Tips to consider when designing a brochure

Having a great brochure/leaflet is fundamental to your brand. There are so many options available. The first step is choosing what sort of brochure or leaflet your business needs and what it will say about your brand. This could be one of your bestselling marketing tools but remember it must grab your customer’s attention so concentrate on key messages, decide what you are wanting to say or sell. Keep it simple but try to be different from all the other flyers that are posted though your customers door.

Then it is about getting your design right. You could use the skill and flair from a graphic designer, who will be able to advise and guide you. They will sit down with you to understand your brand, what your key message are and the tone of voice you use as a business. They will take you through their work for other brands. Throw some ideas round together perhaps using mood boards, brainstorming with other team members to discuss what your business needs are. You don’t want to go to the trouble of spending a lot of time and money in designing your brochure only to get it wrong at the print stage, follow our step by step guide

Choosing your paper quality and weight is fundamental to your finished product so we think you should choose wisely. Paper quality or Grams per square meter (GSM) as it is known, means the higher the number the heavier the paper. When it comes to finalising the requirements of your print job, be sure to consider the weight of paper on the inside as well as the cover. I would suggest that if you want to provide a professional quality finish then opting for heavier paper for the outer covers. Although deciding on the paper quality will impact both the cost and quality of your brochure, please remember that this will provide the first impression for your potential customer and will say a lot about your business, your printer will advise and guide you.

TIPS

• Decide what your objectives are and what you are trying to achieve.

• Who is your target audience and what are you selling?

• This will then determine whether you need a brochure, booklet, flyer or tri fold leaflet?

• What size do you think it should be A4 A5 and how many pages? (remember printers need it to be a multiple of 4)

• Choosing the right paper weight and quality and finish is just as important as the design itself. It will add value to the service or goods that you are selling. Opt for a nice coated finish. Remember customers like the feel of things, so if you get the quality right you may get a better return on your investment.

• Have you got your brand colours and codes?

• Will your printing be folded, collated, stapled or bound?

• Is the cost of finishing included in the quote?

• Decide on the amount, this will affect the cost as larger amounts will be done lithographically, smaller amounts will be done digitally.

• When do you need them by as this may well affect the cost?

• One thing to stress is you cannot compromise when it comes to good quality images. Particularly if you are looking to showcase your brand. Getting it right first time, will save you money in the long run. Which is why using a professional photographer will bring your brand to life, the photos will be exclusive to you and your business and you will have the edge over your competitors.

• Get a quote for a couple of different amounts and finishing options from your printer

• Allow time for it to be checked for clarity and for errors by other people in your group. Paying attention to spelling, numbers etc. Your printer will not do this.

• Make sure the artwork is in the agreed format and get it to your printer on time

If you would like some help advice or a quote please contact us

SPOT UV – Simply Stunning

What is SPOT UV I hear you say…. well it is an area of Ultra Violet gloss coating that creates a glossy finish to a targeted areas on top of your printed job to make your business cards , postcards and flyers stand out from your competition.

SPOT UV works well on larger or smaller areas and as a pattern on a flat background. The varnish is applied using a process similar to screen printing,. We would advise that it is not suitable for small text as it can make it difficult to read. At Millfield Media Print Shop we can help and guide you with your artwork to create a business  card that your customers wont forget. We also have a help hub on our website to assist you when you are creating and uploading your artwork, not to mention our 5* customer service.

Our advice for designers is that when you are supplying files for print you must also supply artwork for the spot UV itself. The SPOT UV artwork should consist of solid black shapes – 100% K only and in the exact position on the page where the spot UV is required, ideally in vector as opposed to bitmap formula.

HELPFUL TIP: The Spot UV must be on a separate page and have the same dimensions and crop marks in the same position as the printed file.To do this firstly create a blank PDF that is 85 x 55mm, then insert it in one of the two following ways. Either combine your files using Acrobat Combine PDF function, or insert the blank page into the PDF by using Acrobat Insert Page function. Please then ensure that the page order is as described above.

These business cards are proving to be more and more popular. Printed on superb quality 450gsm Silk stock, full colour, double sided then matt laminated to both sides. We then add the Spot UV Varnish to any part of your design; such as logo, pattern or name.This highlights aspects of your design and gives a truly luxury feel they start from just £24 all with free delivery, you can choose delivery options which allows you to budget and save money if you can wait for a couple of weeks.

 

Worth your weight in …. paper

In the print world its all about the paper, and as you would expect we are pretty clued up on this subject. Choosing your paper quality and weight is fundamental to your finished product so we think you should choose wisely. Paper quality or Grams per square meter (GSM) as it is known, means the higher the number the heavier the paper. When it comes to finalising the requirements of your print job, be sure to consider the weight of paper on the inside as well as the cover. We would suggest that if you want to provide a professional quality finish then opting for heavier paper is your best choice.

The first thing you decide will be getting your design, content and brand right by ensuring that the images etc are first class which is absolutely right. You will then decide the size and how many pages it will have. (Remember this is a multiple of 4). Next you will be deciding how many you want printed which will perhaps decide on the budget that you are working within.

You don’t want to go to the trouble of spending a lot of time and money in designing your brochure only to print it on really light, thin paper. So deciding on the right paper weight for your brochure is just as important and it will add value to what it is you are offering if you opt for a nice coated finish. Remember customers like the feel of things, so if you get the quality right you may get a better return on your investment.

Although deciding on the paper quality will impact the cost and quality of your brochure, remember that this will provide the first impression for your potential customer. Another point to consider that if you allow a longer lead in time, this will give you the opportunity to keep some cost down. If you need it urgently you will pay a premium for this privilege.

All paper starts its life as uncoated then the preferred finish is added to your job.  Choosing what you need and what it will say about your brand is the first port of call.  Gloss paper comes in 130gsm 150gsm and 170gsm which is normally used for flyers and leaflets as it has a high shine. As the ink dries well there is no need for a seal varnish as the ink does not rub off. Matt paper isn’t shiny because it is coated with a matt lamination which prevents glare. This type of paper is also suitable for reports, brochures and leaflets particularity as it is available in heavier paper.

Silk coated paper is the in betweener, it has a beautiful smooth silky coating which is smooth to touch without the shine. This type of paper is suitable for magazines, books, catalogues and flyers.

Uncoated paper has no coating, making it excellent to absorb the ink receptivity which makes it ideal for forms, appointment cards letterheads and memo paper because it is ideal to write on. This specialist paper can also be used for invoice pads, receipt books and order pads using carbonated paper, as it has a coating on the surface which transfers the written image onto the paper below, so you dont need a carbon sheet. Lamination provides extra durability, strength and style so that you really make an impression, because they look and feel amazing and can be either matt or gloss.

UV Gloss coating is a premium coating that makes aspects of your design really stand out. It provides a much greater shine than gloss paper, particularly when added to a laminated finish as the Spot UV Varnish will make your logo, pattern or name stand out. I recently saw on on a musicians business card, as he had the black of the piano keys with a SPOT UV and it really stood out which is what will get you remembered if you get it right.

If you want to make an amazing impression and add a little bit of luxury to your design consider adding some metallic silver or gold foil highlights and stand out with something really special.

We can help with any advice and guidance, or you would like a free sample pack, please get in touch for details Millfield Media Print Shop