Catalog Design
At scott roberts
design we've been designing and producing catalogs for business-to-business
and business-to-consumer companies for over 10 years.
Our mission
Our mission
is to create the best presentation of your product at a reasonable
cost. With this in mind we use the latest tools, software and
techniques in catalog design to produce beautiful catalogs efficiently.
How do we get started?
If you are
new to producing a catalog check out some of our helpful articles
on catalog design, catalog production and product photography.
If you are looking for a catalog design company give us call at
858.245.6056.
Catalog Printing
Tips
The following
printing and mailing tips can save you money or avoid printing
delays.
Catalog Printing
Tip - Press Types
A web press
(a press specifically designed to print rolls of paper) can print
significantly faster than a sheet fed press. However, the complexity
of the web press means requires more labor to setup and run. If
your catalog or book can meet certain minimums of quantity and
page count, along with using paper formats available in web (roll)
form, you can take advantage of the savings the faster web press
allows. Generally, catalogs of 16 printed in a quantity of as
low as 5,000 will be cost effective on a web press.
Catalog Printing
Tip - Page Count
If you can
finesse your page count to increments of 32 pages for standard
format (8-3/8" x 10-7/8") or 64 for the digest format
(5-3/8" x 8-3/8") you can save considerable cost by
printing on an eight-unit web press which is capable of running
two webs at the same time. That means labor time will be cut almost
in half! Standard four- to six-unit web presses can only print
single webs or 16 pages in standard format. You'll need to use
60# or lighter basis weight stock for maximum efficiency however.
Catalog Printing
Tip - Page Size
You can save
a considerable amount of money on your printing by designing for
a slightly smaller page width. A 7-3/8" page width instead
of the standard 8-3/8" page width means the printer can buy
31" rolls of paper instead of 35" rolls. Your job will
need about 10% less paper. Since paper is a large percentage of
your printing cost, the savings to you can be significant. Your
freight and mailing costs should also be reduced.
Catalog Printing
Tip - Catalog Size
Perhaps the
most ubiquitous and cost effective size of catalog is the standard
format (8-3/8" x 10-7/8") with 32 pages. Outside of
this format, the next most cost effective formats are standard
format catalogs with page counts in increments of 16 pages, such
as 48, 64 or 80 pages. Also using a standard house paper - typically
a 60# no. 3 or 4 quality - will generally be a fairly low cost
paper.
Preventing
Delays - Mailing List
To prevent
delays send your mailing list to your printer or mail house at
least 7 days before the scheduled binding/addressing date so that
estimated postage may be calculated and the list analyzed. Send
your postage check at least two business days prior to the mail
entry date.
Preventing
Delays - File Delays
Web presses
normally run 24 hour a day, 6-7 days a week, so scheduling is
critical. If you see that your disks, etc. may not get to your
printer on time, be sure to tell them right away. If they know
about delays for enough in advance, they may still have the flexibility
to make scheduling changes that will allow you to meet your deadlines.
