Happy Halloween from Direction Printing!

The last few years have shown an ongoing movement within the print industry to become more environmentally friendly. There are many forestry programs that provide jobs as well as a supply of raw materials for printed materials. A huge amount of recycling to offer renewable materials, but there is also an energy component to creating those materials. The largest challenge is to come up with sustainable materials.

So what is the right step for your company? While most larger companies have already made the switch to offer greener solutions, it’s never too late to start! Today’s consumer is much more environmentally aware and wants to make sure that they’re doing their part as much as possible. Making decisions to support companies that support recycled materials or paper from sustainable sources is a factor these days. Budgets are of course a factor as well, but there are some options that do not break the bank.

FSC stocks are a simple option that allow businesses to help with the sustainable forestry movement. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC does this by setting standards on forest products, along with certifying and labeling them as eco-friendly (FSC information taken from Wikipedia). What that means is that by printing with FSC regulated stocks, you’re supporting their efforts to manage forests in a way that makes them sustainable.

Another option is choosing stocks with a higher than average recycled content. Most stocks have SOME % of recycled materials, but there are specific stocks that have 50% or 100% post-consumer recycled materials used in the manufacturing of that particular stock. Choosing this option is sometimes more expensive, but you’re helping keep the paper/pulp from recycling programs circulating with a new life.

There are great solutions such as using hemp products as well. Which could be another article all together. But to start, hemp is 7-8 x’s more recyclable than paper. Paper is only 3x’s recyclable. Hemp paper does not require bleaching, which means less chemicals, it is stronger thus longer lasting and 1 acre of hemp produces as much as 4 acres of trees yet only takes 100 days to grow to a stage where its fibers can be used.

Ink is another thing that people don’t usually think of as having environmental impact. Many printing companies (Direction Printing included) have made the switch to using inks, coatings, and chemicals used in print production that are vegetable-based wherever possible. Traditional inks that are petroleum based which can be much more harmful to the environment. They can eventually lead to contamination of the local groundwater and soil.

Vegetable-based alternatives are typically better for the environment and have less of an impact during the recycling process as they tend to be removed easier during the washing processes. But don’t let the fact that they’re vegetable-based make you think that they’re inferior, they still produce results as good as standard inks.

Overall production processes are also becoming more efficient as each generation of equipment is engineered and re-engineered. While there is obviously always going to be power needed for any type of manufacturing process, printing included, the simple changes/switches in lighting and power saving equipment are helping to reduce the energy used per project.

If you have a mandate or project that you’d like to have a quote on for more environmentally-friendly options, we’d be happy to discuss.

Hoping you have a happy and safe Canada Day from the entire Direction Team!

The True North, Strong and Free!

The “Wow” Factor

Let us help you create a unique wall. We can work from existing graphics or create something new to compliment your space. The installation process is simple, only a few hours and then you can enjoy the “wow” factor that a full wall graphic brings to an office, retail or even residential location.

Contact us today to discuss further!

Does Print Still Have a Place In the Future of Advertising? 10 Experts Weigh In

We came across an interesting article that discusses the future of print and how it still has a place in marketing and advertising.

There is a lot of buzz in the media about where printing is going, but these industry professionals share their thoughts on where print fits into that future. Here are some of the key points they make, please read the full article in the link below to see the expanded explanations.

• Print will continue to be valuable where there is a physical customer presence.
• Luxury consumers will still value tangible ad platforms.
• AR will give print ads a place in seamless omnichannel brand experiences.
• Print will need to complement and encourage digital interactions.
• Offline entities and influencers will reengage consumers with print media.
• Print and digital campaigns will be fully integrated.
• Print will allow brands to rise above the digital racket.
• Print will remain ideal for hyper-local markets.

Click here to read the full Forbes article for more details:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/03/02/does-print-still-have-a-place-in-the-future-of-advertising-10-experts-weigh-in/#324f8e15fc61

Reviewing your marketing strategy for 2019? Stay on top of marketing trends by using these leading strategies.

1) Use Old-School Marketing Ideas—Physical brochures, coupon value packs, and brick and mortar approaches to business aren’t gone. Just be sure to use these tools effectively by micro-targeting your customers.

2) E-Commerce Marketing—This is a marketing trend that’s not leaving anytime soon. As e-commerce gets more technology enhancements, you can create an even better experience for your users.

3) Video Marketing—It’s not just for big budget companies. It’s important to use video to create a story for your audience to see.

