Monthly Archives: April 2019

Printing

Why Roller Banners are Always my First Purchase for Events

Posted on by kaizenprintie

If you are running a small business, you know how fierce competition can be. There’s a good chance you are also on a pretty tight budget. When you have an opportunity to really show off your product, you want to make the most of it. 

Roller banners are that perfect solution. Trade fairs, conventions or any type of industry event needs a roller banner. It’s the most effective way to get your business all up in your customer’s business. 

Here are a few reasons you need one, or two. Or three. 

Visibility

When you have these set out in front of your booth, they are the first thing people will see. Depending on your position at the trade show, you may be all but hidden. Short of setting your booth on fire, let the banner talk for you. 

Set them out amongst the crowd to make sure they see you. If you have your logo and brand colours on display, people will be able to see you across the crowded room. Because you can use both sides, you can grab their attention coming and going. 

Custom Made

Put whatever you need on the banner that you feel will be most recognisable. This is great if you have already established your brand in the community. Because they don’t cost much to make, you can have your standard one and one for the special event. 

What a great way to promote your business and your own special personality. It’s important to stand out from the competition and this is a great way to do it. Have fun with your banner, make it catch their eye and their attention

Versatility

Not just for events, you can place them out front of your business for sales or other events, or just to attract attention. They can be used inside the store to draw attention to new products or sales.

As they are lightweight, you can easily move them about at the event. They also don’t take up any space, but they still pack a real punch. They are big and bold without wasting any space at all.

They also need very little storage space, as they just roll up into their case and can be easily stored until the next time you need it. Perfect for when you don’t have a lot of space to display any other types of promotional materials.

Durability

These banners can be used over and over again. They are lightweight and easy to transport. Taken care of, there is no reason these banners won’t last for years. 

They are so easy to use. Just set it up on the stand and then take it down and roll it up when you are finished. Easy to keep clean and will even stand up to small repairs, if needed. 

Cost Effective

Any one of these reasons for roller banners makes them cost-effective. The fact you can have a few of them, easily assemble and store them and reuse them time and time again means they pay for themselves. 

Possibly one of the most popular products for special events, they can be single or double sided and come in different sizes. 

Contact us today with your idea and we’ll be happy to roll up with a high-quality roller banner for your next event. Roll up, indeed!

Printing

The benefits of image-based social media platforms for designers

Posted on by kaizenprintie

Image-based social networks have become an integral part of modern day designer’s lives. Creative professionals can use platforms to showcase their work, but also to grow a network and to gain inspiration from others.

As designers, you are likely to be constantly searching for some inspiration to shape a project or give you some direction. Here at Kaizenprint, we know that it’s so important for designers to have access to a wide source of information and inspiration. 

That’s why we’ve collated the benefits of image-based social media platforms that designers can benefit from.

There are three main reasons a Designer in 2019 should be effectively using social media: 

  1. To increase brand awareness – use it as a tool to develop your personality online and showcase your identity; it will enable you to appear established and professional
  2. For new opportunities – not only is social media a pathway to new clients, but the social nature also allows you to be part of a creative community by networking and communicating with other designers
  3. To feel inspired – keeping track of new trends and keeping current through a daily wealth of knowledge and design access

Many designers don’t know which platforms are best for them or how to use them effectively. Please see below the benefits of some of our favourite image-based platforms!

Instagram

Did you know that Instagram has the highest per-follow engagement? It’s 58 times higher than Facebook and 120 times higher than Twitter!

For this reason, the app has become increasingly important to designers. It acts as a way to showcase your work to the world and by utilising the hashtag feature you can share it with people interested in the same topics/

For instance, people searching ‘#designlovers’ or ‘#designcommunity’ can connect with similar designers and find inspiration for their work. 

You can also creatively showcase your work. For instance by making videos of how you do your work (a time-lapse) or use the carousel option to upload multiple images and illustrate the progression of your work. 

You can share any content from Instagram to all your linked social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter to create a consistent social media effort.

To maximise your reach you can make use of the ‘explore’ tab to discover related tags with high usage. You can then strategically use these to boost likes and following.

Pinterest

For designers, this is a lifeline for ideas. Used in the early stages of design generation, you can develop a Pinboard to add to the concept and generate a constant flow of images to inspire. 

