Ultimate Print Design Guide by Conlins Print

The Ultimate Guide to

DESIGN

Table of Contents Business Cards

Invitations

Envelopes

Bookbinding

Brochures

Signage

Lawn Signs

About Conlin's

Business Cards

a quality first impression

Leave a positive first impression with a well-designed business card.

1. Use good design principles Make sure that your logo, type, and all content are clearly legible. Avoid overcrowding the card – negative space makes your design easier on the eye.

2. USE the standard size Practicality is just as important as creativity! If your card doesn’t fit in a wallet or card holder, it runs the risk of getting tossed. Get clever and incorporate folds to give your card more space while sticking to the standard size of 3.5" x 2".

3. Plan your content Your card should provide the most important information clients will need to reach you and preview your work. It doesn’t need to be an exhaustive list of every social media outlet or method of contact. Avoid more than two phone numbers, URLs, or email addresses.

4. Get Creative Your card does more than just provide your contact information. Use messaging and design techniques that show your creativity and advertise yourself as the best option for your services. Consider the back of the card as extra space for additional messaging.

5. Make it Memorable One of the key benefits of print is the ability to interact with multiple senses, thus forming a deeper impression. Take advantage of the tactile nature of print by using thick textured stock, bright colors, or lamination to create a memorable experience.

Design a Gorgeous

invitation suite

A strong invitation suite carries the theme of the event. It gives the recipient a taste of what is to come, and it can generate excitement and anticipation. Don’t let your design fall flat! Here are some tips for creating beautiful invitations — no matter what the occasion.

1. Choosing Your Stock There are so many specialty stocks to choose from — from vibrant colors to embossed or textured stocks. For this project (left), we selected a Classic Crest Duplex 120# Cover for the invitation. This ‘duplex’ paper was white on the front with a pale purple colored back. Turn to page 10 to see the back of the invitation.

2. Choosing Specialty Inks Gold ink is an example of one of our specialty inks. We used it on multiple items in this suite! Silver and white ink are also available. Keep in mind that the stock you choose will change the overall appearance of ink.

3. Designing Your Envelopes 4-color envelope printing allows you to add messaging or design to your envelope. This can be a very effective way to make your invitations stand out from the rest of the mail. You also have the option of using an envelope liner. It’s a simple way to make everything look classier and more finished. The liner for this project is deep purple with a gold, geometric pattern.

4. Choosing Fonts Strong typography contributes to the mood and design of your invites. On these invitations, we paired the scripted font Priscilla with a serif font called Playfair Display. The effect is modern, but still classic and timeless.

Elevate your

envelope design

Envelopes are direct mail's first impression. Thoughtful design crafts an envelope that says, “I am carrying something awesome inside – you definitely want to open me!” Here are five of our favorite tricks for making envelopes that stand out.

1. Eye-Catching Colors A bright envelope is exciting and attention-getting! There are so many colors to choose from. If you are sending an invitation, coordinate the color to your design. If you are sending marketing mail, choose something that stands out.

2. Unusual Size or Finish Envelopes come in a variety of sizes, colors, and even textures! Don’t forget to consider these elements when making your selection. Just remember that the size change may affect the postage cost.

3. 4-Color Envelope Printing We can print full color designs on your envelope! Use this service to beautify your envelope’s appearance, or use it for marketing purposes.

4. White Ink Printing Our specialty white ink can be used on your envelopes, too! If you’re using white ink, choose a darker envelope color to make it stand out. The effect is quite stunning!

5. Envelope Liners Discovering another pop of color or pattern when you open the flap of your envelope is a delightful surprise! It shows attention to detail and makes your piece look even more finished. 16

Tips for choosing

bookbinding styles

Each type of binding has its own unique features, and choosing the best one for you depends largely on the project.

Coil Binding

Saddle Stitch

Perfect Binding

A plastic coil holds together the pages of a coil-bound book. One of the major benefits of coil binding is that the finished product will lay flat on any page. Tabs can be used to further organize the book.

Saddle stitch books are held together with staples along the fold. They are a common choice because of how costeffective and quick they are to print. Conlin’s offers square saddle stitch booklets with lay-flat capabilities.

This durable binding provides the most professional look, which is commonly used for paperback books. We can print on the spine, which allows you to identify them when they are side by side on a bookshelf.

GBC Comb

Velo Binding

Wiro Binding

This plastic GBC comb is similar to coil binding, and it's even easier to add or remove pages. It comes with lay-flat capabilities. This binding type is the least durable, so it’s best used for projects with a short lifespan.

Velo binding is durable and secure. Adding or removing pages is difficult, and it does not lay flat. This binding type is commonly used for legal briefs, technical or financial documents, audit reports, or manuals.

Similar in appearance to coil binding, wiro binding lays flat on any page and is super durable. Wiro has a bit more of a classic look than coil binding. When choosing between the two, it’s really up to preference.

Tips for Designing

marketing brochures

Even in the digital age, printed brochures and “leave-behind” pieces are still an important part of every business’s marketing mix. But is your company brochure actually selling your products and services, or is it getting tossed aside? Here are three tips to ensure that your brochure is getting the job done!

