Leaflet Printing: Understanding Printers Terminology

Most businesses use leaflets as part of their marketing and advertising campaigns. This means that certain members of staff spend a lot of time talking to their printers. However, the language that printers use when talking about leaflets is somewhat esoteric – it’s hard for us every day folk to understand. This can lead to problems with design and print: you think you're asking for a specific feature, but the printer interprets this in a different way (and actually, they will interpret it more accurately). At worst, it can mean that you have to pay for leaflets that you don’t like.

Much of this problem can be dealt with simply by learning a little about what the printer means when referring to certain features. Here, we’re going to consider some of the most common printing terms, and explain what they mean.

Paper Sizes

Paper sizes can be difficult to understand, but there are really only three types of measure:

1.       The As: A7, A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0. Most people know these standard sizes. The larger the number, the smaller the size. A0 is the largest, and is the starting point for measurement. A1 is half the size of A0, A2 is half the size of A1 and it moves down the scale as such, so that for example, an A4 sheet fits 16 times in an A0 sheet.

2.       The Bs: B7, B6, B5, B4, B3, B2, B1, B0. These work in exactly the same way as the As, but they are moderately larger. If you were to lay an A0 sheet on top of an B0 sheet, there would be, roughly, a 1.5cm border around the outside of the A0. The B0 is made larger in order to allow for a bleed edge* when printing two impressions on the same piece of paper.

3.       The SR system. SR is placed before the A or B series, for example, SRA3 is the equivalent of A3. The SR is slightly larger and allows for a bleed edge* when printing single copies.

Bleed Edge

If your printer asks you if you want a bleed edge, he is asking you if you want the print/ink to run to the edge of the paper. That is to say, that there is no white left on the edges of the paper (unless you’ve placed white in your design, of course). If you don’t have a bleed edge, then there will be a white border around your print. This is because the paper is fed through the printer (a digital printer) on rollers. Where the rollers touch the paper, there is no ink application.

The exception is lithographic printing. With lithographic printing, there is no bleed edge because it is done as a press, and not as a roller.

Folds

There are a number of different folds, the most common are:

·         Z fold cards and leaflets: with z fold cards and leaflets there are two folds, so the leaflet has three sections on each side. If you look at the letter Z then imagine a piece of paper folded that way, that’s exactly what it means.

·         U-fold: again, there are two creases and three panels. If you look a U-fold leaflet, it folds like this U – except that the bottom is flat, and not rounded.

If you would like further help and advice about leaflet printing, including information about z fold cards, then please visit http://www.alpha-card.co.uk/products

Follow us :

     

Considerations to Make When Approaching a Printer for Leaflet Printing

Anyone in business will tell you the value of leaflet printing, and you only have to look around for yourself to see how true this is – they’re everywhere, and they would only be everywhere in business if they actually worked. OK, so we know that they work, but it’s important that you get it right. A great leaflet will stand out, people will pay attention, and therefore you're more likely to make a sale. A bad leaflet, though, will be ignored, but at worst, will promote a negative impression of your business. Here, we are going to discuss the various factors that you need to be aware of when approaching a printing service for your new leaflets.

Budget

Clearly, unless you happen to have an extremely profitable business, your first consideration needs to concern your budget. You need to ensure that you get the most for your money, without skimping on quality. Once you have looked at the following steps, you will understand more about the type of leaflet that you want, as well as the volumes. Once you have cleared this information in your mind, you can then approach a number of different printers in order to get quotes. Choose the company that offers the highest quality service for the least amount of money.

Leaflet Design

The next thing that you need to think about is design. There are a number of considerations here:

1.       Will you design the leaflet yourself, or ask a designer to do it for you? It will cost you much less to design the leaflet yourself, however, you may require specialist software to create a design that you like. Using a designer takes the hassle out of the design, but it will cost you. Designers charge between £30 and £150 an hour, so make sure you get the quote before you start the work.

2.       What shape will the leaflet be? This may sound odd, but there are a number of different shapes that you can use. There are u cards and z cards that fold into three sections. There are bi-folds that fold in two. There are accordion fold. In short, there are a number of different folds. To find out which is best for you, do a little research online. For example, research z cards, and find out how other businesses use them, and whether they are appropriate for your particular requirements.

