We publish the newsletter, Printing & Design Tips, every month. It is emailed to a subscriber list and posted here.
To subscribe, enter your e-mail below and click "subscribe."
You forgot to enter your email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
That email address was not found on our subscriber list.
E-mail:
If you need Newsletter Printing Quotes, click here to receive multiple newsletter quotes from the printers who belong to our service at www.printindustry.com.
The newsletter is written by Steve Waxman, a printing consultant. He teaches corporations how to save money buying printing, brokers printing services, and teaches prepress techniques. Steven has been in the printing industry for thirty-three years working as a writer, editor, print buyer, photographer, graphic designer, art director, and production manager.
Current Newsletter
Past Newsletters
AUGUST 2021, Issue #241>Serif vs Sans-Serif Type
<>"PUR" (Polyurethane Reactive) Glue Vs. Regular Hot-Melt Glue For Perfect-Bound Books
JUNE 2021, Issue #239>Type Design: Making Text Stand Out
Type as Image (Helpful Information for Logo Design)
OCTOBER 2020, Issue #231>Best Typefaces for E-Books and Print Books
>Thoughts on Scratch-Off Inks
>Opaque White Ink on A Black Shirt
MAY 2020, Issue #226>A Striking Option for Sending a Marketing Mailer
Consider Creating a Logo Style Guide
OCTOBER 2019, Issue #219>Otabind and Smyth Sewing as Binding Options
>Marketing a Client’s Skills
>Frank Romano’s Article on the Future of Print
JULY 2019, Issue #216>Folding Tips: A Unique Sample Promotional Card
>Design Tips: A Transparent Ikea Lightbulb Box
MAY 2019, Issue #214>What Can You Do If Your Print Job Gets Behind Schedule?
>Why Are Paper Prices Rising?
JANUARY 2018, Issue 198>A Design Option for Labels with "Too Much Information"
>Labels that Make it Look Like You Printed on the Bottle
>Novel Labeling for a Danskin Product
SEPTEMBER 2017, Issue 194
>Why It’s Smart to Ask for F&Gs
>Now, the Cover
>Additional Printed Pages for Another Client’s Color Swatch Book
MARCH 2017, Issue 188
>Always Ask for a Proof—Even for a Reprint
>A Standee Made with Clear Sheet Plastic, Ink on Paper, and LED Lights
JULY 2016, Issue 180
>Thoughts on the KBA/Xerox Digital Press
>Decor Printing Via Digital Technology
JULY 2015, Issue 168
>Domed Decals
>Cropping Photos for Maximum Impact
>Alignment of Type an a Logo
>If You Cancel a Job
JUNE 2015, Issue 167
>When to Design a Huge Standee
>Looking for Problems on a Press Check
>When to Do a Press Check
NOVEMBER 2014, Issue 160
>Package Printing Options
>Two More Labeling Options
>One More Sample (Probably Screen Printing)
JULY 2014, Issue 156
>Why is the Trimmer Operator Spread Eagled Over the Equipment?
>What Happens to Unsold Print Books?
>Sample Book: A Few Elements of Quality Printing
APRIL 2014, Issue 153
>Items to Check When Submitting Design Files to Printers
>What is Side Stitching?
>A Few Large Format Printing Options
MARCH 2014, Issue 152
>Case Binding Case Study (Plus Some New Terms)
>More Case Binding Terms
>What is Edition Binding?
FEBRUARY 2014, Issue 151
>Things to Consider When Overprinting Black Ink
>Inserting Facsimiles of Pages within Layout Files
>Tagging Text in Directories and Other Annual Publications
OCTOBER 2013, Issue 147
> A Good Use of Embossing Techniques
> Paper Trimming Tolerance
> Image Resolution and Viewing Distance
SEPTEMBER 2013, Issue 146
> Direct Mail and Catalogs: Why Catalog Order Forms are Still Vital
> Printing Pizzas for Astronauts
AUGUST 2013, Issue 145
> Protect Your Print-Job Delivery
> Sign for the Delivery to Protect Your Investment
> A Benefit of Adobe’s Creative Cloud: A Plethora of Fonts
JANUARY 2013, Issue 138
>Adjusting the Color of Paper
>Can You Smyth Sew a Paperbound Book?
>Oblong vs. Standard Page Format
MAY 2012, Issue 130
>Computer-To-Plate Technology Increases
Platemaking Speed and Quality
>Ultraviolet (UV) Inks Widen Printing Substrate Options
MARCH 2012, Issue 127
>What is “Transpromo” Material?
>What is Dimensional Stability?
>What is Picking?
>What is Wax Pick?
>What are Pinholes?
FEBRUARY 2012, Issue 127
>Deckled Edge Vs. Rough-Front (Faux-Deckled Edge)
>What is Groundwood Paper?
>What is Acid-Free Paper?
>What is Fluorescent Paper?
>Is All Printing Paper Trimmed Square?
>Banding or Strapping?
