Pre-press is one of the areas of greatest change in the printing industry, and to the benefit of the environment. The adoption of computer to plate technology (CTP) has reduced chemical consumption, film usage and the related impacts of their manufacture and disposal.

Further opportunities for reducing environmental impact lie in the hands of pre-press departments. Digital Workflows (Heidelberg Prinect/Printready at The Printing House), have not only reduced the requirements for film and chemicals, but also for transport.

Although Soft Proofing isn’t accepted by everyone, in colour managed workflows (we work to FOGRA standards) operating to standard printing conditions there is no reason why not. A great deal of electricity, ink, chemical and paper, not to mention time and money, can be wasted trying to match a proof made without proper controls. But colour managed workflows with appropriate calibration from the beginning of the chain (the customer) through to the press set the job off on the right track without the need for chasing colour on press.

For full information on our environmental policies please see our website Print Buying Direct

Information courtesy of Print Buying Direct (The Printing House) – Crewe, Cheshire, UK

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 5

Better than ever

Tullis Russell Papermakers agree that there is still a strong call for recycleds, but that print buyers are looking for top quality grades. “The demands of the print, design and publishing markets continue to evolve and the clear message we are receiving from end users and brand holders is that the availability of recycled grades is more important than ever,” he said. “However, it is vital that these green products continue to deliver the superior performance expected from such recognised brands. Achieving this balance has been at the heart of our new product development strategy and has resulted in us introducing recycled grades across our leading premium quality board range, trucard.”

‘The trucard recycled portfolio now includes a variety of recycled options in trucard 1 gloss, trucard 2 gloss and, in uncoated products, trucard 0 matt and felt.

‘Made to the same premium standard as the rest of the range, all the new additions contain 50% virgin fibre and 50% post consumer deinked recycled fibre. As such, they carry the National Association of Paper Merchant (NAPM) recycled mark as well as FSC certification.

‘The top quality recycled fibre used in manufacture of the recycled range guarantees there is no compromise in performance. The new recycled products print and convert like standard trucard. These new versions give users and specifiers a genuine recycled cartonboard with the same outstanding performance and give users an even greater choice when looking for a board with sound environmental credentials.’

Whether you are looking for the lightweight or heavyweight, high white or ‘natural’, there are plenty of options available that will truly help to close the loop an from the ‘magic circle’ of recycling.

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 4

Natural landscape

Recycled’s also come in a range of colours and textures. The Cairn range, for instance, from speciality recycled paper merchant paperback has some interesting alternatives for those looking for a natural recycled. Made with 100% recycled fibre, the range includes a number of shades that enhance the paper’s ‘pure’ appeal.

In white, cream and buff, Cairn is available in a selection of paper weights, as well as kraft and ribbed kraft versions. It also comes as Cairn Straw, with flecks of straw included in the paper in 120, 200 and 320 g/m2 weights.

There is also a selection of chunky Cairn Boards in 500, 700, 1000 micron in 14 colours; a 650 micron available in three colours; and a 2000 micron available in nine colours. The board colours are sympathetic to the recycled nature of the paper and include shades such as Saffron, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Sans, Stone and Charcoal.

Paperback is finding that there is still strong demand for these genuine recycled. The company’s Alan Goschalk said, ‘Whilst the number of environmentally friendly certified papers is expanding rapidly, there is still a significant segment of the green market that sees recycled paper as the first choice.

‘We are also finding considerable interest in those grades with a strong, natural appearance or texture. Cairn papers and boards are proving particularly popular with designers looking for creative papers that have a recycled appearance and effectively communicate the green message’.

The company has also recently extended its Context range, adding Birch and Cork. These smooth uncoated papers are available from 80 to 280 g/m2 in ivory and buff and include a distinctive fleck.

For more than 200 years Garnetts has been manufacturing speciality papers and the company has embraced the demand for recycled and environmentally friendly products. As part of its on-going developments, Garnetts has recently launched the 100% recycled Dales range of buff and tinted boards.

To be continued…

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 3

Whiter than white

There are plenty of companies that specify recycled papers because they want an earthy, natural look and feel. There are also many corporates who want to show their support for the environment, but insist on a clean white paper.

