Presentation Folder is an innovative wholesale print provider based in Southern California. Proudly printing, foil stamping and embossing for over 45 years. Your favorite source for custom presentation folders and now packaging, boxes, and much more. Presentation Folder Inc. is a 3rd generation family run business with over 45 years of national manufacturing experience and hard earned industry knowledge, which allows us to offer an impressive and complete line of presentation folders, boxes & folded cartons, custom digital and offset printing, lamination and uv coatings, and various digital print enhancements including Raised UV and Digital Foil.
A folding carton, also called Paperboard is an affordable, custom option for packaging a wide range of products. Folding carton boxes are very flexible and compatible with many printing options and new processes such as lamination, digital foil, raised UV, and digital four color printing.
Folding Cartons are an excellent product to add to your product offerings. Folding cartons offer opportunity for brand establishment and are easily customizable to showcase a variety of products. With new gluing equipment and digital printing technology, folding cartons are available at low minimum quantities for an affordable price.
Folding cartons make for a wonderful packaging option for a variety of industries. Folding cartons work well with candy, chocolate, cosmetics, cannabis and cbd, coffee, tea, electronics, jewelry, games, pharmaceutical, dogs and pets, soap, lotion, tobacco, toys, wine, and many more. By adding folding cartons to your print repertoire, you will be able to cater to many industries beyond presentation products.
Digital Printing and Embellishments
Digital printing and specialty embellishments take folding cartons to the next level of design and brand establishment. Raised UV and Digital Foil are specialty offline coatings that add breathtaking tactile effects to any packaging, box, and folding carton. Specialty lamination brightens ink colors and enhances the memorability of raised UV and digital foil. Because of our digital print capabilities at Presentation Folder, we can offer affordable folding cartons at low minimum quantities. Custom packaging and boxes has never been easier.
Want to know more about special offers and new products? Sign up for the Presentation Folder Newsletter.
We recently acquired two Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1e presses. Read on for information about this cutting-edge digital inkjet technology, updates on record production time, and our new product offerings.
What is Digital Inkjet Technology?
Digital Inkjet technology is significantly faster than offset or aqueous inkjet printing because it requires no set up time. The ink dries instantly, so no time is wasted between prints for drying. The KM-1e offers improved image quality, so prints stay crisp at a high resolution.
Is Digital Printing Different than Offset Printing?
Digital Printing is quite different than offset printing. Offset printing uses plates and wet ink, which requires setup and drying time. Because of the setup and drying time, offset is very expensive for one-off, custom projects that need to be done quickly and in small quantities. Offset is much better for large print orders that need to be repeated every few months. Digital printing is a perfect complement to offset because it is fast and very affordable in short quantities. Digital Printing is great for custom projects, pop-up events, and boutique orders. With the KM-1, we are able to offer affordable custom prints without compromising quality.
Variable Data Capability
Variable Data is a term used to describe printed products with one text change, most commonly different names on company business cards. Digital printing makes variable data effortless, allowing us the capability to print variable data at an affordable price! Variable Data is great for name changes on custom invitations, business cards, postcards, and greeting cards.
2 KM-1 Presses for Double the Production Time
We acquired not just one but two KM-1 presses for double the production time. This allows us to offer a variety of printed products at record breaking production time. We offer two super fast presentation folder options: folders available to ship within the same day of ordering, and folders available to ship within 24 hours of ordering. Those are some fast pocket folders! Additionally, we offer custom printed posters available to ship within the same day you place your order, and posters available to ship within 24 hours of placing your order.
Custom Posters and Signs Printed Digitally on the KM-1.
Our Custom Posters and Signs are printed digitally on the KM-1, which allows us to print B2 sizes on the highest quality UV inks and offer short run quantities at an affordable price. Adding posters and signs to your print repertoire is more important now than ever throughout Covid-19 and beyond.
Covid-19 Posters and Signs
Posters and Signs are a great way to provide key information, instructions, and protocol with eye catching visual design. With social distancing in place, large informational posters are more important than ever: they can be read at a distance and provide concise information about Covid-19 protocols, sales or promotions, or anything else that may need to be broadcast in a public space.
UV Ink and Short Run Printing
Because UV Ink dries instantly, your posters and signs are ready to ship or pickup as soon as they are printed. Quick drying ink combined with a stunning resolution of 1200 x 1200 DPI (dots per inch) ensures the highest standard with no extra production time — our custom posters and signs are printed at exceptional quality in record time.
With variable data options and a low minimum quantity per order, unique short run printing is easy and convenient for you and your clients. Custom posters and signs start at quantities of 25.
Free Samples and Quote Requests
We offer free samples to showcase the strength of these prints. You can place a free sample request online at our website. You can also request a quote online at the following link. Ready to place your order? Ordering custom posters online has never been easier! Place an order now.
Ready to keep up with all things Presentation Folder Inc.? Sign up for our mailing list!
Presentation Folder Inc.’s new gluing equipment enables us to create custom packaging with ease. Let’s walk through some of our packaging highlights and explore why this product is a must-offer to your clients.
Industry Highlights
Custom Packaging affords a unique, luxury feel that is brand-consistent. It is commonly used in a variety of industries, especially those with smaller sized products. Specifically, custom packaging is ubiquitous among the Cosmetic & Beauty industry, Cannabis & CBD industry, Home Electronics, Small Kitchen Appliances, Candles and Soap, Jewelry, Candy and Chocolate, Artisan Food and Beverage, Beer and Liquor, Pets, Toys, Pharmaceutical, Office and Stationary, and Restaurants. Our Custom Packaging can be uniquely tailored to your client’s industry, allowing their brand to showcase their products and stand out above competition.
Custom Print Embellishments
Custom Print Embellishments add interesting design elements to any custom box, box sleeve, or package. With our state of the art Scodix Digital Press, adding Raised UV and Digital Foil to packaging products is a breeze. Paired with specialty lamination, our printed custom packaging has lasting tactile effects.
Raised UV is a specialty finishing process in which a raised, spot gloss is applied to a print to highlight specific artwork areas: logos, type, images, and background patterns are all great choices for an application of Raised UV.
Digital foil works the same way as Raised UV, but instead adds a layer of foil over the elevated UV coating. The result is a similar effect to traditional foil stamping with embossing, without the indent on the other side of the page and without the hassle and cost of a custom die and setup time! More information about Raised UV and Digital Foil.
We offer hot foil stamp and embossing too! Our expansive equipment allows us to offer competitive pricing on a variety of finishing options.
Low Minimum Quantities
Our cutting-edge KM-1 press allows us to print digitally and offer low minimum quantities on Custom Packaging. Low minimum quantities are a great way to send your clients custom samples, and are attractive for unique marketing events such as pop-up events, limited-time products, seasonal-specific products, and more. Take advantage of low minimum quantities by visiting our website to learn more.
Ready to request a quote, request samples, or place your order?
Digital Inkjet Technology allows for Premium Short-Run Printing at Affordable Prices
B2 Size with Digital Printing
We offer custom posters in the following sizes: 18″ x 24″ / 20″ x 28″ / 22″ x 28″
All posters are printed digitally using our latest installment, the Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1. The digital press rivals offset presses in image quality, color, and glossiness. Moreover, it is specifically adept for variable data at no extra charge, making each print uniquely tailored to your client. We are forecasting variable data as a top printing trend for 2021 and years to come. It is imperative to add custom posters with variable data to your printing repertoire. Posters will help you stand out to clients by offering custom printing without sacrificing cost. Additionally, all of our KM-1 products use UV Inks.
UV Ink
UV Ink dries immediately, meaning that your products will be available to ship or pickup in record production time. Printed posters on the KM-1 are also able to achieve a print resolution of 1200 x 1200 DPI (dots per inch). This means that not only will you be able to offer clients the speed and customization of variable data at high-speed production times, the quality of the prints you can offer has never been better. Combined with our affordable short-run quantities, posters are only going to increase in popularity.