MAY 2011, Issue 118
>Painting the Sheet
>A Postscript on What Makes Static Clings Stick to Glass
APRIL 2011, Issue 117
>Using FPO's in Your Color Workflow with Printers
>Determining the Spine Width for a Book
>Asking Your Printer to Stitch Together the Cover and Spine or Doing It Yourself
MAY 2010, Issue 106
> Close Loop Color
> QR (Quick Response) Codes
> Expert Font Sets
> Lab Color
SEPTEMBER 2009, Issue 98
> Why is Black Ink Necessary for CMYK Printing?
> Ink Replacement Trick
> Surrounding Colors
> Neutral Grey Paper
> Trim Tolerances in Digital Printing
APRIL 2009, Issue 93
>Thoughts on Varnish and Other On-Press and Off-Press Coatings
>What is a Hinge Card?
>Avoid Screens of Red
MARCH 2009, Issue 92
>Flat vs. Finished Size
>CMYK: What's the 'K'?
>What's the Difference Between BLOW-IN and BIND-IN Card?
>What is Remoistenable Glue?
DECEMBER 2008 , Issue 89
>How Will the Paper Behave on Press?
>Paper Finish
>Another Way to Save Paper
>Avoid Paying for Varnish
>Get Better Paper for Less Money
June 2008 , Issue 83
>Which Cover Coating is the Most Environmentally Friendly?
>What is FSC Certification?
>What is SFI Certification
>What Do FSC- and SFI-Certification Matter to You?
DECEMBER 2007, Issue 77
>What Is Runnability?
>What Does Machineable Mean?
>What is the Difference Between Embossing, Debossing, and Blind Embossing?
>What is Scoring?
NOVEMBER 2007, Issue 76
>How Does Spiral Binding Differ from Wire-O Binding?
>What Should You Remember About Coil Bindings?
>What is a Hickey?
JULY 2007, Issue 72
>Printing with Fluorescent Inks
>Ouch: Don't Be Surprised by Your Printing Bill
>Check the Color Across the Entire Press Sheet
APRIL 2007, Issue 69
>Using Wax-Free Inks Under Book-Cover Lamin ates
>Laminates Vs. UV Coatings for Book Covers
>Picking a PMS Color for Type
JANUARY 2007, Issue 66
>What is Lenticular Printing?
>What is the Difference Between Brightness and Whiteness?
>What is Synthetic Paper?
NOVEMBER 2006, Issue 64
>A Web Press is Not Always Perfecting
>Saddle-Stitch vs. Perfect Binding
>Lay-Flat Laminate
>A Fine Point of Style
SEPTEMBER 2006, Issue 62
>What is a Perfecting Press?
>What is the Difference Between a Form and a Signature?
>What is Foil Stamping?
JUNE 2006, Issue 59
>Nothing Remains the Same, Including Your Printer
>Relationship with Your Printer
>Printer Communication Styles
>Printing Outside the USA
MARCH 2006, Issue 56
>Who Pays for Shipping?
>More on Photos
>Descreening (Screens of Halftone Screens)
DECEMBER 2005, Issue 53
>When to Use a Spot Color
>Multiple Printing Estimates: Interpreting & Choosing Appropriate Print Vendor
AUGUST 2005, Issue 49
>Overage / Underage
>Folding Tolerances
>Export File Formats for Process Color in Pagemaker
JULY 2005, Issue 48
>Paper and the Environment: Part 2
>Tabs vs. Fugitive Glue
>Envelope Specifications
MARCH 2005, Issue 44
>Fix the Problem of Four-Color Blacks
>InDesign vs. Quark: A Printer's Perspective
DECEMBER 2004, Issue 41
>What is Paper Coating Made Of?
>What is the Difference Between Whiteness and Brightness of Paper?
>What are Bleeds and Why Do Bleeds Cost More?
>Halftone Dot Shapes
OCTOBER 2004, Issue 39
>Effect of Paper on Ink Drying Time (REVISITED)
>Final Responsibility for Printable Job Files
>Paper Price Increase
AUGUST 2004, Issue 37
>What You Should Know About Ink Drying Time
>Converting Images to CMYK
>FM Screening
JULY 2004, Issue 36
>Requirements for Embossing
>Color Corrections on Press
>UV Cracks with Saddlestitch
JUNE 2004, Issue 35
Organize Computer Files/Hardcopy for Printers
>Color Separated Laser Proofs
>Collect for Output Report
>Clear Off Your Quark PasteBoard
-------------------
>Rich Black Ink
MARCH 2004, Issue 32
>Specifying Gloss vs. Dull Stock
>Paper for Both Photos and Text
>What is Cast-coated Stock?
>What are Specialty Papers?
Issue 28, November 2003
>Choose Your Paper Wisely & Save Money
>Keep the Post Office in the Design Loop
>Postage Rates
Issue 25, August 2003
>Tint Backgrounds Vs. Colored Paper Stock
>Xerographic Printing Paper Considerations
>Designing for Easy (Cheaper) Bulk Mailing
Issue 19, February 2003
> How To Produce Even, Heavy-Coverage Solids
> Avoiding Cracking When Printing Heavy-Coverage Solids
> Avoiding Ghosting When Printing Heavy-Coverage Solids
Issue 10, May 2002
> Why Won't Your Printer Accept MS Publisher or MS Word Files?
> When Should You Consider Digital Printing?
Issue 9, April 2002
> What You Should Know About Ink
> What You Should Know About Delivery Costs