Not all print is equal.

Sometimes hard choices need to be made, and knowing these will help you set expectations with your client. Let’s say for example, that they only need a few (meaning qty is 500 or under) business cards, letterhead and envelopes.

The first mistake beginning designers will make is to do everything in 4 color process. It’s an easy mistake to make unless you’ve worked with commercial printers before. You can get away with it digitally (vs. offset) for business cards, but the set up on a 4 color offset press will be a big investment in regards to letterhead and envelopes.

If you are going to do a quantity of 500 or less, I advise doing a pantone and black ink. If you are looking for the best pricing, it’s not whether it’s one-sided or two-sided here, it’s the fact that some printers will have a 2-color press where the set-up costs are much less. Also, if you want to save big-time on the envelopes, make sure you don’t set the artwork up to “bleed”, a printing term for ink that runs to the edge of the paper. If you want that, the envelopes will have to be custom made (printed on a big press sheet and converted into envelopes)—which is only cool price-wise if you know you want this look forever, and if you can print more than 5K minimum. Letterhead will also be less pricey if you don’t bleed the ink, however the cost will not be as much as an envelope bleed.

Also, always make sure the letterhead stock you order is laser-compatible. A good print rep on a good day will remember to tell you this, but not always. If you ever want to run it through your printer, make sure they know this. It is NOT a given, and most people learn the hard way.

A cool look for envelopes is to print it 2 colors on the front, and use one of those colors you use on the front to print on the back envelope flap. Just make sure the ink does not bleed to the edge. The return address on the back flap always looks professional and chic.

Questions about setting up your artwork BEFORE presenting to your client and BEFORE spending all your time on artwork, if you know you will be using an outside vendor, can be resolved by using sending me an email or giving me a call anytime.

Next blog: How much time should you spend on your mailing list and what is included when mail houses quote you “mail services”?