Short-Run Prints at Affordable Prices
Short-Run printing is a must-have when it comes to custom posters with variable data. It fits the unique styles of boutique businesses today: whether it be the fashion, merchandising, makeup, herbal, cannabis, music, or food industries, pop-up events are more popular than ever. And this requires event-specific print.
Clients will utilize short-run printed posters for marketing and brand reinforcement specific to their event needs. For example, ordering posters in quantities of 10, 25, or 50 will allow them to uniquely showcase their brand specific to the feeling of an event: be it a pop-up event, tradeshow, exhibition, showroom, gala, or celebration. Offering clients custom printed posters for their specific event will highlight your unique print offerings while also encouraging print tailored directly to their marketing needs. With Presentation Folder as your supplier, we make this fantasy a practical and affordable choice.
Interested in special deals and unique product offerings?
Our annual update on print trends: what’s new, what is back in style, and what to look out for in 2021.
2021 Outlook
Short-Run Printing
Short-Run printing projects are the new normal. With our addition of the premiere Konica Minolta (KM-1) digital press combined with our Scodix Ultra Pro, short-run printing is easier and more affordable than ever. Likewise, short-Run printing affords unique, luxury printing to a variety of products. This year we have already seen an uptick in demand for short-run printedposters and signs.
Short-Run printing affords clients unique products that fit their specific needs practically on-demand. Being able to offer clients affordable short-run printing will allow for more diverse print offerings and faster turnaround time. Significantly, adding short-run printing to your product list will allow you to cater to a variety of print needs, provide branding for pop-up and impromptu events, and encourage your clients to push branding materials for timely and event-specific events.
Variable Data
Coupled with Short-Run printing, offering personalized prints with variable data is a must. Given that the more personalized the print, the more effective the impression it makes, variable data is more important than ever. Premium digital technology ensures that adding variable data to a printing project is hassle-free and seamlessly integrated, at no extra cost. Adding variable data to your print repertoire pairs well with short-run printing as it encourages the one-off promotional materials your clients are looking for. Moreover, it pushes site-specific, event-specific, and time-specific print: invitations, business cards, packaging, posters, signs, folders, and postcards lend themselves well to spontaneous events. Notably, variable data ensures lasting impressions from the get-go, adding a personalized touch to make sure everyone that interacts with your print feels special.
Digital Foil and Raised UV
While we know that Digital Foil and Raised UV are not new print phenomena, over the years we have only seen spikes in the demand for these specialty offline processes. Pairing well with short-run orders, digital foil and raised UV seamlessly integrate variable data into any project. Digital Foil adds all the sophistication of traditional foil stamp without any of the extra costs for die and setup time. Similarly, Raised UV adds a textural dimension to any print with the ease of digital technology.
Pairing the two together creates lasting tactile and visual effects, while maintaining the elegance of timeless, refined print. In 2021, it is necessary to offer this to clients to maintain print relevance, and with our Scodix Ultra Pro the offer is easier than ever. Explore our stock textures and UV patterns, or watch our tutorial series to show clients how to make their own custom UV designs using vector artwork.
2021 Outlook
We ended 2020 battling a global pandemic, doing our best to offer hospitals and essential businesses the prints they need in hard times: social-distancing signs, floor stickers, vaccine packaging, and hospital ID badges.We thank everyone who worked hard to get us through 2020. We look forward to the challenges and surprises 2021 will bring, knowing that with the emergence of digital technology, the resilience of our employees and clients, and the creative innovation of those all around us, the print possibilities are endless.
Packaging is all around us and a central print to many industries: makeup and beauty, pharmaceutical, food, alcohol and drink, electronics, apparel, gift boxes, merchandise packaging, and more. Emerging digital technologies can take traditional promotional packaging to the next level with the eye-catching effects of digital foil and raised uv.
Raised UV
Raised UV is a great asset to offer clients interested in upgrading their packaging because it is affordable while still offering a luxury look. Our premium Scodix technology makes variable data simple to add to any packaging order. Raised UV gives clients a unique way to showcase their branding and custom artwork, while maintaining an elegant and minimalist design. Additionally, this offline coating process adds an unmistakable textural element to any print. Raised UV makes for a great packaging offer as it creates the possibility for layers of complex patterns, shapes, and textures without visually cluttering the overall appearance.
Digital Foil
Digital Foil is classy, unique, and utterly fabulous, what more could you want in a printed product? We offer the traditional foil colors of gold and silver as well as trendy new colors like rose gold, red, and holographic. The holographic foil is great for anyone looking for an iridescent shine. Along with Raised UV, Digital Foil is an offline coating process that makes variable data easy and painless.
Both Raised UV and Digital Foil pair well with lamination and are great for short-run printing. You can feel confident offering your clients a solution to their short-run printing needs, variable data packaging, and luxurious aesthetics at an affordable price: all made possible with digital foil and raised uv.
Tax folders are a great option for industry specific folders. Tax folders and report covers are a perfect choice to cover a completed tax return elegantly and with unique branding. They also work well as an option for any important financial document. Your accounting clients will love the tax folders we offer, which can be printed on a variety of linen stocks and match seamlessly with tax specific software including: Lacerte / Proseries / Intuit / Crosslink
Printing options and specialties
Die Cut Windows
Tax folders and report covers can be printed with die cut windows on the front cover. Most tax folders come with a single or double small window at the top left hand corner. Staple tabs at the spine of the fold-over report cover are also optional.
House Stocks
Choose from a variety of our house stocks. These linen stocks are darker in color and pair well with foil stamping and embossing for a classic look and feel. Feel free to browse our house linen stocks using this link. Our linen stocks are 100# thick, leaving a durable and elegant impression.
Foil Stamp and Emboss
Foil stamping and embossing adds timeless elegance to any report cover or folder for any financial document. This unique printing capability creates a look of elegance, and are great sales & marketing tools that are popular among legal & financial industries. They are great for centering a client’s unique brand, using design elements like their logo or other custom artwork.
Overall, tax folders and report covers are a great industry specific product to have as on the table for financial and accounting clientele. With our tax folders and report covers, clients can seamlessly integrate their industry-specific software, apply their unique branding, and offer an elegant cover to important documents. To learn more, visit our website at the following link.
We are thrilled to announce Presentation Folder’s latest digital press installment with Konica Minolta technology. Innovation has always been a critical part of our vision, and the revolutionary AccurioJet KM-1 allows us to offer an amazing solution for short-run printing and meet the latest production demands – all while better serving the unique needs of you & your customers.
We are thrilled to announce Presentation Folder’s latest digital press installment with Konica Minolta technology. Innovation has always been a critical part of our vision, and the revolutionary AccurioJet KM-1 allows us to offer an amazing solution for short-run printing and meet the latest production demands – all while better serving the unique needs of you & your customers. Read more for an outline of the benefits of this press and why it will bring you even better prints at lower prices.
UV Inks
UV Ink dries instantly, which completely eliminates time consuming processes such as permeation of the paper with solvents and drying. Additionally, UV Inks ensure that paper waviness is minimized. Our new KM-1 ensures outstanding registration accuracy and high-quality printing, all with fast turnaround time and exceptional color with our UV ink capability.
Short Run Printing
This cutting-edge digital print technology doesn’t require plates or set up time, making short run printing easy and affordable. This is great if you are looking to order custom samples to show a client, or just need a job with a quantity under 50. This is very common for printed presentation products like invitations, custom posters, business cards, and more.
