Printed Services

Collating

Collating is the process of gathering individual sheets and other elements of your printing project and assembling those elements into a final product.

Copiers can collate automatically, but did you know that we can quickly and efficiently collate other items, too? Our high-speed collating equipment can bring together all the elements of your project, saving you the time it would take to hand-collate the project. The next time you have a big project that requires collating, keep us in mind - we make it so easy, you'll never want to hand-collate again.

Folding

When you need high-speed folding, you've come to the right place. Our bindery/finishing department provides many different options for folding. Our high-speed folding machines can fold at speeds exceeding 5,000 sheets per hour. Many different folding formats are available, and for more unique folding jobs, we also offer several hand-folding options.

We can provide unlimited quantities of folded materials for your special printed projects.

Hand Work

Do you have a special project that needs a unique touch? We do gluing, tying, folding, labeling, collating, stamping, inserting, sealing, product attachment, kitting, packing—and just about anything else you can imagine. Our bindery services department is fully capable of handling all your labor-intensive needs.

Hole Drilling

It sounds a little funny, but we're experts at drilling holes. We have powerful hydraulic paper drilling machines that feature many different sizes of paper drills and enable us to position the hole just about anywhere on the sheet of paper. Just remember to allow 1/2 an inch of extra margin for three-hole drilling along the side of the sheet of paper.

Here's an interesting note: Did you know studies have shown that people tend to save printed items longer if they are three-hole drilled? Marketing experts think that subconsciously we tend to feel like we need to put a three-hole drilled sheet into a ring binder or save it for future reference.

Numbering

Many carbonless forms and invoices require sequential numbering. Numbering is an inexpensive and effective way to maintain accurate records and improve organization.

We can number a variety of papers and sheet sizes. Choose from black or red ink, as well as descending or ascending numbers on most printed projects.

Paper Cutting

We have very sophisticated, computerized, digital paper cutters that are extremely fast and accurate.

Our commercial paper cutters feature high-pressure hydraulic clamps to prevent paper shifting and razor-sharp carbon steel blades to guarantee the most precise cuts.

Perforating

Perforating a printed form can create an easy-to-remove response card, coupon, or customer feedback form.

Our wide variety of perforating blades gives you flexibility when designing pieces that need to separate effortlessly. We can also design pieces that can stand up to the rigors of post office mailing equipment without pulling apart.

Our highly trained and knowledgeable staff will happily offer suggestions and solutions for your perforating needs.

Shrink Wrapping

We use high-quality shrink wrap materials to provide you with an attractive and secure method of bundling larger quantities of printed materials. Our versatile shrink wrap process uses semi-automatic equipment to meet high-volume demands without compromising quality. We can shrink wrap materials as small as a business card and as large as 11 x 17 posters.

Stitching

Did you know that "stitching" is another word for stapling? The only difference is that the phrase stapling is generally used when you're trying to bind together no more than 40 pages. Stapling is done with lightweight desktop equipment. Stitching generally requires an industrial-sized, floor-mounted piece of equipment. At our printing firm, we have a variety of stapling and stitching machines that can handle any type of book or printed project you need to assemble.

Postal Presorting

Our mail presorting services save you money on postage and speed delivery time.

Our advanced mail presort technology lets us barcode and presort your mail according to 3 and 5 digit ZIP code. Presorted mail is easier and faster for the USPS to process. The ease of processing allows the Postal Service to charge us, and you, less postage. Whether it's first-class or standard mail, we get you the best possible postage rates. In order to accurately process mail and integrate it into the mail stream, we use high-speed sorting machines and recognition systems that are very similar to the ones used by the Postal Service. We can CASS certify your mail, spray barcodes (if necessary), and sort mail into the most accurate 'final destination' ZIP code. Once sorted by ZIP, the mail is put into trays and presented to the USPS for mailing at a discounted rate on your behalf.

CASS Certification

CASS is a United States Postal Service (USPS) acronym for Coding Accuracy Support System. The term CASS is widely used by the USPS when they refer to the verification status of an address list. In order for an address list to receive CASS certification, it must be checked against the USPS Address Matching System (AMS) CD-ROM, and the 11-digit delivery point ZIP code and corresponding barcode must be added. Only addresses with the delivery point ZIP code and barcode are eligible for "automation" bulk mailing rates. A mailing list must undergo address verification every six months (every three months for carrier route mailings) and is particularly important to mailers because of the difference between the "automation" and "non-automation" mailing rates, which is about $.05 per piece. For a 10,000 piece mailing, CASS certification of the address list could save the mailer approximately $500.

Our mailing services department uses the latest CASS certification technology (in-house) to help our customers keep the cost of their mailings as low as possible and to ensure a high percentage of delivery success.

INKJET address

Personalization can play a key role in the success of your direct mail marketing campaigns. Even something as simple as a personalized headline or greeting can have a significant impact on response. That's where our state-of-the-art inkjet address service comes into play. Once we print your mailer, we can personalize it as we address it, all in one easy step. Choose any font you'd like, any size, and any ink color. Our equipment can even add a personalized or static headline or ad line anywhere on the mailer at the same time it's applying the address.

