Print Buying Direct

The markets tomorrow – What does the future hold for printing? – Part 3 – 24th June 2009
Shaking hands with the future
So, what does this mean for print productions?
In ten years time, people will still read books, magazines and newspapers. E-books will be more widespread with more readers joining those already here, but books won’t be dead. Amazon’s Kindle (an e-book reader, which allows the user to read electronic books) was launched in the US in November 2007 price at $399 and the first batch sold out in five hours, but then there were no more until April 2008. Citigroup estimates Amazon will sell around 380 00 Kindles in 2008 with Forrester Research predicting Sony’s Reader will sell only a fraction of that. Forbes Magazine reported that the Apple iPhone is more popular than Kindle for books, although it is no obvious how they will sell titles not in the public domain. Stanza is a free book reading application, by October 2008 there had been some 400 000 downloads.
Proponents suggest electronic readers will become publishing’s iPod. A small light device can contain hundreds of books making reading on a train or a holiday reading list easy to carry. They have features books don’t, for instance, a word can be looked up on the dictionary, and legibility can be changed with large text versions available for older eyes. But there are drawbacks. Navigation can be clunky and power is needed. While an iPod allows owners to copy their existing music from their CD collection, it is necessary to purchase your reading matter again, although if Google has digital content freely available this might change, but may content owners are fighting this. With a book you can be pretty sure that in 20 years you could re-read it – subject to coffee stains if not being ‘borrowed’ by your brother in law. With electronic devices you will have to buy another one in a few years; hopefully you will be able to transfer your library then. An MP3 player is a small, portable, easy to use device that provides access to the sensory experience of listening to music. The sensory experience of reading involves the feel and smell of a new book, as well as the reading experience that may involve a bedtime story for a child. This involves emotion. The iPod is regarded as a design classic and far better than soulless CDs. The same is not true of most e-book designs, and books do have soul, so it is unlikely they will be replaced in ten years.
They may well be printed differently, however. Growth in print on-demand and the opportunities of ‘The Long Tail’ to keep books in print will boost digital book printing. Distributors such as Amazon and Lightening Source will print, as will bookshops such as Blackwell’s with its in-store Espresso Machine. Digital print has opened new market opportunities as well, e.g. photo books, school yearbooks, vanity publishing. Books will still be here in ten years, as will magazines and newspapers.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part 12 of this blog on Print finishing, See also our Blog on Spot UV Varnishing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

One of the mainstays at Print Buying Direct is Leaflets. We are experts at Leaflet Design & Leaflet Printing.

The markets tomorrow – What does the future hold for printing? – Part 2 – 23rd June 2009

See part 1 of this blog on printing here

Driving the changes
When considering the future of printed products it is useful to consider the opinion of the final user, rather than the opinion of a buyer or supplier. Like all consumers, they will be swayed by advertising (even if they claim that they are immune to it). Real people do not buy or interact with print per se, they react with products that have been printed. So, a reader will buy a Harry Potter story or a textbook for a course; their newspaper or magazine of choice; be provided with a chequebook and debit card by their bank; receive a mailing with an offer or information. They are largely unaware of the printing processes; they react to the content and if an alternative to print provides benefit end users will take advantage of that benefit, no matter what print suppliers try to do. In 2008, print is not seen as ‘sexy and modern’ by many new consumers and buyers who have grown up with the Internet, mobile phones, texting and instant messaging. It is important to remember that the important function is the content, not the media. Print is seen by too many real people as a destroyer of tress. It is important for suppliers and industry bodies to attack this perception, but the change of attitude by end consumers is causing the changes in print products that will be significantly different in 2018. This will be enable technology changes, particularly:
• IT- systems will be much faster and cheaper and it will be easier to communicate. Moore’s Law states that the power of processors doubles every 18 months and this is actually accelerating. There are other IT laws. Mead’s Law says every 18 months the price of transistors will halve, true since 1950. Gilder’s Law suggests the total volume of data transferred is tripling every year and Metcalfe’s Law says the value of the resulting network is proportional to the square of the number of users, who are growing strongly.
• The Internet- often forgotten is the new generation of people coming into marketing and buying positions. The Internet generation is here; they do not necessarily rely or think of print as their key media.
• Globalisation- the good news is much of Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia will have largely developed but there will still be low cost countries, (Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines) to offer low cost printing.
• Environmental pressure – this will grow and printers will have to demonstrate their carbon footprint.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part 12 of this blog on Print finishing, See also our Blog on Spot UV Varnishing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

One of the mainstays at Print Buying Direct is Leaflets. We are experts at Leaflet Design & Leaflet Printing.