High-Quality Image Resolution
The KM-1 is able to full color print high resolution images at 1,200 x 1,200 dpi. This ensures that any full color print with imagery– whether it be presentation folders, business cards,invitations,greeting cards, or large format posters— is printed at the highest caliber resolution, from the first print to the last. We are excited to offer a new array of products and even lower prices and faster turnaround time on our current presentation products. Stay tuned for more product updates and initiatives following our implementation of the KM-1. This is truly revolutionary digital inkjet printing. The print possibilities are endless!
Interested in hearing about unique product offerings, sales, and more Presentation Folder Inc. updates? Subscribe to our email list below!
This is the second post in our current series on designing print-ready Raised UV Files. For this tutorial, we will be going over a workflow to highlight fine details and very small shapes in an image. These details would take hours to draw by hand, so we will create custom vector shapes using Illustrator’s Image Trace tool.
Raised UV Design Tutorial Series, Part 2 Featuring Image Trace
This is the second post in our current series on designing print-ready Raised UV Files. In our first post, we broke down, step-by-step workflow for a simple, custom Raised UV design. The first post featured thick Raised UV shapes to highlight certain areas of an image using Adobe Illustrator’s pen tool to create custom vectors. For this tutorial, we will be going over a workflow to highlight fine details and very small shapes in an image. These details would take hours to draw by hand, so we will create custom vector shapes using Illustrator’s Image Trace tool. This tutorial is perfect for details like: bubbles, dots on a basketball, ocean foam, condensation, or any design that has complex shapes or a multitude of very small shapes that you may want to highlight with Raised UV.
Raised UV is an offline process that adds a layer of uv polymer to a printed marketing product like business cards, presentation folders, posters, and invitations. At Presentation Folder, we have the finest Raised UV technology available with the Scodix digital press. Raised UV is a stunning effect to add to any printed marketing tool because it adds a textural element and allows graphic elements to lift off the page. Because Raised UV is a transparent, colorless coating, it adds texture without crowding the image or overwhelming a design. With Presentation Folder’s premiere Scodix capabilities, short run printing and variable data become easy and affordable. For more information about Raised UV products, you can visit our website.
2. On the website’s main navigation bar, select the “Resources” tab on the right-hand side and click the arrow to drop down all the options. Choose “Templates” then “Raised UV Textures.”
3. Choose a texture template to start (The Parquet Texture is used in the tutorial) by clicking “Download Template” underneath the Parquet Texture option.
4. Your download will open in a new window, but be sure to save to your desktop or wherever you will be accessing your project files.
Open the Raised UV Template in Illustrator
5. Once you have saved the template, open the template in Adobe Illustrator.
6. Review your template by going through “Layers” tab. You will see one of the layers is a magenta folder titled “Raised UV.” The magenta layer helps keep all Raised UV elements organized, visually distinguishes between the Raised UV and CMYK portions of the print artwork. This distinction is extremely important for designing print-ready Raised UV files, as it allows our machines to distinguish between design elements.
7. You can remove the parquet texture from your template, start from scratch and add your own raised UV design elements. For this tutorial, we will delete the texture to create our design. The folder file should look like this before you start designing your CMYK artwork.
Add your CMYK Artwork
8. Import the CMYK (color) artwork elements to your template. In this tutorial, we use our “Soda Bubbles” folder artwork.
9. Once you finish your CMYK artwork it is time to start adding Raised UV artwork to highlight your unique design elements. you begin on marking the artwork, be sure to have the “Raised UV” Layer folder clicked on the right-hand side, while you work. You will be creating new layers under the “Raised UV” Layer folder as you design. For this tutorial, we will be highlighting the carbonation on the ice cubes and in the soda image.
Setting up Images for Custom Raised UV artwork
10. To use the image trace function we have to take the image from the CMYK folder and duplicate it. You can click directly on your image and copy (Ctrl+C) and paste in place (Shift+Ctrl+V). You want the duplicate image to be perfectly aligned with the original image so that when we convert the duplicate to a Raised UV file, the registration perfectly aligns with the original.
11. Lock the original image in the CMYK Layers Section. Staying in the Layers section, move the duplicate image from the CMYK Layers to the Raised UV Layers. You should now be able to see the original image in the CMYK section and its duplicate in the Raised UV section, as seen in the image below.
Using the Image Trace Function in Illustrator
12. Rasterize the duplicate image by going to Illustrator’s top navigation bar, clicking the “Object” dropdown menu, and “Rasterize.”
13. Create a vector trace of the image by selecting the “Object” dropdown menu and hovering over “Image Trace,” and clicking “Make and Expand.”
14. From here, click Illustrator’s direct selection tool to see the vector you have created. Then, switch the fill and stroke color options so that you can see the shapes you’ve made as filled in.
15. Toggle the CMYK artwork layer to be invisible so you can see what your shapes look like once you have swapped fill and stroke. It should look something like this.
Fine Tuning Details and adding Creative Nuance
16. Toggle the CMYK artwork back to being visible and make the Raised UV vector the color “Magenta,” so that you can see that it is the Raised UV color and to provide a visible contrast to the CMYK artwork.From here, you can fine tune the details and add some nuance to your Raised UV Design. The first thing I did is deleting the rectangular border around the vector, using the delete key on the keyboard.
17. Swap the Fill and Stroke on any large shapes that would look good filled in. The first place I noticed to do this was on the large ice cube shape on the right hand side.
18. The last fine details I want to add are highlighting the empty space between the ice cubes along the brown soda line. I do this with the pen tool. If you are unfamiliar with the pen tool, we cover it in a full video which you can view here. Another thing I do to add dimension to the Raised UV design is outline bubbles in the corners of the image that were missed when I did the image trace. I use the ellipse tool to do this. To follow along this tutorial with the accompanying video to this tutorial and to see more in-depth detail work, click this link.
Save your File
18.
13. SAVE YOUR FILE. We accept many file forms, see here. We suggest either an Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or a print-ready PDF file. Visit our site to learn more! https://presentationfolder.com/
And you are done!
Final Result
You can see the fine details we were able to achieve using the Image Trace function. These details add a unique, fully custom Raised UV texture over our branding image that leaves lasting effects.
Presentation Folders featuring Raised UV
Looking to learn more about Presentation Folder and Raised UV? Sign up for our mailing list!
Have you tried adding Raised UV as a print embellishment on your business cards or presentation folders? Using a template downloaded from our website and Adobe Illustrator, you can make impressive, custom Raised UV designs in under 15 minutes! Raised UV gives print elements a tangible lift off the page and shine. Raised UV is a great marketing tool as it highlights design elements on printed products as well as adding a memorable tactile effect. Feel free to learn more about the benefits of Raised UV here. This tutorial is the first in a series of tutorials we are creating to showcase different ways of designing print-ready Raised UV files in Illustrator. These instructions use Adobe Illustrator’s pen tool to create custom outlines around shapes in an image. To look through some Raised UV Folder images, feel free to visit the Presentation Folder Inc. website here. To order free Raised UV samples, visit this link.
You can follow along our step-by-step breakdown of designing Print ready Raised UV Pocket Folder Designs below. Feel free to watch our tutorial video if you would like to follow along visually.
2. On the website’s menu, head to the “Resources” tab on the right-hand side and click the arrow to drop down all the options. Choose: Templates, then, Raised UV Textures.
3. Choose a texture template to start (The Parquet Texture is used in the tutorial) by clicking: Download Template, underneath the Parquet Texture option.
Download the Pocket Folder Template
Free, easy to download Raised UV texture templates for pocket folders.
4. Your download will open in a new window, but be sure to save to your desktop or wherever you will be accessing your project files.
Open the Raised UV Template in Illustrator
5. Once you have saved the template, reopen in Adobe Illustrator.
6. Review your template by going to the right-hand bar, Layers, tab. You will see one of the layers is a magenta folder titled “Raised UV.” The magenta layer helps keep all Raised UV elements organized, visually distinguishes between the Raised UV portions of the artwork. When the file goes to print, the machine will identify the layers and print accordingly.
