Project Planning

Feel … informed

Transforming the everyday into the exceptional is never easy. The most successful projects are usually the most carefully planned. Below are several hints which should help us produce your desired result. If you wish to discuss your project then contact us.

At the design phase

Suitability of materials

Colour matching

Proofs

Pre-printed material supplied by you

Lay edges

Fitting to a printed image

Laser copiers and other potential hazards

Envelopes: dummies

Envelopes: converting your printed sheets

AT THE DESIGN PHASE
Obtain a quotation and estimated schedule for the job to help make sure a clear working framework exists from the start: it will help to avoid any potentially disastrous last-minute panics.

SUITABILITY OF MATERIALS
We always recommend testing materials first to make sure they work together, e.g., diestamping does not take to laminated or varnished surfaces; laid papers may need blanking out to avoid feathering of fine diestamping; foil may not release cleanly on some materials; and certain materials may crack or burst when blind embossed.

COLOUR MATCHING
Whilst every effort is made to match Pantone colours, it should be remembered that the interaction between different materials and different processes can sometimes affect the finished shade. This particularly applies to any process using heat or when a gloss finish is involved.

PROOFS
It is well worth paying for a full proof of any job not absolutely straight-forward; it could also help give your customer a better understanding of what you are trying to achieve.

PRE-PRINTED MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY YOU
Business cards, compliment slips and other small items cannot normally be handled if they are cut to size in advance. Please check with us first to ascertain the correct laydown and trim sizes.

LAY EDGES
When planning any printing that is to be further processed by us, check first that the lay-edges you wish to use are compatible with ours.

FITTING TO A PRINTED IMAGE
To minimise discrepancies in film work it is always preferable to make a block or die after printing so that they can be checked for size against the printed image.

LASER COPIERS AND OTHER POTENTIAL HAZARDS
The operating temperatures of laser copiers and other office equipment is high enough to make thermography or gloss diestamping work melt. We therefore recommend that you use matt water-based diestamping ink or laser-proof thermography; this can give very impressive results and is stable under these conditions. Alternatively, ask us.

ENVELOPES: DUMMIES
To minimise any problems due to the unsuitability of materials, to ascertain the window position against an address box or to match size to planned contents, we will make up envelope dummies free of charge prior to a production run.

ENVELOPES: CONVERTING YOUR PRINTED SHEETS
To make sure printing is correctly positioned, we will provide you with a laydown sheet and dummy.

In general, please also remember that your order will be carried out much more promptly if all your instructions are clear. Make sure you inform us of material colour, size and quantities, that artwork is correct and that you include a reference to any relevant Baddeley Brothers quotations.