When it comes to printing we all know that there are different types of paper stock to choose from. The type of paper or card you use can either make or break your product, so it’s useful to have an understanding about paper stocks so you can make the right decision.

You may have heard LWC or MWC banded about. Quite simply, LWC is “light weight coated” and MWC is “medium weight coated” (MWC). And then you’ve got wood free (that’s pretty explanatory!) coated and uncoated paper. All of which are used in magazine printing, catalogue printing, newspaper supplements, inserts, brochure printing and direct mail etc.  

Let’s delve into this a bit more….

Not all paper is created equal. Different papers are created from different types of pulp (mechanical or chemical) and some have different coatings. Some will have different weights and a variety of finishes (gloss, silk, matt or uncoated).

But does it really matter?

In short, yes! Different characteristics will affect the paper’s grade. This in turn affects the choice of paper for the type of printing and product you are producing and ultimately, cost.

A quick guide to Paper – what you should use for Brochure & Magazine Printing

We’ve put together this short (but technical) guide to highlight the main characteristics of these printing papers as well as the types of printing and products they are typically used for.

LWC: Lightweight coated (LWC) paper is made from a pulp achieved through a mechanical pulping process. This process grinds up logs or woodchips rather than using chemicals to separate the wood fibres.

These lightweight papers are single coated and have a typical paper weight of between 36-70 gsm (standard brightness*). For higher gloss and whiteness, you’ll find up to 90 gsm stock. This leads to higher brightness and more vibrant colour printing.

LWC papers are typically used for heat-set web offset and rotogravure printing of magazines, brochures and catalogues. A hybrid grade known as LWC Hi-Brite provides higher brightness and opacity than MWC.

MPC: Medium weight coated (MWC) paper is also made from mechanical pulp but it is double coated. Consequently, this coating gives it a more consistent smooth surface, ideal for heat-set web offset printing. It has gloss, silk or matt finishing options and tends to be over 80gsm in weight. MPC lends itself to higher quality products such as news-stand magazines or high end direct mail catalogues.  

*paper brightness is rated on a scale of 1 to 100. Paper with a rating of 80 reflects more light and consequently appears brighter than a paper rated in the 70s.

High end paper for Brochure Printing

Wood-Free: Finally, we get to ‘wood free’ paper. This is a finer paper, made from chemical pulp as opposed to LWC and MWC which uses mechanical pulp. Chemical pulp uses a sulphate process to cook wood fibres to remove the lignin from the wood; lignin is wood’s natural binding agent.

Wood free paper tends not to go yellow over time. It’s also bright, lasts longer and stores better than mechanical pulp paper. Wood-free paper can be matt, silk or gloss finished and have up to 3 coatings. Due to its fineness, this type of paper tend to be used for high quality covers for magazines, brochures or catalogues.

Uncoated wood free fine papers have a wide range of uses, for example advertising materials, books, maps and office paper. Weight ranges from 60gsm lightweight through to cardboard grade weights. 

Cliffe Enterprise holds the FSC Chain of Custody Certification. For more information about the importance of ensuring your paper stock is FSC accredited please visit https://fsc.org/en

For the right advice about the best paper to use for your next print project, please get in touch with us. You can email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com or call 01323 419701.

The post Printing Stocks: What are LWC, MWC and wood free paper? appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Mail Fulfilment Services

If you have a product that needs mailing then mail fulfilment is another element of print services which needs your careful consideration. Your options are influenced, and also limited, by many variables, for example:-

• the type of product to mail out
• the volume being mailed out
• whether it is just domestic or includes international mailing
• your timescales
• your budget
• what your product weighs

Mail Fulfilment Options

Firstly, it’s important to consider the unwrapped weight of your product. This may effect how you choose to mail it. If your product is close to a mailing weight or size boundary then the type of wrapping you use will affect the overall weight. This, in turn, may affect the overall mailing cost.

There are four main fulfilment options:

• poly-wrapping
• bio-wrapping – using potato starch
• naked mailings (no outer to protect the mailed item)
• envelope stuffing
• paper-wrapping

Getting wrapped

Poly-wrapping

Poly-wrapping is a polythene wrap which can be used for a variety of your different sized mailings. Even non-standard sized or shaped items can be poly-wrapped. Most poly-wrapping can accommodate A6 brochures to large tabloid newspaper sized mailings with machinable inserts.

Poly-wrap is a plastic and is therefore both waterproof and highly durable (compared to a paper-wrap for example), and as the the contents are easily visible it is s a great option for marketing impact. It is light weight, from around 2gm for an A4 poly-wrap, compared to 10gm for an envelope. This lighter option can therefore reduce your mailing costs.