The markets tomorrow – What does the future hold for printing? – Part 1 – 22nd June 2009

The future of printing

Remember what it was like in 1989? Over the last few decades print products have changed with more colours, there are more targeted mailings as individual transactions result in coupons, itemised bills and statements and transpromo activity. More secondary packaging is on supermarket shelves. Signage has exploded, with vehicle graphics and building wraps widespread, exhibitions are littered with suspended large format signs. Posters are targeted to local stores and offers rather than countrywide. In 2009, the printing world is different from 1999 and it will be different again in ten years, because the world will be different.
Paper and ink will look the same but will be manufacturers using less energy and with sustainable materials. Many ink sets will have petroleum distillate components replaced with sustainably sourced vegetable oil including UV cured inks and coating. There will be more recycled paper and the great majority will be from well managed sources with the chain of custody proven by externally accredited bodies such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Emerging quality standards such as ISO 12647 will help to remove the need for proofing with colour managed remote proofing and 3D visualisations allowing faster turnaround and approval of jobs. Many printers will provide intuitive web to print tools that yield press ready files. Quality will be assured through closed loop feedback – the norm on all new presses, digital and conventional. Reporting on the consistency of the job through the run will be a standard requirement as part of the specification, providing guarantees that the job has been produced to the agreed standard.
There will be more digital printing with personalisation and versioning more widespread in promotional print and packaging. High speed, high quality inkjet presses, web and sheetfed, will be an alternative to B2 and B1 offset in terms of quality, productivity and cost. There will be more functionally in print products, using smart glyphs and electronics being common in ten years.
Today print is coming to terms with the Internet. Since Gutenberg printed his Bibles print has not had a real competitive media but the Internet can do much of what print can. It provides a permanent record, it helps to promote, educate and entertain and with online banking it allows transaction. Much is at the expense of previously printed catalogues, directories, cheques, classified newspaper and magazine advertising, letterheads – where print volumes have dropped. As printers we can moan and bewail the fact that there are alternatives but there is no pint in ignoring fact. As volume is declining many printers are broadening their activities to replace lost revenue streams. In future there will be further changes, driven by technology advances, by changing consumer preferences and the environment.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part 12 of this blog on Print finishing, See also our Blog on Spot UV Varnishing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Print Finishing – part 15 – 19th June 2009
JDF is an XML based file format for an electronic job ticket. A JDF file contains all the job information that might normally be included on a written form sent in with a print job or details supplied by e-mail, phone or fax. It travels with a job from its inception through pre-press, press and post press to provide all the required details at each stage. This ensures proper handling and helps eliminate errors and miscommunication. Information stored can be varied and might include client contact data, fonts and images and additional files, paper size, colour profiles, types of proofs requested, imposition, RIP settings, paper stock, and folding instructions, as well as where to send the completed print jobs.
A JDF file can be generated and added to at various stages of production when using JDF enabled products. It is designed to streamline information exchanged between different applications and systems sp machines manufactured by different producers can all talk to each other to create seamless workflow solutions. One of the key attractions is that JDF can bridge the communication gap between production and Management Information Systems (MIS). This ability enables up to the minute job and device tracking as well as detailed pre and post calculation of jobs.
But, the take up has not been as good as was hoped and is most likely to happen when a printing operation has a clear investment strategy in place. Only when an operation sets its sights on establishing a post press department or steadily reviewing every stage in the process, is JDG likely to be high on the list of requirements. Most printers will add kit as and when the need arises so will not benefit initially from the ‘future proof’ systems. It is only when every machine is compatible that the pros can be realised.
For some processes it is more useful than others, for example, complex guillotining jobs where setting up will eat into valuable production time. Whereas for more simple jobs, or where systems offer a high level of automation or he ability to store jobs in memory that in turn greatly reduces set up times, JDF is less likely to have a measurable impact.
But, the payback opportunities can include reductions in manning and materials costs, increased productivity and added value to the finished product. Because there are so many variations in the type of finish, the workflow access to more real life, real time data can provide hard facts to determine what does and does not make money and where real bottlenecks lie.
Printers are looking to future proof, but full functionality will only come when every system offers the capability. Most manufacturers say this reality is not far off now and once in place the forward thinking printers will reap the rewards laving their competition counting the cost.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part 12 of this blog on Print finishing, See also our Blog on Spot UV Varnishing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Print Finishing – part 14 – 19th June 2009

