Printing Tips / Brochures

Before you start designing a brochure, decide how it is to be used. Are you going to use it as a self mailer? Are you going to mail it inside a business, #10 envelope with other materials? Are you going to leave it in a rack at a hotel or Visitor's Center or the like? 

Is this going to be part of a presentation packet or seminar? In other words, what size does the finished piece need to be?

A typical tri-fold brochure could be 8.5 x 11 folded to 8.5 x 3.666, OR, you could make a simple 8.5 x 3.6 rack card, which would give you “3 Up” on an 8.5 x 11. 

OR- do you need several 8.5 x 11 sheets in a binder, presentation folder, or spiral bound with a clear plastic front and solid back cover? 

If you are working with a folded brochure, such as the 8.5 x 11 tri-fold, organize your material in “panels” - you will have 6. Remember the front panel is essentially your cover. This may be the only thing that anyone looks at- you want to entice them to go inside, but if they don't, you want to be sure the front panel relays the essence of what you are trying to convey. Also remember to leave room on the back panel for addressing, if this is to be a self mailer.

You can also simply collect the information, your logo art, any photos or art you specifically want to use, and give this to the graphic department of your print provider and have them format the brochure for the size you need. It may be easier for them to provide a professional looking piece that will print well on their equipment. Of  course you will be proofing and giving feedback during this process. If you still want to create the brochure yourself, remember to provide a hard copy (if possible) as well as a PDF and the native file – just to be sure the print provider sees what you are seeing. Remember that different programs and different printers can often change color or create “glitches” between your file and the converted file the printer may need to create to produce your piece.

 Lastly, don't forget your print provider may be able to provide mailing services. In which case they probably have a bulk mail indicia (if you don't) that they can print directly onto your piece. Be sure to included this discussion at the initial design stage and be clear what post office the mailing is going out of, so it matches the indicia. 

Tips for Ordering Business Cards, Letterhead & Envelopes

If you are just starting out in business, (or even if you aren't) step back and think of the long-range picture of what you doing. You want your business card, letterhead and envelope to match. That means colors of ink, and for the letterhead and envelope, color and type of paper. 

More and more these days, business cards are going to be full color, which means they will probably be printed on a gloss white paper. Letterhead and envelopes are usually still printed on a white or cream, smooth or textured paper, in one or two ink colors. So how do we get them to match?

When you are working up your logo, think of the color or colors that you want people to associate with your business. The font you use to spell your business name is as much a part of your logo as any symbol you may choose or design. Some logos are simply the color and font style used to print the business name, no fancy design or symbol needed. Consistency is the key. So even though your business card may be full color with a photo or background graphic, your business name and colors are going to be carried over to your letterhead and envelopes. It may also be wise to have a black and white version as well as a color version of your logo. It's the style that needs to stay the same.

The most common and economical quantity to order for business cards is 1000. Most of the cost of cards is in the setup. Once the press is running, a few more sheets of paper cost hardly anything; 500 cards are about $5 less than 1000. 

#10 Business Envelopes come in boxes of 500. Most people order 500 or 1000 envelopes at a time. However, if you really use them a lot, 5 boxes come in a case, so 2500 may be a better deal. 

Letterhead, especially if it's printed with a colored ink, is most affordable in quantities of at least 500 or 1000.

  A Note on 3 or more ink colors for envelopes: More people are asking for full color envelopes and the prices are beginning to come down, but they are still much more costly than full color business cards or letterhead.