Poly-wrap can easily be printed on. So, for example, you can print addresses, marketing text, logos and mailing barcodes and reducing the need for address inserts and an extra production process (and cost!).

Poly-wrapping is fast. Some machines can wrap around 12,000 items per hour. This makes it ideal for large direct marketing fulfilment projects, as well as smaller bespoke projects.

Bio & Paper-Wrapping

With a drive towards sustainable practices within print, both bio-wrap and paper-wrap are becoming an increasingly more popular choice.

Bio-wrap is made of potato starch is biodegrable and can be even be composted at home. Its durable and can be printed on, however due to is slightly ‘milky’ appearance, there have been issues with Royal Mail scanning the mail marks.

Paper wrap is is 100% recyclable and more durable than poly and bio-wrap. There are multiple printed options possible and as any logos, sales message and images can be printed directly onto the outside of the mailing, the marketing impact is fantastic!

Stuff it

Envelope enclosing is often chosen when the content is sensitive and requires confidentiality. As a paper option, mailing addresses can be printed along with logos and other information. A range of fonts and colours can be used, in line with any branding.

Envelope insertion can be either be done by hand or machine. Depending on the machine configuration up to 20 additional inserts can be included.

Recycled envelopes are widely available and used envelopes can be recycled with paper recycling. Envelopes are heavier than poly-wrapping, but some Royal Mail mailing discounts can be higher on envelopes than poly-wrap.

A downside to using envelopes is that they may not offer the same durability as poly-wrap. They can get crushed or torn in the mailing process, especially if they get damp which can affect the quality of the contents.

Considering mail fulfilment before you print can influence the choice of printers and mailing house, because in some cases it can all be done in-house. Most of the significant catalogue, magazine and brochure printers offer some form of mail fulfilment, but their expertise is limited to their in-house abilities and their knowledge on postage solutions may not be as comprehensive as it could be.

What next?

This guide is a ‘rule of thumb’ so please contact us to discuss the mail fulfilment services you are looking for so we can advise you on what options will provide the quality and pricing required.

Contact us now for a no obligation quotation, either by call 01323 419701 or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com.

Feel free to look at our other blog posts on Brochure Printing, Fulfilment, Direct Mailing, Paper, Printing and News. 

The post Mail Fulfilment: Should I wrap it or Stuff it? appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

CMYK vs PMS vs RGB

Pretty much all magazines, catalogues and brochures are produced using the CMYK process.

So what is this?

Quite simply, CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (aka black). These are the four-primary printing colours and commonly seen in home inkjet printers.

In commercial printing, these 4 colours are mixed together in different quantities to print a vast array of various colours. CMYK printing requires four colour plates, one for each colour and is known as four colour process (4CP).  However, some printing presses have 5 or 6 colour processes, which means that additional metallic spot colour or a vanish can be added alongside the CMYK.

You may also see CMYK being referred to as the subtractive method of colour printing.  As each of the 4 colours are layered down to cover the white paper, the less light reflects through; hence subtraction of the white.

CYMK is a cost effective option for printing. Only four ink colours are required and mixed specifically to each project’s colour requirements.

This 4-colour process also lends itself to small and large print projects as well as managing multiple print projects on one printing press. There can be issues with replicating the exact colour hue again. This is because colours are not standardised across all printing presses which means colours can vary slightly.

PMS: Pantone Matching System

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System and is a standardised spot colour categorisation system. Pantone colours are pre-mixed, so a specified Pantone colour code is always the same regardless of where and how it is printed.

Pantone lends itself to projects where colour consistency and accuracy is important; for example with branding and catalogue printing. As pantone colours are pre-mixed, the range of colours needed is specific to each print project. In turn this can make it a more costlier option.

So using a Pantone becomes more cost effective for large print projects where colour accuracy and consistency is important.

RGB

RGB is very simply red, green and blue which is used on computer screens but not used in printing. Although RGB can be converted to CMYK, it cannot convert to Pantone. And due to the difference in the way colours are constructed in RGB and CMYK, any conversion is likely to result in colour changes. For thie reason never create print ready artwork using RGB images.

OK, so which should you use?

In summary, CMYK is good for any size of print projects and when accurate colour matching isn’t a priority.  Pantone colours are best for larger print projects when colour consistency is critical. Never use RGB!

We’ve put this guide together as a ‘rule of thumb’, but it’s always best to have a chat with us! So call us on 01323 419701 to discuss your project requirements or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com and we can advise you on what options will provide the quality and pricing you require.