4) Use Automated Marketing—Accomplish goals in less time with automated tools and use your time more wisely to plan and execute more marketing strategies for the future.

5) Inbound Marketing—B2B companies, take note! Use inbound marketing to bring in prospects, engage them, and provide them with something valuable. Authenticity is key.

Read more about these trends and how to incorporate them into your marketing strategy with this article: https://www.business2community.com/marketing/5-surprising-marketing-trends-that-will-continue-to-blow-up-in-2019-02129656

How To Successfully Choose Brand Colours

Are you rebranding in 2019, or choosing brand colours for the first time? Here are 5 things you must consider:

1) What emotion will these colours evoke?

Every colour drives an emotional response from the viewer. Choose colours based on what you want your audience to feel when looking at your brand.

2) Do the colours and brand typography work together?

Choose colours and typography that complement each other and provide a similar emotional response.

3) How will the colours impact purchasing decisions?

Majority of purchasing decisions are based on initial judgments and colour. Make sure your colours bring buyers in quickly, and don’t scare them away.

4) How does this colour relate to the target audience?

While there are similarities in the emotions colours evoke, you can get extremely specific to your target audience and what they are drawn to.

5) How do the colours connect to your overall goal?

The colours you choose for your brand should enhance your overall goals and speak to your company’s message.

Ready for more tips and colour tool resources? Check out this article: https://www.inkondapaper.com/hidden-in-plain-sight-how-to-choose-your-brands-colors/

Merry Christmas from Direction Printing!

From the entire Direction Team we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Here's a tasty recipe for gingerbread cookies to bring you some holiday cheer!

Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups flour
½ cup white sugar
½ cup butter softened
½ cup molasses
1 egg
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp nutmeg (grated or ground)
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Directions: (makes approx. 24 cookies)
Note - Mix all dry ingredients together first and then add the wet (egg, butter and molasses).  
In a large bowl with mixer at low beat all ingredients together.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough in bowl for 1 hr.

Preheat oven to 350°
Grease cookie sheet with butter
Lightly flour your working surface and your rolling pin…take the dough out (divide dough in half) use first half and then the remaining half.  Roll dough out to be 3/16” thick and punch out your desired shapes and place cookies ½ inch apart on a baking sheet. 

Bake for 10 minutes, 12 minutes max. Cool cookies on cookie rack then decorate as desired. 

Enjoy!

November 11th 2018 marks a significant milestone in history…100 years since Armistice Day, the day when armies stopped fighting World War I. King George V held the first Armistice Day at Buckingham Palace in 1919 and 100 years later we continue to commemorate veterans and the war fallen.

My grandfather (Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment) is buried in Sicily having lost his life in WWII when my mother was a baby. Having had a stepfather (who was in the Canadian Navy during WWII) and having a father in the military, I have been to my fair share of ceremonies over the years. If you are able to, make the time and take your family to a cenotaph in your neighbourhood. Thank a veteran. And continue to support veterans and active service members for serving our country and making the sacrifices that allow us our freedoms.

 "Memoriam eorum retinebimus" (Latin); "We Will Remember Them"

Happy Thanksgiving from Direction Printing!

Hoping you enjoy the first over-eating holiday of the season and on that note here are some of the things that our team posted on our chalk wall when asked, “What are you most looking forward to eating at Thanksgiving?”

- Garlic mashed potatoes with gravy (can't go wrong there unless you're a vampire)

- Turkey - dark meat (yes!)

- Brussel sprouts (guess to each their own...)

- Yorkshire Pudding (nice!)

- A WHOLE pumpkin pie (that's a winning idea!!)

What are YOU most looking forward to eating at Thanksgiving?

And to our American clients/visitors, guess same question, but you will have to think ahead 1.5 months!

Welcome to another Printing 101 blog entry - Holding it all Together – Bindery Basics

Ever wonder what the best way to bind your project is? There are several different options and it really depends on the type of project/preference and the page count. Here is a breakdown of the most common types of bindery for easy reference and comparison.

Saddle Stitching (Stapling) – This is where there are 2 staples put through the stock to hold pages together (sometimes 3, if needed). Great for lower qty page count projects.