For instance you could set up various boards like:

  • Typography
  • Logos 
  • Brand identity

Or you could create a separate Pinboard for each of your projects so everything is in one place.

You can also create a network by pinning posts to your boards and showcasing your own work to be pinned.

There are over 75 billion ideas on Pinterest! If that isn’t motivation to set yourself up an account (if you haven’t already) or to use it regularly, then we don’t know what is…

Tumblr

This platform is a go-to inspiration funnel for designers. It also acts as a great way to get noticed by brands and agencies who are looking for graphic designers. The blog format is the perfect way to show potential clients your range, especially if you have a quirky design style.

Check out the below blogs for some serious inspiration:

Dribbble

Dribbble is a platform that allows designers to not only gain inspiration, feedback and community. Most importantly, it gives designers the opportunity to access jobs. As a designer, it is dubbed the best resource to discover and connect with designers worldwide through a show-and-tell style platform. You can showcase past projects and have the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals also doing the same.

People who pay the annual fee have the option to search for and hire a designer that meets their specific needs.

In 2016, 76.4% of designers and teams for hire on the platform received enquiries and there were 1,565 jobs posted! Utilising Dribbble can be a gateway to new design opportunity when used correctly and consistently.

We hope this article has motivated you to utilise social media for the benefit of your business.

As always, if you need any advice on your own design project please contact us, because not only do we offer high quality digital, litho and large format printing … we care about you. Our friendly and experienced design team will be more than happy to answer any questions!  

You can easily access our wealth of inspiration and knowledge here!

Printing

How to effectively promote a coffee shop

Posted on by kaizenprintie

Are you starting a new business venture? More specifically a coffee shop, but are unsure of the perfect promotional methods? Well, you’ve come to the right place

At Kaizen Print, we regularly work with clients in the industry on print and design so we know what works, and what doesn’t. We’ve gathered our top tips to guide you on the best methods to promote your coffee shop below:

On-brand branding 

This is an essential part of promoting your coffee shop. Your businesses branding will be used on all marketing materials that you produce. 

What do you want your brand to say about you?

Ultimately, your branding can be the difference between customers going to you, or your competitor. For this reason, your brand must shout about who you are and what you do in a clear and precise way.

For example: 

  • Is your interior modern and tropical? You could opt for a bold font and a dark green colour scheme with a gold embossed effect. 
  • Are you an eco-friendly coffee shop specialising in organic products? You may opt to use marketing materials that have been crafted from recycled products.
  • Perhaps you are targeting the trendy millennials in your area – you could decide on bold colours and beautiful typography with ‘Instagrammable’ features throughout the branding.

If you are unsure of how to do this effectively, speak to one of our friendly design team today!

What does everyone love – freebies!

When you are in the very early stages of opening a coffee shop, one thing is certain to reel in the new customers, and that is freebies.

Create a buzz on the high-street by providing some free product samples, for instance, espresso sized coffee cup tasters and bitesize cakes. Get your most confident member of staff to hand out marketing materials including vouchers for free products (i.e. offer a free cake with every purchased coffee) and first visit discounts (25% off).

Build relationships in the community

To have a successful coffee shop, you will need to build a loyal clientele who visit often. The best place to find these people is in your local area. You could start building relationships by visiting local businesses and offering discounts for first-time visits or dropping off a few complimentary coffees.

You could even volunteer to provide coffee at your next local event (but of course you have to get something from this), so be sure to be armed with your business cards and flyers to draw new customers in!

Create loyal customers with loyalty cards!

If you go into your local coffee shop or café, there is a high chance that strategically placed by the till are loyalty cards ready to be given out to customers. There’s a good reason for this. They work.

With so much choice on the high-street for customers to choose, you need to give them a strong reason to return. By providing a loyalty card with an offer e.g. “buy nine coffees, get your tenth free” customers are more likely to return due to the incentive.

Also, where will this loyalty card be kept?  In their purse or wallet! Meaning that they will see your brand every time they open it and will be reminded of your business. This is a truly effective marketing tool.

We recommend that you opt for a 350gsm loyalty card which you can find here. At Kaizen Print, we believe if you’re not rewarding loyalty you are losing business.