Feel free to look at our other blog posts on Brochure Printing, Fulfilment, Direct Mailing, Paper, Printing and News. 

The post Printing Colours Explained appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Cover finishes – laminates, UV varnishes for magazine, brochure and catalogue printing

Cover finishes – Laminates, UV varnishes and more explained

Cover finishes such as laminates and varnishes can add an element of quality, durability and creative individuality to your magazine, catalogue or brochure printing. Finishes can be done in-line as part of the printing process, particularly when using digital and web printing presses, or they can be finished off-line as a separate process. The following explains what laminate and UV varnish finishes are, as well as outlining some other decorative finishes that are available.

Laminates

Laminates are a thin layer of plastic which is applied to the whole of the outer cover of your magazine print product. These can be matt, silk or gloss in finish. Laminates add durability and some protection against spills and marks whilst preserving artwork. However, lamination cannot be spot applied and matt lamination over dark colours can show up finger marks.

Polypropylene lamination is one of the most common and cost-effective laminates offering protection and strength and is available in gloss, silk and matt finishes. Polyester Lamination is more durable than polypropylene and offers a hard coating which offers heat protection and does not become brittle with age. Speciality laminates include metallic finishes such as gold and silver as well as holographic and iridescent films.

UV Varnishes

Ultra violet (UV) vanishes are typically applied in-line and exposed to ultra violet light to harden it. It can be applied to part of a page (spot varnished) to enhance or reduce specific areas such as logos or images and come in a variety of finishes. When gloss UV vanishes are applied to dark, rich blues and black colours it can result in an almost wet look. A gloss finish will reflect the light whilst matt gives a smooth finish which doesn’t reflect the light and a silk finish is somewhere in the middle. UV spot varnishes can also be applied to specific areas and over laminates to create different visual effects. Textured varnish gives a slightly rippled effect and can be used as a spot varnish to enhance specific areas or as an overall finish. Neutral varnishes which are not visible can be added online as part of the printing process or offline, after printing to seal ink and artwork.

More creative varnishes are also available including metallic or glitter, tinted colour vanishes and latex scratch off panels.

More finishing options

There are a range of other finishes available which include embossing where an image is raised from the paper or card and debossing where the image is indented and tends to be used on thicker paper or card. Foil stamping is available in a range of colours and can enhance the look of your product and can be applied to more materials than ink. Foiling can also be used to enhance embossing and debossing to create visual and tactile finishes. Edge staining, where the edges of a book for example are stained in gold leaf.

This guide is a ‘rule of thumb’ so please contact us on 01323 419701 to discuss your project requirements so we can advise you on what options will provide the quality and pricing you require, or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com

Feel free to look at our other blog posts on Brochure Printing, Fulfilment, Direct Mailing, Paper, Printing and News. 

The post Cover finishes: Laminates, UV Varnishes and more appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Our definitive guide to commercial printing presses

Let’s start with a quick overview of types of printing presses that are used by commercial printers for the majority of print today. You’ve got Digital, Sheet-Fed and Web-Offset. We’ll look at each one individually to give you a more comprehensive idea of what and how they produce.

Digital Printing Press

Digital printing is a fast and cost-effective way of printing items but at great quality. Its ideal for your smaller print runs and for items with variation, like peronalisation in what is being printed. Items such as advertising mailers with individual names and addresses are projects suited to digital printing.

The way digital printing works is through the use of toners, injet heads of lasers. Toners are fused onto the paper, inkjet heads use droplets of ink dotted onto the paper and lasers use an electrostatic plate. Advances in digital printing technology means that quality is improving all the time and is comparable to sheet-fed and web offset results.

Digital printing is fantastic for quick turnaround items, as it can take as little as 24hrs. There is no need for lengthy set up of plates as digital technology is used instead.

Sheet fed printing Press

Sheet fed printing is good for heavier paper and will allow for additional spot colours and varnishes to be applied (e.g. pantone or gold detailing) which makes it perfect for printing covers. Despite its name, sheet fed can use paper reels (cut-star) and sheets and lends itself to volume printing such as leaflets and brochures using paper weights over 115gsm. In comparison, there is typically less waste generated than there would be if using the web offset printing process. Because the ink is not heatset on the paper, the ink oxidises to bind into the paper to give a more matt finish than in heatset web offset. Also, because in sheet fed printing each part of the process is independent, printer issues don’t hamper cutting or binding which can be the case for web offset printing.  

Web offset – Heatset or Coldset

Web offset printing is a fast and economical print process for high volume or high pagination print products. Typically magazines, direct mail catalogues and holiday brochures are printed using this process and tend to use a lighter weight (sub 70gsm) paper stock. Its a great process for larger print runs or higher paginations because both printing and folding happens in-line. Web offset presses can be configured to produce press finished (trimmed and bound) magazines or catalogues.

