Before Working With a Commercial

Printing Company Here Are a Few 

Important Questions to Ask Them

1. Should I Go With Offset Printing or Digital Printing?

When it comes to your printing project specifications, your commercial printer will have two options: offset printing or digital printing.

Offset printing uses plates: Think of an old-school printing press and you’ll be going in the right direction.

Digital printing uses toner or liquid ink, no plates.

If you need a quick turnaround, digital will usually serve you best. It is great for shorter print runs and when the print pieces have variable data. Offset printing is better for larger print runs and provides the Pantone Matching System, so the color will be exactly what you need to support your brand.

2. Which Type of Paper Should I Use?

The paper you choose for your commercial printing project will be greatly influenced by what you’re printing and how you’re using it. There are plain, coated, synthetic, premium, and recycled papers, as well as varying weights.

Some options include:

• Uncoated text
• Coated text: gloss or matte
• Uncoated cover
• Coated cover: gloss or matte
• UV coating
• Aqueous coating

It’s definitely a lot to consider! The best commercial printers will walk you through this process and discuss your project to ensure your paper is a great fit for what you’re printing.

3. And what size?

If you can be flexible, it's always worth speaking about the size you want your piece to be. Quite often a difference of a few millimetres can mean you can plan up more pages per sheet and have a much more economical print. This might leave you with extra budget to get that metallic.

4. Can I use folds or unusual formats?

Your printer will also be able to advise on any unusual folds or die-cuts. Different printers might want artwork adjusted to allow for folding, so go through how you want your final piece to look and they will figure out how to do it.

5. Can I see a proof?

Crazy things can happen when work goes to print, so even if it's just a PDF proof, make sure you see something.

6. How fast can you do it?

Find out from your client when they need the finished items and where they want them delivered. Your printer will then be able to work backwards from that time and give you a deadline for the artwork. It's always best to do this sooner rather than later in a project.

7. Can I call you at any time?

Check in with your printer on a regular basis. If there is a problem your printer should get in touch, but it's always good to call up and hear that everything is running nicely and delivery will be on time. If you're aware of everything at every stage, it can't go wrong.

8. How will the job be delivered?

There are probably many more questions to be asked depending on the type of printing job you may have. So for more information to help you along. Call 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website Customer Service Page at:https://www.printcafeli.com/help/index.html

How Print Drives Traffic 

for the Restaurant Industry

Going out to eat is back in full swing. And more than 660,000 restaurants across the country are cooking up tasty fare for hungry foodies. That’s a lot of cafés, bistros, grills and diners. The landscape is a competitive one – patrons can only eat so much in a day. Restaurants have to balance keeping customers satisfied while dealing with skyrocketing prices on products and fuel. The bottom line: they need to have the highest return possible for every dollar spent. There’s no question how impactful the role of print communications is for restaurants to gain new patrons, engage their guests, encourage repeat dining and keep their eateries top of mind…and very visible.

Restaurant marketing objectives include promoting specials and events, upselling menu items, and generating a buzz, just to name a few. Print remains the go-to medium when it comes to conveying personality, telling a story, welcoming visitors and developing an ambiance. Here are five big ways that print tastefully markets restaurants of all sizes:

1. Signage

There’s no better way to turn foot traffic into sales, and transform spaces into showcases than with indoor and outdoor signage. Getting customers in the door takes bold and innovative options. Durable Banners can be hung from buildings to attract attention from a distance and Sail Signs can be positioned near a building or along a busy boulevard. Using interchangeable sign inserts to update messages on the fly, list specials and advise of open/closed seating areas or special parking areas takes full advantage of the versatility of signs. Erasable signage used as a Menu Board in a central location can work together with individual menus at tables, and Communication Boards can be used for assigning tables to wait staff or posting work schedules.

2. Labels, stickers and decals

Restaurants can shape the atmosphere, clearly direct traffic flow, and show off specials and new items with bright, full-color imagery on Window, Table and Floor Decals. Using QR Codes on decals serves up quick reference and easy online ordering. Wall Decals feature seasonal specials and easily transform the décor. Branded Labels and Stickers create a marketing message on the go. Available in a wide variety of sizes, they are perfect to have on hand to dress up various restaurant provisions like take-out boxes, paper bags, coffee cups and giveaways.