The power of posters

The likelihood is, if people are already in your coffee shop they will definitely want a drink and perhaps a nibble. You can use your brand personality and best products to create posters to draw in your customer’s attention to specific items on the menu.

You could use posters to promote your highest priced item or your special offer by strategically placing posters in the central window above the door, behind the baristas work area or on toilet doors. These are places your customers are likely to look first to utilise this space!

Posters are a low-cost, yet cost-effective method to showcase your best products or offers.

Tip – You could print small batches of posters with different deals to experiment and see what works. This also acts as a great way to mix up the decorations in-store, with brilliant designs and styles to match the theme you’ve chosen for your coffee shop.

At Kaizenprint, we offer high quality digital, litho and large format printing that are perfect for promoting your coffee shop. From our leaflets and flyers to our posters and our business cards we believe there is a promotional tool for you. 

Not only that, we have an award-winning design team that offer a variety of design services. Feel free to contact us – we care about you and always welcome any questions regarding your own design projects.

Printing

The Benefits of Outsourcing Design

Posted on by kaizenprintie

At Kaizen Print, we know that great design sells – fact! As a team, we have worked on design projects for a variety of clients and industries. For this reason, we understand the need for creating a design that showcases your brand in an effective and authentic way.

Today the market for outsourcing design continues to grow as it increases in popularity for marketing purposes. Outsourcing your graphic design to freelancers or SME’s allows them to create logos/design at a competitive price and a faster pace.

Below are the essential benefits to outsourcing your design.

So what is outsourcing?

Did you know that outsourcing is one of the highest paid industries today? Countries all over the world are opting to hire employees in different locations to benefit from skilled and talented professionals at an exceptionally lower cost.

Referred to as the “External Workforce” this sector of the workforce is particularly growing with more people deciding to start as a Freelancer. It is estimated that by 2020, over 40% of the U.S. workforce will be within this category and benefit from the freedom of working from home, or from anywhere they can access a Wi-Fi signal! 

You may have noticed the influx of new businesses, particularly on Instagram or Facebook, showing their remote working benefits (perhaps even a cheeky snap of them sunbathing in a tropical country)? Yes, we have too!

And, with companies having further plans to add more freelancers to their workforce, there is no sign of this trend slowing down. Top performing organisations have increased distributing projects to freelancers by over 30%!

Fresh perspective 

Outsourcing design can provide your team with a new opinion and working style – creating ideas that you may never have dreamt of! When you outsource design, you essentially get access to talented designers with a variety of accomplishments and a comprehensive portfolio.

Your team may be so used to working in a certain way that they develop a sort of ‘tunnel vision’ so mixing up the process can provide beneficial from time to time.

Smart time-saving!  

Outsourcing can be beneficial to a company that has a sudden influx of new projects, and simply not enough hours in the day! The conventional hiring process can be too long and costly so outsourcing can offer a cheaper and more effective way to gain an extra set of hands.

You can complete your to-do list and save time in the long run from accessing freelancers who are already looking for work in your field.

The important factor here is ensuring that you delegate your design tasks to a reliable third party. Do your research! 

Do they have a portfolio of works to show you? Do they have any testimonials on their website, Facebook page or LinkedIn?

Even if you are a designer, you will benefit from outsourcing at busy periods – allowing you to focus on pressing matters and concentrate on deadlines. And, if you aren’t a designer you are able to wipe away the burden from worrying about how you are going complete the project when you aren’t qualified the field. 

Focus and dedication

An in-house design team may get used to the same format and design of projects; this can lead to demotivation as they lack the creative energy. Freelancers are used to working project by project and for this reason, are focussed and dedicated to providing a high-quality service. Why?

They know that if you are impressed with their professionalism and design, they are likely to receive either a testimonial to gain more work and add to their portfolio or secure some more work from you!

When you start to work with a freelancer more frequently, the collaboration becomes seamless. You may begin to think of them as an extended working partner. If they have a specific area of expertise, you could always give that part of the work to them.

If your organisation is going through a period of growth and sales are expanding, you may need to make solutions to marketing initiatives. When your team is consistently time-pressured, the benefits of having an outsourced graphic designer can speak for itself. 

Top tip: Always remember to do your research and ask for examples of previous work they have completed. You should get a feel for their style and be shown they can complete the task competently.

