Attendance at National Parks has increased significantly since 2020, so even more people are seeing the health benefits associated with these natural wonders.
What if we told you that it’s possible to improve your overall wellness simply by viewing nature photography and images. Crazy, right?! Well, if you’re like us, you’re probably filling your walls and space with Mother Nature’s artwork as we speak! And if you live in the Midwest, heading into the cold winter months, this is an easy way to bring the outdoors in.
In fact, according to a study featured in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, just staring at natural scenery for 40 seconds is enough to trigger your brain into a more relaxed state. Who knew something so simple could have such a beneficial effect?
So, if you’re looking for a little more Zen in your life, we’ve created some awe-inspiring National Park posters that will bring nature back to your office, home, or wherever you need a little calm.
Download all four of the FREE National Park posters created just for you!
Download 11×17 Poster Here
Looking for an alternative poster size? Email us at info@econoprint.com and we’ll be happy to send it to you. Want to see more of our creative team’s work? Click here to see some of our favorites!
If you have ever done any kind of design work, you’ve most likely used the color profiles CMYK, RGB, and Pantone. But when designing for print, there are a number of things you’ll need to consider, especially when working on a branded project. The design style, paper selection, and product distribution are always top of mind; but you also need to make sure you’re designing in the correct color profile for how the finished product will be printed or viewed. All of these things must be taken into consideration to make sure your color selection is spot on.
So, let’s talk about the difference between CYMK, RGB, and Pantone colors, especially when preparing an artwork file for print.
CMYK uses a series of dots (composed of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to create the illusion of different colors. CMYK color builds won’t always be an exact match a Pantone color, but they will create more colorful photos.
When using the Pantone Matching System (PMS), your brand’s PMS color(s) are created using a precise formula, so the color always looks the same.
**** When designing for print, even though you’re designing on a screen, your color builds should all be in CMYK or Pantone. ***
RGB is the standard color profile used for on-screen design. It combines red, green, and blue light in different combinations to create the colors you see on a screen.
Knowing the difference between CYMK, RGB, and Pantone, and when to use them, will help to keep your branding consistent. Of course, the process used for each project varies, depending on the nature of your print job. Our team is here to help and answer any questions you might have to ensure a successful print project! info@econoprint.com
One of the most common problems our creative design teams see’s when receiving files for printing is the lack of bleed. Bleed is a printing term that is used to describe a document which has images or design elements that touch the edge of the page, extending beyond the trim edge leaving no white margin. When a document has bleed, it must be printed on a larger sheet of paper and then trimmed down. Printing and trimming is pretty precise with minimal amount of paper movement, but if no bleed is applied to the document a hairline of unprinted paper will show up on the edges. This is why we like to see the bleed extended .125 inches (1/8″) on each side of your document.
The business card example below shows how a document should be set up with bleed.
You probably already know how to create a print-ready PDF, but creating a PDF that bleeds requires a few more steps. Follow the instructions below to create bleeds in Adobe InDesign or Microsoft Word.
Adobe InDesign 1. In Document Setup set your document size to the final trim size. Set your bleed settings like the sample shown (1). All bleeds should be set to .125″. 2. When you are ready to make a PDF, select your desired export setting (we recommend Press Quality). 3. Under Export Adobe PDF options select Marks and Bleeds on the side menu. Make sure “Use Document Bleed Settings” is selected under Bleed and Slug. Compare your Marks and Bleeds Page to the preview shown (2). 4. Select Export. After your PDF is created, please review your PDF file. The dimensions should be your trim width with an additional .25″ and your height is your requested size with an additional .25″.
Microsoft Word 1. Microsoft Word does not have bleed settings. To allow for the bleeds, you will need to add .25″ to your width and to your height. This will allow for .125″ bleed area on all sides. (Example, if you would like a 5.5 x 8.5 postcard, you will need to make your document 5.75 x 8.75). 2. When you change your page size to include the bleed area your margins will not change. This means if you have your margins set to .375″ on 5.5 x 8.5, after the bleed area is trimmed o you will only have .125″ margins. We recommend increasing your margins to prevent important content from getting too close to the bleed area that will be cut o ff. 3. If you are ready to create a PDF, click File, then Save As, and select PDF in the drop-down menu. 4. After converting your Word document to a PDF, review the PDF to ensure no unwanted changes occurred during the conversion and that your document is the correct size.
Whew! That is it. The next time you send your PDF to us we know you’ll have mastered the bleed.
Direct mail is a great marketing tool to utilize within your marketing strategy, but when it comes to printing a postcard, size does matter!
When you’re looking to utilize direct mail in a marketing campaign or promotion, one of the first things you’ll need to know are the size options for your postcard. The images below will give you the dimensions that are the most common, and that will still allow you to meet all the mailing requirements and get the best USPS rate.
Postcard Sizes
True postcard sizes (3.5×5 to 4.25×6) are eligible to mail at the USPS First-Class postcard rate.
Oversized postcards (3.5×5 to 6.125×11) qualify for Market Mail (Standard), the Market Mail Nonprofit Rate, or First-Class.
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) Sizes
EDDM postcards must exceed one of the following:
10.5″ in length
6.125″ in height
.75″ in thickness
How Can You Mail Your Postcard?
There are three main ways you can mail a postcard: First-Class Mail, Market Mail (standard and nonprofit), and EDDM.
Giving direct mail its moment to shine in a marketing campaign gives you the opportunity to make a powerful first impression with a new or existing target market audience. There are many cost-efficient ways to reach potential customers, but you’ll want to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes. The size and professional design of the postcard are essential in making it stand out. So get those creative juices flowing and make your direct mail piece one to remember!
It’s the international meeting place for all things dairy! You’ll find the best dairy cattle breeds in the world, cutting edge research, and modern technologies. And of course, don’t forget to check out demonstrations and seminars on trending topics at this year’s World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI.
We are always excited to be a part of such a great event and able to work with many of the respected world dairy exhibitors. We enjoy helping them with creative design, printing of tradeshow booths, to retractable banners and marketing collateral. (more…)