Pro’s: Inexpensive and fast to produce, project lays relatively flat when open to a page (not so much for higher page counts), adds minimal weight so especially good for mailing, easy to insert into envelopes

Con’s: Limited page count

Detailed Spec’s: Minimum 8 pages up to 76-80 pages based on 80lb text weight (increments of 4 pages needed for this bindery type). The max. page count is based on best performance - Add’l pages are also possible, but they cause spine creep (see previous blog entry) and the force of the stitching can sometimes create issues of strain on the cover and the center panels.

Perfect Bindery – This is essentially where all your pages are glued together along with a cover that creates a spine for your project.

Pro’s: Can accommodate a lot of pages and creates a very professional finished look, easy to insert into envelopes, spine allows for design/text when on a shelf

Con’s: Takes a bit of extra time to produce (1-3 days), projects do not lay flat when open to a page

Detailed Spec’s: Minimum 48-52 pages up to 310-330 pages based on 80lb text weight (increments of 2 pages okay for this bindery type). There is standard glue available for shorter term catalogues and a PUR glue, which is much stronger for longer term use catalogues to help insure the pages don’t fall out easily with repeated use.

Plastic Coil (Plastikoil) Bindery – This is where a series of holes are punched through collated sheets and then a plastic coil is threaded throughout them and bent on the edges to close up bindery. Available in many colours

Pro’s: Can accommodate a lot of pages, colourful options available, project lays flat when open to a page

Con’s: Takes a bit of extra time to produce (1-3 days, depending on qty)

Detailed Spec’s: Minimum 20 pages up to 290-310 pages based on 80lb text weight (increments of 2 pages okay for this bindery type). Standard colours are black and white, but there lots of other colours are available (some are special order). A bonus is that this bindery type could be opened up if typos are found on a page so that it can be swapped out (vs. having to reprint the whole project.)

Double Loop Wire (Wire-o) Bindery – This is also a method where a series of holes are punched into collated pages and then a metal double loop wire is put in and then pressure closed (squeezed).

Pro’s: Can accommodate a lot of pages, project lays flat when open to a page,

Con’s: Takes a bit of extra time to produce (1-3 days, depending on qty)

Detailed Spec’s: Minimum 20 pages up to 240-260 pages based on 80lb text weight (increments of 2 pages okay for this bindery type). Black and dull gunmetal or gloss metal are standard. Other colours available, but will be special order. As with plastic coil, this bindery type could be opened up if typos are found on a page so that it can be swapped out (vs. having to reprint the whole project.)

Here are some add’l types of bindery available:

Corner Stitching (stapled corner) – This is just as it sounds, a staple put into the top corner of a project to hold the pages together. Some projects are done this way for economy or simplicity.

Case binding (hardcover) – This is for high-end books or catalogues meant to be kept around for a long-term use. Expensive when compared to other options.

Loop stitching – This is sort of a version of saddle stitching that is designed to include a handy loop so that you can put your project into a standard binder (vs. having to do 3-hole drilling).

Plastic Comb (Cerlox) – While similar to double loop wire (Wire-o) this type of inexpensive binding is most common in copy shops or educational institutions. Simple to be put together but tends to come apart after a lot of use (as it’s just tension on the loop of plastic and nothing is permanently attached).

Feel free to contact us if you’d like to know more about different bindery options and what might work best for your project. We’d be more than happy to provide a sample for your review as well!

Happy Canada Day from all of us at Direction Printing!

If you are entertaining, here is a dynamite veggie dip recipe:

“Sure to Please Dip”

3/4 tub sour cream (14%)

Juice of 2 limes

1 jalapeno (or 2 if you want some extra kick!)

1 avocado

1 bunch of green onions

1 large clove of garlic

1/3 of a bunch of fresh cilantro

and ½ tsp salt

Throw it all in the bender and its done. Serve with cut veggies and enjoy!

Recommended veggies for dipping: Cucumber/ Snap peas/ Celery/ Carrots/ Kohlrabi/ Peppers etc.

We hope everyone has a great and safe Canada Day weekend!

Welcome to another Printing 101 blog entry - Weighing in on Paper

If we are going to talk print, let’s start with a vital basic – PAPER.

You’ll find the widest variety of papers available when you are running an offset print project, as the presses have flexibility to handle different thicknesses and coatings.  The presses currently used in digital printing have a more limited tolerance for paper options. 

There are four criteria used to grade paper -  weight (thickness), texture, brightness, opacity and the combinations can become overwhelming. If making a paper selection seems like a daunting task, the easiest solution is to request a suitable “house stock” be used for your project.

