Printing Advice

[RESteve]

So I've designed my mailer, I'm ready to print and looking for the best and cost effective solution.

I like the idea of having overnightprints.com do my printing as I've heard good reviews on them and their process is simple, but how should I go about labeling the postcards with the addresses and postage?

Should I run to the post office and get the postcard postage I need and do it manually?

What about the labeling of addresses; I'm printing 5.5x8.5 postcards, so I'm not sure if I can print on these using our office printer (should I be able to?). And if I'm going to be printing on them the addresses, I'm assuming I should not u/v coat the backside, right?

As you can see, lots of questions but I'm SO green at direct mailing, haha.

[kyle422]

http://quantummail.com/
One stop mail outs.

[RESteve]

http://quantummail.com/
One stop mail outs.

I've considered them; any other takes?

[BrandonSternfield]

When I do it for my job (I personally do it mind you, saves money, but not time, etc), I use address labels. I simply use Excel and Word to merge the data, and print out the labels. I have a friend who is a printer, so I get an insane price on them, and just do it myself.

If you plan on doing a monthly post card, that is 500+ or around there, consider metered postage. It's a lot simpler then putting the stamp on yourself. Though I'm not sure if postcard postage works in them..., I drop them off at my buddies place, and he takes care of the postage for me.. not sure if he does the stamps or what.

If you don't have the time, or the people, I'd recommend one of the one stop shop places Just remember, most online sites will require a certain picture format, a certain resolution (i.e. 72 ppi or 300 ppi etc), and also I hope you are using printing colors, not web colors (cmyk vs rgb), because they won't print out the same... there are pantone conversions out there, if you are using the wrong colors.

[RESteve]

and also I hope you are using printing colors, not web colors (cmyk vs rgb), because they won't print out the same... there are pantone conversions out there, if you are using the wrong colors.

I didn't even think of that! Thanks for pointing that out. So I should use cmyk or rgb color palette?

[BrandonSternfield]

RGB is web (think html, with the 3 hex color codes - rrggbb).
CMYK is print.

Your monitor displays everything in red/greens/blues

A good idea, before you do any professional printing, is to test print your card yourself (assuming you have a decent printer.. and decent paper).

Here is an article on converting the color scheme yourself, and shows you the difference in colors It's a little old (photoshop 6.x etc) but I'm sure the methods are similar, if not still the same.

[RESteve]

To anyone out there using Quantummail, I just self discovered that it does not allow full card uploads in CMYK format; only RGB.

[kyle422]

The quality is pretty good. I think the time it saves is worth worth the sacrifice in color. I honestly can't tell the difference but I'm not going for that ultra high quality on mailouts.

[RESteve]

My first mailout: Jumbo pieces 5.5 x 8.5 color on one side, BW on the other.

293 Addresses.

I got my designs in Quantummail, and the charge went from "starting at .46 a piece" to ".62 a piece". What the heck?

I'm trying to figure out why I'm being charged more now.

[RESteve]

Ah hah!

"To customize your postcards using the design tools, add 8¢ per card. "

Weird thing is is that I uploaded my designs. I don't know why it's adding it.

After speaking with their support, they charge you .08 more per piece EVEN if you upload your own design. I think that's crap.

So back to the drawing board.

I can print them for about .19 a piece, and am still looking a good way to print and mail them.