A Useful Promotional Product

Note pads are a versatile and appreciated promotional product that can be printed for a specific event or for general use. Follow these tips to be sure your pads are as useful as they are attractive.

• Select the right paper. People use pens and pencils to write on pads. Select a paper made for writing (bond, writing or text) and with an appropriate finish. Avoid coated papers, papers with a prominent finish, and papers too vividly colored.
• Advertise with subtlety. Keep your logo and contact information out of the way of the note taking section.
• Leave room for the notes. Design the note pads to provide adequate space for the purpose - taking notes. This is particularly important for small (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) inch note pads.
• If using a screen or grid behind the note-taking area, keep it light. Avoid images that will compete with the notes.

We will be happy to refresh the design of your company's note sheets or help with your first order.

What is a Bleed and How Does it Affect My Printing Costs?

A bleed is any printed element on the page that extends beyond the edge of the sheet. A full bleed means the printed elements extend beyond all four edges of the sheet.

Even though it may look like we have printed to the edge of a sheet, we actually have trimmed away the paper and an extra one-eighth inch on the image so it looks like we printed to the edge of the sheet. This process is called trimming to the bleed.

To include a bleed in your design, the image must be extended by one-eighth of an inch (o.125) past the trim line, and the press sheet must be larger than the finished size of the printed piece. Depending on the finished size of the piece, this may mean we get fewer finished pieces out of a standard press sheet. If you would like to include a bleed as a design element, let us know and we can advise you how.