Who knew our Webinar about ink would get you going like this? (Well okay, we did … that’s why we had the Webinar.) Jeff Ashton, vice president of Operations for Quality Inks & Rollers, presented the session covering ink components, green ink, eco trends, color considerations and special-effect ink.
He was deluged with questions (and loved it!). Those he didn’t have time to answer online have been addressed below and cover queries about using the BRC certification logo, how density affects color, when Pantone Color Guides are updated, how to get good ink opacity on dark stocks and much more.
Q: Are the scented inks environmental? JA: I see no reason why printing scented inks would have a more adverse environmental impact than your typical commercial printing. Read more »
“This is a sham,” Cynthia was up in arms, “A friend told me that there actually might not be any FSC-certified pulp in the FSC-certified paper that I buy! Then what about recycled pulp and … what is all this talk about auditing and … how can I trust anybody anymore?”
Okay, I never said eco-certification was easy, but Cynthia’s friend definitely didn’t do the best job at explaining the ins and outs. So let me try.
FSC, and SFI for that matter, both certify forests to ensure they are managed in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Yes, they have differing standards, but I’ll write about this aspect in the coming weeks.
For now, let’s just keep it simple and say this: Both FSC and SFI care deeply about our forests and the environment. Their respective labels provide you and me with the assurance that the paper products we’re purchasing come from forests managed to conserve biodiversity and support local communities.
This is what we all have heard for years now. It is a good and noble cause, and we support it. Read more »
As the comments began popping up on the screen during our recent Alternative Papers Webinar, we wondered if a virtual fistfight was about to take place. The bone of contention centered on what was said about the use of plastics – namely Category 3 “PVC or Vinyl” and Category 7 “Other” – for making paper.
It was apparent that attendees were passionate about buying sustainable paper. It was also apparent that we needed to address the questions in more depth than the limited online time allowed. We asked two industry experts to help us do exactly that.
Wendy Jedlicka, president of Jedlicka Design Ltd. and author of Packaging Sustainability, along with Peter Nowack, founder of PrintLeadership, provided their input on the questions we received. Their answers are listed separately, one after the other, but please note that they are not part of a conversation between the two.
Q: How do you justify the use of plastics from an environmental perspective? Read more »
In today’s tip, you’ll learn about the professionals ready to help you. It is absolutely the very first thing you should consider, because getting something printed well and to your liking requires expertise. Unless you have it, you must work with someone who does.
You have lots of choices.
1. Buy your printing online.
There are many excellent e-commerce printing sites that make it easy for you to order materials online 24/7. Names that come to mind include www.Printingforless.com, www.vistaprint.com, and www.48hourprint.com, though there are many, many more.
These sites offer a variety of products that you can customize by using their templates. You can even upload your own graphics. I have used these sites myself and love their easy functionality, real-time price calculations and their convenience. The quality of products I’ve purchased online has been excellent. Read more »
Pickle? Nah. Grass? Nope. Coffee? Getting warmer! The addition of scent was the irresistible attention-grabber on one recent issue of Georgia Printer magazine. So how’d they do it and what aroma did they finally choose?
Every issue of Georgia Printer is unique because a different member of The Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) produces it. Not only does the member donate 100 percent of the costs of production, he or she has also committed to showcasing the power of print by featuring a unique printing process or “twist” on the cover.
The result of this special collaboration produced yet another fun and refreshing example from the world of print. (And no, it’s not chocolate.)
Why Scent?
Pat McBride of Envision Printing in Marietta, Georgia was the first to suggest a scented cover for the Fall 2009 issue. The idea was an instant hit because it’s something that you can only do in print, and it’s also something fun for readers to pass around to customers and colleagues. Read more »
“At [insert corporate name here], we see sustainability as one of the most important opportunities for both the future of our business and the future of our world.”
This quote is actually from Walmart, but could just as well be from any number of companies today. The retail giant is pushing its sustainability initiatives and creating some sizable pressure on its suppliers here and abroad to get with the program.
The company created a short video called “The Secret Life of Sour Cream” that explains what Walmart and the businesses producing the sour cream are doing to make it a more sustainable product. Read more »
In the bad old days, only “hickie,” stripper” and “bleeding in the gutter” had two or more meanings. These days, the graphic arts industry is characterized by words that defy precise definitions and impair communications.
Some trade associations and consultants publish research using terms that haven’t been defined to survey respondents, thereby making results questionable. Here are nine of the terms to which different people provide different operative definitions.
Print Buyer. Our research indicates that only about twenty percent of those to whom print companies refer as “print buyers” spend more than half their time purchasing and coordinating the manufacture and distribution of print.
In a recent survey for a commercial printer, respondents were asked to describe their job function. No one responded “Print Buyer.” That function has been co-mingled with the design or management of other advertising, promotion or marketing media. A print buyer no longer perceives himself or herself as a print buyer. Read more »
The recession hasn’t just affected bank accounts and bottom lines – it’s also had a big impact on the morale and attitudes of the American workforce. To make sure that negativity and burnout don’t cause your team to mentally check out, build a positive company culture that will unite and engage everyone on your team.
For leaders, now is the time to improve your company’s culture and get inside your employees’ heads. You need to personally make sure that your company is a place where people want to work. You can allow the current economy to crush your morale, confidence and spirit, or you can choose to proactively shape your organization into one that is positive, resilient and prepared to take on challenges.
Here are nine strategies to help you boost morale and engagement in the current economy: Read more »
The same kind of technology that brought us the customizable possibilities of digital printing has also quietly grown a world of alternative papers – substrates made of synthetics like plastic or organics like minerals.
PaperSpecs asked Bosy Colak, president of Strategic Responses, to lead our December Webinar on this hot topic. Participation was enthusiastic and the questions so numerous (and varied) that we’ve decided to take a deeper look to bring you the answers you requested.
Over the next couple of months, we’ll venture into more specifics like the environmental aspects of alternative papers and printing guidelines for them as well. To kick the series off, you’ll find Mr. Colak’s responses to some of your broader queries. Read more »
“Should I get out of bed today?” – It is decidedly so. “Should I have cereal for breakfast?” – Yes.
Many of you have watched the funny YouTube video in which a teenager lets the Magic 8 Ball decide every action he’s taking for one day. Well, you can sit back and wait for the trusted 8 Ball to help you decide what’s going to be hot and happening in paper this year or …
THE Paper Trend for 2010
This one would overwhelm the 8 Ball for sure, as it can only answers Yes/No questions. There are so many interesting things happening in the world of paper that it’s hard to predict THE trend. Read more »
He was deluged with questions (and loved it!). Those he didn’t have time to answer online have been addressed below and cover queries about using the BRC certification logo, how density affects color, when Pantone Color Guides are updated, how to get good ink opacity on dark stocks and much more.