Heatset web offset uses an oven to dry the ink on the paper as it is printed, which creates a glossy finish because the ink isn’t absorbed into the paper.  The heat can cause the paper to flute or ripple slightly and web growth can occur after the paper has been cut to size.  Web growth happens over a period of time, occurring as moisture is reabsorbed by the heatset printed paper . This can lead to the paper expanding slightly in comparison to a sheetfed printed cover.  

In coldset web offset the ink is fixed as it is absorbed into the uncoated newsprint paper.  Coldset web offset is typically for newspapers. 

This guide is a ‘rule of thumb’ so please contact us on 01323 419701 to discuss your project or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com

Whether you are looking for catalogue printing, brochure printing or a professional magazine printer we can advise you on which options will provide the quality and pricing you require.   

Feel free to look at our other blog posts on Brochure Printing, Fulfilment, Direct Mailing, Paper and Printing 

The post Printing Presses: digital, sheet fed and web offset explained appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Paper weight for your printed project

We are all aware that there are different paper weights used for different printed items but what are the ideal weights for specific jobs?

Here we look at, and make suggestions, as to which weights we believe are the best for your print job based on our experience of over 25 years in the industry.

The general rule of thumb, and something each and every one of us would agree with, is that the heavier the paper weight used the greater the perception of quality by the reader. For this reason, product brochures are mainly printed on heavier weights of paper compared to magazines or newsletters. In contrast, with direct mail and mail order companies, you will find their printed products use lighter papers to allow for postage costs. So the paper used is a balance between customer perception of quality and the technical use of the printed item.

We’ll look at examples of print jobs and an explanation as to why we would make the recommendation:

Brochures, Catalogues and Magazines

With magazines, brochures and catalogues it tends to follow that the type of paper weights are dictated by the customers you are aiming to attract and the markets you are selling into. A major factor to consider is the FINAL WEIGHT of the product if the distribution involves using Royal Mail. We have had clients previously who ended up spending more on the mailing element of the job then they did on the paper and print together.

A product whose cover is no heavier than the text pages is called a ‘self cover’ and we suggest that these print jobs use a stock of a minimum weight of 130gsm. This ensures that your product conveys the impression of quality. A lighter weight self-cover can be considered cheap and throw away.

When considering printing a product with a heavier stock cover then we recommend a cover weight that is DOUBLE that of the text weight. For example:  Text 100gsm Gloss with a 200gsm cover Gloss. Text 115gsm Matt with a 250gsm Cover Matt.

Postcards

Did you know that for Royal Mail to accept postcards, they must be a minimum thickness of 160 microns? This is an additional measure to paper weight and is specific to the thickness of board. If your postcard is being printed on a coated stock, we would suggest using 250gsm as a minimum as this would be robust enough to go through the mailing process.

Reply Cards

Again, the minimum 160 micron thickness rule applies and we would recommend 250gsm for coated stock. With an uncoated stock, it is possible to use 170gsm, but we would suggest 200gsm. Anything lighter, in our view, would result in a lower quality item.

Inserts

Whether these are for you to insert into your own magazine or to be used as advertising material within a newspaper they can be pretty much any stock or weight you wish. There will be determining factors to the ideal weight, such as the message you are wanting to convey and the perception of quality you are wishing to achieve.

Wall-charts

This can be a tricky one! If your wall chart is going to be delivered flat, or rolled, and they won’t be folded to a smaller finished size, then you would be okay to use any paper weight between 80gsm to 400gsm.

If your A1 or A2 wall planners are going to be folded to A4 or A5 finished size, then paper weight is a very important consideration. For example, an A1 wall chart which is folded down to an A5 finished size needs to be printed only on lighter paper stocks no heavier than 100gsm. We would also only advise to use gloss or uncoated materials.

Furthermore, whilst undergoing the folding process, it is probable that you will encounter some unsightly fold marks even when using a stock as light as 80gsm. These unsightly marks, known as ‘crows feet’ by printers, are caused when trapped air tries to escape when the product is being folded. Unfortunately, as the weight of paper increases, this ‘crows feet’ effect will become more apparent.

Looking at finishes, if you are considering a laminate to cover your chart, then folding should not even be attempted due to the ‘crows feet’ effect. Secondly, the minimum weight to be used alongside a laminate chart should be 200gsm, so as to avoid curling and to maintain a flat final product.

