New Archives - Cascade Print Media

What Is a Press Check

Direct Mail, Eco-Friendly, FAQ, Marketing, New, Print Marketing, Tips and Tricks

A press check is a service offered by print companies allowing you to come to a review your print project once it is on press. The pressman will get everything setup and print a few sheets for you to review before hitting the go button on the entire project. This step is important for various reasons to ensure your print project comes out exactly how you want it. Below are a few important things to look for during your press check.

1 – Low Resolution Images

Images used for marketing are often pulled from online sources or images taken with a phone, these images can and most likely will print at a low resolution, meaning that once printed on a substrate, they can become pixelated or blurry. The standard print resolution for a print file is 300 dpi, many images online or from your phone can be only half of that or less, making them impossible to print at a larger scale than what shows on your phone or computer screen. When reviewing your project at a press check, this will give you a proper representation of the print quality for those images.

Image of low vs high resolution image. One pixelated, the other more clear

2 – Ink Registration

Most offset printing is done in CMYK, a process of 4 colors printed in layers to create a specific color image or text. If these colors are not in registration, you will be left with a blurry and hard to read piece. It is important to make sure there is perfect registration. Pressman will have a tool called a loop at their press; this tool allows you to magnify the print allowing you to see the registration. If these colors are off the pressman can adjust to get them realigned.

Image of good registration vs bad registration on page

3 – Color consistency

This is the process to which the colors are consistent across the entire sheet. Color management profiles are used to ensure color consistency throughout the printing process. Review your press sheet thoroughly and make sure the entire sheet is equally vibrant without any dull areas. If there are any issues with consistency, your pressman and prepress department can review and adjust the print management system.

Image of Press sheet being checked for consistency and registration

4 – FPO

FPO means FOR POSITION ONLY, when creating your digital print file, you may use an FPO for things such as die lines, foil stamps, scoring, punching or folds. These are important during the prepress process so we know how your art should be laid out to avoid any of the processes listed above from impeding into your final print piece (nothing is worse than trying to read text that is on a fold.) Most of the time these FPO are created in a bright pink, but not always. It is important to make sure your FPO has been removed from the press ready files, so your FPO is not printed in your final piece. FPO should be created as a separate layer in your file so it can be turned off when plates are made for printing.

Image of large sheet showing where cuts and folds will be on finished product

5 – Check Your Mailing Panel

Mailing panels are tricky, USPS has a lot of rules for mailing panels, such as size, position and the ability to inkjet. If your print piece has a coating such as Aqueous, UV, Soft Touch or any other coating, be sure the pressman has created what is called a knockout, this is a process where they keep the coating from being applied in the mailing panel area. If that area is coated, USPS will most likely reject your pieces causing you to reprint.

6 – Pagination

If you are printing a booklet, with multiple pages on a press sheet, it is important to fold that press sheet to make sure your pages line up properly when folded and stitched. The prepress department has programs that will assist with correct pagination, but it’s always at idea to manually check this for accuracy. Also keep an eye out for alignment, making sure your page numbers land in the same place when the sheet is folded on the crop marks, and there is no art in or around the spine. One last thing to look for, make sure the creep has been accounted for. When you have a large book that has multiple sigs, when those sigs are folded and nested together the outer most sigs will need to be adjusted so the art has more room on the spine, or the inner most pages are not pushed out too far that they get cut off when the final trim is made.

6 – Pagination

Example of book pages creeping out of book due to folds

Interested in starting your next project but don’t know where to start? We can help! Get in touch today and we can walk you through the process, step by step.

Learn More

(253) 472-5500

3321 South Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

info@cascadeprintmedia.com

Bleeds – What To Know About Bleeds In Printing

FAQ, Marketing, New, Tips and Tricks

If you’ve been looking at having goods printed or have dabbled as a graphic designer you’ve likely seen the term “bleed.” But what exactly is bleed and why is it essential for quality prints?

What Does Bleed Mean in Printing?