JDF
The focus of post press research and design has largely been on the need to handle digital print, comply with more stringent health and safety legislation and automation measures designed to improve ease and speed of each operation. Every individual area has been improved resulting in collective savings of faster productivity, reduced bottlenecks, cuts in staffing levels and cost savings of producing everything in-house, when the whole department is considered.
However some manufacturers have been working on ways of improving operation throughout the whole department via the benefits of JDF functionally. Although a common feature of the pressroom, networking has yet to be fully introduced in the bindery despite many systems now being supplied with the capability.
Exponents say the benefits of a JDF bindery include a smoother, faster operation offering up to the minute information and answers that can help with expert budget management, clearer billing and more effective job planning. With improved communication and greater knowledge printers can then enjoy increased throughput and time and money savings. To achieve this all the equipment used in the finishing process needs to be connected for the information to be truly useful and that currently is a major stumbling block.
Already an expected way of working throughout pre-press and on the pressroom floor, Job Definition Format (JDF) promises much for the bindery. Supporters point to accurate costing, real time production feedback, better scheduling, more realistic and timely invoicing, reduced waste and greater flexibility. The attraction of these times and money saving benefits are why printers are increasingly researching the potential benefits of introducing this connectability throughout their operations.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part 12 of this blog on Print finishing, See also our Blog on Spot UV Varnishing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 12 – 17th June 2009
Value added
Fashion trends move in full circles and nowhere are this more true than the value added options printers can now look to enhance their finishing fire power? Commercial printers are recognising that an in-house finishing service is a much more cost effective strategy, giving them complete control over the added value of the end product.
Thermography and foil printing are just two of the techniques that are enjoying resurgence. Previously the highly specialised options were offered by operations that had invested in expensive kit and craved a reputation in this niche market. Set up was time consuming and so this was an expensive process at the end of a short run or made only financially viable by long runs – one reason why it didn’t take care off with digital print for a long time.
However, as digital started to make in-roads into the litho arena the options of foiling, thermography and embossing became more viable and research turned towards helping add value to the digital run through interesting times.
The technology had experienced a dip in demand because thermographic images melted when overprinted by a laser printer. However, specially developed UV powders ensure that the finished raised image is ‘laser proof’. Now glitters can be added to the thermographic resulting in many striking finishes new treatments eliminate static so powders can run through the machine easily and clear from the non-image areas of the substrate.
At drupa Caslon presented its slow drying digital print technique that uses a copier with the UV drier removed. This enables the wet printed sheet to be dusted with coating before going through a ThermoTech machine.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 11 – UV Varnishing – 12th June 2009
In the battle of digital print versus litho there is one area that has yet to be tackled successfully and that is spot UV varnishing. MGi says it has addresses this with its Jet Varnish Inkjet Spot UV Coater that was premiered at drupa. The off line coater is designed to ensure precise coverage for B3 format applications, with an integrated infrared dryer to enable turnkey operation.
But, if the drupa developments, greater control and shorter lead times are not enough to persuade printers to make the move, there is the creation of an additional profit centre and that in turn should help the business grow.

