Everyone wants fast printing. You have clients to meet, products to market, and sales to make. We understand. You don’t have time to wait for your printing to get done. You need fast printing and you need it now.
That said it is important to remember that printing is a manufacturing process. When you want fast printing and easy printing, you need to know that getting it requires creative designers, careful prepress personnel, and qualified press operators all working together. Even the materials used play an important part in how fast and efficiently a piece can go from idea to completion.
We make it our mission to get our customers print projects back into their hands as quickly, easily, and with the highest quality as possible. We happily work with you to take on the challenges of meeting deadlines and smoothing out the details of a print project.
So, if you are designing a new project, or planning to have some new business materials printed, here are a few things to be aware of to help speed up the process.
4 Tips to Get Fast Printing
1. Unique papers = Unique wait times
At cutpasteandprint we are big fans of specialty papers. We love to see and work with new and unusual paper stocks that really stand out in print. Seeking out paper that helps make our customer’s projects sing is something we enjoy. And of course, we always support designers pushing the envelope (and business card, and letterhead,etc.) in all kinds of ways.
But when it comes to paper time can be a factor. Paper manufacturers know what is popular. If you go to an office supply store you will see boxes and boxes of copy paper, smaller boxes of colored paper or labels, and next to no specialty papers at all. Most unique papers are special order items. That means they take longer to manufacturer and ship. This is doubly true if you need matching envelopes.
We want you to be aware that specialty papers require some forethought to meet strict schedules. We are more than happy help you get the perfect paper for your project and do so in a way that will insure you get the fast printing you want.
2. Ink takes time to dry
If you are used to printing on an office copier, you get the idea that printing is dry to the touch as soon as it comes out of the machine. But in commercial printing we often still print with actual printing ink. This means you need to figure drying time into a project’s schedlue. This often isn’t a major delay, but one afternoon of drying pushes back all the other parts of a print project. You don’t want to cut, or trim, or bind something with wet ink. It just will not end well.
It’s also important to remember that some inks take longer to dry than others. Generally speaking, we could say that darker colors take longer than light colors (but not always). And then there is Reflex Blue, a widely used ink for creating various hues of blue that is notorious for its long drying times. Use several of these inks, especially in heavier coverage, and you will have to factor in drying time.
3. Is digital okay for this project?
If time is of the essence for your next printing project, then you need to consider if digital printing fits your needs best. Digital printing these days is fantastic. When speed is the most important thing, or when you are just printing a few items, then digital is almost always the way to go.
It looks great, it is extremely high quality, and printing on it can be done with a much faster turn-around.
That said, when you need a lot of a particular printing project (think thousands), or when refinement, and feel are more important then speed, you will want to print with traditional offset presses and inks. At this stage they are still superior in our opinion. And there are more options available for paper and finish.
Designers, buyers, and business owners need to be aware of the time offset printing takes. As always talk to your printer early and often to decide on the best format for you.
4. The human problem
Okay, we love printing, and we love print technology. We could rattle on quite a bit about all the machines and materials we use. But really, there is a bigger problem we have to discuss. The human problem.
What is the human problem you might ask? Well very simply, it is all the things we humans forget, overlook, don’t know, or just plain mess up. the number one reason for delays in printing always comes back not to inks, presses, or paper, but people.
An overlooked spelling error, missing text, a problematic design all can play havoc with best intentions for fast printing. Human error is unmatched in slowing down the printing process.
The most important thing you can do when you prepare for commercial printing is to double, triple, and perhaps even quadruple check the details.
And when you are ready to take on those details, our team is ready to guide you through them. Feel free to call, email, or stop by. We will be happy to help you get your project perfect as quickly and efficiently as possible.
cutpasteandprint Printing, graphic design, binding, and promotional product specialists in Huntingdon Valley, PA. We proudly serve the Bucks and Montgomery County areas with superior quality, great customer service, and a commitment to getting you and your the best possible printed materials. Our services include: Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Graphic Design, Promotional Items, Bindery, and Copying.
estimating@cutpasteandprint.com • 215.364.3898
