It’s not too early to start thinking of your 2019 branding material needs. A new year, a new look is often our mantra in January. But it’s good practice to begin looking into the concept and design of those materials now so that you have them in your hands at the beginning of the year. Are your materials dated? Do they meet your current goals? Having outdated printed materials and a web site might steer a potential client in a different direction if they see that your own information needs updated. In addition to updating your web site and thinking of your new goals and branding, here are print considerations to ensure you are taking advantage of the best deals and most efficient processes to start your year off right!
- Best pricing – by using a designer to handle not only the design of your projects but to coordinate printing, you may be able to take advantage of their relationships with printers. The established printer/designer relationship may yield faster print times and reduced pricing.
- Choose the right print method – PMS, four-color process, foil stamping and embossing will give you very different looks, along with very different pricing. If you are unfamiliar with the various print methods, I can explain the differences to you to help determine that you avoid costly decisions. Staying with the basics in many cases will result in a design that isn’t too busy, but is direct and clearly conveys your brand.
- Order quantities – If you are working with a limited budget, printers who offer short runs will serve you best. But if you are looking for the most cost-effective option, ordering in bulk will save you money down the road.
- Avoid a reprint – Reprinting can be expensive, doubling the price of your materials, proofreading and having multiple people review for typos and misaligned objects will save you money! Printers also offer pdf proofs, which will give you a great way to review your project before print, although they are not accurate on color. If you want to ensure a color matches exactly, you will want to request a digital proof.