Prefer address labels instead? We can do that, too. We can even barcode and live stamp your pieces as they're being addressed, saving time and ensuring better accuracy. Our equipment can print on virtually any surface, including coated papers designed to withstand the wear-and-tear of automated Postal Service sorting equipment. It's just one of the many services our mailing department provides to ensure better results for you.

Inserting

Whether a simple, one-page sales letter in an envelope or a multi-piece marketing kit (letter, several brochures, training CD, reply form, etc.), our printing firm can put it all together for you accurately and fast. Our high-speed automatic inserters allow us to handle very large mailings. We've also perfected a fast and accurate method of hand insertion for those projects which cannot be done by machine.

Post Office Delivery

When your mailing is completed, you are welcome to pick it up at our office, or we can deliver it directly to the post office for you. We are experts at completing USPS paperwork (which is often complicated and confusing), and we have a lot of experience working with the bulk mail department at the post office. We strongly suggest you allow us to work with the post office on your behalf. There is a small cost for our service, but we can save you a lot of time and possible frustration. Allowing us to handle your mailing project from concept to post office delivery is a smooth, one-step process that saves you time, money, and stress.

Tab Sealing

Tabs, sometimes called wafer seals, are a USPS requirement that must be applied to all self-mailers. Tabs prevent the open edge of your mailer from jamming the Postal Service's high-speed processing equipment. Our mailing services department can apply one or two tab seals easily as part of our inline mail processing capabilities. Choose clear plastic, paper, or customized tabs to complement the design of your mailing piece.

Graphic Design

Our professionally trained graphic designers are computer artists who know how to use their creative abilities to improve the look of your printed projects.

Creative use of color, typography, photos, and illustration can dramatically improve the effectiveness of your project. Good design can help create a favorable impression that makes your company and its products stand out in the crowd.

Our designers are skilled at creating attention-getting brochures, sell sheets, booklets, manuals, and newsletters. They also specialize in the creation of business forms and all types of workplace documents.

Proofreading

Misspelled words, poor punctuation, and glaring grammatical errors can damage your credibility and hurt your professional image. While software spellcheckers can catch many simple mistakes, others require a keen eye and expert understanding of proper English grammar and usage. These are traits you'll find in the proofreaders at our printing firm.

Affectionately referred to as our "word nerds," our proofreaders are meticulous in what they do. Whether editing a multi-page newsletter or reviewing a single-page sales letter, we make sure our customers look—and sound—their best before they go to press.

Direct Mail Marketing

Newer technologies and distribution channels have made some people question the effectiveness of direct mail marketing in today's business world. But smart marketers continue to find success using direct mail. A recent study from MarketingSherpa found that 79% of more than 1000 marketing professionals questioned still consider direct mail to be effective or very effective marketing.

And why not? Done properly, direct mail marketing can deepen customer loyalty and increase front-of-mind awareness for a company and its brand.

When you're ready to launch a direct mail campaign, we can help. We're experts at creating super-successful direct mail materials that "wow" customers and prospects alike.

From creative concepting and eye-catching design, to expert production, mailing list curation, and efficient, effective distribution, we can manage your direct mail project every step of the way. Whatever the goal, we'll help you get the word out and succeed.

Mailing Services

When your printed project is finished, we can also manage your mailing services to save you time and energy. We offer a full-service, turn-key mailing solution. To learn more, follow the links in the Mailing section above.

Personalizing

Personalizing occurs when each of the printed pieces includes the name of the person who's receiving it. Instead of saying "Dear Occupant" or "Dear Sir or Madam," the mailer would say, “Hi Tom, here's a special offer for you!"

Variable Data

Have you ever received something that you know is bulk mail, but yet you read it because it is personalized with your name? It's amazing how seeing your name in print can raise the level of curiosity you have about the contents of a mail piece. Your customers and prospects will have the same reaction when they receive a mail piece that has been personalized using variable data printing.

Variable data printing enables you to be more intentional about your marketing strategy by providing a way to personalize any printed piece. However, moving personalized information from a database to paper can be a difficult task, especially when the database is large or complex. We can help.

We would be happy to partner with you in exploring the world of variable data printing. Call our print shop today for more information about how you can incorporate variable data printing into your company's marketing strategy.

Booklet Binding

We have many, many options to choose from when you need to bind your booklets, manuals, or catalogs.

Here are some of the more popular binding products and services we offer.

• Our booklet making machine - A truly amazing piece of equipment that collates, staples, and folds loose sheets into very nice and professional looking booklets.
  
• Comb binding - The classic round plastic bindings that require nineteen little square holes in each sheet of paper. This process can be used for books up to 400 pages. Pages can be added or removed easily. And the finished book lies flat when opened.
  