The most essential paper specs to note are the paper weight and whether or not the paper has a coating. 

Text Weight – used in applications like the interior pages of a book. Typically measured in pounds (lb. or #)

Cover Weight –used in applications like booklet covers, greeting cards. Typically measured in points (pt.)

A list of paper stock recommendations for some commonly run print projects:

FLYER 

80lb text to 100lb text

BROCHURE

100 lb text

POSTCARD

12pt or 14pt cover

BUSINESS CARD

14pt or 16pt cover

MULTI-PAGE BOOKLETS

80lb text for booklet cover & interior pages

OR

12pt cover weight for booklet cover & 80lb text for interior pages

PAPER COATINGS:

Any paper weight can have a coating applied during the manufacturing process and it will affect the way that inks are absorbed in printing and therefore how colour comes out. These are coatings that are right on the stock, (not to be confused with the additional coatings that can be applied on press during the printing process – that’s another blog topic!)

So which coating to choose is largely a creative decision ;) The three most popular coatings are gloss, matte or uncoated.

Gloss – adds a reflective shine and makes colours pop.

Matte – adds a subtle silky sheen.

Uncoated – no coating is applied. Inks soak in to the paper and give images a softer look.

For the more adventurous print buyer - have a consultation with your Direction Printing Account Rep to discuss the array of paper options and to get samples (always happy to review & share samples!)

Welcome to another Printing 101 blog entry - Today we're going to talk about Flyers vs Brochures vs Booklets and their differences….

A Flyer is a single sheet of paper (that doesn’t actually fly ;) or will it?), typically sized to 8.5x11 (can vary slightly larger/smaller) and can be printed on one or both sides. Flyers are best for short term use or quick messages like advertising a particular sale, event upcoming etc. They are most often produced on text weights as that helps to keep the budget in check.

Brochures on the other hand are printed on both sides and can be folded in a variety of ways, as shown below. Oh, how I love a good illustration!  Generally, brochures are printed with the intention of being well handled and kept around, so they are best printed on a more durable paper with a protective coating like AQ.  What’s AQ you’re wondering? An abbreviation for aqueous, meaning a water-based coating that helps to prevent finger printing, seal in the ink and speeds up the dry time. AQ ensures your marketing materials get out on time, increases the longevity and look super sharp! 

Some cool folds to target your audiences…

And last but not least what’s a booklet?!…  booklets are bound containing multiple sheets … an easy rule… if your job doesn’t require binding it’s not considered a booklet to us. They are typically a main marketing tool that’s printed with AQ, using a combination of text and cover weights.... a show piece to be appreciated.

Booklets can be bound using a variety of methods, but most commonly by the use of staples (sometimes referred to as saddle stitched or corner stapling), wire-o binding, plastic coil binding, loop binding or using glues ie perfect binding. There’s a lot to say about booklets....and of course more fun illustrations to add in, so this topic needs to be continued, stay tuned …..

To summarize:

Flyers - a flat sheet of paper, printed on one side or two.

Brochures - flat sheet of paper, double sided and folded… there are many folds to consider.

Booklets - multiple sheets bound together, two sided… many binding styles available.

:)

Cheers!~

"27 April, Icograda's anniversary, was designated World Graphics Day in 1995. It is an opportunity to recognise communication design and its role in the world.

Design shapes our world in every way, affecting our understandings, opinions, actions and decisions. Design determines the impact of information, whether it be through colour, form, or type, including the smallest street sign, the websites we browse, the products we purchase, or the books we read." - ico-d.org

http://www.ico-d.org/connect/features/post/295.php for full article

We at Direction want to celebrate how design impacts our lives from the packaging that helps you identify ingredients and nutritional information in your food, the signage that guides you on your way to work or even the conundrum created when trying to choose which mustache t-shirt to buy!

Hoping everyone can spend 5 seconds thinking about how much design effects their lives on a daily basis!

Cheers to all the graphic artists out there working hard!

It’s officially now spring – as a print provider I have golf and colour on my mind.  You can play each hole employing several strokes to get the ball in the cup – or you can figure out how to play in the zone and drop the ball in one stroke. Problem solving on a new client’s project has reminded me of the benefits for adding a Pantone colour to offset print projects and effectively scoring a “hole in one”.

A little background on Colour Systems

Process

Offset printing creates the illusion of “full colour” using four process inks -  CMYK (Cyan – Magenta – Yellow – Black). Varying amounts of these four primary inks generates the array of colours.