Folders

These products, both with capacity and non-capacity, are able to be produced using most weights of material. Predominantly they are used as a marketing or sales tool, to send product literature to clients and tend to be printed on heavier weights. A weightier stock works to convey quality about the product or company that they are representing as well as better protecting the information held inside. An ideal weight to use would be 350gsm coated paper but if you are using a laminate on one or both sides of your folder, then we would suggest using no less than 250gsm.

Letterheads

This can be one of the first gauges of your company and is therefore important to consider the paper they are printed on. If your letterheads are used to accompany corporate information to prospective clients, then the paper they feel can directly influence their opinion of your products or services. Decide on how to position your letterhead and treat your paper choice as important for this product as any other marketing material. You may wish to consider a balance between the highest quality paper stock options, which could put perspective buyers off if they perceive your services/ products as unaffordable, and using 80gsm copier paper which could adversely produce feelings of inferior quality.

Business Cards

Similarly to your letterheads, business cards are an ambassador for your business, and in some cases, could be the first and only contact your company has with a prospective client. It may be prudent to take time to undertake competitor research of their business cards and ask clients of their opinion. At this stage, your print advisor should be of great help. A further consideration is to ensure the finished business card is of the recognised size (55mm x 85mm) so that it will fit in a business card wallet or folder. This is very important, because if they aren’t this standard size then there is a chance that your business card could be the first one thrown in the bin.

For more advice about the right paper stock to use for your next printed project, please contact us to find out more.

The post Ideal Paper Weights for Magazine, Catalogue and Brochure Printing appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Paper Sustainability in catalogue, brochure and magazine printing

I think most people will consider that brochure printing, magazine printing and catalogue printing is not a naturally environmentally friendly process. To be simplistic – we chop down a tree, use water from the local river to pulp it, dig out some minerals from the ground and add it to the mix and ta-dah…we have paper. We then transport this paper across the world to printers who then use vegetable oil and pigments on the surface, which is then again, shipped around the world for the end user to read. Once finished with, the printed product is burnt, sent to landfill or, if lucky, recycled. So much for paper sustainability!

This is an extremely simplistic view but until recently, this was actually pretty much what the print cycle consisted of only without corporate or social responsibility which is now ingrained within the print industry. It has only been a few years since printers started to use vegetable based inks….some still don’t!

With regards to the paper element of the magazine and brochure printing process, the move towards sustainability began with specifically harvested trees. Sustainable Forests were created – meaning the mills planted more trees than were felled. The majority of paper now used in the UK is from sustainable forest stocks. As the industry woke up to environmental issues and their responsibility to uphold standards, along came environmental accreditation programmes such as ISO14001 and EMAS.

The following are the most common programmes to be aware of:

FSC – the Forests Stewardship Council

This group have set out standards and principles which outline precisely what is required in high level responsible forest management. By becoming FSC accredited, wood based products can then carry the FSC logo and in turn allows consumers to know that the item has been certified as coming from a well-managed forest and to make an informed choice about the products they use. This non-profit group is made up of environmentalists, industry, foresters and indigenous and social groups.

PEFC

The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes, is a non-profit organisation, promoting sustainability through managing forests. This non-government body provides reassurance to companies involved in the purchasing of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.

ISO 14001

This is a voluntary, international standard. It provides business management with a framework and tools for a systematic approach to environmental management. This certification standard is set by the International Organisation for Standardization in Switzerland. Around the same time a number of other organisations were created to enable consumers to identify that the products they were buying or using were coming from environmentally sound sources and these were known as the FSC and the PEFC.

EMAS – Eco Management and Audit Scheme:

This is a management level process whereby a company undertakes out sustainability surveys, creates a sustainability policy and puts in a place a companywide environmental management system (this could be ISO 14001). Audits are carried out and consequently published in an ecological annual report which are then monitored by independent assessor.

These days the difference in cost between accredited and non-accredited paper is ever diminishing as demand increases so does supply. It is not difficult to foresee a time when all paper will be either FSC or PEFC accredited. Any printer can supply you with either FSC or PEFC paper which is produced by ISO14001, EMAS accredited mills for your brochure, magazine or catalogue printing. But only by using FSC and PEFC accredited printers can you then use the respective logos from these two organizations on your printed material. It is these logos that consumers recognize for the environmental credentials and therefore by association your company is seen to be environmentally conscious. A reputable and quality print business should be ISO14001 and FSC/ PEFC accredited. This is your guarantee that your print is being produced in an environmentally sound manner.

So, what is difference between recycled and sustainable paper stock?