CMYK and Raised UV Layer separations
7. You can remove the parquet texture from your template, start from scratch and add your own raised UV design elements. (For purposes of this tutorial, we go ahead and delete the texture to create our design)
Illustrator File with the Raised UV texture removed
Add your CMYK Artwork
8. Import your artwork elements to your template. In this tutorial, we use our “Soda Bottle” folder artwork.
9. Before you begin on marking the artwork, be sure to have the “Raised UV” Layer folder clicked on the right-hand side, while you work. You will be creating new layers under the “Raised UV” Layer folder as you design.
In this tutorial, we will be tracing the large soda bottle shapes
Trace a large shape in your image
10. As you will see in the tutorial, we use the PEN TOOL (left click to lay down points) to outline (no fill) the soda bottles’ contours. Every time you click down, you add a new anchor point to your layer, connecting each line and point you create. The more anchor points, the more details you can get. The editing process involves deleting or adding anchor points, depending on how precise you are. You want the lines to be as tight and clean as possible to create a full vector.
Illustrator’s Pen Tool
Fill in your Raised UV shape to make it a solid
11. Once you have created your shape, reverse the stroke’s color, so we have a white fill, then switch to magenta under your layer, and you have your first raised UV layer. (In the tutorial we repeat step 10 on all three soda bottles)
12. Once you have all of your shapes completed, check to be sure they are all appropriately stored in the magenta raised UV folder. Toggle the eye icon on/off, to make sure they are all linked.
Save your file
13. SAVE YOUR FILE. We accept many file forms, see here. We suggest either an Adobe Illustrator (AI) or a print-ready PDF file. Visit our site to learn more! https://presentationfolder.com/
And you are done! You will now have a Raised UV artwork file that is completely custom to your company’s image and branding. Stay tuned for our next Raised UV tutorial using Illustrator’s Image Trace function for fine-detail, textural Raised UV designs.
Why Printers are Selling More Raised UV & Raised Foil
Raised UV & Raised Foil printing saw a significant rise in popularity in 2018, and 2019 should be no different. Digital inkjet printing is spearheading industry-wide trends that are worth noting.
Are you currently offering Raised UV or Raised Foil as part of your print repertoire?
Below are 4 reasons to consider adding them.
1. Unique & Innovative Technology
Raised UV and Raised Foil are new, exciting, and provide a cost-efficient & unique aesthetic to business cards, presentation folders, postcards, and more. This technology allows you to differentiate yourself from competitors by offering prospective clients premium off-line coatings.
Rather than trying to promote exceptional customer service, faster turnaround time, or anything else another competitor could offer, stay one step ahead and partner with PFI to provide advanced finishing embellishments to your clients.
2. Stunning Artwork Possibilites
Raised UV & Raised Foil create memorable tactile experiences on presentation folders, business cards, post cards, and other printed items. Typically, Raised UV is added like other spot coatings to logos, images, or anything else that a brand would like to highlight on its marketing materials.
It’s capable of very fine lines and detail, and achieves perfect registration by using image-recognition technology where 4 cameras take a picture of every sheet to adjust if needed.
Adding one of our Raised UV textures is an easy way to incorporate this print embellishment into your design. Raised UV textures produce amazing print results, and create a natural spotlight for important design elements. Add Raised Foil over the top of the texture as a way to further highlight your logo or other important text – the possibilities are endless!
[powr-video-slider id=f5ac9b85_1549565068651]
3. Affordable for Short Runs
Raised UV & Raised Foil both are digital print processes which allow for significant cost savings on short run print projects. These processes do not require any screens or dies to be created, and require minimal set-up time. Together, this allows for significant cost savings when compared to traditional finishing methods.
4. Variable Data Capability
Historically, printing variable data has been extremely expensive and painstaking – not to mention variable data with foil. Traditional die costs and set up time with variable data foil is too expensive to even consider. Our Scodix Ultra Pro has allowed us to print custom variable data foil postcards, business cards, presentation folders, and more.
Raised Foil not only gives a metallic shine to printed products, its variable data capability can make targeted customer names stand out above other design elements, giving targeted consumers even more reason to pay attention to the promotional product.
Variable Data Foil is a great marketing tool for direct mail campaigns, postcards, greeting cards, invitations, presentation products, and much more. Having custom names specific to the client that is receiving printed materials is a huge advantage over generic marketing products. Consumers are more likely to pay attention to products that have their name printed on the materials than not.
Whether you’re a commercial printer, marketing / design firm, print broker, promotional product specialist, or a print reseller, being able to offer Raised UV and Raised Foil as a part of your print repertoire gives you a competitive edge. These specialty finishes enhance traditional print design, and allow for complete customization – your clients can customize their print with variable data and control over how light or dense these coatings come, making each print a truly unique product.
By choosing to partner with Presentation Folder Inc. as your wholesale manufacturer, you will be able to offer clients an impressive variety of printing techniques, aqueous coatings & laminations, and premium print embellishments including Raised UV and Raised Foil.
We understand that your clients come from a variety of industries, and that each industry has specific needs for presentation folders and other printed products. We have compiled this list of our most popular industry-specific folder applications so that you can know which type of folder will best fit your client’s unique needs.
Real Estate: 9 x 12 Raised Foil Folder All black folder with a Raised Foil logo.
Legal: Legal-Size Four Color Process on Legal Size Paper.
Academic: 9 x 12 4-Color Folder Great for photographs. Add lamination for extra durability.
Medical: 9 x 12 4 -Color Folder Clean and simple to hold basic paperwork.
Hospitality: Hotel Key-Card Folder Great for hotels and resorts.
Raised UV is a great digital print process that can create memorable tactile experiences on presentation folders. Typically, Raised UV is added to presentation folders like other spot coatings to logos, images, or anything else that a brand would like to highlight on its marketing materials. While highlighting logos and imagery is a great way to utilize Raised UV, there is another way that often goes under-utilized in the print industry. Adding a large Raised UV texture background to any folder is a great way to incorporate Raised UV in a simple yet unique way.
Black Folder with Cross Hatch Raised UV Texture
To help encourage adding a raised uv textural background, we have recently introduced a variety of stock textures that are available for download on our website. These backgrounds can be added to any Raised UV folder and help create lasting effects. Additionally, each free, downloadable Raised UV pattern creates a specific experience, allowing clients to hone in their brand identity with a unique textural layer on their printed products.
Black Folder with Raised UV Diamond Texture
Added contrast is a great feature of these Raised UV textures. By creating a background layer of textured lines or shapes, all other design elements appear lifted and smooth. For example, a simple image laid on top of the pattern will stand out more so than on a printed sheet without the added texture. Moreover, the pattern is a transparent, lifted gloss so it doesn’t compromise any design elements by adding an extra ink color. Allow clients’ logos, imagery, and other unique design materials to stand out by adding a Raised UV texture!
Four Color Folder with a Raised UV House Pattern with Raised UV on images and logo
The breathtaking effects of Raised UV textures is truly tangible, which is why we recommend seeing them in person rather than online. Please take a look at our website to request free samples of Raised UV textures to understand the effects and design potential of this process!
We are excited to showcase a custom project we recently completed. The pocket folder is unique from its stock to final conversion: featuring custom paper, custom die cut, business card slits, two capacity spines, one pocket, and silver foil stamping. While we are excited about all of our custom projects, we are especially pleased with this project because it encompasses so many different custom options. Moreover, we have been emphasizing our digital press capabilities of raised foil and raised uv quite often, and this gorgeous custom project turns away from that. Instead, it highlights traditional print exceptionally well. From start to finish, this project has been an excited challenge that truly demonstrates the power of customization when it comes to promotional marketing materials. We are proud to show a folder that illustrates an anatomy that can be modified to your client’s needs.