Pantone (PMS)

Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a proprietary colour space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing. By standardizing their colours, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors are consistent. In offset printing, PMS inks offer a tonal range that CMYK inks do not - including specialty inks such as metallics and fluorescents.

In the case of our NEW client – they came to us with print samples showing their company logo and their corporate orange was not consistent from project to project or even from page to page within their catalogue. Their corporate/brand identity was something that they considered colour critical and up to the point of meeting us -  it hadn’t been resolved.

As a first step, we tested colour swatches in a variety of CMYK combinations and none were quite right. Then we recommended selecting a PMS colour for their logo as it would produce reliable and vibrant results. Our client opted to go this route PMS #1565 and they’re relieved and happy with the predictable results this produces. We scored an ace with our NEW client by solving their colour dilemma.

For comparison, here is a scan of the Pantone swatch shown next to the CMYK equivalent:

What’s your favourite colour from the Pantone Spring 2018 collection?

https://www.pantone.com/fashion-color-trend-report-new-york-spring-2018

We strive to provide our clients with the best overall experience on their projects. From point of order to delivery, we want to make sure that we’re getting “two thumbs up” from you! Don’t just take our word for it, here is some of the feedback we’ve received this week:

“I just wanted to reach out and thank you for all your help with the job.  We received the catalogues last week and they look great, it’s kept our shippers busy in sending off to our distributors! The quality of you and your team’s service throughout the process was exceptional. We are very happy!”

Josh, Marketing & Logistics Manager – Hygienic Supplies Manufacturer

“When the planners came in, people were so excited about them there was buzz through the office. It was a huge project, and—as always—on a short timeline. The print quality is beautiful, the colours are rich, and the result is a hearty, practical product that people are excited to use.

Despite our projects often being of an “ASAP,” “quick turnaround,” “strange request” nature, anything we throw at you is taken in stride. From the quoting process, all the way to your lunchtime hand-deliveries, I always feel like our work is handled with a special attention.”

Kaytlyn, Graphic Designer – Magazine Publication

“I can tell you our experience with your team has been quite positive, really appreciate your fantastic service.”

Adam, General Manager – Family Recreation Facility

“Just received the Schedules and I thought I’d let you know that they look GREAT! Thank you so much for all your help and hard work with this project and for always doing a great job with our printed materials. :)”

Soni, Senior Graphic Designer – Non-profit Community Organization

“Hey guys – just wanted to say the booklets look fantastic, thanks so much!”

Connor, Graphic Designer – Museum and Exhibit Space

Welcome to our Printing 101 series – these blog entries will be geared to discussing print terms, hacks, processes and design tips.

So “spine creep”, what is it? Some kind of horrible disease you wouldn’t want to get?

No, spine creep (or page creep) is where a saddle stitched project’s centre-most pages stick out further along the trim edge. So, if you have a 16-page saddle stitched document on an 80lb text stock, nothing to really worry about. But if you have a project with heavy stock or something more than 24-pages, your centre-most pages will stick out further than the cover and when the final trim is done, they will be short trimmed. You will lose some information within your layout on those centre- most pages unless you adjust your margins to account for this.

Here is a visual:

Frustrating phenomena that can sometimes be solved in your layout program (or sometimes by prepress). General rule of thumb is if you have a lot of pages and you are choosing saddle stitching it’s best to keep the creep in mind and keep page numbers or other content that may be near the trim clear of that edge. 

It’s that time of year – egg nog, jellied salad, ugly sweaters…

We always look forward to working with you, but at Christmas we like to take some time to spend with family. So, it will be regular business until Fri Dec 22nd - then closed the week of Christmas – reopening Tues Jan 2nd. We’ll be back refreshed, 5lbs heavier and ready to take on the New Year.

From the entire Direction Team - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello! Welcome to the new directionprinting.com – Grab a coffee and stay a while...

We have worked to incorporate more content about who we are, what we do and more importantly what we can do for you and your business! Our new site obviously lets you read all about our company and the services we offer, but we’ve now added additional resources and specials that will be updated regularly, so check back to see what the current deals are.

We’ve also added a blog where we will post what’s new at Direction, explain a print term or process to expand your print knowledge or just report in on something new and exciting within printing. Or a killer chili recipe, you never know what will pop up…

Thanks to all our current clients for choosing Direction and we look forward to meeting some new faces and showing you The Direction Difference!