The latest whiter than white paper comes from Steinbeis, with EvolutionWhite carrying a brightness of ISO 100.
‘Decision makers who choose EvolutionWhite, whilst making use of the optical advantages of a 100% white recycled paper, are at the same time path breakers in protection of the climate and resources, ‘said Michael Soffge, CEO at Steinbeis Papier.

Not only is it made from 100% recycled fibres, the paper also carries the Blue Angel environmental label.
The newly formed Arjowiggins Graphic is also promising a soon to be launched ultra white brand with Cocoon. It will be made from 100% recycled fibre and it has been indicated that the paper will be whiter than virgin qualities.
Lenzing Papier is a leading manufacturer of recycled papers. Its Lenzing Premium Quality covers many print applications. The range is suitable for text and cover, brochures and advertising material, annual reports, letters and envelopes, books, pre-print and OCR. This high bulk offset paper offers good opacity and a pleasing surface feel.

The company also manufacturers a wide portfolio of other recycled options including Lenza-Top Recycling, Lenza – Top- Recycling Pure, Lenza – Top0 Recycling Super, Lenza care, Lenza Green, Impact and 100% Recycled Copier.

The mill is currently working on new developments, which will lead to ground breaking products destined to come to market soon, helping to maintain its position at the forefront of recycled paper development.

Premier Beswick is launching new additions to its Evolution recycles range. The range consists of Evolution 100 Business Offset, a 100% recycled uncoated paper; Evolution 100 Premium Silk, an FSC certified 100% recycled coated quality. This high white shade and fast ink drying times are characteristics not normally found in 100% recycled papers; Evolution 76 Gloss and Satin – a 75% recycled option is available in both satin and gloss finishes; Evolution 100 Catalogue Gloss and Silk, another 100% recycled option which has been developed as a publishing grade; Evolution 100 Text, a 100% recycled uncoated quality with excellent whiteness and surface texture; and Evolution 100 Digital, an FSC certified 100% recycled uncoated quality guaranteed for digital applications.

To be continued…

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 2

The yoyo effect
Recycling closes the loop. The morning newspaper that you read today can be recycled tonight, and by tomorrow could be in a deinking facility being made ready for reuse as new paper. In a short while, the newspaper that you are reading could be made from the same fibres as the one you had last week, which you can then recycle, deink, reuse, reprint and reread. Then the cycle starts aging. And, this ‘magic circle’ saves waste going to landfill, cuts energy use, and saves resources.

Last year, PaperlinX launched its ‘yoyo’ initiative – a closed loop recovery and recycling service for office papers. The scheme meant that paper waste is taken away on the same vehicle that is delivering new paper. The collected waste paper is then recycled into the new yoyo 100% recycled range.

Currently, some 50% of the paper industry’s raw fibre materials are derived from recovered paper. This is a figure that will continue to grow as recycling rates increase.

So, why isn’t every printer using recycled? Well, there are still plenty of ‘legacy’ false impressions left from the early days of recycled concerning quality, whiteness levels, ability to run on press, and consistency. The truth is that as with all developing products, any problems that recycled papers had in the past are now well and truly ‘in the past’. Today, these papers look, run, feel and act in the same manner as their virgin counterparts.

To be continued…

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

Welcome to part two of our ‘How to design for print blog’ click here for part one- covering some more areas that graphics designers should be aware of. Please be aware that this blog is directed at design for digital printing, and whilst litho (offset) print has similar requirements there are some fundamental differences, so please talk to us first.

SAVING GRAPHICS FILES
While you are working on files, you’ll want to save them in the application’s native file format (i.e., Adobe Illustrator Document). When you are ready to place them in the page layout application, however, you might want to consider the PDF format for the best portability.

SAVING ILLUSTRATOR CS2 FILES

• Use the Save As feature to save files as PDF.
• Consult your print provider to determine if your work should be submitted flattened or with live transparency. By selecting [Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)] you will automatically flatten any transparency effects present in the file. Acrobat PDF 1.4 or higher formats will preserve live transparency attributes.
• PDF files can be edited later if the [Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities] option is selected.
• The PDF format can often provide better previews (than EPS) when placed in page layout applications.

SAVING FREEHAND MX FILES
Use the Export feature, not Save As, to export files as PDF from Freehand.