Tri-Panel Folder with Custom Die Cut Closer
Design Elements:
We have outlined the different elements of this custom presentation folder below:
Paper: This folder was printed on 18 pt Neenah Folding Board Paper. This paper has a Vellum finish and is labeled as Desert Storm for the sandy color. The paper is cut non-traditionally as well with a triangular front cover.
Printing: The custom presentation folder features one ink color, an aquamarine insignia right above the brand name. The vellum finish of the Neenah stock gives the blue-green a slight shine, while the non-printed parts of the paper remain matte.
Die Cut:
There is custom die cutting work done on the back panel as well as on the inside panel business card slits. The custom die cut slit closer which allows the front panel to close on the cover of the folder. Additionally, the custom business card slits are horizontal on the center panel.
Silver Foil Stamping
The custom presentation folder project features a silver foil stamped corporation name on the front cover, right underneath the ink printed logo. This is an excellent usage of silver foil stamping, as it contributes to the minimal and clean feel to the sans serif, all capitalized font. The silver foil stamp also contrasts with the matte vellum finish of the stock, allowing the corporate name to stand out.
Silver Foil Stamp on Light Vellum Paper
Two Capacity Spines and a Single Raised Pocket
Two capacity spines are incorporated into this project, one on either panel, allowing the middle pocket to stand taller and hold much more paper than a traditional presentation folder without a capacity spine. Capacity spines are a great addition to presentation folders that are meant to hold lengthy reports or paperwork, and are commonly used in a variety of professional fields including: medical, accounting, and real estate.
Tri-Panel
Tri-panel folders are a common request for presentation folders, as they can hold more information and have a brochure-like quality. We commonly run custom tri-panel folder projects, however, this one stood out to us because of its unique design and functionality of each panel. The first and last panel link together around the middle panel to form a closed folder, almost like an envelope or package.
Custom Tri-Panel Folder with One Pocket and Capacity Spine
Overall, this custom project took great design consideration and was well executed. We strongly encourage custom projects like these to introduce to clients not only to make their brands memorable, but also to allow them to fully utilize all the options we are offer so that they can get the best presentation folder for their unique needs. While we are extraordinarily proud of the shape, elegance, and quality of this folder, we are more excited to know that its physical layout enhances its design.
If you are interested in learning more about custom projects, feel free to visit our website to request samples or request a custom quote.
Variable Data Foil is a great marketing tool for mail-outs, postcards, presentation products, and more. Having custom names specific to the client that is receiving printed materials is a huge advantage over generic marketing products. Consumers are more likely to pay attention to products that have their name printed on the materials than not. Historically, printing variable data has been extremely expensive and painstaking, not to mention variable data with foil. Tradtional die costs and set up time with variable data foil is too expensive to even consider. Luckily, our Scodix Ultra Pro has allowed us to print custom variable data foil postcards, business cards, presentation folders, and more, allowing us to offer more options for marketing optimization to clients.
Raised Foil not only gives a metallic shine to printed products, its variable data capability can make targeted customer names stand out above other design elements, giving targeted consumers even more reason to pay attention to the promotional product. Visit our website to request a custom quote on variable foil postcards today.
Foil Stamping + Embossing Vs. Digital Raised Foil: The Right Fit For you
In our most recent posts, we have been focusing on the innovative technology currently involved in the print industry, however, we don’t often walk through comparisons between traditional print methods and digital print methods. Each process is very different and achieves different tactile and visual effects on presentation folders, business cards, and more. This piece will focus on primary differences between foil stamping + embossing and digital printed raised foil coating. Both are finishing processes implemented to highlight design areas, most commonly logos and branding. Read more to learn about key differences between foil stamping + embossing and digital raised foil coating. It is important to learn these differences in order to determine which process will best fit your marketing materials and brand identity.
Foil Stamp Folders on Greenbrier Linen with Copper Foil Stamping
Traditional foil stamping + embossing has a classic look and feel and can add personal touch to any custom presentation folder. Most commonly, we see traditional foil stamping + embossing utilized on our in-house dark linen stocks, as we don’t recommend printing ink colors on those stocks. Foil stamping on dark linen stock is a simple and affordable way to showcase your brand, as the metallic shine of the foil contrasts with the matte weave of the linen. These pocket folders are great for office organization, presentations, and report covers. They can be used in a variety of fields including: accounting, real estate, legal, banking, medical, and more.
Light Linen Pocket Folder with Blue Ink and Gold Foil Stamping
Foil stamping and embossing on presentation folders does come with certain limitations we would like to mention here as well. The larger the area the more expensive the die will cost, as well as the set up time to ensure perfect registration. It will also have a longer production time to account for ordering and acquiring the die for the folder design. Moreover, embossing can only push up into the stock so far so not to compromise it, as well as leaving an indent on the back side of the paper. When a folder has embossing on the front cover, you can see the impression on the other side when you open the folder.
Embossing must be done on high quality paper, which can be an additional cost. Because the set up time and die costs are generally one-time costs, ordering these pocket folders in large quantities makes the price per unit decrease significantly, and becomes an affordable and customizable option. Ordering tax folders, report covers, or other folders on dark linen stock with foil stamping + embossing in short quantities, however, might not be the most cost effective option for you and your clients.
Black Folder with Digital Raised Gold Foil and Soft-Touch Lamination
For short orders looking to make high impact, we recommend implementing digital raised foil to complete your folder design. This metallic spot coating is printed with our Scodix® Sense press, and comes with a variety of customization options. We recommend that you use 10% coverage or less of the coating, and implement our capability of variable data and variable density options. This means that your client can have full control to customize their pocket folders to achieve a memorable tactile design that is completely unique to their brand. Raised foil folders are great for short runs because there is no extra cost for dies or set up times, and the effects can be breathtaking. Because there are no dies involved, the production time is much quicker. Moreover, raised foil can be incorporated on any kind of coated stock, and works well with printed ink colors. Raised foil is not pushed up into the stock in the way that foil + emboss is, rather it is a thick polymer UV coating with a foil layer over it. Because it does not compromise the integrity of the stock, raised foil can be applied to an array of coated stocks, allowing you to save money on paper cost if needed. This is a significant difference between embossing and raised foil coating, as embossing pushes into the back of the paper in order to achieve the raised look. Embossing produces a visible indent on the back of the sheet which converts to the inside of the folder or the back of a business card. Because Raised Foil is applied only to the front surface of the sheet, it will not make any indentations on the back of the stock, leaving the design of the inside of the folder clean and untouched. You can see an example of a business card with Foil Stamp and Embossing on the front and the indent on the back in the image below.
Business Card with Foil Stamp + Emboss with Visible Indent on Back Side
While the overall differences of raised foil coating and traditional foil stamping + embossing are apparent, it is ultimately the aesthetic and tactile difference that matters in terms of brand identity and presentation products. Knowing the difference and having both to offer can help you fully promote a client’s brand. To see and feel the differences between these two metallic finishing options, request samples of both here!
Raised UV + Raised Foil Folders
We at Presentation Folder Inc. are committed to serving your unique needs and look forward to working with you to continue building a better folder. We offer the following products online but can work with you to quote and print other presentation products.
Postcards are a common advertising tool used by an array of corporations to get their name out there. They can be used to increase awareness for a cause, introduce a new product, or simply increase brand awareness. According to Marketing Profs, direct mail like postcards make consumers feel valued. Used in conjunction with digital marketing, postcards are extremely effective. We are proud to introduce postcards as a specialty product available for premium upgrades.
Raised Foil + Raised UV Postcard
Design:
We offer four-color printing on postcards available for one side or both sides. We recommend adding soft-touch lamination and raised spot UV or raised foil coating to upgrade to a premium postcard. These specialty finishing options will give the postcard a vibrant pop, while also creating memorable tactile effects. These effects are especially important because they will be the first way your customer’s consumer base interacts with their promotional product. Recently, we have printed some extremely memorable products that incorporated both raised spot UV and raised foil in the same design, leaving some of the raised gloss transparent and some metallic with a shine. These premium design options are great for your clients to personalize their brand.