100% Recycled paper is formed from pre or post-consumer waste and not from felling trees. In general, the waste is mixed with water and chemicals and the chopped to break down the fibres to form a pulp. This pulp is then purified through a process of cleaning, straining, de-inking and bleaching until it is ready to be made into a recycled paper.

Sustainable paper is made from wood sourced from managed forests. So when each is tree felled a few more are replanted. This has resulted in forest growth in Europe of 30% since 1950.

So the argument is which is truly more environmentally friendly? 100% recycled paper whose process involves re-using consumer waste but using fairly harsh chemicals to regain the expected ‘white’ appearance of paper, or sustainable paper using trees from a sustainable forest source?

What sustainable paper stocks can we provide?

All coated and uncoated house sheets used in Cliffe Enterprise brochure, magazine and catalogue printing are FSC mixed sources accredited. This means the stock contains one or more of the following:

Virgin timber or fibre from a FSC sustainably certified forest

Reclaimed or recycled timber and/or fibre

Virgin timber or fibre from controlled sources

Due to our working relationships with the paper companies, we are able to source all types of recycled stock in addition to our standard FSC sheet.

For all of your brochure printing, magazine printing and catalogue printing needs, please contact Simon at simon@cliffe-enterprise.com or call 01323 419701

The post Brochure, Catalogue Magazine Printing: Paper Sustainability appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

What is offset printing? Why would you choose Offset over Digital Printing? Hopefully our explanation below will shed some light!

Offset lithography printing is one of the most common ways of creating printed materials and is a process used by both web (whereby printing is carried out on a single, continuous sheet of paper fed from a large roll and then cut into individual sheets of desired sizes) and sheet-fed (the printing is carried out on single sheets of paper as they are fed to the press one at a time) printing machines. The technology is radically different to that of digital printing presses, an explanation of which will follow in a future blog.

Offset printing is typically the most cost effective printing solution for producing large volumes of high quality print. Magazine and Catalogue printing typically use this process as well as other mediums listed below:-

• newspapers
• brochures
• books

The technical bit…..printing the ink onto the paper

All up to date offset printing plants have a pre-press studio that utilises a computer-to-plate system that outputs the image from the artwork directly onto aluminium printing plates. These printing plates are imaged using a laser which burns the image directly onto the specially treated plates.

Offset lithography works on one basic principle: water and oil-based ink don’t mix. Using this theory, as the plate passes through the press it runs through ink and water rollers. The image area (design and words) of the plate attracts the ink from the ink rollers and water to the non-image area.

The inked image on each plate is then transferred onto a rubber cylinder (called a blanket) which in turn transfers the image onto the paper. As the printing plate has no direct contact with the paper it is ‘offset’ – thus the term “offset” lithography.

It also prolongs the life of the plates and what’s more, the rubber is flexible and conforms willingly to the print surface, which allows the process to work well on non-smooth surfaces such as newsprint paper.

Colours

A typical print job is printed using the 4 process colours CYMK: Cyan (blue), Yellow, Magenta and Black. Small dots of the four inks are placed in precise patterns that convince our eyes that we are in fact looking at a wide range of colours. It is for this reason that offset printing is often referred to as 4-colour process or 4-colour printing.

Some of our suppliers (both sheet-fed and web) have equipment that has additional printing units so that they can print premixed additional special colours such as Gold and Silver or fluorescents for customers requiring extra colour options. This is referred to as ‘spot colours’ and allows a breadth of differing colours outside the usual colour range.

Each colour requires its own plate and in the case of modern web offset (or perfecting printing presses), each side of the paper sheet also requires a plate, so that the paper is printed on both sides of the sheet at the same time.

The last stages….

With all that ink and water being applied, the paper is naturally slightly wet and runs a risk of smudging. So, to counter this issue, the web presses pass the paper through a gas fired oven which runs at 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 176 to 206 degrees Celsius).

Sheet-fed presses differ in this instance as they use oxidising inks so the paper is air-dried. The reason behind this difference is that web-presses require a quicker drying process because the paper is folded in section inline ready for binding. Sheet fed presses are folded off-line and can afford the additional drying time.

Advantages of Offset Printing

• Consistent Image Quality: Vivid, precise colours with clear typefaces and fine detailed photographs.
• Variety of Print runs: This process is ideal for small, medium or high-volume jobs.
• Economies of scale: The more you print, the less you pay per item. As most of the cost is in the setup) and extra quantities have a nominal cost per sheet for the paper and ink.