In printing, “bleed” refers to the area that extends beyond the trim edge of the piece. This extra area helps ensure that no unprinted edges appear on the final piece accommodating for any slight movement of the paper during the trimming operation. Cascade Print Media recommends 1/8^th of an inch or 3mm around all sides to every art file.

Benefits of Adding Bleeds

Adding bleeds to your designs offer several advantages:

Prevents White Edges: Even with quality industrial cutting machines the paper can shift slightly during the trimming cuts. Bleeds help ensure the graphic extends beyond the edge which avoids unsightly white edges on printed pieces.

Professional Finish: Bleeds help provide a high-quality look to your printed pieces.

Consistency: It maintains the integrity of the art across multiple prints. Helps ensure that each piece looks identical even if there are slight variations in the trimming process.

How to Create Bleed in Your Design

1: Setup Your Document With Bleeds

When creating a new document set the bleed area ahead of time. Most design tools such as InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop have options for setting and adding bleeds.

2: Extend the Background

Ensure that any background images, colors or patterns extend into the bleed area at the edges. This ensures those elements will still reach the edge when the paper is trimmed.

3: Keep Important Elements Inside the Safe Zone

While ensuring that the background extends into the bleed area also ensures that all critical elements stay within the safe zone. This is an area usually about ¼” of an inch inside that trim line. This prevents them from being accidentally trimmed off or into. Cascade Print Media also recommends avoiding using thin borders in this area as the natural trim variations will be more noticeable the thinner the border.

4: Use Guides

Most modern design software will allow you to see and add visual guides. Use the guides to accurately position the design elements.

5: Export with Bleed Enabled

When you’re ready to save and export your final file, ensure the bleed settings are included. Most software will include an option to “include bleed” in the export settings. This step is crucial to ensure the printer knows to account for bleeds when trimming down the stock. Bleed from Canva is added via file > view settings > show print bleed. If exporting as a PDF file type ensure “crop marks and bleeds” are selected.

Adding bleeds to your designs is a simple but crucial step to ensure high-quality and professional looking prints. By understanding and applying bleed correctly you can elevate the quality of your pieces and avoid common pitfalls such as white edges or inconsistent borders.

Ready to get started on your next project, but don’t know where to start? We can help! Get in touch and we will walk you through the process!

Learn More

(253) 472-5500

3321 South Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

info@cascadeprintmedia.com

Promotional Products Return on Investment (ROI)

Eco-Friendly, FAQ, Marketing, New, Print Marketing, Promotional Products, Tips and Tricks

Promotional items

A study by the Advertising Specialty Institute found that “business promotional items are one of the most cost-effective advertising mediums for businesses.” The recall rate for promotional goods is around 89%, meaning that roughly 89% of customers can recall the advertiser on a promotional product they received within the past two years. A further 80% of people can also recall the messaging of the brand if they receive a promotional product from them. A physical item can also be much more effective than other types of campaigns. Promotional mugs and tumblers rank as more effective than radio/TV advertising. Studies report 57% of people can recall a brand’s advertising on a mug vs only 28% against recalling the advertiser on TV.

So why aren’t more businesses leveraging this growth opportunity?

One of the main reasons businesses may not be investing in corporate gifting or custom products is a perceived upfront cost. Certainly, depending on the products chosen, the upfront costs can look higher than expected. It’s important to consider more than just the raw cost when looking for promotional items.

Calculating ROI on promotional items

While not as easy to measure as a digital marketing campaign, this post challenges you to consider the ROI on promotional goods. The ROI is based on impressions – the number of people who are likely to see the branded product. When comparing investing into a marketing plan here’s a way to calculate the return on promo items.

No. of Items x Cost Per Item = Total Spend

Impressions per Product x No. of Items = Total Impressions

Total Spend / Total Impressions = Cost per Impression

Let’s break it down in a simple example using custom coffee mugs:

72 mugs x $10ea = $720

50 impressions ea x 72 = 3,600 views

$720 / 3,600 = $0.20 per impression

So, 72 mugs infrequently used only 50 times a year will get an estimated 3,600 impressions at an average cost of just $0.20 per impression. To put this in perspective the average CPC for Facebook advertising across all industries is roughly $2.00 per click.