Size:
We typically print postcards on the standard 4”x 6” or 5” x 7” size, however, we are able to accommodate any other dimensions or odd sizing needs your client may have.
Raised Foil + Raised UV Alphabet Postcard
Customization Options:
We are willing to print any custom size that would work for your client. Additionally, we are well-equipped with digital press technology, so printing variable data is simple and affordable, giving your client’s the opportunity to customize multiple facets of their postcard to their target consumer.
Postcards are an efficient, affordable, and unique marketing option for clients to increase their brand presence and introduce new products. With Presentation Folder Inc., your clients will be able to customize their products and create memorable advertisements for their consumer base. Upgrading to raised spot UV and raised foil coating will enhance postcards and take your client’s brands to the next level. Visit our website to request samples or place an order today!
Our in-house light linen stock is a durable and classic option for presentation folders. Textured like linen fabric, this paper is light and elegant, almost like you could wear it. On our website, we refer to light-colored linen stock as our Group A stock, listed one tier above our traditional economy stocks. We recommend using linen stocks for a premium yet affordable upgrade to traditional presentation folders printed on white 12 or 14 pt c1s. Linen presentation folders offer a timeless quality and feel. Restaurant menus, luxury stationery, business letterheads, tax folders, and an array of promotional products stand out when printed on linen paper. Rather than business cards, we recommend printing presentation folders or luxury postcards on linen stock.
Linen Folder with Foil Stamping and Embossing
Linen Folders have all of the capability of traditional presentation folders. Available for optimal customization, our traditional linen folder is printed as 9 x 12 with two pockets inside reaching 4 inches in height. These pockets inside the presentation folder have the optional for business card slits to hold premium business cards as well. Pocket folders printed on linen give a luxury effect at an affordable price.
In terms of printing and overall design, we recommend minimalism. Unlike presentation folders printed on economy c1s stocks, we recommend using minimal ink printing on linen folders and instead utilizing foil stamping and embossing. Embossing is a traditional tactile effect that pairs well with foil stamping by pushing it to lift off the page. Foil and embossing will take any linen folder and add a premium finish.
Linen Folder with Foil Stamping
Our commitment to customization will allow you to make presentation folders unique to your brand. Adjusting the pocket size, folder size, adding stitched inserts, foiling, or embossing are all recommended ways to allow your brand to stand out. Visit our website request a custom quote or request samples to see the elegance that linen pocket folders can add to your brand.
There are many benefits to Scodix printed Raised Foil and UV Coating. We love to mention the noticeable tactile and visual effects, the efficiency of short runs, and hassle-free variable data. One thing we don’t often mention, however, is that these capabilities offer a steep competitive edge.
Raised UV and Raised Foil is new, exciting, and offers a cost-efficient unique aesthetic to business cards,presentation folders,postcards,and more. Digital printing is spearheading technological trends in the print industry that are worth paying attention to. The premium embellishments that digital printing can offer is a value proposition unlike anything this industry has seen before. This technology allows you to differentiate yourself from competitors by offering prospective clients premium off-line coatings. Rather than trying to offer prospective clients exceptional customer service, faster turnaround time, or anything else another competitor could offer, working with us will allow you to offer advanced finishing embellishments on as a guarantor that you are ahead of the everyday printer. By choosing to work with Presentation Folder as your wholesale manufacturer, you will be able to offer clients premium embellishments like Raised UV and Raised Foil on an array of presentation products like business cards, presentation folders, posters, postcards, and more.
Postcard with varied Raised Foil coating
Raised UV and Raised Foil coatings offer a lifted tangible effect, which allow clients to be creative with branding and design decisions. By lifting logos, names, or other fine details, digital printing enhances traditional print design. More importantly, these digital capabilities allow for complete customization. Clients can customize their print with variable data and control over how light or dense these coatings come, making each print a truly unique product. Traditionally, we have been proud to accommodate custom sizing,a variety of stock options, and other print details. With the power of digitally-equipped off-line presses, we can now accommodate custom details within graphic design. Raised UV and Raised Foil will give you a unique value proposition to offer your clients, while also allowing them to achieve a fully custom, unique promotional product. Lastly, digital printing enables you to establish trust with clients that you are at the forefront of print innovation.
Presentation Folders printed with Raised Digital Foil continue print’s tradition of tactile marketing with a focus on elegance, efficiency, and aesthetic. We are so excited about the enhancements raised digital foil brings to printed products! Read on to learn about what makes raised foil unique, affordable, and right for you.
Did you know?
Our commitment to providing high-end, high-impact print work led us to acquiring a Scodix Ultra Pro digital raised UV press, the first printers to have one west of the Mississippi.
What is Raised Foil?
Raised Foil is a layer placed over raised UV coating during the offline (post-print) process. UV Coating is a specialty finishing process that we print on our digital inkjet Scodix press. This specialty coating gives the effect of embossing without compromising the stock and is valued in the industry for its vogue factor. By adding a glossy polymer coating to spot locations on the folder’s surface, raised uv allows logos and other cornerstone design elements lift off the page, giving them a literal raised effect. Even more, Raised UV coating utilizes High Gloss and Variable Densities. Hitting at up to 99 gloss units (GU), the highest gloss available for printed materials, and up to 250 microns in polymer height, 100 times higher than selective varnish, our digitally raised UV technology literally and figuratively stands above any other specialty finishing method for presentation folders and promotional products. Using ten times more liquid than normal spot UV, raised UV looks and feels like the newer, cooler generation of embossing. We also have an option for varied densities (1% to 100%) which will allow your client to scale different levels of height and gloss, completely custom to their design and overall product. This flexibility allows your print to achieve unforgettable tactile effects. Raised UV Coating leaves an impression on your presentation folders that you can feel. Raised Digital Foil Coating simply adds the layer of metallic foil to the polymer coating, giving your business cards, presentation folders, or other promotional products an elevated shine.
Black Folder with Digital Raised Foil
What makes it affordable?
In short, there are no extra fees for dyes, setup time, and anything else that comes with traditional offset presses. We use the finest digital technology available in order to make printing luxury coatings like this cost-efficient. Because it is printed on a digital press, there is no need to clean off plates in between runs, making short, customized runs cost affordable and encouraged. In addition, the digital technology allows for variable data at no extra cost, which makes customizing your presentation folders even easier and equally as efficient. Foil is specifically agreeable because digital printing eliminates the extra cost dye and setup, which makes it more affordable than traditional foil stamping or embossing. We encourage you to incorporate variable names, key terms, and imagery into your design as the printing is now a seamless, ergonomic process for us.
Printing Tips for Digital Foil Folders
We recommend using digital foil specifically for a sleek and top-tier feel. Digital Foil pairs well with matte and soft-touch laminations, as the densely matte background provides the perfect backdrop for the spot coatings of foil to truly stand out. The contrast between shine comes through along with the contrast of flat matte laminate coating with selected areas of raised foil. If you are looking to add an extra pop to your presentation folder, draw attention to a logo or other small details, raised digital foil is an excellent option.Raised UV and Digital Foil can be used in conjunction with premium matte, soft-touch lamination, die cutting, and much more to add to the final appeal of the product.
See more in the video below:
Interested to learn more about exclusive sales, offers, and product offerings? Subscribe to our mailing list!