We hope this article has helped you to understand the benefits of outsourcing your graphic design work. Our team of award-winning and experienced designers will be happy to assist you in your own projects – so feel free to contact us. 

Here at Kaizenprint, we offer an extremely high-quality in-house design service to help you stand out against your competitors. Feel free to call us on 028 9002 2474 to discuss any of your print or design queries!

Printing

What is print ready artwork?

Posted on by Kaizen Print

Print Ready (or Press Ready) is the term used to describe a printable file that meets all guidelines and specifications required to produce a perfectly printed document without alteration by a pre-press team.

Many times a day, we receive artwork that will print at an unacceptable quality level. We wouldn’t accept it, nor would we expect you to either. Thankfully with our eagled eyed production team, we’ve developed processes and software to spot many common issues with artwork before we print.

We’re pretty flexible with our printing, but the rules of print ready artwork don’t bend and to ensure you get the best print possible we ask that if you are supplying your own artwork you follow our guidelines below.

A print ready file has:

  1. Artwork supplied at the correct size
  2. 3mm bleed supplied on all sides of the artwork
  3. All RGB/Spot/Pantone colours converted to CMYK. We will convert all files, but in doing so there might be slight colour variations
  4. A safe area of 4mm on the inside of the graphic to ensure no critical text is cut off
  5. All images within the design are at least 300 dpi (high resolution)
  6. All images are embedded within the artwork
  7. All fonts are outlined or embedded
  8. Artwork supplied as pages and not spreads
  9. Multi-page artwork is supplied as a single file
  10. No files with multiple jobs or artwork types in a single pdf
  11. Black text is set at 100% black and not a colour mix of CMYK. Using a mix of CMYK to create black can cause an over saturation of ink on the page
  12. Registration black is not used…..ever
  13. White Text is not set to overprint. If this is the case, the white which is unprintable will not show on the final printed file.

We understand the above list looks daunting and this is why our production team are only too happy to lend a hand in identifying issues if they arise. We can fix some of these issues quite easily but others do take time and may incur a charge.

We always recommend you have artwork designed by professionals. Within our graphic design studio, Kaizen Brand Evolution, each of our graphic designers is not only University educated in graphic design but they have also been given in depth training and guidance within our own four walls to ensure our files print as they should, each and every time.

Printing

Brochure Design Considerations

Posted on by kaizenprintie
18
Apr
Brochures are one of the most versatile and cost-effective ways to market your business. They are also so popular that your customers might think there is nothing new to see in them. This doesn’t have to be so. The brochure is only effective if your customer reads them. Here are a few tips to follow when designing your brochure.

Keep It Simple

There is nothing worse than trying to figure out what is going on with a brochure too full of information. Often, it’s hard to tell which end is up. Whether it’s a price list, a takeaway menu or information on a new product, keep it on topic. If you are trying to get too much information in, consider two different brochures. That way, you can target your audience with the more suitable one for their needs, or have two-in-one for extra value for your customers.

Design

The design is very important. From the size, you choose to your colour choices and the font you use. Leave spaces and allow the eye to follow the message. Your name and logo should be forefront, with your brand colours, if you use them. You want to entice the reader to open the brochure with a promise of rewards for them inside. Perhaps you want it for an annual sale. The word SALE! Is enticing. People like to save money. 50% Off, graphics of your new product or service and why they need it can all be conveyed simply on the cover.

Colour

If you have colours that people associate with your company or colours you hope to have them do so, use them. If you sell chocolate, use browns and complimentary colours that will make people want your chocolate. Colours have a strong emotional attachment to them and are one of the most effective advertising tools. Don’t go overboard with them, though. Too much or too many are confusing and takes away from the message you are trying to put out.

Font

Keep this simple, as well. Find a font that will help you stay on your brand. Don’t mix a bunch of fonts together. Use one, or two at most. You can use variations of the font you choose, but too many make it hard to read and people just won’t bother.

Pictures

This is a must. Whether you are making a travel brochure or menu, you want pictures of what that is. Use real photos of your actual items, location or service in action. Seeing is believing and when you can deliver what people have seen on your brochure, it builds trust and confidence. It’s best to let your graphics or pictures do the talking, and use less text, when possible.