3. Print to hold on to

Brochures, postcards, flyers and door hangers are just a few examples of tangible pieces that inspire action. Take-Out Menus and Rack Cards can be placed at nearby businesses and hotels to promote patronage. Whether boosting repeat business through direct mail Postcards, canvassing entire areas with Door Hangers, or offering loyalty program perks like Fridge Magnets, the tactile nature of print keeps brands front and center while prompting response.

4. Table side marketing

Table Tents are one of the best ways to promote special deals, recommend food combinations and show off food photography. Table tents are so prolific because they WORK! The most powerful complement to any menu, table side marketing elements bridge the gap between print and digital, and help maximize market share. Convenient, self-standing promotional powerhouses, table tents are an exceptional way for restaurants to encourage upsells, promote new items and special deals, attract repeat business, and market products and events.

5. Branded apparel

Sometimes used to show employee appreciation and create a team environment, sometimes used to generate additional revenue streams, branded aprons, shirts, uniforms and other Apparel always creates roving marketing opportunities. Cohesiveness in dress code can improve customer experience and enhance the setting. Selling branded restaurant merchandise is a fantastic way for eateries to strengthen their connection with customers and increase sales. Sweatshirts, jackets and hats decorated with a restaurant’s logo not only make great gifts, they also help the business stay top of mind whenever a customer puts them on.

For More Information on Any of Our Marketing Products Call: 516-561-1468 or

Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

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Offset and Digital:

          Cost vs. Capabilities

At some point in the print-buying process, there is a question of what printing technology to use. Should it be printed on an offset press or a digital press? It’s an important question because both are capable of brilliant print quality, but there are differences in paper and finishing options as well as costs.

Offset presses do most of the printing in the world. Magazines, commercial greeting cards, books, and mass-market collateral are printed in volumes that make offset printing cost-effective and efficient. The presses may print sheets or rolls of paper using printing plates that contain the print images for each of the ink colors, usually cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, but many presses also support additional spot and specialty colors. As the paper moves through the press, the plates in each printing unit pick up ink and transfer it to the paper. The paper moves from one color station to the next, building the image to create the final intended printed product.

The nature of the technology means that there is significant preparation before printing. Creative files are put through file preparation and color management processes to ensure the file is print-ready for offset. Color separation files are made for each color, which are then sent to a computer-to-plate (CTP) system that images the aluminum plates. After imaging, the plates are processed and mounted on the press. Many plate imaging systems require chemicals and clean-up fluids that add time, effort, and cost to the job.

Offset printing produces very high-quality print, in print runs that often go into the thousands and sometimes millions of pieces. It is a technology that supports almost any type of paper, any weight, and any finish. This is the technology most often selected for static printing that requires long runs because the cost model is appropriate. Plates and the cost of makeready become a smaller percentage of the total cost when higher quantities are produced.

The calculation changes when the print runs are short or when the work requires variable customization. That is where digital printing options are best suited. Digital devices use imaging modules that transmit information to inkjet print heads or electrophotographic modules that result in print on paper.

The most striking difference is that digital printing does not require the physical makeready – color separations, plate making, hanging individual plates, and running tests to ensure color registration – required in offset printing. There are file preparation requirements, but no plates, no chemicals, and less time to get ready to print. The image file is delivered to the Digital Front End (DFE) of the digital print device for final imaging and for communication with the print engine.

Digital technology is based on either inkjet heads that drop ink onto paper or imaging modules that transfer an image to a charged drum to attract toner that is transferred to the page. Each technology behaves differently and has slightly different color models because of the differences between toner and ink. Digital print also supports a more limited set of paper stocks.

Variable data print products like bills and statements, where every page is different, are done on digital print devices. Direct Mail is often printed using digital devices, especially if there are variable offers to target recipients. By comparison, if you were doing big box store coupons that only vary the name and address, you might print using offset technology and then add the name and address using digital technology, which could also impact your costs. Digital printing is becoming the technology of choice for short-run static work, book-of-one or personalized books, and personalized training material.

Understanding these elements will help you select the best print technology. Work with your Print Cafe team to understand which technology is best for your clients’ projects. Call us Today at: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com

That’s a Wrap on Print 

Technologies for 2022

This year we covered printing technologies, each with unique processes and benefits, used to print the wide range of products offered by The Print Cafe of LI. The best print technology for a project depends on the quality, quantity, material, and how the print will be used. The number of finished printed products needed (quantity) and how quickly they are needed (turnaround time) greatly influence the pricing and, ultimately, the chosen printing technology. After you identify your customer’s need and use case, you can match it to the best product set and print technology.

