White Ink Technology. So What?

What is white ink technology and why do I care?

If you've ever asked yourself this question, let me make it simple for you. You care because you can now specify colored paper, as in dark, rich, beautiful, colored paper, for digital printers who have white ink technology.

Yes I said colored paper, with white ink. And you can print it digitally. See, it does matter to you.

When digital printing came into our world, those of us who love colored paper, heaved one collective sign of dismay. Gone were the days of using rich, bold colored paper to spread your message, especially if that message involved a small printed quantity. Everything digital since has been viewed by designers as having to think about putting color on white paper. Well, not any more. Not with white ink capabilities.

Times, they are a changing

With the availability of white ink technology in West Michigan, you now have the option to create an impression with colored paper.  Here is a link to a recent article in Print Magazine, explaining things from a designers point of view. For more information, and white ink technology tips, check with your local digital printer. When you are ready to choose some paper for your next digital job using white ink technology, contact us.

We would love to hook you up with the perfect colored paper for your next job!

Paper is vital.

Get On The Digital Train or Get Off The Track, Part 2

Photo Courtesy of: Mollie Kwiek Photography

This blogpost is the second in my series about digital printing and my mission to learn more about it. I thought it might be helpful to review the digital vs. offset question. How do you choose? (Obviously these are just generalizations, as there are always exceptions).

Here is my take on the advantages of each process and a checklist you might want to start with to determine your digital vs. offset direction.

Digital Advantages:

1. Shorter turnaround
2. Lower costs for shorter print runs
3. Availability of variable data printing

Offset Advantages:

1. Higher image quality, higher resolution, no streaks in solid areas (although I understand this is not nearly the problem it once was)
2. Works on a wide range of paper surfaces
3. Unit cost goes down as quantity goes up
4. Quality and cost -effectiveness in the higher volume jobs

Keep in mind that most printers offer both offset and digital capabilities now. So, calling in your favorite print rep for consultation might be the way to begin the process. Or use this checklist to help determine your direction:

Quantity
Offset printing has a front end cost load. Which means short runs may have a high per unit cost. But as quantites increase, the unit cost goes down with offset printing.

Printing Medium
Do you need or want a special paper, finish or unusual printing surface or a unique size? The options are getting better for digital, but offset printing still offers the most flexibility.

Color
Digital presses use four color process printing. If you only need black or one or two ink colors, offset printing may offer a more cost effective solution. If you need four color printing, digital may be better for lower up-front costs.

Pantone
If you're planning to print using the Pantone Matching System, offset printing will give you the best match, since it uses actual Pantone Ink. Digital printing simulates the color using a four-color match process, so some digital printers may offer less accurate color matching on projects.

Turnaround
If you need it fast, digital usually offers quicker delivery.

Proofing
Digital offers more accurate proofs, since what you see is an actual sample of the printed piece, printed using the exact process as the intended run. For offset printing, if you need hard proofs, accurate color proofing can become expensive.

Customization
With the ease of database driven variable data printing, digital printing offers the most affordable way to customize marketing materials, direct mail pieces, letters, etc. with a different name/address or number/code on each printed piece.

Digital printing can be the ideal solution for some people, but offset lithography will almost always yield the superior result in print quality.

In the end, each project will have to be evaluated to find its perfect partner.  Similar to when you are specing paper: be prepared to ask questions, answer questions, and allow your print and paper reps to help you find the best solution for your project.

Did I mention that you now have choices in paper for your digital printing needs? You get to select more than just white, coated (or uncoated paper), when printing digitally. There are digital papers available in colors, finishes, metallics, and pearlescents to make your digital print job stand out from the crowd. New items are being added to that list, almost weekly. Call us for ideas 676-9203, or ask your printing sales rep to check in with us for the latest options!

The time has come to take paper specification back into your own hands. To borrow a tagline from our friends at Domtar Paper, Paper Matters.

Make it matter on your next print job!

Wausau Royal Metallics Goes Digital

Wausau Paper announces that three colors in their Royal Metallics line have gone digital.

You can now get digitally sized metallic paper in:

White Gold
White Silver
Champagne Pearl

Specifics:
86# cover only
18 x 12 sheets
250 in a carton

Features:

• Enhanced surface for exceptional digital performance
• HP Indigo 3-star certified, including photo applications
• Suitable for toner based equipment including the Xerox I-Gen & Kodak Nexpress
• Metallic finish on 2 sides
• 30% post consumer recycled fiber
• FSC & Green Seal certified
• Acid-free

What's not to love? Check it out for your next print job.

Get On the Digital Train, Or Get Off the Track



Photo Courtesy of Mollie Kwiek Photography
https://www.facebook.com/molliekwiekphotography



47% of all print volume will be projects under 2,000 finished pieces.--Taken from a recent NewPage Digital Presentation by Michelle Garrett

I've been on a mission lately, to learn more about digital printing.

I figured I better get on the digital knowledge train, or get off the track altogether. So this blogpost is the first in a series of posts to share with you what I have learned. Even though some of it may be things you already know. I figure there might be some of you out there who have also resisted change and who were clinging to the hope that someday offset printing would rebound and be restored to its former glory. Like I was.

But change is good. Knowledge is good. And, you can teach an old dog, new tricks.

With that in mind, I have traveled and toured two places so far. Both were gracious and welcoming and answered all my (dumb) questions. Yes, I admit some of mine were a little out there.

While there are many players in the digital arena, I learned there are basically three big ones: HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress and the Xerox I-Gen. I also learned that of the three, two use a dry toner/heat based process...the Nexpress and the I-Gen, and the Indigo uses a liquid ink/cold process.

Why is that important? Well, because it affects the paper selection. And because heat melts and paper curls. So proper paper selection is important. So proper grain direction is important. So sheet sizes are important. (Certain equipment has maximum sheet sizes and for digital sizes we aren't talking 25 x 38 or 23 x 35, we are talking, the largest sheets are 13 x 19, 14 x 20, or smaller. )

When Indigo presses first came out, they needed a special sapphire treated paper. Now mills are introducing digital options that are HP Indigo certified (without the need for the sapphire treatment and without the short shelf life it had) and most of those will also work in the other equipment. Yay!

That means....you now have choices for the paper used for your digital print job.

When digital presses first came to the forefront I was of little help in suggesting paper for digital jobs. Mostly because the machines were so new that printers were only using papers recommended by the manufacturer of the press. But I am happy to say that things are different now.  The paper industry has caught up (somewhat) and you now have choices, sized appropriately, and with the proper grain direction. 

And now that you do, I have already heard rumors to the effect that the cost of the job goes up, if you choose your own paper. Please don't let anyone tell you that, as a general rule, choosing your own paper is the reason the cost of a job goes up. If you are switching from an uncoated cover to a pearlescent cover, then Yes, the cost will most likely go up. But apples to apples, No, it most likely will not.

Keep in mind that paper for a digital printing job is only a small portion of the overall cost of that job. It might be worth it to pay a little more for a unique paper that gets your piece noticed.

The list of paper options for digital printing is growing (almost weekly)...let's discover together what works for your next job.

I will, as usual, ask you a lot of questions.
I will, as usual, dash some of your paper hopes.
I will, as usual, help you to make the best selection I can.

Stay tuned....more digital knowledge to come.