Key points

• Uses imaged aluminium plates
• Typical printing process would be (cyan C yellow Y magenta M black K)
• Process is common across both web and sheet fed printing presses
• Printing either fifth or sixth colours is common on sheet-fed presses and on some web offset machines.
• Prints on paper ranging from Newsprint to triple coated Gloss and most grades in between.
• Sheet fed printing typically from 1000 copies with Web-offset printing from 5000 copies.
• Machine dependant, printing can be on paper as light as 39gsm or as heavy as 1000 micron.

For free advice about your printing projects or to ask for a quote please email Simon@cliffe-enterprise.com or call us on 01323 419701

The post An Explanation of Offset Printing for Magazine and Catalogue Printing appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

So, you’ve established that you have a requirement for print, you’ve created amazing artwork and you most likely have an idea of what the final item will look and feel like. So, what paper are you going to choose to achieve your project objective?

Choosing paper stock is one of the most important elements of your project’s process, as it can influence many aspects of the final product – overall perception, reproduction quality, durability and mailing cost. Choose incorrectly, and you can spoil an otherwise great project.

What should be considered?

The main criteria you need to consider it its usage – What will you be using the printed item for?

• If the item is going to be mailed then paper weight is a major consideration as this could mean the difference between one price band and another
• Is the item aimed at a certain audience? For example the hard of sight need a matt or silk finish and not gloss.
• Will it be used outdoors? Does the item require an additional coating or even waterproofing?
• Will there be a perforation or tear-out section, in which case you’ll need to look at thin, stiff paper.
• Is the audience environmentally focused? The paper should then be a FSC accredited stock or of recycled content.

Next, you may want to consider its appearance

This is important as it affects its look, feel and printability. Consumers are influenced by the way the paper appears and in litho printing there are principally 2 types of paper used:

Uncoated and Coated Paper

These 2 types of paper are available in a variety of weights, sheet sizes and colours (depending on the mill, merchant of brand) and most will be available by a reputable printer who will have good relationships with the major paper merchants.

These types of paper lean towards certain types of printed item. We’ve given a general idea below, but this list is by no means exhaustive.

Coated paper

So, this paper has been coated with a substance that allows text and images to have denser colour and sharper detail. It can be coated on one side, both sides and in some instances have multi-layered coatings. Generally speaking, the more numerous the layers of coating, the better quality the paper type.  The coating provides either a gloss, silk or matt finish and these papers would mainly be chosen for:

• Brochures
• Magazines
• Catalogues
• Flyers
• Postcards
• Items you won’t be writing on.

Uncoated paper

these papers are produced using rollers (calendared/ super calendared) during the paper making process to provide a smooth and polished finish, increase the paper density and reducing thickness. These papers have no coating and have therefore a non-glare surface and easily absorbent and soak up ink. It can have a textured feel but can also be smooth such as that you would find in your office copier or printer. Higher quality uncoated paper would be used for letterheads and compliments slips and items you need to write on, for example

• envelopes
• flyers
• newsletters
• a final product you can write on

Besides the ‘feel’ of the paper, another consideration is ink interaction – how does the ink perform on the sheet of paper?

It is always a good idea to ask for a printed sample of the paper you’re wishing to use from your print supplier which will show how ink reacts to the paper in question.

We’ve already concluded that uncoated ordinary calendared paper (‘calendared’ being the process of smoothing the surface of paper) absorbs ink so the image being printed on the paper lies within the paper due to absorption. To achieve the same quality image as a printer would on a coated paper will mean more ink being used.  There is also a train of thought that users of uncoated paper are more conscious of the environment and their budget. Therefore, you will find that charities will opt for this type of paper when printing fundraising materials or stakeholder reports. The downside to using this type of paper is because more ink is required to achieve a good image, it can simply take longer than normal to dry. Due to the extra drying time needed before it can be used to complete the finished product, it means that uncoated paper is not ideal for quick turnaround work or urgent print jobs.

Uncoated Super calendared paper is similar to that of normal uncoated paper but with a few specific exceptions. Primarily, this paper can often be more expensive than using coated materials. This is due to the additional off-machine process which then provides a high gloss finish, and will be substantially more expensive than ordinary uncoated paper. As already mentioned, the amount of ink used to produce a sharp image is increased in comparison to coated paper, but due to the enamel like-finish produced through the additional calendaring process, images appear to lie more on the surface of the paper rather than in. This paper will take longer to dry before it is ready for finishing, so again, not ideal for urgent turnaround jobs and is most commonly used in corporate reports and high-end product catalogues due to its perception of being high quality and also in line with sustainability policies.

