Seven Reasons to Hire a Waveline Direct Graphic Designer

The computer is a great tool, and it makes it easier for small business owners to create their own flyers, brochures, postcards and business cards. So why would you want to use the services of a professional graphic designer? Here are seven reasons why small business owners are best served by using Waveline Direct LLC design professionals to create your marketing materials. 

1. You don’t have time.

Small business owners have a lot on their plates. That means you may put off doing a new marketing piece, even if it is something you really need. Using a Waveline Direct designer to help would mean you would have that project done professionally and begin using it to make more money.

2. You can’t afford not to.

By the time you learn how to use that page layout software that came free with your computer, you may have invested several hours. Couldn’t that have been used more productively? 

3. You are trying to uniquely brand your business.

Now, not every small business needs to stand out. If you’re a bakery in a small community, for example, it may be enough to just show up in internet searches. But if you’re in a market with a dozen other bakeries, you want to stand out. You will not standout with a clip art logo or generic flyer that looks the same as 10 of those 12 competitors. Using marketing materials that are unique and stand out are a way for people to remember you. And if they think they’ve seen you before, they are more likely to choose to contact you for your products or services.

4. You want to keep your look consistent.

If you use different logos, different fonts and different messages everywhere, it’s going to be hard to look professional – never mind standing out in a potential customer’s mind. Waveline designers know how to watch those little details and ensure that every piece of marketing communications fits with everything else. Sure, your customers may not notice if you used “Times New Roman” in one ad and “Calibri” in another, but the subconscious mind picks up details and uses them to form an overall opinion of your business. You look and seem more put together if everything does, in fact, fit together.

5. You save yourself a lot of headaches.

Let’s say you do put together something yourself, and send it off to the printer. When the proof, or worse, the finished product comes back with problems that you didn’t anticipate, fixing or reprinting will take even more time and money. Waveline designers know exactly what to do to make sure a file prints out correctly.

6. You get a brand new source of ideas.

Waveline designers are pretty creative folks, and they like to help their clients get the most out of every project. Using a Waveline designer means you’ll end up with a better finished product than you could have put together, even if you’re skilled at making things look good. Waveline designers may lead to a more eye-catching, more appealing and more polished piece than you would have created – thus leading to more attention from potential customers and more sales.

7. You take more pride in your marketing materials.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had an ugly or boring business card? Were you less likely to hand it out? If that brochure is outdated and uses a weird color scheme, you may just keep it behind the counter instead of displaying it. All your marketing materials should be the best they can be for your business, or you’ll have some hesitation in presenting them to new customers.

Waveline Direct LLC has those design professionals ready to create your next marketing piece. Learn more about the services Waveline Direct offers. Contact brendak@wavelinedirect.com or call 717.795.8830 or 1.800.257.8830.

Paper Weights Simplified

Paper weights are confusing! Here at Waveline Direct, we deal with two basic weights: TEXT WEIGHT and COVER WEIGHT. Please note that 80# text weight is a paper weight and 80# Cover weight is a card stock; although they have the same number marking them, they are two completely different papers.

POPULAR CARD STOCK PAPER

65 lb Cover Weight is used in cases where you would need a lighter weight card stock.  It is heavy enough to be used for post cards.  Paper punching, die cutting and folding is easy to do on 65 lb card stock.  Printing on this light weight card stock is easily done in most home printers. 

80 lb Cover Weight is our most commonly used card stock.  It is a medium weight card stock that will go through almost any type of printer.  The 80 lb card stock is the most common weight of card stock, and is used for DIY invitations, card making, scrapbooking, flyers, post cards, die-cutting, menus, craft projects, program, and business cards.  

100 lb cover weight begins to get into the heavier weight card stock.  The card stock weighing in at 100 lb cover is often used for flyers, signs, invitations, and invitation backings.  

PAPER OPTIONS:

  •  20 bond/50 lb paper is commonly used as copy and printer paper.  It is inexpensive and it would not be a good idea to use this paper for wedding programs, brochures and any other type of printing in which you want to make a statement.
  •  24/60 lb text weight paper could also be used for copy paper.  It is commonly used for inkjet and laser printing. It is great for flyers, newsletters, letterhead, and everyday printing. Our Astrobright papers are a fun 60# paper for getting your flyers and posters noticed!
  • 28/70 lb text weight paper is a bit more substantial than more common copy paper.  This paper is often used for brochures, tri-folds, converting a better envelope, menus and church bulletin papers. Super smooth Cougar White papers are a favorite among our customers!
  • 32/80 lb text weight is a thicker paper that is used for wedding programs, menus, fine brochures, and more.

PAPER WEIGHT AND COMMON USES

Text Weight

60#...Letterhead, flyers, sell sheets, brochures

70#...Newsletters, letterhead, flyers, sell sheets, brochures, softcover books

80#...Magazines, newsletters, letterhead, flyers, sell sheets, brochures, softcover books

Cover Weight

80#,,,Postcards, posters, book covers, invitations, business cards, table tent cards

100#...Pocket Folders, posters, invitations, table tent cards, rack cards

 

For further information, quotes or questions...

email: jenniferw@wavelinedirect.com or

phone: 717.795.8830 or 800.257.8830

Welcome to Waveline Direct's Blog!

Waveline Direct will try to use this blog to educate our clients and potential new clients on the Offset Printing process. Here we go... BLOG #1!!!

Definition of Offset Printing:

A printing technique whereby ink is spread on a metal plate with etched images, then transferred to an intermediary surface such as a rubber blanket, and finally applied to paper by pressing the paper against the intermediary surface. Most print shops use offset printing to produce large volumes of high-quality documents. Although the equipment and set-up costs are relatively high, the actual printing process is relatively inexpensive.

Desktop publishing generally involves producing documents on the computer, printing out drafts on a laser printer, and then offset printing the final version. 

Direct to plate printing eliminates the use of film in printing. Traditional methods of printing, called offset lithography printing, produced film on an imagesetter and used it to make a metal printing plate. The plate then went on a printing press to make the printed impressions. With direct to plate printing, the printing plate is produced directly from a computer, eliminating the need for film.

This type of printing is very popular due to its cost-effectiveness. Production of film costs a great deal of time and money, and printing directly has cut out the middleman in order to save on both. Direct to plate printing is also environmentally friendly and has a higher productivity rate.

Without the use of film in the printmaking process, the technology has had to evolve and expand to maintain the quality of the prints. Some print manufacturers have brought out their own development techniques to make sure there is no loss of quality with the elimination of film. Kodak has developed the Direct Thermal Printing Plate, which uses thermal imaging techniques as opposed to the silver halide or photopolymer technologies used by others.

For further information, quotes or questions...

email: jenniferw@wavelinedirect.com or

phone: 717.795.8830 or 800.257.8830