Recycled Paper

As a country we are becoming more aware of the environment, and the impact we are having on it. So how can we help reduce our pollution and preserve our environment?

Using Recycled and FSC Certified Papers are a very good place to start.

First we need to define these terms:

Recycled Paper is paper that has been produced from mill-broke, pre-consumer and post-consumer waste. ‘Genuine Recycled Paper’ is defined by containing the highest content of post-consumer waste.
Any recycled paper that carries the NAPM (National Association of Paper Merchants) Recycled Logo , will contain a minimum of 75% waste (This however excludes mill-broke waste).

FSC Certified Paper is paper which contains fibre from forest-friendly sources, which have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC Certified papers may contain a combination of FSC fibres, post-consumer waste/recycled/reclaimed fibres or other fibres from controlled sources.

FAQ

What about Quality and Performance?

The development and improvement of the production of recycled paper, now means quality and performance is tied with that of Standard ‘Virgin’ Papers. There are some recycled brands which are classed as ‘top of the range’ e.g. 9Lives and Revive

Is Recycled Paper more expensive?

Recycled paper is now on a par with conventional paper prices. This is due to the increase in demand and the progression of the manufacturing of recycled papers.

How is Ink removed from Paper for Recycling?

Ink is not always removed from the paper, but allowed to break up into the pulp. This inevitably gives the recycled paper a greyish tinge.

Should you choose Recycled Papers?
(When deciding whether you would say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, please take the following points in to account) :

1. We can reduce the amount of waste we are dumping into landfills. Landfills produce methane emissions which is in turn a contributor to global warming. Recycling paper means, reducing the waste we put in, increasing the time it takes to fill a landfill and therefore reducing the number of new ones created.

2. For the recycled market to continue we need to keep the demand for this type of material up. Without the recycled market and the promotion of it, we would find the production grinding to a halt.

3. We need to reduce the pressure put on forest resources by optimising the use of waste material available. Sustainable forestry’s are present but to deplete the use of virgin pulp completely we need to concentrate solely on using our own waste.

Promotional Products in the Recession

Promotional products are still a large part of business even in the midst of a recession.

The recession may have taken its toll on companies globally and on our marketing budgets, but promotional items are still very useful in good times and bad.

Some promotional items are used as everyday products such as mouse mats, pens and calendars. All of the previously mentioned items can be very cost effective and will not take a big slice out of your marketing budgets.

Nearly every person who owns a computer (apart from you laptop users) have a mouse mat. At Royale Graphics we produce calendar mouse mats each year for our customers and potential customers. They have proved to be very beneficial to our business over the years as they are an all year round advertising tool. Everybody uses a pen throughout the day (maybe not as much as we used to before people discovered email) Again these are a good advertising tool and are extremely cost effective as they can cost very little. Calendars and CD Calendars are a useful advertising tool. Our favourites at Royale Graphics are CD Calendars as they are displayed on your desk all year round. (Also it may be due to the fact that CD Calendars are another part of Royale Graphics www.cdcalendars.co.uk). CD Calendars can display a different message to your customers on each month insert. This could be promoting your products, a discount on a certain product for that particular month, or just as an advertising tool for displaying your company details.

Promotional items are not only used to attract potential customers, but also to retain your existing customers. They show your clients that you business is still going strong and retain your market share.

Creating 'print ready' artwork

To ensure that your artwork is ‘print ready’ and avoid any extra charges for your artwork, please ensure your artwork meets the following requirements before sending or uploading your files.

File Format – we can only accept artwork as ‘print ready’ if it is in PDF format. The majority of graphic programs will allow you to save your artwork in this format.

Resolution – Files including any images must be supplied at a minimum of 300 dpi (dots per inch) to print clearly. Remember you can downscale images, but never ever upscale images to the resolution you require as the images may appear fuzzy or pixellated. Most of the images found on the web are 72 dpi and are generally unsuitable for professional printing.

Colours – Files must be created in CMYK for colours to print accurately.

Production printing presses use different technologies than home/office printers and computer monitors. These should not be used to proof colours as they will not accurately represent what will be printed.

A screen displays at 72dpi in RGB, most VDU screens are not calibrated and the representation will vary according to the manufacturer of the screen and it’s settings.

Print colours may also vary according to the material used in printing - ie: there will be a difference between the colours on gloss material, silk material and uncoated materials.

BLEED - Bleed is used to extend an image, colour or line right to the edge of the finished printed piece. For example, if you want your background to be entirely blue, you must bleed the blue colour past the edge of the final size of print. This prevents a white line down one or more edges of your print, caused by very slight variations in printing and guillotining.

You must include at least 3mm bleed on each side of your artwork, and also include crop marks wherever possible.

Products that can require bleed include Brochures & Folders, Leaflets & Flyers and Large format Printing.