It’s In The Fold

Understanding and utilising the fold in your brochure lends itself to some very clever design ideas. Think centrefolds or mad magazines. You can have your design open up to all kinds of interesting and innovative designs. It’s important to understand the fold of the brochure when you are putting it all together. It can be confusing at first. Please contact us for our expert advice on printing your next brochure. We can guide you through the steps, show you examples and make suggestions we feel would be best suited to your company and service.
Printing

Business Cards: Things You Need to Consider

Posted on by kaizenprintie
17
Apr
When designing or contemplating different options for your business cards, there are several important things to keep in mind before you send them to print!  Business cards are excellent for your business in so many ways, if they’re designed effectively.  Therefore, take time to consider the following points so your business cards can be as beneficial as possible!

Five important points to consider when it comes to business cards

>Include important information >Readability/Clarity >Size >Colour/Design scheme >Uniqueness

Important Information

The most important and obvious need for your business cards is basic: the advertisement and marketing of your business information.  This means, things like your business name, logo, address and contact information need to be on the card and all of it needs to be absolutely clear.  There can be no question about what this information says, and it needs to be easy to locate on the card.  Easy ways to make this information clear, would be to make it the most obvious focus of the card, or, perhaps, using special font or bold lettering to draw people’s attention.  While designing your cards, play around with different design ideas to see what makes this information the most eye-catching and clear.

Readability & Clarity

If the information on your card is illegible, then entire purpose of your card is crushed!  It’s vital to ensure all information and even pictures on your business cards are absolutely legible and easy to understand.  Make sure your font is easy to read and that the information you’ve put on the card makes perfect sense.  Remember: sometimes, in the case of business cards, less is more.  Provide the information that’s most important and do so in an attractive and concise way.  It may help to have several pairs of eyes review and check over your business card and its design.

Size 

Although it may not seem like it, the size of your business card is, in fact, important.  You don’t necessarily have to choose a standard size but keep in mind you want people to pick it up, read it, take it with them and hopefully, store in in their purse or wallet to look back on later.  If your card is too big or too bulky people will find it annoying, rather than useful and probably throw it away first chance they get.  On the other hand, if it’s too small, people might find it difficult to read or just unimportant.  Be sure to try out or view a few different sizes and make sure you pick the one that will be most effective!

Colour & Design

A huge part of having successful business cards is having cards that are attractive.  People need to be drawn to your cards, they need to like them and want to keep them.  Be sure to choose a design that will speak to consumers but, at the same time, no be too overwhelming or busy.  If the design of your cards proves too challenging, we highly suggest reaching out to a design specialist for help.  After all, it is their area of expertise and it will be, hands down, money well spent.

Uniqueness

So much of the success of your business cards relies on how much attention they attract.  If your business card is something that stick out and people remember, that is excellent news for your business!  Check out different, unique ideas and don’t be afraid to get creative!  You want your business to reflect something unique people will want to seek out!  Again, don’t be afraid to reach out to a design consultant to give you some assistance! We hope this article provided you with important things to consider in terms of your business cards and helped you find more direction in the design process!  If you have more questions, please reach out to us through our contact page.  Or, if you’d like to inquire about business cards, check out our business cards page!
Printing

Print Design VS Digital Design

Posted on by kaizenprintie

At Kaizen Print, we are truly passionate and interested in the world of Print and Design. With over a decade of knowledge in the industry, we understand why the similarities and differences are important; and we want you to know too!

When you think about print and digital designs, they can seem like both sides of the same coin. However, there is some confusion between the benefits and disadvantages when deciding which design works best for a campaign.

Traditionally, graphic designers work more directly with print design to turn into physical objects, but the rise of technology means the importance of digital design has become pivotal to success. 

A graphic designer has an interesting and enjoyable, yet complicated job! Every designer will have their own process on what makes the perfect print or digital design. 

Read below to discover more about this interesting topic and how it can impact your business: 

Print VS Digital – what is it?

Print design is basically any design where the final form is intended to be printed. It’s likely in today’s digital world that it will be created using a computer, but the end product such as brochures, flyers and business cards will be physical.

Digital design is design intended to be viewed on a computer or smartphone. It combines graphics to create an overall appearance.

