Socialising

Are you socialising in business yet? How about your tweeting or posting to Facebook? What about videos...?

Direct Mail

Are you using it to build your business? 

Colour me Good!

Colours are extremely important when you're thinking of designing your printed items. Here we'll look at a few colours.. what they mean and help you choose what's best for you.

QR Codes - Quick Overview

• QR Code stands for Quick Response Code, it's intended to allow it's contents to be decoded at high speed.

• A QR code is a matrix code (or 2 dimensional bard code) created by Japanese corporation Denso Wave in 1994.

• The use of the QR code is free of any licence, clearly defined and published as an ISO standard.

• Back in 2010 QR codes were more common in Japan, and were the most popular type of two dimensional codes. This was largely driven by the fact that most japanses mobile phones can read this code with their mobile phones. Luckily this is now pretty standard with UK smartphones.

• So what can you do with a QR code? Well it's not only restricted to URL's or PURLS.. you can send an email - create a text message or as a contact card.

• If you want to start using QR codes - it couldn't be easier. Search for a simple QR Code generator and get creating. If you need help - we'll always be here to help where we can.

Get your camera around this...

...how about this...

...or this!

This space is left for the first person to comment on how they've started using QR codes in their material - and how it's helped them. You'll get the choice of your website or twitter QR code to display here. Just leave which one you want with your comment.

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Get yourself some Print Freedom

Paper Weights

So you've probably come across the term, GSM before. If you're ordering print of any kind. Whether that's business cards, brochures, posters or flyers you'll have already used the term, maybe without knowing it!

GSM means Grams per Square Metre. Basically it's the measurement of the weight of paper. This means we can be a little more precise when we speak in terms of thick, thin or firm, flimsy!

It also allows us to mark against your item a specific measurement of what your item is printed on. Allowing for easier reprints exactly as we did them previously.

So if you're new to this term - how can we make it a little more relative... well have a look below at the normal items and their standard paper weights.

Paper Weights explained

• 400gsm - This is the weight of a premium business card. Not to be confused with some online printers that provide only around 280gsm card.

• 350gsm - A standard for Bar or Club Flyers. Needed for standing up to a night out.

• 180gsm - 250gsm - Imagine a Magazine Cover with this weight of paper.

• 130gsm - 170gsm - The majority of posters are printed using this paper.

• 90gsm - Majority of magazine text pages are using this.

• 35gsm - 55gsm - Newspaper paper weight

Hopefully that will give you some idea as to paper weights and what these numbers mean the next time you see them on your screen or in a print spec.

Remember we're always here to help you if you do have a query regarding paper stock. So just give us a call or drop us an email.

What Does Your Business Card Say About You?

I want each of you now to reach into your back pocket - or your bag and pull out your business card.

Take a look at it as if you were handed this at an event by someone else. What are your immediate thoughts? What does it say about you, not just in the text - but in the design and the quality?

If you're not sure - follow this step by step thought process.

• Whats the paper it's printed on like? is it thick - does it feel premium, or does it feel a little flimsy and cheap? is it protected with a laminate?

• Whats the print like? Are the colours sharp and crisp? or is the line up of colours (registration) off? Has it been printed off on a home printer?

• Now what does it say? Has it got your attention or it a little hard to read?

• What about the design - does it look personal to the company or is it a generic template? Does it look professionally designed?

• Now how about the size, is it within the standard (85mm x 55mm) or is it slim and long or too big to fit into anyones business card holders?

• This one often gets over looked - are the details all professional? i.e. The address isn't a PO Box, there's no sign of a gmail or hotmail address anywhere? It's so easy nowadays to set up a domain and email address that no-one should be using these for business anymore.

All these items may seem a little bit detailed and over the top - but I guarantee you, you'll make these observations in seconds when looking at someones card AND you'll make judgements about their business.

The same can be said for yours. The next time you hand yours out to a potential client - they will be judging your business based on this. This is (most of the time) the first & lasting piece of business marketing that stays with a client when you've gone home - YOU NEED to make it stick.

What Does Your Business Card Say About You?

Pantone Numbers - How they can help your brand

Last month we talked about the Pantone System, a standardised colour reproduction system used by almost every printer to help create specific colours. When you think of large brands, brands that incorporate colour into their identity - it's more than likely they'll use a specific set of number to represent those colours. Take for example Ladbrokes - they have a specific ink mixed for their Red, this means - wherever they choose to get their items printed, the Ladbrokes brand is the same. There are still a few limitations with digital print - but even this is becoming rare with the advancement in colour matching systems.

So you can see the power of having a 'brand colour' attached to your business. It can also help with costs. Lets say you have a Green in your logo. Without a Pantone colour for this Green - everytime you get this printed - the printer is recreating this from the 4 colours (CMYK) by using a pantone colour you've reduced this to 1 colour. So again you can see the benefit in using a Pantone colour in your branding - of course it can work the other way also - if you're printing an item with a photograph in or something with extra colours, having a Pantone colour in there would mean adding another ink and bringing the inks to 5 (CMYK+Pantone). So it really depends on what you're print requirements are and what you're having printed.

I hope this has been of interest, if you're thinking of replacing a colour in your brand with a Pantone and would like some help - I'll be more than happy to talk through any queries you have to help make this as easy as possible. Just send me an email. richard@bluestarprintsolutions.co.uk or give me a call on 0844 272 9109.

