This blog is brought to you by Colour Time Printing & Digital Imaging, downtown Vancouver's leading provider of printing and marketing solutions with international award-winning clientele. Established in 1978, it has a long history of providing a wide range of services from web design to beautifully printed bound books. With FSC certification and a strong commitment to the environment, Colour Time develops environmentally-responsible solutions that can match the details and demands of any project.

23 Inspirational Print Brochures

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Colour Time

Today we feature a marketing piece that everyone on the face of this earth has heard of – BROCHURES. At Colour Time, we have the great pleasure of printing hundreds of these every single day.

Why do people print brochures?

As you would know, brochures are used in all sorts of promotions. They're a great sales or marketing tool and are easy to give away outdoors or keep on rack displays indoors. For those who have a ton of information to share, a brochure conveniently allows you to segregate data into different categories in different panels. They can also be relatively inexpensive and there are several finishes you can choose from. Brochures are a useful and cost-effective means of promotion for any organization or individual in any industry.

How do I stand out?

Ask us about having unique folds, die-cut shapes or using eye-popping colours that will help you stand out from the boring norm. Try to avoid getting too crazy or you might forget the marketing basics of designing and printing brochures – make sure they're still a portable size and not too bulky to keep. Gone are the days of appalling clip art and overwhelming bodies of text. Clean typography and design are the name of the game, and an added flair of creativity can certainly go a long way and make an enormous impression.

So before you start your next brochure project, why don't you give us a call or visit us – our experienced team can help give you some creative ideas to get you started.

In the meantime, here's some inspiration!

Disclaimer: The images on this page are not owned by Colour Time and are used solely as design examples. Please click on the images to see their original sources.

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20 Letterhead Designs You’ll Love

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Colour Time

A letterhead is one of the most important printing collaterals in any business. More than just a means of correspondence, it is also a physical representation of your company. It can say a great deal about your brand image and is an essential part of any organization's sales and marketing communications strategy. In addition, a well-designed letterhead lends to credibility and is a great means of displaying professionalism.

Having been in the printing industry for the last 35 years, we at Colour Time are definitely no strangers to letterheads. We've printed and designed everything from the simplest, one-colour designs on lightweight paper to CMYK with embossing, foiling, die cutting and beyond. So today, we've put together a collection of eye-catching letterhead designs that will get you thinking about how you can design your letterhead to show your creativity and communicate your brand effectively.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The images on this page are not owned by Colour Time and are used solely as design examples. Please click on the images to see their original sources.

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30 Creative Packaging Designs

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Colour Time

Monday is here and we've decided to send a little inspiration your way to help jumpstart your week!

At Colour Time, when it comes to printing and packaging, we'll spoil you for choice with more than 2,500 substrates to choose from. We can print in short runs on heavy weight stock, die cut and even add personalization to each package. Short run packaging is perfect for special events, VIP gifts, promotional items, specialty food products and much more!

Here we've compiled 30 examples of attractive and communicative packaging which you could use for any of your upcoming projects. Remember, great packaging designs have the ability to not only attract and inform, but also provoke feelings and communicate emotions to the consumer. First impressions are critical and the design on your product is what will make it stand out from the rest and influence the buyer's decision.

Disclaimer: The images on this page are not owned by Colour Time and are used solely as design examples. Please click on the images to see their original sources.

1. Nike Stadium Shoe Box

Advertising Agency: Publicis, Singapore

2. Tea Hangers

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Bonne Fête Canada!

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Colour Time

To celebrate Canada Day, we're giving away a beautiful 44" x 16" Panoramic Canvas of Vancouver!

vancouver-canvas-giveaway

Our Picture-Perfect Canada Day Giveaway starts today and closes on July 1, 2012.

Visit www.colourtime.com/canada-day for more details on how you can be the lucky winner of this lovely work of art!

What are you waiting for? Submit your entry now!

7 Marketing Collaterals Every Business Needs

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Colour Time

Marketing collateral is any material used to help a business advertise or communicate with business associates, potential customers or clients. This includes everything from brochures to letterheads to banners to direct mailers and more.

Marketing collaterals are ideal for maintaining a cohesive brand identity to ensure consistency in a campaign. Having a full range of collateral pieces (marketing pieces that are not necessarily sales pieces) will exponentially increase your image and credibility, your ability to reach your target audience and your success at staying in front of them. All these can contribute to a significant increase in your bottom line.

Today we've put together the top 7 marketing collaterals that will help you make the most out of your marketing campaign:

Disclaimer: The images on this page are not owned by Colour Time and are used solely as design examples. Please click on the images to see their original sources.

1. Stationery – Business Card, Letterhead, Envelope

Why You Need It:

Allan Haley of Dynamic Graphics+Create Magazine explains:

"Business cards and letterheads are part reference tool, part promotion. They inform the recipient who you are, your position within the company and how to contact you. And if they are distinctive and easy to read, they will differentiate your company from the competition.

Business stationery is the hardcopy vehicle for communication between a company and its clients. It introduces proposals; it presents design briefs and business plans. It says, “thank you for your business,” “we appreciate working with you,” “this is how to solve the problem” and “here is the bill for our services.” Even if 95 percent of your communication is via e-mail, a PDF of a business plan, project proposal or invoice on business stationery speaks more professionally to clients than an e-mail with text set in Arial or Trebuchet."

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5 Print Finishes To Spice Up Your Design

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Colour Time

Finishing is the value-added process that takes place after printing. It is the general term used to define anything done to a product after it is printed. In fact, the most critical element of the printing process is the finishing because it can help turn "common" into "unique", and "ordinary" into "extraordinary". At Colour Time, we offer a wide selection of finishing options, ranging from UV coating, embossing and foil stamping to special folds, die cuts, and glueing.