With customers who consume coffee every day you could be looking at 72 x 365 or over 26,000 impressions a year. That takes the cost per view down to just $0.02 an impression. Those numbers don’t include others who might see the branding as well, which only drives down the impression costs even further.

Approx number of impressions

Clothing generates the most overall impressions over the expected lifetime of a product. The only exception being polo shirts, which can give the impression of a work uniform, making the wearers seem like employees and not casual users of the product. On average any product is expected to generate multiple hundreds if not thousands of impressions over its lifetime.

Know your target audience

Pick promotional products that your target audience will find useful or enjoy. Narrow in on products that are relevant to your business and will see use. Choosing well focused and quality products helps them stay around.

Approximately 87% of people keep promotional products for longer than a year while 4 out of 10 keep them for more than 5 years. That means people will continue to see your brand over and over, helping give you even more return on investment.

While at first glance promotional product expenses might seem more costly than alternative marketing options the actual cost per impression of promotional goods are extremely cheap. They provide long last lasting and consistent brand reminders to current and potential customers over a long lifespan.

Let Cascade Print Media help you grow your brand by offering solutions and options to stay in your customers’ minds while meeting your budgeting needs.

Sources: PPAI, ASI

Learn More

(253) 472-5500

3321 South Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

info@cascadeprintmedia.com

Quality Assurance – “Good Enough” is not in our vocabulary

Marketing, New, Print Marketing

“Good Enough” is not in our vocabulary.

Ensuring high-quality output isn’t just a step in our workflow—it’s woven into everything we do. Our quality assurance process spans multiple departments, each playing a critical role in delivering consistent, flawless results for our clients.

The Cascade Print Media Quality Assurance Process: Ensuring Excellence in Every Print

At Cascade Print Media, quality isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether it’s a high-end brochure, a trade show display, or a simple business card, we take every step necessary to ensure that the final product exceeds expectations. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we maintain precision, consistency, and excellence at every stage of production.

Project Consultation

While it may sound silly, quality starts before the art, job and paper are even ordered.

How will the product be used
What is the end goal
What materials are needed to ensure durability, appearance and brand consistency

Why It Matters: This ensures we order the correct materials that will ensure durability, appearance and brand consistency. Having the right material sets everyone up for success.

Pre-Press: Where Quality Begins

Before ink ever touches paper, we set the stage for success with a meticulous pre-press quality control process.

File Verification: We check resolution, bleeds, margins, and color settings to ensure every file is production-ready
Proofing: Digital and physical proofs allow clients to review and approve designs before production
Material Verification: We confirm the best materials for durability, appearance, and brand consistency
Preflight Inspection: We catch common issues—like missing fonts or low-res images—before they become costly mistakes
Color Accuracy: Whether matching Pantone colors or ensuring brand consistency, we fine-tune colors to be spot-on.

Why It Matters: A single overlooked error in pre-press can lead to reprints, delays, and unnecessary costs. We take the time to get it right before printing begins.

Production: Precision in Every Print

Once we move to production, our teams monitor every detail to maintain consistency and clarity.

Print & Color Matching: We continuously check colors against brand guidelines to ensure every piece is accurate
Sample Inspections: We pull samples during production to verify sharpness, ink coverage, and alignment and print quality
Real-Time Adjustments: Operators fine-tune ink levels, registration and settings to maintain a flawless finish
Uniformity Checks: We inspect for color shifts or imperfections across large print runs
Quality Checks for Apparel & Promo: From checking stitching to ensuring imprint placement, we inspect each item closely
Third Party Inspection: We have a third set of eyes, not involved in the project, inspect each job before giving it the final approval to move to finishing

Why It Matters: Quality isn’t just about the first item—it’s about ensuring every single piece in the order meets the highest standards.

Finishing & Bindery: Details Make the Difference

After production, our finishing team ensures that every project is assembled, finished and packed with precision.