1. Ask yourself the right questions. Don’t piece together your brochure without first considering what you want it to accomplish. By asking the following questions, you’ll be able to set a goal in your mind and design content aimed to push the reader toward a specific action, such as calling for a quote, visiting your website, or inquiring about a new product. What is the purpose of the brochure? Who is your audience? Is the brochure design consistent with your brand’s identity and voice? What is the main message and call to action?

2. Plan your content. Keep in mind that your customer doesn’t know your product as well as you do. Use clear, concise language and avoid using technical terms. Headlines should be short, and sentences and paragraphs should be informative and concise. Don’t forget to fact and spell check! Finally, remember that the way your content is organized is equally as important as the content itself.

3. Use quality materials. Your marketing materials should make an impact! Use images that are highquality and tell the story of your brand. Have photographs taken professionally (or if you happen to have an excellent photographer on your staff, have them take the shots). Another option is to use stock photography. Finally, to make sure your finished project looks it's best, select a sturdy paper stock that will highlight and enhance your content.

Selecting Fonts

for signage design

When planning the typefaces for your signs, there are two important considerations. Think about 1) the size of the sign and 2) the amount of time your reader will have to comprehend the information. A small lawn sign on a 40 mph road will require a greater level of readability than a large sign on a bus stop where the reader will be sitting on the bench or walking by on foot.

This Works

COUTURE 1. CHoose Sans serif fonts with uniform thickness.

2. select clean fonts with minimum embellishments.

For maximum readability, a bold sans serif font is the cleanest choice. While you aren’t strictly limited to this kind of font, it may be the best option for signage that’s small or far away, or for when the reader will be driving past it at 60mph.

Using a fancy calligraphic font on an invitation is different than placing it on signage. An invitation is handheld, giving the reader time to thoroughly comprehend the information. With signage, you only have a few seconds to capture attention. When you choose a script font, pick one that’s simple and easy to read.

Legible

A Bit Too Fancy 3. If you choose a script font, Use it strategically.

4. Increase character spacing for optimal readability.

For maximum readability, keep the use of script to a minimum. Don’t make your reader look at an entire sentence (or paragraph) in a script font. Use it strategically for short headlines or logos. Display the bulk of your message in a clear typeface.

If the letters are too crowded together, it might affect the legibility of your signage – especially if it’s a serif font. Increasing the character spacing can make your signage easier to read.

Tips for Designing

lawn signs

Research from the United States Sign Council (USSC) states that it takes drivers one second to detect a sign on a busy street and another two to three seconds to read the message. With such a small window to grab their attention, it’s important that your lawn signs communicate your message clearly.

SPEED

LETTER HEIGHT

25 mph

7 inches

30 mph

10 inches

35 mph

11 inches

40 mph

13 inches

45 mph

14 inches

55 mph

16.5 inches

1. Size & Readability

2. Negative Space

When determining the size of your sign, as well as the size of your fonts, consider both the viewing distance and the speed limit of the area in which the sign will be placed.

Managing the space between design elements makes it easier for readers to interpret your message. A crowded sign can be sloppy and difficult to read.

3. Typography

4. Color

Be sure to choose fonts that are easily legible from a distance. Your sign will hold the viewers attention for about four seconds total. You don't want them to waste any of that time on trying to interpret an unclear font. Clean and bold sans serif typefaces are usually the best option.

Avoid soft colors and instead opt for bright, saturated ones. These will make your sign pop. It’s also important that your text and background color are contrasting. Contrasting colors tend to be on opposite sides of the color wheel (examples are shown in the image above).

About

Conlin's Print

From the beginning, Conlin’s was a family affair, founded by husband and wife team Mike and Jane Conlin. Mike grew up in the printing business working for Philadelphia Blue Print Company, Teledyne Post, and the Xerox Corporation. With his extensive knowledge of the print and copy industry, Mike launched his own venture in 1980. Mike had always pursued the latest in technological advances in his field, and he built a successful business by staying ahead of the curve while maintaining a personal approach. On July 22, 1950 at the age of 20, Jane and Mike tied the knot. At the time, Mike was honing his salesmanship abilities at Philadelphia Blueprint. He also worked for Xerox from 1975-1980. At last in 1980, Mike borrowed $10,000 each from two friends to start his own venture, Conlin’s Copy Center. Mike, Jane, and their son Bill all came together to get the company up and running. In that time, it was unusual for women to be a part of the workforce. Jane not only worked for Conlin’s, but she shepherded the early computerization of the company. Five years later, Michael, his other son, joined the company as well. To keep costs down, the first Conlin’s delivery truck was a purple mail truck. Today, Conlin’s is located in King of Prussia and other family members have joined the business along the way. Bill Conlin, President, operates the business office with Bill Conlin, Jr. a Sales Executive and Nephew, Jim DiBattista, Manager. Our family approach to business has resulted in long-time loyal employees, some who have been with us for over 26 years. 41

FOR MORE DESIGN TIPS AND PRINT TUTORIALS, VISIT WWW.CONLINSPRESS.COM.

King of Prussia 1011 West Eighth Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 kingofprussia@conlinsprint.com 610-337-4460