What Is Bleed In Print?

What Is Bleed In Print?

Working on a print project and confused by some terms. We’re here to help!

No printer or machine is capable of printing all the way to the edge of the paper line. This means that project must be printed on larger sheets and cut down to final desired size. That’s where bleed comes in.

Bleed is print that goes beyond the edge of the page where the sheet will be trimmed.

 

 

Standard bleed size is 1/8” or 0.125” on all sides of your project. This means that you are ordering a standard sized 8.5 x 11” poster, your submitted art should be 8.75 x 11.25”.

This allows for a more professional looking product and ensures that things are not cut off at improper places with your project. This ensures that the image will truly go all the way to the edge of the printed project and leave no white margin.

Most printers should be able to add bleed to your work, if needed, but if possible, try to add it yourself so the project comes out just like you want. A good printer should submit a proof to you for your approval prior to going to print so you can check bleed and other information is correct. Check out our post on how to choose a good printer if you have more questions.

 

Have more questions about lingo or special projects – let us help! We are your partners in print.

Essential Print Items for Any Business

Essential Print Items for Any Business

Are you starting a new business, new product, or want to spice up an existing business? We have some essential print items that will help promote your business at very little cost.

Business Cards: Business Cards are essential in any business meeting. It is small, but mighty! The small piece of paper helps to pass along vital information that allows clients and future customers know how to contact you and your teams. Before anything else, business cards should be your first piece of marketing material

 

Brochures/Catalogs: While you do not need to have a full catalog of capabilities with you at the first meeting, you should have something to leave behind. it is always good to have a concise piece of literature to leave with the client outlining your company’s capabilities and how they can benefit from your company’s abilities.

 

Presentation Folders: To transport contracts and other important documents, presentation folders help keep everything neat and clean. Presentation folders help enhance your brand as well as helps organize all necessary paperwork.

 

Pens/Writing Utensils: help drive home your brand with writing utensils. These can be left behind with clients long after the meeting, helping promote to numerous people. You never know who will end up with your writing utensils, so try to include your company name and contact information.

 

Vehicle Wraps/Magnets: Not only will people see your company vehicle in the parking lot of your clients you are meeting with, but to and from meetings as well! Vehicle wraps and magnets are a great source of advertising, seeing the most impressions than any other form of advertising.

 

Banners/Signage: Need help to promote your company? Large signage and posters help get the word out about your new business or products.

 

Apparel/Uniforms: ensure the company standards are consistent with all team members. Company branded apparel helps further promote your brand, and also ensures that all team members look professional.

 

Promotional Products: Make sure to leave customers and potential clients with a “goody” after your first meeting. It can be as something as small as a magnet or pen, to something larger like portable speakers or coffee mugs,

 

Bonus Item:

Direct Mail Campaigns: Want to let people know you are new to the area? Have a new product line you want to promote? Get the word out with direct mail campaigns! Use your existing list or find a new one based off who you want to promote to.

 

 

Sales Meeting Essentials

Sales Meeting Essentials

Need insight into sales meeting essentials? Your business will shine with beautifully printed products that showcase your company and products. Some of the first interactions you have with potential clients are through sales meetings. Make sure you have the essentials to show off your business and brand, right from the start.

Check out our quick infographic on sales essentials and how to make any meeting successful!

Cascade Print Media's Sales Meeting Checklist

 

 

 

CMYK vs RGB vs PMS – What Is The Difference?

CMYK vs RGB vs PMS – What Is The Difference?

RGB : Red Green Blue

RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. These three colors are essentially additive light colors that are used to make new colors. When all three are combined, it creates white. When no light colors are added, it shines black. The stronger the light intensity, the brighter and more vibrant the color appears. RGB colors are considered additive colors and added to a black screen.

When to use: RGB is often used by graphic designers and others who use computers to design art. RGB can only be used on screens and other technological devices. Due to some technology limitations, our computer screens, TV screens and other device screens can’t display every color our eyes are able to see. RGB offers more colors, that are more vibrant than CMYK.

 

CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK,  and often referred to as 4-color process. It offers a larger scope of colors than RGB. Additionally, CMYK colors are considered subtractive colors and added to a white “screen”, or paper, to block out the light reflecting off paper. When adding cyan, magenta and yellow together, you would not get black unless adding them multiple times, causing more expense. Adding in a true black is time efficient and budget friendly. The CMYK color range allows for colors to be displayed more accurately and colors are presented in small, tiny, indiscernible dots to create the most accurate color possible.

When to use: CMYK is used on print materials such as paper, banners, apparel, promotional products and vehicle graphics. CMYK is best for photographs and designs that incorporate multiple colors or gradients

 

PMS: Pantone Matching System

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System and uses solid colors, sometimes known as spot colors. PMS colors are not recommended for color blending, as using multiple PMS colors can get expensive. Each Pantone color is solid and assigned a unique number to ensure consistency across print mediums. While you can convert PMS colors to CMYK colors, results often vary.

When to use: PMS is best used on logos and other branding, and best for projects with 1 to 3 solids colors without photographs or blending. It can be used to achieve colors outside the CMYK range of colors.

 

 

 

Color Process

When Best Used

Usage

Conversion

CMYK

Print Materials – especially with lots of colors Print Materials – good for blending, 2 or more colors, does not have to be solid artwork Can convert to RGB

RGB

Digital Designs Digital Screens Can convert to CMYK

PMS

Logos and Branding & Solid Colored Artwork Print Materials – no blending, 1-3 colors max, must be solid artwork Can convert to CMYK/RGB, but differences often occur

Resources: differencebetween.net, printernaational.org,

Cascade Print Media offers a wide range of options for both PMS and CMYK printing. We offer press checks upon request, so you can see your project being printed in real time, check the colors to ensure they match your branding standards, and get a tour of our facility!

Still not sure which option is best for you? Don’t worry — one of our printing experts would be happy to sit down with you to find the best options to meet your budget and ensure your project comes out exactly how you want it.