3.       Think about the type of paper that you want to use. People print leaflets on card and paper, with a variety of finishes, including silk, matt, satin and gloss. Each has various benefits. For instance, gloss paper stands out more, but satin paper looks more professional. Again, do your research in order to determine whether a particular paperweight or finish is appropriate given your particular scenario.

Printing

Finally, you need to think about how you will have your leaflets printed. In general, for volumes of 2000+ A5 leaflets people will use a lithographic printer because they offer greater value. In volumes of <2000 A5, digital printing works best.

If you would like further information about leaflet printing, including Z cards, then please visit http://www.alpha-card.co.uk

HOW TO LAND THE ACE FOR EFFECTIVE MARKETING

Of all the marketing tools that are being used today, Z cards are now a force to be reckoned with.  These cards have real power to put your company on the map without spending vast amounts of money.

It is no surprise as these apparently small looking cards can hold much information within their hard outer cover.  The secret lies in the way they are folded often into three panels which open up like a fan with the flick of the hand.

These panels are then again folded in separate segments on which information can be given that flows from one segment into another.  You can insert images and prices of the products you are manufacturing.  The trick here is to convince your potential customers that they should choose you as suppliers above your competitors.

This is the reason why the design of these cards is so important.  They need to stand out and to help you design the ultimate card the suppliers of this form of compact media will hold your hand all the way. They will incorporate your wishes into their expert design capability.

Although the old fashioned flyers are still used today, they are much more suited to advertise events to a vast amount of people.  You will still see hand outs in the street.  However, this kind of advertisement is a one day wonder and not suited to company marketing strategy.

The fold cards are designed to fit neatly into someone’s pocket or desk draw and they are meant to be sturdy enough to last a long time.  If your design is eye catching enough, they are not likely to be thrown in the bin like the flyers often are.

Because it is often difficult for manufacturers to climb the ladder of the number one spot on the internet pages, this is a good way to reach a multitude of businesses that are selling products you produce.

These cards have the ability of drawing people’s attention to your products and your website.

If you would like to give Z cards a go then please get in touch with us via http://www.alpha-cards.com/.

Follow us :

     

HOW TO MARKET YOUR WAY TO PROFIT

If you have not come across Z fold cards in your business you should investigate them as they are a handy and effective tool in your marketing and advertising strategy.  As the name suggests they are folded into a z form within an outer sturdy jacket.  In this jacket there is usually an A4 sized sheet of paper with all the information that your customer needs about your products.

As you will understand this is a much better way to promote your wares than having a flyer designed as the information will stay fresh inside the cover when it is in its folded state. The information will last a long time and it will be easy to hand when your customer needs it.

These cards are not only used by commercial businesses. Museums, art galleries and public transport also find them very handy.  They are a convenient way for travellers to keep underground maps and travel information in their wallets or pockets.

Museums are often vast places where it is difficult for visitors to find their way around.  They may only be interested in a particular section.  A floor plan of the building is very useful for them.  Organisations such as these can also inform the public of special exhibitions.

If you have a large amount of information to give, there are different sizes of these cards available to you.  Even the largest ones are not as big and unwieldy as the old fashioned road maps and because of their precise design they are easily folded back into shape again.

You may ask yourself the question what these cards can do what the internet is not able to. There are millions of websites out there in the ether and not all of them are on the first page on the search engine.

These cards allow you to target companies that you know sells products that you manufacture.  Because of their catchy design you are better able to give information about products, who they should contact and, of course, also your website.

Z fold cards are a practical and eye-catching way of increasing sales and for more information about this product please see http://www.alpha-cards.com/


Follow us :

     

THE INFORMATIVE JACK OF ALL TRADES

If your company needs a new marketing strategy because sales are not as they should be, then designing Z cards for this purpose may one idea worth looking at.

Not every company can be at the top of the tree in the internet world, but if you are canny you can bring your company forward in an effective way by making use of these cards.

You could call them a cross between a business card and a flyer.  They are handier than business card as they contain more information about your company, your products and who to call or e-mail. You can have them designed with an eye-catching logo on the outer backing. 

