2018 Printing Trends

Every year, a new wave of printing trends emerges. Some trends are short lived while others make a lasting impression. These are the printing trends we think you’ll be seeing a lot of come 2018:

  1. “Year in Review” cards: We’re starting with this one because they would work well for both end of year OR beginning of the year situations. “Year in Review” cards are similar to the notes you receive from friends, detailing what they’ve been up to the past year. But, instead of text, they’re beautifully illustrated/stylized and printed on nice, sturdy card stock. The card can touch on company milestones, big wins, takeaways, new hires, etc. It’s a nice way to tell a lot about your business without being extremely sales-y
  2. Direct-to-garment printing: This trend gives printers the ability to print anything onto a garment or accessory. No matter what you or your business come up with, printers are able to recreate it on any piece of clothing, hat, or uniform. You name it, it can be printed on. One of the best parts of direct-to-garment printing is that the ink dries quickly and becomes a part of the clothing. This means the graphic won’t peel, crack, or wash away over time. Above all else, it will also significantly bring down the cost of creating custom apparel.
  3. 3D printing: We know, people have been talking about this forever, but the time seems to be now for 3D printing to explode into commercial spaces. The possibilities are endless when it comes to 3D printing and being one of the early adapting companies will probably prove to be a win for everyone involved.
  4. Eco-friendly printing: We’ve talked about going green in a paper world before on this blog, so feel free to jet over there for more in-depth information. We’re pretty sure 2018 will show a sharp growth in green inks, papers, and packaging. People are more conscientious of the environment and actively work to reduce their own carbon footprint. Businesses are likely to follow suit.

These are the big things we see coming in printing in 2018. BPC is ready to tackle all of these new ideas and more with you. Give us a shout when you’re ready to get started!

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Printing: The difference between pantone coated & uncoated. What does it mean for me?

In the world of printing, there are a lot of terms thrown around: stock, foil stamping, Pantone, coated, uncoated… it’s difficult to know what will best meet your particular printing needs.

While Pantone has become the standard in color matching systems for printers and designers, the color you get in the end depends on the type of paper you’re printing on. Deciding when to use coated or uncoated paper can make all the difference when printing collateral for your business.

The difference between coated and uncoated paper

Coated paper, just like is sounds, has been treated with a coating compound in order to reveal qualities of the paper, such as weight or gloss. Coated paper has a smooth finish, and like a pane of glass, absorbs less ink while being more durable.

Uncoated, conversely, has no coating. Generally speaking, uncoated paper is not as smooth, and, like a sponge, soaks up more ink. It’s available in a variety of textures and finishes, making it a little more versatile.

It is also important to note that different paper colors can affect the end-color. Since ink is not opaque, ink on a yellow sheet of paper will look different than a bright white sheet. This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how different an ink can look based on the paper color.

When to use coated versus uncoated paper

So, how do you know what type of paper is right for you? It depends on your particular printing project. Pantone colors are mainly used in offset printing, which uses ink instead of toner. You can print on both a coated and uncoated sheet in digital printing as well, but not all digital printers can handle pantone colors.

Typically, coated paper is used to convey more vibrant color production. Common uses for coated paper include:

  • Sell sheets and other advertising materials
  • Magazines
  • Photography
  • Catalogs
  • Book covers

Uncoated paper is used for more everyday use, but can also give off a more prestigious and distinguished look. Common uses include:

  • Business cards
  • Envelopes and other stationary
  • Brochures
  • Invitations

Some rules of thumb

  • Coating restricts how ink bleeds into the paper. When printing sharp and complex images, a coated paper is advantageous.
  • Uncoated paper takes longer to dry.
  • Coated paper offers more finishings, from gloss and satin to matte or even dull.
  • Uncoated paper soaks up ink more than coated, leaving a darker color in its wake. Below is a Pantone guide set for the same color, but you’ll notice the coated (C) is lighter that uncoated (U):

    Source: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/36137/how-do-pantone-coated-and-uncoated-colors-relate

Hopefully, these tips will help make paper selection a less daunting task. Whether you’re printing a glossy magazine or company letterhead, BPC has the paper perfect for your every business need.

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Promotions, Printing & Eco-Friendly Printing

Let’s face it, when it comes to marketing and promotional items it’s hard to eliminate printing and paper – and that’s OK! There’s nothing to feel guilty about. There are many different ways to be eco-friendly when it comes to printing besides kicking paper to curb.

Here are few quick eco-friendly printing ideas to get you started:

  1. Choose recycled paper.

    One of the easiest ways you can go green is selecting recycled paper when printing your marketing collateral. Recycled paper saves trees, uses less energy and water, and produces lower carbon emissions than non-recycled papers. Recycled paper also reduces the amount of landfill waste, as paper can be recycled up to 5 times.

  2. Print double-sided, whenever possible.

    Ask your print vendor to print double-sided when it makes sense. This is a quick, simple thing to do to reduce the amount of paper you’re using. This, in turn, leads to less overall waste.

  3. Select eco-friendly inks.

    There are many different eco-friendly printing inks to turn your regular print job into a green print job. When quoting a job with your printer, ask if they have any of the following ink types available: vegetable-based inks, soy-based inks, apparel water-based inks, UV inks, or eco solvent inks.  All of these inks create less toxic chemicals when they dry, compared to the standard petroleum-based inks we are used to.

  4. Ship using biodegradable packing materials.

    If you need to have promotional items printed for an event, consider working with a vendor who uses using biodegradable packing materials instead of the typical plastic or petroleum-based foam materials. This eliminates excess waste and the substitute materials produce less harmful chemicals when they’re created.

These are just a few of the options you have when it comes to green printing. If you’re really interested in ensuring your printing is as eco-friendly as possible, give us a call. BPC can give you all the information you need to make the most informed decisions for all your printing needs.

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The E-Book Boom and the Increased Value of the Printed Word

We all know that slowly but surely the way entertainment as a whole is changing to adapt to the information/technology age.

While specialty stores such as Sam Goody and Borders are closing their doors, things like the Kindle and IPads are dominating the market. Read more

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Public Relations in a Changing Industry

With advancing and new technologies, the print industry is changing at a rapid rate.

The way we used to communicate is drastically different than the way we communicate today in the business world. Older communication involved Rolodex, 3 x 5 cards, and fax. The phone is still used today, however, that is even changing with the advancement of computer technology involving instant communication over the internet and live streaming capability. Since people and businesses are becoming more comfortable with instant technology, how does the print industry stay relevant in a highly changing world, and if we are still relevant, how do we communicate that? Read more

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