Raised spot gloss 3d UV is an offline process that is done with a digital inkjet press. It creates a very thick layer of spot gloss UV that stands as tall as embossing on any custom presentation folder, pocket folder, and business card. It is meant to make logos & graphics exceptionally stand out with a three-dimensional feel, achieving unique textured effects with varied levels of coating in specific areas of a client’s folder or poster. There is very little minimum cost, making it great for short-run, high-end jobs when you want something special to make it stand out. We recommend raised UV finishing to help your brand’s promotional products achieve a luxury look and feel. Raised Spot UV gives a textural component to a logo or image not ordinarily achieved by specialty finishing. Adding raised UV to a custom pocket folder, business card, poster, or brochure will allow your promotional products to visually and tangibly stand out, and above ordinary products.
Spot Gloss UV is an offline process, traditionally done with screen printing on custom pocket folder, presentation folder, and business cards. We now have digital inkjet presses for spot gloss UV, that can print a thicker layer of UV for more impact as well as huge cost savings on small quantities. Compared to raised 3d spot UV, it is more subtle, making it better for highlighting larger areas and photos, although we still suggest using a “less is more” approach for impact. It works best with a matte or scuff-free satin laminate underneath for contrast and feel. Adding Spot Gloss UV to any custom presentation folder, business card, or product will give your brand an edge up with a tangible design finish.
Silver soft-touch satin lamination, also known as silver velvet lamination, is applied to press sheets before printing on pocket folders and other presentation products. Unlike most laminate films that are transparent, this printable film is silver in color, with the same soft-touch matte finish that provides a suede-like soft feel. What makes it different is that it creates a unique metallic print surface, creating a new metallic color spectrum using normal cmyk printing; transparent colors all gain the metallic effect. Adding raised spot uv coating brings out the metallic effect even more, making the silver shine through the glossy finish. We recommend utilizing this distinctive specialty finishing to custom presentation folders, pocket folders, or business cards. For best results, combine silver soft-touch laminatedfolders with a raised spot UV gloss coating to make your brand stand out visually and tangibly.
Soft-touch lamination, sometimes referred to as suede or velvet lamination, is an off-line process applied to presentation products after printing. It is a clear, soft film adhered to the press sheet, providing a matte finish and suede-like soft feel to a presentation folder. It is great with dark and light colors, and gives raised spot UV a great clarity and unique effects with lower densities. It also provides the sharpest detail of any coating for raised spot UV and raised digital foil. Soft-touch has gained popularity for printing on presentation folders, business cards, and other promotional products in recent years as a unique, premium finish.
Matte lamination is an off-line process applied after printing a presentation folder. It is a clear, matte film adhered to the press sheet, providing a matte finish and silky smooth feel to any promotional product’s surface. With dark colors, it can give a slightly softer and more mute appearance and sometimes can tend to show some scratching, however, it offers more protection overall than matte aqueous and sustains more durability on presentation folders. Matte lamination seals in a protective layer from stains, moisture, and greasy fingerprints. Not only will your presentation products stand out with a sleek matte finish, they will also last longer and no longer require any reprints. It works exceptionally well with spot gloss UV, providing stark contrast, and also with raised 3dUV and raised foil finishing. Matte Lamination adds a sleek feel to presentation folders, pairing well with subtle, minimalist design.
Scuff-free satin lamination is an off-line process applied after printing. It is a clear, satin film adhered to the press sheet, providing a satin finish and silky feel on any color presentation folders. With dark colors, it is the best option as it keeps them rich and sharp while providing the best protection of any film or coating. It works exceptionally well with spot gloss UV, providing stark contrast, and also with raised 3dUV and raised foil.
Matte aqueous coating is an in-line presentation folder coating as it is applied directly onto wet ink on an offset printing press. It provides a subtle matte finish (as opposed to gloss aqueous coating), and some protection from scuffing, while keeping color rich and vibrant on promotional products. We use an aqueous coating on almost all 4-color presentation folder work and occasionally with 1 and 2 spot color pocket folder printing as well, if needed to help protect the ink from rubbing or scuffing. It is a very cost-efficient process, a large part of the reason it is the most commonly used coating in the entire printing industry today. This aqueous finish is most often used on economy four-color process presentation folders that would benefit from a matte coating.
Best For:
•Short and Long runs
•Cost efficient
•Fast production time
Interested to learn more about our special product offerings and exclusive sales? Subscribe to our mailing list!
Gloss aqueous coating is an in-line coating for presentation folders as it is applied directly onto wet ink on an offset printing press. It provides a subtle gloss shine and some protection from scuffing, while keeping color rich and vibrant on the pocket folders. We use an aqueous coating on almost all 4-color presentation product work and occasionally with 1 and 2 spot color folder printing as well, if needed to help protect the ink from rubbing or scuffing. It is a very cost-efficient process, a large part of the reason it is the most commonly used coating in the entire printing industry today. This coating is most commonly used on economy four-color process presentation folders.
Gloss lamination is an off-line process as it is applied after printing the presentation folder. It is a clear, glossy film adhered to the press sheet, providing a subtle gloss shine to the surface of the pocket folder along with great protection from scuffing. It helps keep color rich and vibrant possibly even enriching contrast with the gloss shine. It is the least expensive overall off-line coating, making it great for short and long runs and giving the best protection of any gloss finish. Unlike gloss UV which many big printers use, it doesn’t show fingerprints on dark colors. It adds durability and protection to a presentation folder while also augmenting the vitality of its design.
Because you’ve moved on from the dull days of Gloss AQ.
What is Lamination?
Lamination is a transparent, plastic bond originally added to amplify the integrity of your presentation folder’s stock. While presentation folders traditionally add a gloss aqueous coating to the presentation folder’s paper to strengthen and add shine, lamination has become a necessity to building a better presentation folder. Adding protection from stains, moisture, and greasy fingerprints, your products will last longer and no longer require any reprints.
Presentation Folder with Satin Lamination
What can Lamination do for you?
Not only can lamination increase the integrity of your presentation folder by protecting its stock from environmental factors, it also enhances the ink colors by layering in a vibrant, transparent film. This specialty finishing enhances the artwork on a presentation folder by adding a sealant coating that not only protects it, but adds a glossy, matte, or satin finish to its exterior. You can choose the thickness of the lamination film, leaving it as subtle or pronounced as you would like. Not only does this augment the professionalism of your promotional products, it holds the attention of the viewer longer. Adding lamination allows for an even more vivid design to show through.
Design Tips:
We recommend pairing lamination with a digital foil or raised UV finish. After much experimentation, some of our favorite folders feature a matte lamination finish with the glossy raised spot UV coating. The contrast between the matte-coated stock and the glossy UV design generates a textural design that can be tangibly understood.
Interested? Click here to learn more and add it to your next order, at no extra charge.
In the last 15 years there has been a lot of talk about print maintaining relevance in the digital age. Luckily, presentation folders, business cards, advertisement posters, and other tangible promotional products haven’t lost their edge. Even more so, leaders in the presentation folder industry have seen a convergence between print technology and digital technology that has progressed the capabilities of the industry for the better. One major innovation, known as digital printing, has expanded capabilities of print which have in turn allowed for creativity at a cost-efficient price. In a world driven by mass-produced online content, a commitment to tangible, user-driven design has been an integral aspect to keeping print alive. And ironically, the implementation of digital technology is allowing us to keep this commitment. The following paragraphs will outline a few innovations that digital technology allows for, including: variable data, lower prices on short runs, and specialty finishing services.
Raised Digital Foil Pocket Folder
Variable Data
Variable Data is the usage of different data point in one printing “run.” If you are looking to print business cards for your office, each employees name would be a different point in the job. With a traditional offset press, each business card would carry unique data, meaning that each card would require a unique plate to print. Cleaning and replacing each plate per business card adds up time and cost of ink quickly, which is why many clients chose to opt out of the personalization of their products when partnering with an offset printing supplier. Digital printing, however, adds no extra cost in time or cleanup to add variable data as its software is equipped to add the changes, meaning that the possibilities for personalization are not only economically practical, they are encouraged in the framework of digital machines. Customizing presentation folders, business cards, and other promotional products with variable names, key terms, and imagery becomes a seamless ergonomic process when utilizing digital printing presses. Digital printing makes the possibilities for personalized marketing truly palpable.