The 4over team uses the best print technology for each product to ensure the best mix of functionality, visual impact, quality, and cost. Let’s recap the three print technologies spotlighted this year: digital electrophotography (EP), offset lithography, and screen printing.

Digital Electrophotography
Digital EP uses an electrostatically charged metal drum to receive small particles of colored toner that are transferred to the substrate before the drum is cleaned for the next cycle. That means each image can be different from the next, which is ideal for any printing where variable data is required, like direct mail or personalized invitations. EP print quality can rival offset lithography but is better suited for smaller quantities due to costs and turnaround times.

	El  Electrophotography	Offset Lithography	Screen Printing
Benefits	Lower quantities Near offset print quality Fast turnaround Variable data printing In-line finishing Specialty colors Enhancement options, including coatings, varnishes, and foil	Higher quantities Low cost per page High image quality Specialty substrates Specialty colors Enhancement options, including coatings, varnishes, and foil	Lower quantities Range of materials beyond paper Single to multi-color printing Durable
Products	Business collateral (business cards, stationery, letterhead) Marketing collateral (brochures and flyers) Direct mail marketing Booklets Catalogs	Office collateral (business cards, stationery, letterhead) Marketing collateral (brochures and flyers) Direct mail marketing Booklets Catalogs	Presentation folders Coroplast yard signs Outdoor signage T-shirts and garments Industrial labels Wallpaper Promotional items

 

Offset Lithography
Offset lithography, commonly shorted to just offset or litho, is based on the fact that oil (in the inks) and water do not mix. Imaged areas of the metal printing plate receive the oil-based ink and transfer it to the paper. Offset printing is still the industry’s workhorse due to the range of materials it can print on and its efficiency, particularly for higher quantities. Offset is best used for run lengths at least in the thousands since additional processes, like plate making, are required compared to digital printing.

Screen Printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a stretched mesh screen onto the material below, leaving an image that sits on top of the substrate. T-shirts are often screen printed. The process can be used on a wide variety of materials, like fabric feather signs or coroplast yard signs, and is durable enough to withstand fading from UV light, weather, and other adverse conditions. For Information on any of these Processes Please give us a call at: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

How We Make Print

At its essence, printing is a manufacturing process. It requires a plan, raw materials, and processing to deliver a finished product to the intended recipient. That plan starts with the purpose of the print job. Defining the purpose will inform decisions about the final size, the design, and the type of paper or other substrates. The purpose of the finished product also determines the print technologies to consider.

With the basic framework for the print job in hand, it continues along a path that includes designing and creating print files, delivering them to the printer, preparing the files for print and print execution, finishing, customer acceptance, and then moving the finished work into use. Build these steps into your conversations with clients to create the best experience for them and you.

The Plan

A plan is more than a simple checklist of things to do to get ready to send a print job. It begins with a conversation with the client covering the print work they want to buy, how they will use it, when they need it, and their thoughts on the creative design. Some clients will bring their design files to you, but they must be reviewed to ensure they can be executed as the customer intends. Others will want help getting their vision defined, designed, and prepared.

For those that need some help, spend some time understanding their vision. Is the customer buying wedding announcements, or do they need business wayfinding signs? Are they looking for signage or brochures? What is their color scheme? Are they bringing images and graphics to the table or asking for your design help to select them? It pays to have a set of starter templates for the work you sell to guide the conversation because many who come to you will not understand things like how text and color work together or how different types of paper or sign stock can change the project’s appearance. Your expertise is the value you bring to the conversation!

For those that bring a completed design, the conversation needs to be a frank assessment of how the design will work on the selected substrates and formats. A common mistake in design files is the lack of a bleed when images extend to the edge of the page or sign. Extending the graphics beyond the edge of the page, typically 3mm or 1/8”, prevents unwanted white areas that detract from the design.

Create a checklist that helps you walk through the plan so that you know:

• What the customer wants: brochure, poster, invitation, sign, or other print product.
• The specifications: How big, how wide, how many, and what substrate.
• When they need it: today, tomorrow, next week, for a specific event date.
• Who is creating the design files, and who is empowered to approve them?
• If they bring design files to the table, what tool was used to create them and what type of digital file is being delivered?