Trim & Die-Cut Precision: Clean cuts, sharp edges, and exact measurements are a must
Binding & Folding Checks: Whether it’s a booklet, brochure, or apparel tag, we ensure alignment is perfect
Lamination & Coating: We apply finishes that enhance durability and appearance—free from bubbles or imperfections
Apparel and Product Inspection: We check for thread consistency, proper placement, and flawless application
Spot-Check Sampling: Before packaging, we inspect samples to confirm final quality

Why It Matters: The final presentation of a product is just as important as the product itself. Even the slightest misalignment can impact a brand’s reputation.

Packaging & Shipping: Delivering Perfection

The last step in our process ensures that your materials arrive in pristine condition.

Final Inspection: We verify quantities, quality, and specifications before packaging
Protective Packaging: From shrink-wrapping to reinforced boxes, we package with care
Label Accuracy: Every order is checked for correct addresses and special shipping requests
Reliable Delivery: We work with trusted carriers to ensure on-time, damage-free delivery

Why It Matters: A flawless order is useless if it arrives damaged. Our final checks guarantee your materials look just as good when they arrive as when they left our shop.

Why Our Quality Control Process Sets Us Apart

Quality isn’t just a department—it’s a mindset across every stage of production. Whether it’s a business card or a large-scale wall graphic, we follow the same rigorous process to ensure your brand looks its best, every time. From pre-press to packaging, every team member plays a role in ensuring the final product is something we’d be proud to put our name on.

Looking for a print partner that takes quality seriously? Let’s chat! Whether it’s business cards or large-format signage, we’re here to ensure every product makes an impact.

📢 Want to see our QA process in action? Schedule a tour—we love showing off what we do!

Learn More

(253) 472-5500

3321 South Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

info@cascadeprintmedia.com

History of Print: Part 1

FAQ, New, Print Marketing

Guest Post by: Noah

Did you know the history of printing goes back over 5,000 years?

The history of printing is a history filled with inventiveness and innovation, with each development in printing technology building upon the lessons learned from a previous technology.

Part 1: Ancient Printing

Printing first began in one of the earliest known human civilizations. The Mesopotamian culture came to be in what is now Iraq where they formed the first known cities, such as the city of Sumer. It was in these ancient cities that the first known form of printing developed around 3100 BCE.

The first known type of printing used a cylinder that was etched with a design and rolled through soft clay. Once the clay hardened, the design was preserved. This process allowed a single design to be replicated over and over. In other words, printing was created!

This form of printing went hand-in-hand with the world’s first known written language, called cuneiform, which was developed around the same time period.

The next great innovations in printing occurred in ancient China. Around the year 200 CE, the ancient Chinese culture developed wood-block printing. This type of printing featured lines of text carved into wooden blocks that could transfer ink to sheets of paper.

You may be wondering, where did they get the ink and paper? Well, it just so happens that both ink and paper were also invented in ancient China around the same time period!

The next great innovation in printing technology was the development of movable type, which occurred in China in 1041 CE. This innovation dramatically sped up the printing process, as the letters and words on a page could be easily rearranged, eliminating the need to carve the entire design for each page one at a time.

Learn More

(253) 472-5500

3321 South Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

info@cascadeprintmedia.com

History of Print: Part 3

FAQ, Marketing, New

Guest Post by: Noah

Part 3: Modern Printing

The last History of Print: Part 1 and 2 in the history of printing delved into the technological innovations that allowed printing to be mass produced. In this section, we will take a look at the printing technologies that were developed in the last 100 years.

The first such technology, inkjet printing was developed simultaneously in both the US and Japan in the 1950s. This type of printing eliminated the need for ink to be directly pressed onto paper. Instead, inkjet printing works by spraying ink through tiny jets onto paper. This technology allowed printing to become cost-efficient and compact, allowing printers to reach a much wider audience.

The next innovation in printing also happens to be one of the most recent. Digital printing was invented in the US in 1989. This type of printing works directly with digital files, allowing the ink that prints on the page to mirror the pixels on the screen.

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