Lower Prices, Shorter Runs
In the same token, shorter runs become cost and time efficient, again placing value on personalization and authenticity that just wasn’t practical with offset printing. Because there is no need to clean off and separate plates between vastly different jobs, unique promotional products with smaller quantities are affordable and recommended with the horsepower that digital printing offers. Printing short, unique runs of presentation folders, business cards, and posters have never been easier.
Raised Digital Foil
Specialty Finishing Services
Lastly, many Digital Printing presses offer specialty finishing services that not only augment the design of an array of promotional products, they also ensure a quality and durability not guaranteed by products printed elsewhere. Specialty lamination (matte, gloss, scuff-proof and more), Raised UV Coating, and Raised Digital Foil are all within reach on Digital Presses.
A Note from the PFI team: We love to track the newly innovated while keeping the authenticity of age. While we are powered by the surge for new design that comes with digital presses, we cannot help but feel nostalgia for more minimal business cards hand letterpress-ed with wood type. We strive for a balance in human and software power, and with all of the digital capabilities mentioned above, we keep many offset and Letterpress presses in-house, and cherished by many of our staff. We have an array of digital, offset, and letterpress printing presses to fit the unique needs of you and your clients.
Because the last thing you need to worry about during tax season is the folder that holds them.
Gray Tax Folder with Window Slit
About the product:
We understand the chaos that comes with tax season, and how one “season” can end up lasting many months. The last thing you want to be worrying about during these busy months is the presentation folder that will hold your finished report, whichis why we have teamed up with accounting teams of all sizes to develop a simple product that works for any of your tax report needs. Printed in the classic presentation folder dimensions of 9 x 12 x 4, our tax folders make elegant report covers. Typically, we print tax folders on neutral dark gray, green, or blue thick 100# linen stock from Group B . This robust stock can accommodate anything from short tax returns to a large-scale annual report.
Red Tax Folder with Window Slit
Unique and Functional Form:
We start with a traditional presentation folder and implement design strategies to fit your unique tax folder needs. We make tax folders keeping practicality in mind without compromising an emphasis on brand consistency. Depending on the length of your report, we can incorporate an expanded spine with or without staple tabs for different sized tax returns.
In addition, we die cut a small window on the cover of the folder in order to make the name and year on the report visible. If your tax folders require any additional functional demands, we have the equipment and expertise to implement multiple solutions.
Showcasing your Brand:
When it comes to designing tax folders, we like to keep it simple. We understand that you want your report covers to be straightforward while also leaving a lasting impression on clients. Using a durable frame that supports their sensitive information will allow your business to maintain a client-facing professional ethos, but adding an extra touch of design with leave them with that lasting impression. Because we prefer to use durable, dark-colored stock for tax report covers, we don’t recommend any actual printing done to these specific presentation folders. Instead, utilizing foil stamping and embossing will allow your showcase your brand. Embossing with a gold, silver, or bronze foil stamp finish is the best way print on tax folders. Showcase your tax reports with a functional, sleek presentation folder that will protect months of accounting.
We believe one of the most valuable aspects to printed products is the combination of visual and tactile experiences it creates with the audience.
When looking at an image on a screen, you’re simply just looking. With print, not only are you looking at it, but holding it in your hands. That tangible quality that comes inherently with print is what sets it apart, makes it memorable and allows it to have a greater impact.
With that in mind, we’ve curated a book of coating and finishing options, that both enhance the look of the print and form the finished surface that ultimately determines what it feels in someone’s hands. Each finish has both aesthetic and functional properties.
Using a finish that complements the design, perhaps accentuating a certain element is often an overlooked and underestimated aspect to printing. When done well, a strong finish can be used for your advantage to create more engaging printed pieces that keep your customers coming back, especially when they see how much it benefits them as well.
You may be familiar with the difference between a gloss and matte finish, and while there are many of each in this book, we aim to show the benefits, limitations and best practices for all of our coating options.
In addition to our traditional overall aqueous and laminate options, we’ll take a closer look at some exciting new digital spot coatings – Spot Gloss UV, Raised 3dUV and Raised Foil.
These unique spot coatings provide fresh ways to give your printed piece an unforgettable look and feel that can make print sensational. We’ll also show ways to best combine them with overall coatings for the most impactful finish.
Foil stamping is a specialty finishing (post-printing) process that highlights selected artwork typically with a metallic foil material stamped into the paper by using a metal die, combined with heat and pressure.
Used for over a century, foil stamping is a traditional letterpress process that combines old-world craftsmanship with modern graphics via the use of a metal die.
By itself, it creates a slight Deboss (indent) into the paper because it is “stamped” in.
[powr-image-slider id=47fdb352_1492525078]
In addition to the many metallic foil colors, there are also some gloss pigment color options that aren’t metallic, such as white and black, although there are other color options.
It can be done over printing as an additional color / enhancement, or directly onto almost any paper as the only imprint.
It can also be combined with embossing (pushed up), and debossing (pushed farther down), to make it stand out more.
What makes it different?
The look and feel is defined by it’s timeless simplicity, often a classic gold or silver color stamped into paper for a look of permanence of both the printed piece and the brand or idea it represents. You can feel the subtle debossed impression, especially on softer papers.
It’s a great way to add a unique touch to printed pieces, but also can be used as the only imprint, without any ink or color printed underneath.
The price – By itself, it’s actually less expensive than 4-color printing, if the image is relatively small. Since it requires a metal die to be made with the image to be transferred, there is an initial cost for that, products in our catalog all include 12 square inches built into the foil price. Additional areas or larger areas will add to the cost.
What is it?
Raised 3dUV is a specialty finishing (post-printing) process that highlights selected artwork with a raised, clear spot gloss – similar to traditional spot gloss UV combined with embossing.
Although it is raised, we can achieve a full range of textures by applying less coating, enabling true 3-d dimensional effects with a combination of 100% raised and lower densities, typically between 5-30%. At 10%, it provides a flat satin look, for example.
What makes it different?
The look and feel is similar to that of conventional spot gloss UV with embossing, so it is always standing out above the sheet, without the impression showing through on the backside.
It’s capable of very fine lines and detail, with perfect registration using image-recognition technology where 4 cameras take a picture of every sheet to adjust if needed.
While it can’t help but stand out visually, the tactile effects also make for a unique experience, especially with fine detail and various amounts of coating for different height levels.
[powr-image-slider id=d38668c3_1492708136]
The price – enjoy all the benefits of a digital process when it comes to cost: very low minimum charge, on quantities as low as 1. It’s a great way to try a premium look for a short run without breaking the bank. Yes, variable data is possible too.
What is it?
Raised digital foil is a specialty finishing (post-printing) process that highlights selected artwork with a raised, metallic look, similar to traditional foil stamping with embossing.
This is actually an extension of our Raised 3dUV process(and Scodix press), except with foil on top.
It uses the same real foil that we use on our conventional foil presses; it is currently offered in gold, silver, rose gold, holographic, red, green, and blue metallic foil, with more to come soon!
[powr-video-slider id=5ce1041d_1502134606]
What makes Digital Raised Foil different?
The look and feel is closer to that of conventional foil with embossing, so it is always standing out above the sheet, without the impression showing through on the backside, though.
We think it actually has more shine than traditional foil & embossing, while it is raised around the same height.
[powr-image-slider id=a5f71e33_1502133102]
The price– enjoy all the benefits of a digital process when it comes to cost: very low minimum charge, on quantities as low as 1. It’s a great way to try a premium look for a short run without breaking the bank. Yes, variable data is possible too.
What makes it different?
