The words ‘print materials’ encompass so many things. Marketing materials for starters. This can include business cards, brochures, promotional postcards and posters, flyers, and advertisements. Print materials can also be standard business materials like letterhead, envelopes, folders, and estimate forms. Print materials can be informational, like manuals, instructions, contracts, privacy notices, and disclosures. These are all print materials available through Broadstroke, and they each have staying power in that they’re a necessary part of doing business.
But some of our favorite print jobs are the ones that have sentimental value. How many of us have kept a physical ticket from a major sporting event, a graduation announcement, a prom or wedding invitation, a playbill from a play or musical, a program from a child’s performance, a menu from a special holiday or anniversary meal, a certificate of employee service or recognition, or even a thoughtful note from someone expressing their appreciation and gratitude?
In a world that continues to move online, tangible mementos serve as very real evidence of people’s participation and presence, with the added benefit of not taking up too much space. They are something that hold value to people and are often pieces they hold on to for weeks, months, or even years. With the sentimental value that people attach to them, these special pieces deserve thought and consideration when they are designed and printed.
Quality, keepsake print is something that is relevant to almost every business in almost every industry in some way, shape, or form. The most obvious is the items that are intended to be keepsakes while also being informative – programs, invitations, and announcements. Some are unintended, like tickets to a big game or menus from a special event that are treasured all the same. Finally, some, like certificates of service for employees or blank cards for writing notes of appreciation, are things that may not be appreciated by all but are worth the effort for those who do, especially if it makes them an advocate for your business.
Make sure your item has quality design
If you are printing something you want people to keep, take the time to have the piece designed professionally. Even if you pay attention to all the other print details, people are less likely to keep something that looks like it was put together without thought or consideration. A graphic designer understands how colors, sizes, graphics, images, fonts, and placement work together to create a look that is professional and matches the tone of what the piece is developed for, or the audience it is intended to reach. For example, the look of a playbill from a musical comedy should be different than a program for a memorial service.
If you don’t have a graphic designer on staff or contract with one to do freelance work, you can request it as part of your print job at Broadstroke, and design time will be quoted as part of the estimate for your job. To help any designer produce artwork that fits your vision, it is helpful to provide some guidance, if you have certain colors, graphics, or images you want to use, and the type of tone you want to set, like a clean, modern look, a nostalgic, old-fashioned look, or a colorful, playful look. This gives the designer a starting point and reduces the rounds of revisions necessary between the first proof they provide you with and the final artwork you approve for your print job.
Print on quality paper
Great design can be wasted if it’s not printed on quality paper. If you don’t use heavy enough weight stock, ink can bleed or show through both sides of the paper, and it can be easily ripped or torn. If you are printing something with the intent of people holding on to it, don’t print it in-house on copy paper, or accept the lowest bid from a printer without looking at the estimate details to see what type of paper they plan to print on.
Quality paper is noticeable by both look and feel. If you are planning on printing something like an invitation, tickets, programs, certificates, or a special one-time menu, print on a heavier stock paper that will better stand the test of time. There are more options than you might think available to choose from! There is gloss stock with a higher sheen for items like tickets, programs, menus; stock that has different textures like linen and suede finish, and stock that has different subtle design elements like marbling or speckles when you have a simple design and want an elegant look and feel for invitations, certificates or notecards.
One of the benefits of working with Broadstroke is that we have a paper catalog available so you can see and handle a wide variety of paper types to find the right match for your project. If you don’t have time to review paper samples or are undecided after looking them over, our Customer Service team can provide recommendations that fit within your budget for the piece you are printing.
Make sure the details are done right
Some details are simple and straightforward. Printers that aren’t serviced regularly or designed to print at high capacities may start pulling your pieces through crooked or leave residual ink on your pieces because of the way ink is heated when printing. It should also be trimmed down properly, so that important text, graphics, or images are not too close to the edge of the paper.
If you’re printing something that has folds or is a booklet, you’ll want to make sure the folds or binding are clean. Broadstroke scores jobs that have folds in them to ensure that the folds don’t crack over time, and we offer higher quality binding options, like saddle-stitching, in addition to traditional fold and staple options for programs, magazines, and booklets.
Broadstroke has high-quality machines that are designed to print these types of jobs, so that they are printed and bound correctly for a high-quality piece. Our production floor staff has years of experience in printing and finishing so they can monitor jobs as they are being printed and catch any issues quickly. Our design team is happy to help create a look you love, and our customer service and sales team can provide you with recommendations and options on paper choices and finishing that best suit your keepsake piece.