• Tape bindings - Known for its strength and durability, tape binding is frequently the choice of librarians and graduate school professors. Works best with documents up to 300 pages.
  
• We also provide printed or plain covers, clear acetate covers, and other types of bindings for specialty projects.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding provides a result similar to that of a paperback book. The phone directory on your desktop is a common example. National Geographic would be another. At our printing firm, we get many requests to bind software manuals, instruction manuals, and many varieties of soft-covered books using perfect binding. We print the heavy-duty covers separately and attach them at the spine with a strong, flexible glue. We then trim the books on three sides to make them look clean and professional.

Stapling

Stapling is one of the simplest – and most effective – methods of binding used today. In addition to stapling loose sheets together through the front of the page, we can saddle-stitch (staple through the spine) magazines and other multi-page items such as catalogs, annual reports, and newsletters.

Saddle-stitching is a sturdy, durable, and attractive binding option. The number of pages our saddle-stitching equipment can bind together varies depending on the weight of the paper used, but the results are the same every time: nice, clean, and professional.

Wire Binding

Wire binding is one of the most popular commercial bookbinding methods used in business today. Known by a number of different names, including spiral notebook binding, twin loop wire, Wire-o, and double loop wire, wire-bound materials can look extremely creative when a colorful wire is used. We offer several different processes of wire binding. Although it is difficult to add or delete pages once a document has been wire-bound, almost everyone agrees that wire-bound documents look very, very nice.

B&W Digital Printing

Black and white digital printing is one of our specialities.

We have the capabilities to produce big copy jobs very quickly. Our commercial-quality, high-speed copy equipment provides high-quality images at a surprisingly low cost!

When you need fast, inexpensive copies of higher quality than you can get on your office copy machines, give us a call. We're ready to help!

Color Printing

The demand for full-color printing is exploding, and why not? Studies have repeatedly shown that full-color printed materials are more "influential" and promote higher response rates than two-color or black-and-white materials. This holds true whether those print pieces are used for sales, marketing, or educational purposes. Adding color will cost more, but it serves a useful purpose. If you're considering moving up to full-color printing, give us a call. We're experts at color printing and look forward to putting our knowledge to work for you.

Spot Color Printing

Spot printing provides depth to your project by adding one or two additional colors in key locations on the page. Spot colors can be added to any standard one, two, or four-color project. They're great for overprinting logos, company colors, and other key elements that require exceptional color accuracy.

Two-Color Printing

Two-color printing uses two colors of ink (most often black and a second color) to create a dramatic contrast for a variety of printing needs. Less expensive than full-color printing, two-color printing is often used for business cards, flyers, brochures, letterhead, stationery, envelopes, and other similar office or business documents, to produce an eye-catching image at a competitive price.

Studies show that two-color printing is more effective at attracting attention than its one-color counterpart. We have hundreds of ink colors to choose from and can even create a custom-mix for you.

Die Cut

Not all printing projects require a nice, straight cut along the edge of the page. Some need curved cuts, odd-shaped cuts, fancy cuts, or internal cuts. When your design calls for a specialty cut, call on the experts at our print shop.

Our bindery department can handle any cutting need. With access to state-of-the-art die-cutting equipment, we'll work hard to ensure the perfect cut every time. Choose from hundreds of specialty dies, or have one custom-made to your unique specifications. Call for details.

Our die-cutting services are great for:

• Table tents
• Door hangers
• Die-cut postcards
• Rounded corners
• Keyhole cuts
• And more

Embossing

Embossing is an art as old as printing itself. The process involves pressing paper between specially cast metal dies attached to a letterpress. The result is a raised impression on the page that matches the design of the die.

Embossing dies can range from very simple shapes with flat, smooth surfaces to more elaborate creations with contours, depth, and intricate detail. In either case, the result is a crisp, elegant effect well-suited to any printed piece.

Foil Stamp

Looking for a unique and classy way to spice up your printing? Consider adding a foil-stamped line, logo, or other design element to the page. Use foil stamping to dress up your stationery, letterhead, business cards, booklet covers, report covers, presentation folders, and specialty print jobs.

Our commercial-quality foil stamping equipment uses heat to apply a thin layer of metal foil to a printed sheet of paper. Gold, silver, and a variety of other colors are available. We can help you choose the right foil or combination of foils as well as the right placement on the page to give your piece the perfect feel.

Invitations

In recent years, letterpress printing has become the method of choice for wedding and event planners looking to make their invitations as memorable as the occasions themselves. Known for producing rich textures, beautiful lines, and crisp, clear typography, the centuries-old process delivers elegant, distinctive results every time.

A letterpress invitation can capture the significance of any event you're planning. We offer a variety of traditional and non-traditional paper choices and will work with you to make your invitation stand out and look great.

Scoring and Slitting

When you need to fold a printed project that is on heavier card stocks of paper, we suggest you have it scored.

Scoring puts a groove in the paper that ensures the fold is accurate and doesn't damage the ink or paper.