Most businessmen who meet many people when on business trips may not put a face to a business card once they get back to base, but this marketing tool will definitely stay longer in people’s minds.  On top of that, they are hardier and more durable than business cards, whilst they are the same size when in their folded state.

It is amazing that the surface of the folded out card is often no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper, but because of their ingenious design wording and pictures can be printed in such a manner that all information is contained within the outer cover of the card.

Of course, periodically you may want to promote special offers.  Everything is possible with a proper design.  The design of the outer cover should also be given some thought.  The more flamboyant it is the more it stays in people’s memory.

You may just want to have some printed with company policy and health and safety information for your employees.  This is a much better way for your workforce to be reminded of these as they can carry their card in their jacket or overalls pocket.

All in all you can see that they are a much handier tool than the old fashioned flyers that normally get thrown out after a couple of days.

You will be able to get a free sample of Z cards and design ideas from http://www.alpha-cards.com/.

Follow us :

     

Attending An Exhibition? Must Haves To Showcase Your Brand

Business exhibitions and conferences are a fantastic way to generate a tremendous amount of interest in your products and services. Attracting an unparalleled footfall of prospective clients, exhibitions welcome thousands of visitors each year who are specifically interested in your field of expertise so it is vital that you capitalise on this.

As an exhibitor, you need to make sure that your business information is attractive, clear and compact. With hundreds of other stalls competing for each delegate’s interest, it is vital that your information stands out from the rest and does not get lost amongst reams of flyers and leaflets in the bottom of their conference bag.

Alpha Cards provide the ideal solution with their ingenious products that allow businesses to communicate their brand and services on portable pocket sized documents. When bombarded with information in the form of posters, flyers and leaflets at events and exhibitions, the Alpha Card will be a welcome relief for attendees who will love the look and feel of this tactile card plus the fact that it slips so easily into a purse or wallet for future reference.

21^st century society demands more, and marketing solutions are no exception, so the Alpha Cards will appeal to today's tech-savvy generation who love innovative space saving ideas to generate business.

The Alpha Card allows businesses to print product information, offers and news about their company for prospective clients to take away. In order to get as much information as possible on your Alpha Card, there are many formats available including k-fold, c-fold and z-fold cards, which allows your company message to be printed on to a wallet friendly credit card size document that can open out to A4 size.

Your message and logo can be printed in full colour on glossy high quality card to match your business branding and the Alpha Cards are available in four off the shelf sizes or can be made to your exact requirements.

Why not completely customise your card by having it personalised or even create a bespoke shape using the fabulous die cut machine so that your card really stands out from the crowd and help ensure that prospective clients return to your business information again and again.

Follow us :

     

How To Spread The Word

Brochures are one of the most popular methods of spreading the word about any business be it big or small and instead of the conventional twice folded flyer there are several other options including the Z fold cards.
This type of brochure has the advantage of taking up less room and is therefore more likely to be carried about as it will fit in the top pocket of a man’s suit as easily as it will pop into a ladies handbag.

Whatever the type of brochure the presentation requires a great deal of thought. Too much information can be very distracting and on the other hand too little means it would have been just as productive to put the website name on a beer mat and hand them out.

Before designing the brochure it might be worthwhile to take a look at some of the very best websites. These do not necessarily have to be about similar products but can be about any business at all. The purpose is to see how the best designer’s get the reader to focus on the parts they want to attract them towards.

The best designers often use a lot of what is known as white space. In simple terms this means plenty of blank areas which has the effect of dragging the eye to the crucial print or picture.

A good brochure, whether a standard folded one or a Z fold should engage the viewer and hold the interest with some excellent graphics and pictures of what the business is all about.

Contact information should be clear and must include the full address of the business along with website and telephone numbers.

A single mobile telephone number and lack of full postal address is not going to instil confidence whatever the product or service.

The Z fold type can already define the number of available squares and this can make it easier to have separate pieces of information in each square. Perhaps several different bits of information could be on the squares when the brochure is unfurled and on the whole of the other side there could be one large picture of the product. For more about Z fold cards take a look at Alpha-card.co.uk