However, lamination should not be relied upon as a way of speeding up throughput. Products with heavy ink coverage or lots of dark solids still need to be allowed ample time to dry before being sent to the end user or quality issues could arise.
Offering lamination can open up new revenue avenues as well as enabling printers to hold onto the work they already have – both litho and digital. The time and cost associated with outsourcing means that printers are now keep to reap the benefits of providing all their offerings under one roof. With modern technology making the laminating process so simple, the need for highly skilled operators has disappeared.
Manufacturers, keen to help the printer cater for very need, are fast developing their range of films to include a variety of finishes. This way a range of end results can be achieved for a relatively small outlay. Environmentally conscious films are been developed too, which should enable any laminated product to biodegrade.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 10 – Lamination - 11th June 2009
Offering lamination in the bindery retains the work in-house preventing the need for sending it out and the subsequent ramifications on turnaround times. These operational benefits prompted printers to start looking seriously at the pros and cons of bringing this service in-house. At the same manufacturers made technological advances that resulted in easy to use and cheaper machines making the decision a much easier one to make.
All of these factors are combining to create a buoyant lamination market that has in turn supported a wide variety of technological improvements. For example, some laminators are equipped with a wireless webcam and Skype phone facility, taking the concept of remote diagnostics to new levels within the industry. With automation also playing a key role in the sales success of laminators. Duplo introduced its fully automatic and user friendly Ultra 205A UV Coater with optional SF-205A Feeder and Morgana launched its DigiCoater – a fully automated, micro format UV coater and priming system with dual path coating stations that allow both matt and gloss varnishes – or two differently textured finishes- to be available at all times. With the latest touch screen technology it is also fully automatic in its wash cycle, which demands minimal operator involvement. While D&K Europe’s DoubleKote Digital can encapsulate/double side laminate in one pass and benefits from a guillotine style cutter. Speed is also a key issue in the sector, a point GBC underlined with its demonstration of the world’s fastest laminator, the 8556HS- Cyclone at drupa.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 9 – Lamination – 11th June 2009
Lamination and encapsulation
Large and expensive machines requiring highly skilled operators ensured this was one of the last finishing processes to join in house binderies. Trade finishers were able to hold onto this process for longer than any other discipline because of the prohibitive cost of the machines and the skills required ensuring top quality results.
However, the popularity of digital print also pushed this service into the spotlight. With the increase in demand for short run, fast turnaround products, printers are being required to work faster and smarter with lamination increasingly being used to protect the final product. Not only is it used to prevent ink that is not totally dry from scuffing and thereby allow work to be delivered in shorter timeframes, it also gives it a high quality finish. But there were some initial problems. Manufacturers had to tackle the issue of digital inks or fusing oils reacting adversely to the film. Focused research and development has resulted in systems that can now be used for both litho and digital work.
There are two main methods of laminating- wet and thermal. The former sees a wet adhesive applied at the point of lamination. These machines tend to require a larger footprint to ensure the sheet is totally dry before being stacked. This also dictates the speed of the machine. The second is thermal where the lamination drum is heated up using oil, water or electricity. The laminate film incorporates a dry adhesive on one side. With a smaller footprint, a key attraction with the latter option is the fact that the pressure on space in the bindery is reduced. Despite the bigger capital outlay, larger trade laminators tend to use water based processes while wet laminating allows films with special textures to be used.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 8 – Binders – 10th June 2009
Automated functions in perfect binding allow for a quick and accurate set up for each time. These include sensors within the book clamp that enable each book to be measured for thickness, which then sets up the nipping/cover feed guides, and use of book verification systems to avoid wrongly collated signatures.
And now printers are considering whether to add PUR to their EVA gluing capabilities. One of the key benefits of PUR glue is the lay flat properties, which allow books to open flat without the spine cracking. Less brittle, PUR can also content with a range of temperatures- hot or cold- and the glue does not adversely react with digitally printed stock and warp like EVA glues can. Hot melt can be limiting with the range of stock that can be bound and, while PUR is much stronger and works on a much wider range of stock, it is more expensive.
However, a traditional glue tank system using PUR requires emptying and scrupulous cleaning at the end of a shift, or it would very soon become unless nozzle applicators are used. These incorporate a valve to minimise glue exposure so PUR glue is supplied from a sealed unit and the cleaning and handling issues are resolved.
Useful features on perfect binders include intelligent cover handling and feeding that can save many production headaches while winged books can be produced of the machine has a flexible enough scoring system. Having an integrated pre-jogger places an important operation where it is needed, in the loading area, which is ergonomically sensible. Delivery methods too can have variations that make a different-smooth delivery means no spine damage when the books exit the machine, and side gluing and asset for binding heavy stock covers and a feature generally only available with larger, more expensive machines.
Development continues to centre on improving automation with Heidelberg’s Eurotrim 4000 adhesive binders including optimised net output of up to 95% thanks to intelligent automation, modular design and end to precision and Horizon’s high profile colour touch screen on the BQ-270. Not to mention Duplo’s fully automatic. DuBinder range with its easy to use integrated touch screen controls, facilitating a 35 second set up between programmes, and Wohlenbergs’ Master Series extension to its modularly designed ‘City e’ equipped with the dynamic drive technology and ConditionPro compatible control generation.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.