Pantone Numbers

The Pantone Matching System is a standardised colour reproduction system. By Standardising the colours, different ink manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone System to make sure the colours match without direct contact with one another. One such use is standardising colours in the CMYK process. The CMYK process is a method of printing color by using four inks - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). A majority of the world's printed material is produced using the CMYK process, and there is a special subset of Pantone colours that can be reproduced using CMYK.

Those that are possible to simulate through the CMYK process are labelled as such within the company's guides.

However, most of the Pantone system's 1,114 Spot Colours cannot be simulated with CMYK but with 13 base pigments (15 including white and black) mixed in specified amounts.

The Pantone system also allows for many 'special' colours to be produced such as metallics and fluorescents. While most of the Pantone system colours are beyond the printed CMYK gamut, it was only in 2001 that Pantone began providing translations of their existing system with screen-based colours. (Screen-based colours use the RGB—red, green, blue—system to create various colours.)

Pantone colours are described by their allocated number (typically referred to as, for example, 'PMS 130'). PMS colors are almost always used in branding and have even found their way into government legislation (to describe the colors of flags).

Newsletters

"The single most effective tool you can use to build PROPER Relationships with your customers." 
Nigel Botterill

If you currently send out email marketing or similar. Is there anything stopping you having a hard copy of what you send and posting that out as well? You could use the e-marketing to supplement the printed edition and provide even more information to your customers! We're making it easier for you to get your hands on some newsletters and are currently working out packages that not only include the content writing, layout/design & print, but the mailing of your newsletters too! That means all you have to do is sit back and carry on with what you're good at - Running Your Business. If you're interested in this opportunity - [3]click here to register your interest. We'll send you over the package details as soon as we've finished them.

Print Freedom

What is Print Freedom I hear you shout! Well, Print Freedom is what everybody has the ability to achieve and can lead to some serious time savings if done correctly.

Think back to the last time you ordered some print - did you spend a while looking around online to find the cheapest site or a site that didn't look too suspect to order your print from? Maybe you have someone you already go to for your print? But think about whether either of these areas are actually saving you money.

There was an instance of someone in a business ordering print, a salesman I seem to remember - he had a quote given to him straight away for the item - but thought "Hang on! I wonder if I can get it cheaper..." 4 hours later - he runs up to his boss and claims "Great News! I've saved £10 on that first quote!".

He couldn't work out why his boss was less than pleased with this!

Print Freedom is within everyones reach. Combining knowledge of the market, industry and products is what will eventually save money on your items. Take us for example - we're not tied to a specific press - which means we can direct your job to the specific press intended for it.

We'd love to hear from you if you have any instances similar to the above and how you overcame it.

Customer Spotlight

In the coming months we're launching a Customer Spotlight area of our website. This great new page will have some great stories from our customers. It will also give you a more in depth look into what they do... how they do it and who they are. It will have some great pictures and what they've had produced by us for use in their business.
If you would like to send usdetails on your businessand experience with us - feel free to fill out the information contained here and we'll get you up on the page aswell.


I genuinly am looking forward to reading each and every one of these as they come in. It not only makes sure that where possible we are addressing any issues - it also takes time out of business for a moment and focuses on who people are - which is so much overlooked nowadays.

Pantone Colours

The Pantone system also allows for many 'special' colours to be produced such as metallics and fluorescents. While most of the Pantone system colours are beyond the printed CMYK gamut, it was only in 2001 that Pantone began providing translations of their existing system with screen-based colours. (Screen-based colours use the RGB—red, green, blue—system to create various colours.)
Pantone colours are described by their allocated number (typically referred to as, for example, 'PMS 130'). PMS colors are almost always used in branding and have even found their way into government legislation (to describe the colors of flags).


Next Month - we'll be telling you how using Pantone numbers can help your business...

Newsletters

"The single most effective tool you can use to build PROPER Relationships with your customers."

Nigel Botterill

If you currently send out email marketing or similar. Is there anything stopping you having a hard copy of what you send and posting that out as well? You could use the e-marketing to supplement the printed edition and provide even more information to your customers! We're making it easier for you to get your hands on some newsletters and are currently working out packages that not only include the content writing, layout/design & print, but the mailing of your newsletters too! 


That means all you have to do is sit back and carry on with what you're good at - Running Your Business. If you're interested in this opportunity - click here to register your interest. We'll send you over the package details as soon as we've finished them.


P.S newsletters are perceived differently from advertising - the majority of people perceive them aspublications and will build trust and position you as anexpert in your field.

Print Freedom

What is Print Freedom I hear you shout! Well, Print Freedom is what everybody has the ability to achieve and can lead to some serious time savings if done correctly.


Think back to the last time you ordered some print - did you spend a while looking around online to find the cheapest site or a site that didn't look too suspect to order your print from? Maybe you have someone you already go to for your print? But think about whether either of these areas are actually saving you money. There was an instance of someone in a business ordering print, a salesman I seem to remember - he had a quote given to him straight away for the item - but thought "Hang on! I wonder if I can get it cheaper..." 4 hours later - he runs up to his boss and claims "Great News! I've saved £10 on that first quote!". He couldn't work out why his boss was less than pleased with this! 


Print Freedom is within everyones reach. Combining knowledge of the market, industry and products is what will eventually save money on your items. Take us for example - we're not tied to a specific press - which means we can direct your job to the specific press intended for it. We'd love to hear from you if you have any instances similar to the above and how you overcame it. Email Us.

Pantone Colour of the year 2012

The Official Pantone colour of 2012 has been announced.

The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, including Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.

Source: pantone.com