• Click the [Setup] button and use those recommendations shown in fi gure 3-13.
• In the [Convert Colors To:] pull down menu, be sure to select [CMYK and RGB]. Freehand will not modify CMYK images or RGB & CMYK native elements (note that it will, however, convert any RGB placed images to CMYK). Choosing [CMYK] will convert all RGB content to CMYK.
• Consult your print provider to determine if your work should be submitted flattened or with live transparency. By selecting [Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)] you will automatically flatten any transparency effects present in the file. Acrobat PDF 1.4 or higher formats will preserve live transparency attributes.
• Using a PDF format can provide better previews (than EPS) when placed in page layout applications.

SAVING GRAPHICS OR PAGE LAYOUTS AS EPS FILES
Though the PDF format is preferred, occasionally you may need to save files from Illustrator, Freehand, InDesign or QuarkXPress in the EPS fi le format. When saving graphics or page layouts, the following are recommended:

• Use TIFF 8-bit color preview.
• Do not assign a color space when possible and select [Leave Unchanged] or [As Is].
• Use [Transparency: High Resolution] when fl attening graphics with transparency.
• Embed all or complete fonts.
• Send all image data.
• Include CMYK PostScript in RGB fi les.
• Only use OPI if the printer requests it.
• Use Binary format.
• Use Adobe PostScript Language Level 3

IMAGE CONSIDERATIONS
OPENING IMAGE FILES
Though most images are either acquired through a digital camera or scanner, Photoshop is generally the first step in assigning the color space of an image.
If the Color Settings in Photoshop are set to [Ask When Opening] for Missing Profiles, you may encounter a window asking how to handle the color of an image being opened.

If no embedded profile is detected when the fi le is opened, you may choose one
of the following options:

• Leave as is—will not embed a color profile into the image. However, for operations that require a color space definition, Photoshop will use the RGB or CMYK Working Space defined in the Color Settings preferences (for example, when performing a Mode change between RGB and CMYK).
• Assign Working Space—assign the profile of the Working Space defined in the Color Settings preferences. Select this option when you want to consistently use one working space or if the working space matches the source space of the received file.
• Assign Profile—assign a specific profile if the source color space is known when the image fi le is opened.

Talk to us about which workflow to use. Assigning the right color space from the start will give you a better idea of how the file will look in print. Remember to implement monitor calibration and characterization as guided by your printer (hopefully us).

Things to consider in choosing a source profile:

• If the RGB or CMYK source space of the image is known, you can assign the profile that matches that color space or you can convert to the assigned working space.
• RGB images without the source color space information may require guesswork to determine the most appropriate source color space. sRGB has a smaller gamut but is a universal working space ideal for images coming from digital cameras and the internet (or destined for the internet). Adobe RGB has a wider color gamut and may work best for images that contain vivid colors.
• For unknown CMYK images, SWOP (v2) is recommended for US markets and Fogra or Euroscale for European markets.
• When working with documents that contain images from a variety of sources, discuss with us if one working space should be assigned to all the images or if the original source color spaces should be assigned individually.

If an ICC profile is detected you can either:

• Use the embedded profile. Photoshop will automatically use the embedded profi le when the Color Settings are set to [Preserve] under the Color Management Policies.

• Discard the embedded profile. If the embedded profile is believed to be
• inaccurate, convert to either an assigned profile or to the working space.

SIZE AND SCALE

• All images should be edited, rotated, cropped and sized in an imaging software application such as Adobe Photoshop. Do not re-size, crop, rotate or adjust images in page layout applications, if possible. Place images into the page layout at 100%.

• In order to obtain high-quality output, the recommended image resolution should be 300 dpi at the actual finished size. Scale images with bicubic sampling and crop all images in Photoshop. Do not use page layout applications such as QuarkXPress to make image size adjustments.
• Also note that submitting images with higher than needed resolution adds unnecessary processing time, creates larger files and may degrade image quality.
• For the best print quality, do not include transfer functions or screen angles unless directed to do so by the print provider. If the job requires specific screen angles or transfer functions, make sure to consult with us first.

SAVING IMAGE FILES
EMBEDDING COLOR SPACES
All images have a source color space. Whenever possible discuss with your print provider if you should embed that source color space (such as the camera or scanner profile). This can allow the RIP to perform the color conversion from the assigned color space to the printer’s color space. This workflow
can provide good color matches.

• Embed the correct source color space with each image saved in either TIFF or PS file format. Note that some printers may request images in JPEG format for jobs that are Variable or require faster productivity.