That is the starting point. The next step is to verify the creative files as suitable for their intended purpose.

The Production

Once a plan is agreed upon with a client, there is more work to do. The files used for printing are usually PDF or PostScript files. Those files need to be reviewed and preflighted. That means ensuring that the files have the appropriate fonts embedded, that graphics are the correct resolution, and that the formatting is appropriate for the intended finishing. The file should be a high-resolution file – screen scraping images from the internet won’t result in the print quality most customers expect.

Reviewing the files against the intended finishing may result in design changes. Make sure clients are prepared if they ask for specific cuts, folds, or binding. No one wants their business logo or a picture stuck in a fold or text stuck in the binding because the pages weren’t prepared properly.

Once the file is printed and finished, the next step is to accomplish delivery. Verify the delivery information each time you talk to the client. For More Help with Your Print Project you can reach us at (516) 561-1468 or Visit Our Customer Support Page at:https://www.printcafeli.com/help/index.html

Glossary of Print Terms

Now You’re Speaking Our Language!

Whether it’s lawn care, insurance, auto, or medical — there is a special “language” that those who work within each industry understand. With our many terms from offset to bleed, we have a unique language all our own. Whether you’re new to print or a seasoned veteran, we thought we’d share a glossary of common terms so that when the time comes to order, ask or answer a question, everyone is on the same page. 

Knowing and understanding our unique printing language helps us share our thoughts, ideas, needs, and aspirations through words. Not only that, it adds value to your business and gives you an edge over competitors.

Aqueous Coating

A fast-drying, water-based coating that is applied after printing, giving a glossy finish that protects the print’s surface

Artwork

The original digital copy which includes all text, graphics, photos, and illustrations, which is used as a print design file 

Batch

Multiple projects printed at a time on a defined set of data

Bleed/Cut Lines

Limits to where your image can be placed

CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black)

Color space that uses ink to display colors during the printing process. Standard for offset and digital printing

Coating

Texture or coating on paper

Die Cut 

In the printing world, a die refers to a precise, razor-sharp blade that allows multiple cuts of the same shape. A die cut is a process where the die cuts through the material, paper, cardstock, etc., on a die press. This process allows identical cuts to be made for a uniform look

Digital Printing

Also known as four-color process printing, digital printing is the ideal process for small-volume print jobs ranging from 1 to 5,000 sheets of paper. It is the most cost-effective print process, is designed for use with CMYK color, and requires less setup work for the print technician

Direct Mail

Traditional direct mail targets a specific demographic. You can use it to send postcards, flyers, and brochures to a mailing list that consists of people that fit your target age, gender, income, and other variables

Dye-Sublimation

Digital printing technology that uses heat transfer to apply an image to the intended substrate. Also referred to as digital sublimation, the process is commonly used for decorating apparel, signs, and banners as well as other items with sublimation-friendly surfaces.

EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)

Using mailing routes from the United States Postal Service (USPS), you can choose a specific area that you want to cover with your direct mail, EDDM targets a specific geographic area. No mailing list is necessary

Foil

A thin metal applied to paper used in foil stamping and foil embossing (typically gold or silver)

Four Color Process

The process of printing using the combination of four basic color inks: CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) to produce a range of colors and create a color image

Four Over Four (4/4)

A print job with four, full-color printing on both sides of the paper

Four Over One (4/1)

A print job with four, full-color printing on the front side and one color (usually black) on the back side

Four Over Zero (4/0)

A print job with four-color printing on the front side and no printing on the back side

Gang Run

A printing method where multiple printing projects are placed on a common paper sheet in an effort to reduce printing costs

Gloss

A shiny coating applied to paper

Group Sets 

The shipping option that allows the customer to ship the exact same product, but to various locations. This option is intended to save the customer time from repeating the same ordering process

Group Shipping 

A shipping option that allows customers to combine multiple sets that will be shipped in one package to save costs in shipping

Indicia

Preprinted postal information that takes the place of a stamp on a mailing envelope, postcard, etc.