Practically every brand out there now has a web presence. Some will definitely have a stronger presence online than they do in print (some businesses may only operate online so only need digital design). Knowing how to design for the web allows for a business to gain a considerably stronger position in the market. However, businesses still benefit from the physical benefits of print design.

How it can be viewed

The biggest difference between the two is how the customer will hold it. Holding something physical with print design is a completely different experience than viewing it on a screen. Where and how these designs are viewed does make a difference.

However there can be similarities, for instance a digital magazine could have the same format as a physical print, it just won’t feel the same.

User experiences 

The way something is designed can affect the user differently in terms of senses. How do you want the final product to feel to the target audience?

With a print design certain factors may be thought about such as the texture, softness, shape and embossing. You could even stimulate by adding a scent to the ink or paper used.

The digital experience would incorporate sounds to make a customer feel a certain way e.g. relaxing music for a yoga website.

Dynamic and static design

The idea of a printed piece of work is that it is perfected before it is sent off to print. You cannot change it once it’s been printed. Wrong prints can be expensive and time-consuming … queue the proof reading!

On an online design, the good news is that they can be altered easily. Taking a regular look at your favourite brand’s websites can show you just how often it’s changed with new campaigns updated regularly. 

Also digital design gives you actual data to analyse the success of design…bonus!

In printed mediums it can be difficult to analyse results e.g. if it’s a poster on a wall, how many people have walked past it? Did they read the message?

Colour displays 

CYMK colours are used for printed design and RBG is used for digital design.

CMYK stands for the four ink colours used by all printers: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. When working on a design using the CMYK colour space, you must remember that the colours on the screen don’t accurately represent how the colours will look when printed. Proofing each design is necessary to ensure the colour translates correctly from screen to paper.

RGB colours are combined to create visible colours on your TV or computer screen. The task of achieving consistent colour for the web can be tricky as each monitor colours varies in terms of brightness, contrast, etc. 

This can be a complex discussion – but if in doubt give us a shout, we want to help you get the most out of your designs.

At Kaizenprint, we are passionate about the world of print and design. We understand the variations of each can be hard to grasp. Have a question? Ask us!

Our team is made up of experienced experts will be able to help you. Call us on 028 9002 2474 or visit our website to see our print and design options to help you get the best out of your business.

Printing

A Colour Guide for Print Design

Posted on by kaizenprintie

At Kaizen Print we offer one of the largest ranges of printed products and services in Belfast and we’ve been assisting the UK and Republic of Ireland with high-quality print and design since 2009.

We can assist your business whether large or small with all printing requirements. We want to help you get the best out of your designs so they look nothing less than outstanding when printed. This is why we are going to delve into the world of colour for print designs! We will explain the difference between RGB, CMYK and Spot Colours, and detail why this makes a difference with print design. 

There isn’t a single colour system that suits every design project; which in turn affects almost every print design job. As colour is one of the most important design aspects, it is vital that designers know which combinations create the best artwork. 

RGB VS CMYK 

RGB colours are made up from Red, Green and Blue. This colour set is additive meaning the starting canvas is black and colours which are suitable for viewing on computer screens, websites or digital cameras are then added. Because RGB colours are created using light they can’t be used in printing – this has limitations and can lead to incurring costs. It is important to get it right the first time.

CMYK colours are made up from Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. This colour set is subtractive, meaning that the starting canvas is white, and colours are then added to create printed assets, such as business cards, brochures and stationery. 

When colours are converted it can cause a variation in colour that is noticeable. 

Print files need to be CMYK

Print files need to be created in CMYK because the RGB mode contains a broad range of colours that can’t always be achieved in print. It is possible to convert RGB colours to CMYK but unfortunately this isn’t 100% reliable, for instance, bright colours will struggle with conversion & their appearance will be altered. So for this reason, at Kaizenprint we suggest that all files should be created in CMYK. 

How to create CMYK files

When you are designing a file for print, it is vital that you set it up using CMYK colour as it will prevent any hassle trying to convert it at a later stage.  

This is very easy to do in Photoshop, simply select this mode via ‘Image > Mode > CMYK colour’. Not only is this the correct colour mode to provide to your printing company, but it will also enable you to observe a more exact representation of how the colours used in your artwork will print. 