• ICC profiles in TIFF files generally cannot be embedded into the PostScript code on print. They are mainly used for output previews and to convert from one color space to another within applications such as Photoshop and QuarkXPress. The EPS format, however, can embed the color information (CSA) into the PostScript code and then be picked up by the RIP at the printer.

• Some printers opt not to utilize the embedded profi les and may end up stripping them from files. Be sure to talk over the color management settings and strategies with your printer.

SAVING PHOTOSHOP CS2 FILES— PHOTOSHOP EPS FORMAT

• If you want to embed the source color space of an image, use the EPS format.
• Embed both the ICC Color Profile and PostScript Color Management (PSCM) Color Space Array ( CSA) (see figures 3-18 and 3-19).
• Using the EPS format can also preserve colors that may otherwise be converted by an application such as Microsoft PowerPoint. When images are saved as TIFF or JPEG, the color may be converted prematurely in the page layout application. Colors in EPS format are generally preserved.

The CSA remains with the image when the EPS file is placed in the page layout application (or even with applications that are not color managed, such as Microsoft Word). The RIP can then be set to recognize the embedded CSA in the PostScript stream and perform the conversion from that embedded color space to the printer’s final destination color space.

Note:

• Always make your print provider aware that you have embedded color profiles in your files.
• When saving images as TIFF files, embed the ICC Color Profi le, if possible.
• Save the file in TIFF format without LZW compression.
• Check [Embed Color Profile] in the Save As window.

IMAGE COMPRESSION

• It is recommended that you do not use JPEG compression as it may cause unpredictable results.
• If upsampling is required, although this is not recommended, use bicubic.
• Images higher than 450 dpi should be downsampled using bicubic sampling.

Information supplied by The Printing House Ltd & Print Buying Direct, Crewe, Cheshire, UK

More to follow…

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

The magic circle – print, paper and recycling – Part 1

Paper is one of the most environmentally friendly products in the world. The advantages of using recycled products are genuinely world saving.

Although it is fair to say that nowadays the vast majority of virgin paper that is produced is done so with care for the environment, making it one of the greenest products available, and making the industry that produces it, if not the most environmentally friendly, then certainly numbered among the top few, there is still a very real market for recycled papers.

Virgin fibre will always be needed, as recycled fibres eventually become too brittle, short and weak to hold together. Virgin fibre is grown in a sustainable manner, much like any other vegetable crop. In fact, according to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) ‘Contrary to popular opinion, Europe’s forests are increasing by an area the size of 1.5 million football pitches every year’. So, there will always be a call for virgin substrates, but what do you with that virgin paper once it is on longer needed?
According to the report ‘Wastes –Resource Conservation – Common Wastes & Materials – Paper Recycling’ from the US Environmental Protection Agency, ‘Recycling one tonne of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, two barrels of oil, and 4100 kilowatt hours of electricity’.

To be continued…

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.

Remember – trees are a renewable resource that will keep growing and growing, unlike non renewable resources like minerals. Forests regenerate naturally and good forest management increases their abundance.
How much paper can you get from one tree?
Good question but difficult answer. Lets assume that you can get an amount of wood from one tree that’s 8 feet wide x 4 feet deep and 4 feet high (this is known in papermaking circles as a ‘cord’) you could produce enough paper to manufacture the following printed items.

• 942 copies of 100 page hard backed book
• 4,384,000 commemorative sized postage stamps
• 460,000 personal cheques
• 1200 copies of National Geographic Magazine
• 2700 copies of an average daily newspaper

What bits of the tree are used for papermaking?
The tree is felled and the limbs and branches removed. The bark is stripped away and either burned as fuel or sent to the horticulture industry to be used as garden mulch. The wood is then chipped into small pieces and then broken down further into individual fibres in the pulping process.

Our policy at The Printing House and Print Buying Direct is to always use paper and other raw materials from sustainable or renewable sources wherever possible – see our Green Environmental Policy for more details.

Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct is an online trading name of The Printing House Ltd., specialising in online print ordering. Our most popular products at the moment: Business Cards, Banner Stands, Flyer/Leaflet Printing, Poster Printing.

Have a look at our great online prices, and order online using templates designed by our experienced team of graphic designers, or upload your own artwork.

NEW – We can now take care of your Online Marketing! Email, SMS & Social Media Marketing by Communications Online LLP.