Matt or Silk papers are coated papers with a porous coating so the ink is absorbed into it. The final result is an image that lies on the paper but with a non-reflective, flat finish. This makes this paper ideal for brochures, product catalogues and company reports for those wanting to put across a message of understated quality and exclusivity. When printing on Matt or Silk papers it is advised that they are coated with a sealer varnish. This will ensure the image will not rub or mark when handled during the finishing process.

Paper with a Gloss coating produces a printed image that appears to sit directly on the paper and the result is vibrant, bright and shiny. From a print production point of view, it is considered to be the easiest material to use for printing as it generally has a quicker drying time that the other types of paper mentioned already. You will also find that this is a cheaper printing option than that of matt or silk paper as a sealer varnish is not required to be applied.

If you would like to talk to one of our paper experts about a forthcoming project or would simply like some free advice about which paper you should choose, then please do not hesitate in contacting simon on 01323 419701 or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com

The post Choosing the Right Paper for Your Print Job appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.

Print management companies will do as much or as little as you want them to. Typically they will help and advise you about print, source competitive pricing for your print, buy said print on your behalf and then manage the entire print project from start to finish.

Independent Ideas and Advice

At Cliffe Enterprise we don’t own a sheet-fed printing press, we don’t own a digital press, we don’t own any finishing kit and we certainly don’t own any Web offset presses. However, we spend over £4million per year on print and paper on behalf of our clients, using a carefully selected and managed supply chain that meet our strict quality and cost effective solution requirements. So, we can truly say that we are an independent business owned by our shareholders, not owned by a printer and certainly not controlled by the need to ‘fill’ a hungry printing press on our shop floor.

The Buying Print Bit

90% of the conversations between our account managers at Cliffe Enterprise are about ensuring the very best manufacturing fit for your print project. We not only look at the finished dimensions of the project, but also the finishing requirements as well as the final objective for the project. These are just a few variables that we consider when we match a project to a prospective supplier.

Using our experience and skills we are able to put the right specification into the right printer. The benefits to the client are:

• Can reducing printing spend
• Reduce the likelihood of errors
• Ensures the best quality job delivered to schedule.

There is also the benefit of spend consolidation. Due to the sheer volume of work we place within our supply chain, the prices we obtain from our suppliers are often far better than you can secure if buying print for just your own business.

Print Management = Print Variety

A major benefit for using a print management company is the vast array of printing options available to you. One company could print a high volume catalogue and a glossy magazine, both of which would require different printing processes. A print management company could deal with both requirements and save the client time and effort in trying to find 2 different printers for their jobs. A print management company can also arrange promotional printing, signage and short run digital printing. So, the time spent establishing which printer is able handle each of these projects could be saved by using a single print management company.

Experienced Account Management

Print is far more than an ‘off the shelf’ product. It is a bespoke manufactured item, sometimes considered ‘an art’, normally with a limited shelf life and more often than not, required to a tight schedule. Every print job is different – style, paper, process, timings, and as such, this makes for a myriad of opportunities for the ‘wheels to fall off’ for any print project. Utilising a print management company such as ourselves means that our dedicated production/account management team can often intercept problems before they occur. In most cases, issues are often managed without the client being involved and the project is delivered on time, to quality and budget. The client can sleep at night because we are managing all steps in the process. On the very rare occasions when an element of the printing process goes encounters an error then it is our responsibility to resolve the issue on behalf of the client by agreeing a course of action with the printer and the customer.

Accreditations

 
A credible print management business must have the right accreditation’s –ISO9001 (quality) and FSC (paper audit trail)  as a minimum, they should also insist that their supply chain holds current and up to date accreditation’s too. Our accreditation’s are independently assessed on an annual basis to ensure that we remain up to date and current with best practices and legislation.

Relationships

At Cliffe Enterprise Print Management we build long term relationships with our quality supply chain. We have worked with many of our suppliers for over 10 years. This means that we are not afraid of having difficult conversations with our suppliers and they are not afraid of having them with us. This is especially important when it comes to dispute resolution. At Cliffe Enterprise we operate an open book policy on dispute resolution so that all parties can see the communications from all sides. In our experience this not only speeds up the resolution process, it greatly enhances the trust relationship between all three parties in the longer term.

So, the main benefits for using a print management company are:

• Economies of Scale can mean better prices than if going direct
• The entire process will be managed on your behalf
• You have an experienced print expert on hand to offer the best advice the industry will offer
• Long existing relationships between the print management company and printer will mean a more fluid print process and fewer issues to deal with

If you would like to use Cliffe Enterprise for your next print project, then please do not hesitate in contacting us on 01323 419701 or email simon@cliffe-enterprise.com

The post So what is Print Management and how can it benefit you? appeared first on Magazine Print, Catalogue and Brochure Printers.