Lamination

The process of applying a thin layer of plastic to paper or card sheets to enhance and protect the printed material. Common types of laminate are gloss, matte, and silk

Large Format

A broad print category of printed material that is too big for most commercial printing presses

Lithographic Printing 

Also known as litho printing (for short), and offset printing, is where the image of the desired content to be produced is placed on a plate which is then covered in ink and used for printing. This process can be used to print on paper, cardboard, and many other materials

Majestic

Majestic products are the Print Cafe's signature line of premium finishes including luxury stocks, laminates, and treatments. Majestic upgrades allow you to offer your customers a unique visual and tactile marketing experience by adding unconventional color, texture, and sheen to business cards, postcards, and other printed materials

Matte

Dull, non-glossy finish

Offset Printing

Commonly used for high-volume print jobs of 1,000 pieces and more, this process requires the setup of a different printing plate for each color and runs every print through each color printing plate to create the finished product

Pantone Color

A universal color language that designers, printing companies, and brand owners use

Perfect Bind

A binding technique in which pages are collated into a single sheet, glued together, and attached to the cover with an adhesive

Perforation

The process of making holes or a series of cuts to make tearing or folding easier

Plating

Chemically edging the full batch onto steel plates

Process Colors (use this definition below on CMYK)

The four basic colors used in printing to simulate full spectrum color – Cyan (blue), magenta (process red), yellow (process yellow), black (process black)

Proof

A sample of your final design — available in either digital or hard form. This is the best way to avoid expensive mistakes in printing, and it’s important to pay close attention to the proofs you receive to make sure the design, copy, and color are free from errors

RGB (Red Green Blue)

Color space that uses light to display images onscreen. Commonly used for TV, websites, and other digital advertising that will be displayed on a monitor

Run Size

Number of copies printed at one time

Saddle Stitch

A method of binding using staples in the spine or seam of a booklet or book where it folds

Set

Classifies how many units of a particular print product are printed at the same time

Spot UV

Refers to the application of the UV coating to a specific area(s) of a printed piece to add interest or texture, rather than coating the entire surface. It’s a creative way to add depth and contrast through varying levels of sheen and texture

Substrate

The base material onto which printing will be applied, typically used when referring to the materials used for large format products 

UV Coating

Liquid, glossy coating applied to the paper’s surface and cured with UV light

Vector Images

Images made up of solids, lines, and curves that can be scaled or edited without affecting the image’s resolution

As always, we're here to help you with whatever print needs come your way, including print campaigns that help boost your social media! Call Us Today for More Information at: 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at: www.printcafeli.com

 

6 Automation Tips for 

Your Small Business

Automation has helped many small businesses become much more fluid and, in turn, succeed.

Automation has become one of the keys to success: nearly 80% of top-performing companies have used marketing automation for more than two years.

Although they might not have the resources of their counterparts, small companies can and should incorporate automation in every aspect of business: From capturing leads to closing sales and serving customers to checking routine office tasks off the to-do list.

Research has shown that while small businesses are less likely to invest in automation than large ones, they have more success when they do.

Here are a few common areas of automation where small businesses can get big results.

6 Automation Tips for Your Small Business

1. Lead and Contact Management

Dealing with leads and contacts manually can be a hassle.

Consider replacing that complicated spreadsheet with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) automation.

A CRM platform can automate lead scoring and take action when a score changes. For example, it can notify you when a deal is heating up or trigger an email when a contact hits a particular score.

2. List Segmentation

Segmentation of your contact list is key to sending personalized content, which has an average 34% open/click rate.

You can do this automatically based on actions that a person takes. 

3. Email Marketing

Email marketing has an incredible return on investment (ROI).

Businesses earn an average of $35 for every $1 spent. Email gives you a direct line to your audience and helps you build brand awareness.

But regularly sending professional, personalized emails to your contacts can be time-consuming for small businesses. Email marketing automation software makes it easier. Examples include welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, and birthday and anniversary emails.

4. Social Media

Social media automation includes automating your content to post on a social media platform at certain times.

All major social networks allow paid advertising, and you can reach a targeted audience when and where they are already spending time.

5. Notifications

Notifications are a type of automation with significant benefits, like increased efficiency and speed.

Automatic notifications give you updates on critical events so you can take action immediately. 

6. Customer Support

Small businesses care about their customers and are committed to offering the best support possible. Automation can help. 

For example, chatbots have become increasingly popular in customer support and have been shown to increase sales by an average of 67%.

Ultimately, automation streamlines your processes and makes you more competitive — especially if you’re a small business. 

When it comes to printing, we, too, want to make you more efficient so you can make the most of your time and budget and focus on what matters most. Contact us today at 516-561-1468 or Visit Our Website at:www.printcafeli.com