this.

Deciding where you put your logo is crucial

Another element to consider is the white space which is linked to sophistication .. less is more.

Make sure all your contact details are there relaying your key message.

Proof read all the time to check for spelling, phone numbers etc and then save in a format that is compatible for your printer.

Choosing the right colour and combining with a specific paper choice and feel can mean you either stand out from the crowd or your card will just be put in that drawer and forgotten about.

We suggest you go for something different, perhaps a gloss, Spot UV or a decadent Foil finish.

We are happy to take on any project, regardless of size, so whether you need 100 business cards or 10,000 business cards, we will be more than happy to help.

We dont like the phrase cheap business cards because it infers that they are inferior. 

All our cards are printed on quality paper at an affordable price so it suits all budgets. 

We offer Small Businesses a branding offer. So if you are looking for cost-effective advertising and want to make a excellent first impression with your Business Card then contact us now for a quote 

Why not order one of our business cards sample pack to help you decide.

Contact me for a discussion direct on millfieldmedia@outlook.com

To help you to decide we have an amazing FREE sample pack that could help you decide on the paper choice/quality

Print Finishing Options – what are your choices?

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Print Finishing Techniques to enhance your brochure

What are you doing to ensure that your printed leaflet or brochure is effective in this digital age ?

Your first step is understanding the different print finishing techniques for your Leaflets, Brochure, or Posters will help you to make the right decision, as the quality is paramount.

Selecting the most suitable print finishes will enhance the design of your brochures  and will will make a lasting impression on your customers. It will showcase your products, and may a customer more likely to buy from you.

Millfield Media have been in the industry for 30 years so we can help you to get a professional product within your budget.

It is so important that your brochure not only looks good but also feels good as well. Some of the best finishes are available and we can help you to decide which finish is suitable for your brand.

We will ensure the finished product is the right choice for your brand, it fits into your budget,  and helps your business stand out for all the right reasons.

Although the options depend on your budget and how you would like to showcase your brand, there are solutions for this.

This is where a print specialist can advise and guide how to get a professional finish within your budget,

Print finishing options – what are the choices ?

Lamination is the most common finishing technique.  Applying a thin layer of plastic to paper or card sheets to enhance and protect the printed material from moisture, staining, smudges or tears.

Popular types of laminate are soft touch, gloss, matt and silk which makes it excellent for durability and enhances the vibrancy of the ink colours.

Spot UV Varnish is a liquid coating that is applied to the surface of a sheet (available in Gloss, Matt and Silk finishes) which is then dried / cured under an ultra violet light. Its ideal to be a little different and is a good talking point.

Embossing is where an embossed pattern is raised against the background, while a debossed pattern is sunken into the surface of the material

Foil Blocking is specialised process of applying metallic or pigment foil to paper or card, where a heated die is stamped onto the foil. This technique is superb to add elegance, distinction and hand finished luxury to a brand.

Binding is a term which describes gathering and fastening together separate sheets. Primarily used for the creation of books, brochures or leaflets.

This could be saddle stitch, wire binding, perfect binding, ring or spiral binding and trimming. Cutting your printed material to its required size using crop marks

Die-Cutting – is where various shapes are cut out of the stock, and used to create packaging, greetings cards and folders.

Perfect Bound is ideal for a multi page brochure or booklet. It is where the pages and cover are glued together at the spine with a strong but extremely flexible glue.

The remaining sides of the book are trimmed as needed to give them clean “perfect” edges.

Saddle Stitched is where multiple pages of at least 8 pages or larger are bound together along the fold and finished with 2 staples.

Leaflets and Brochures – Stand out with a good finish 

Remember you’re objective is to sell a product or service so you’re trying to ensure that your customer will want to buy from your business.

Choosing your finish is imperative if you are designing a business brochure, catalogue or leaflet.

Read our Tips for designing a brochure. 

A printed finish is probably the most important decision you will make other than design.

When it comes to finishing the requirements of your printed leaflet or brochure you need to also  be sure to consider the weight of paper on the inside as well as the cover.

GSM paper quality and weight known is in the trade as  ‘Grams per Square Meter‘.

This basically means what paper quality you are getting for your money.  The higher the GSM the heavier the paper.

We would advise a heavier paper for the front and back covers.

A professional quality finish makes all the difference when people are handing brochures and first impressions are so important

Choosing the type of finish is probably the most important decision you will make other than design.

Customers like to feel good quality paper.they like the feel of things !

“Print is tangible – the better the quality the more likely they will keep it rather than  throwing it in the bin”

If you try to be flimsy and cheap this will give out the wrong message to your potential customers. So in our view worth the extra spend.

Dont spend a lot of money on designing your brochure or leaflet and then try and skimp and save money on your printed product. 

The next important decision to make is  the right paper weight. It will add value to the service or goods that you are selling.

Opt for a nice coated finish. if you get the quality right you will get a better return on your investment.

If we can help you at Millfield Media with any advice guidance  please dont hesitate to contact us.

If you would like to order a free sample pack to understand the different finishes and paper quality please follow the link and fill in your details

Ask about the options available for your brand, or a quote please  contact me for details nicola-millfieldmedia@outlook.com