Today we focus on 5 common finishes that you can apply to your designs:

1. Varnish

This is one of the most used finishes in printing. A varnish finish is a colourless coating of either gloss, matte, silk or satin – it is applied to enhance the look and feel of a design and can also protect the paper from wear-and-tear. It can also be applied to a selected area of the design (referred to as "spot varnish") to highlight or emphasize specific elements.

Gloss – Great for enhancing photographs. Gives a more vibrant look.
Matte / Dull – Ink colors appear softer on a matte finish. Text can be easier to read.
Satin / Silk - In between gloss and matte – not too glossy, not too dull.
UV Varnish – High shine finish applied with ultraviolet light – appears "glossier" than typical varnish.

uv varnish

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10 Helpful Green Printing Tips

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Colour Time

At Colour Time, we are environmentally-conscious about everything we do. Being situated in a city as beautiful as Vancouver, it is imperative for us to respect nature and preserve our natural surroundings.

Green Printing Vancouver

As an FSC-Certified printer, we fully encourage eco-friendly print services and we are committed to environmentally-sustainable practices with the highest quality.

Here are 10 helpful tips on how you can go green with printing:

1. Use non-toxic inks

Print with vegetable-based and soy-based inks – they carry the lowest volative organic compounds (VOCs) of any ink in the industry and are biodegradable.

2. Opt for non-toxic coating

Apply water-based or non-toxic aqueous coating – this will still allow you to have a full gloss finish without worrying about potentially-toxic chemicals.

3. Proof your work

Proof often and reduce waste. Good proofing is one of the best printing tips we can give you. Less printing mistakes means less printing waste.

4. Choose a printer with a green policy

At Colour Time, our Green Policy drives everything we do.

5. Combine mailing and printing

Do it all under one roof! Instead of printing your direct mail products and shipping them to a mailing house – have your printing and mailing done under one roof at Colour Time. Save fuel and transportation costs!
In addition, you can use our integrated marketing services, and we'll combine the usual advertising platforms of print (direct mail, ads, coupons) with the interactive capabilities of web, mobile and social networks. All this allows for cost-effective runs and personalization of your marketing materials which will give you the greatest impact.

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Our HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Colour Time

We're now fully-operational on our HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press.

HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press

With unmatched digital and photo quality, high versatility and productivity, we can now seamlessly switch between jobs and media types – with a new added ability to print on synthetics, magnets, and decals.

Its printing capabilities allow us to print well over two million colour pages or five million monochrome pages per month. Colour jobs are printed at a speed of 90 pages per minute, and monochrome jobs at 272ppm.

Read on to know how much more we can do for you!

Exceptional print quality and colour. Enabled by HP Indigo’s liquid ElectroInk technology and unique digital process, HP Indigo prints are of the highest quality, matching or even exceeding offset, allowing them to be used interchangeably.

Up to 7 on-press ink stations enable use of HP Indigo’s wide digital colour gamut, including special effect inks
4, 6 or 7 process colours for vivid printing and accurate on-press Pantone emulation
True spot colours, mixed off press, for perfect Pantone-certified solids

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You like it RAISED? So do we!

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Colour Time

Much more than just a regular "calling card", a business card is a downright necessity. If you have ever found yourself in a situation where you have completely run out of cards for a substantial period of time, you'll learn to appreciate just how valuable they really are!

It is no new fact that the business card is the socially-accepted way of introducing one's self politely to a new or prospective client. It is an expression of you and your company, and plays a significant role long after you have met the person. It is the first impression that leaves a lasting impression. Business cards are the type of print collaterals that may be TINY, BUT MIGHTY!

And while getting them well-designed is one thing, getting them well-printed is another. At Colour Time, we can accomplish both.

The ideas for business card finishing are endless. However, budgets are not. All you have to do is tell us what you want and what budget range you have. Our experienced consultants can give you special and innovative ideas on die cutting, foil stamping, embossing and other post-press services. We have a great portfolio we'd love to share with you.

Today we feature a simple yet striking business card. Take a look!

The Coffee Shop Business Card by Colour Time

Dimensions: 3.5" x 2"
Paper Type: UltraWhite Mohawk Superfine Cover in 100lb, double-thick
Print Process: Offset printing, colour embossing, lamination
Design Colour/s: Full colour – CMYK

In a world that is saturated with business cards, having a card with unique attributes will definitely give you the upper hand. Remember: Your business card is your best lead retention tool. You will be handing it out every single day. Don't skimp on quality – let us help you!

For more information, read our sections on Offset Printing, Digital Printing, Bindery & Finishing.

For the love of art.

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Colour Time

Hi everyone and welcome to our blog! Monday is here, and we hope you’re all having a bright start to the week ahead!

Today we feature some spectacular photographs we recently printed on our Artist Stretch Canvas at 1200dpi using our high-quality Canon large format printer.

Who says all photographs have to go into frames? Check this out!

beaver canvas

These photographs were mounted on beaver stretchers for display at the independent travelling exhibition, Inquiry. Yes, our work made its way out of Vancouver all the way to Fort Simpson and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada! The exhibition commemorates the 35th Anniversary of Justice Thomas Berger’s Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry in the Northwest Territories.

Do you have a photograph or an artwork you want to print and display? In your office? In your home? A gift for a friend or a loved one?

Call us, e-mail us, tweet us, facebook us, or better yet, come see us! We’ll be more than happy to help!

For more information, read our section on Large Format Posters.

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