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.

VIDEO: The Beauty of Engraving

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Colour Time

The beauty of engraving is best reserved for formal pieces, as the price and the printing style lends itself to more formal occasions.

Keep in mind that engraving requires longer turn-around times than most printing styles. Engravers are generally old-school printers. This means, they honour traditional printing and paper ordering policies that can delay an order. If you’re in a hurry, this is not the printing method for you. If you have 3 to 4 weeks (or more), you’re golden.

The process of engraving creates an embossed image with startling clarity, colour purity and depth. Watch this video!

The Beauty of Engraving by I DO Films from Greg on Vimeo.

33 Creative Business Card Designs

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Colour Time

To wind up another week, here are some refreshing samples of very unique business cards for your viewing pleasure.

If any of these cards give you some inspiration for your next design – don't forget to to drop by or give us a call so we can help you get started.

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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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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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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.

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