Spot Colours

Spot Colours (AKA solid colours) are pre-mixed inks that ensure the accuracy of colour when creating printed assets. The system is a universal one so every printer will produce the same results.

It produces better coverage than using CMYK, but a combination of CMYK and Spot Colour can be used to achieve optimal results. Using Spot Colours can increase costs but it does offer the most reliable way of producing an accurate colour result.

Spot Colour or Pantone swatch colours can be applied via the Pantone Swatch Colour Book / Spot Colour library in Adobe Illustrator. 

For InDesign, activate the Swatch palette by selecting Window>Swatches. Go to ‘Open Swatch Library’, hover over ‘Colour Books’ and ‘PANTONE solid uncoated’.

To complete our colour guide for print design, we have provided a checklist below for you to follow when designing artwork for print. 

Checklist

  1. RGB should be used for digital-based artwork
  2. Use CMYK if exact colour accuracy isn’t essential 
  3. Use Spot colours if accuracy and consistency is important
  4. Do not assume that colours on your screen will be printed the same – they can vary 
  5. Print CMYK colour swatches to check colours – different computers are set up differently so you want to ensure the colour is exactly as you expect
  6. Check proofs on the screen using a colour calibrated monitor – uncalibrated screens differ from monitor to monitor
  7. Always request proofs from printers to stop colour mishaps

We hope this article has helped you on your quest to getting the most out of your print design. If you are still unsure, please feel free to contact us. 

We understand this can be a mind-boggling subject! Here at Kaizenprint we will be more than happy to help. Our friendly team will be able to walk you through the entire process and will always check your artwork for printability. 

Printing

Business Card: Extend Your Brand

Posted on by kaizenprintie
12
Apr
Extending your brand and getting your business out there can be challenging at times.  There are so many different options and way to market yourself, it can be difficult to know where to begin.  Furthermore, sometimes, the things you have in mind just don’t work out the way you envisioned.  Thankfully, there are specific things you can do, using business cards, to extend your brand and succeed in your goals!  Let’s take an in-depth look at a few different options you have when it comes to your business cards and extending your brand.

Top 5 Tips to Extend Your Brand

>Design Revamp >Uniqueness >Quantity >Availability >Logo/Business Name

Consider a Design Revamp

If you currently have business cards but they’re just not doing the trick, or, you just feel as if they could do more, you may want to consider revamping your business cards.  Putting a new spin on things, making it look fresh and new and just different can attract more attention than you might think!  It’s always a good idea to try something new to see if it can pull in a new customer base and this might be the perfect way to start!

Uniqueness

One important aspect you need to consider when it comes to your business cards is: how unique are they?  Do they stand out, if so, how?  What makes them special?  Furthermore, do they fully get across the unique message you’re trying to send?  Take time to ponder these questions and see if your cards truly are cutting it in the “uniqueness” area.  If not, it’s probably time for a change!  There are so many interesting, unique options out there—don’t be afraid to try something new!

Quantity 

One of the biggest downfalls of business cards is simply not having enough and therefore, not distributing enough to consumers.  To truly get your name out there, you have to constantly and consistently be giving your business cards out to people.  Take time to think about how many business cards you order and how many you tend to distribute.  Could it be more?  Chances are, it could so don’t worry about ordering a few extra business cards next time around and make it a point to get your card into more hands than ever before!

Availability 

Yet another aspect of ensuring your business cards are as successful as they can be is thinking about how available you make them to protentional customers and just the general public.  At every opportunity, your business card should be available.  From sitting on countertops to posting a few on various community billboards to handing them out at expos and different area events, you’ve got to make your card’s availability a top priority.  Therefore, take time to think about new ways you could get your cards and your brand, out there!

Logo/Business Name

When it comes down to it, your business cards simply won’t be successful if the logo, business name or brand you’re displaying on them aren’t clear or eye-catching.  So, sit back and take time to assess your business cards in terms of the brand, logo or business name and how it’s displayed.  Is it as effective as it could be?  If you want a second opinion, reach out to one of our design specialists here at Kaizen to get a professional, polished opinion!  You’ll be glad you did when it improves the overall effectiveness of your cards! We hope this article gave you some important pointers when it comes to your business cards and how to best extend your brand to potential consumers and the public in general.  If you have more questions, please see our contact or business card pages!