Here at Cary Printing we are all winding down 2008 by celebrating the holidays. Even though we are winding down 2008, we are gearing up for 2009. We are expecting a great year with new and innovative ideas that will benefit our clients and our planet. We want to wish you and all of your family and friends happy holidays.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cary printing, certified, design, gracol7, graphic design, green printing, quality
Good printing begins with good design. Part of what makes good design is the mechanical aspect of building the print file.
One important element of building the mechanical is to make sure that the resolution of the file, including incorporated images, are at a high enough resolution.
Since printing involves making images from small dots of CMYK ink, the resolution of a file is measured in dots per inch, or dpi. 72 dpi is an example of low resolution. This means that there are only 72 dots per inch of space for that particular image. A good rule of thumb for appropriate print resolution is 300 dpi. In short, the more dots per inch, the better the image will appear. This measure will ensure that your images will appear sharp and without pixilation. Cary Printing utilizes preflight software to analyze your print files and to make sure that the images are high enough resolution and in the best possible shape to give you a great looking print job!
Filed under: printing green | Tags: cary printing, colorful, creativity, designing, gracol7, graphic design, PEFC Certified, vibrant
Aren’t the colors of fall so inspiring? You have the rich reds and the deep purples and burgundy colors. Why not use those brilliant colors in your designs? Pictures spice up just about any graphic design project. A lot of people are afraid to use too many pictures because they fear they won’t come out well once they receive the finished product. However, there is no reason to fear! Cary Printing provides and exceptional quality when it comes to prints and color. That is the reason why we have been awarded with the GRACol7 Master Printer Status. We have a color quality that goes above and beyond the average printer. So, when you want to use those vibrant photos of the fall leaves, don’t worry because you will receive quality prints.
Filed under: printing green | Tags: cary printing, certified, g7, gracol7, green printer, pef certified, printing green, quality
Cary Printing has officially gained a Gracol7 (G7) Master Printer Status! So, you might be asking, “What does that mean?” With this achievement, Cary Printing has been recognized as a printer that goes above and beyond the average printer to have an exceptional print quality. The Master Printer Status proves that Cary Printing meets a standard of excellence in the color quality of all printed products. This is a huge benefit to the print buyer. It ensures that the print buyer can order the same product multiple times from Cary Printing and receive the exact same coloring. However, with other printers, one might order the same product twice and the coloring could be nothing alike when they are held side by side. Cary Printing exceeds the standard by providing a continuous first-rate quality in color and in service.
Filed under: printing green | Tags: Add new tag, cary printing, CMYK, digital, green, offset printing, PMS, quality, toner
The craft of printing is more technologically advanced than ever before. Printing presses utilize computer driven components to achieve quality and consistency never seen before.
Along with the improvements to offset printing presses, there have also been improvements made to digital printing equipment. What process should be used then, and how does one determine the best method for their project? Before we answer that, we will summarize the two processes.
Traditional offset printing uses vegetable-based liquid ink that is transferred onto a metal plate that has the image to be printed burned onto it through a process very similar to photographic developing. Through the use of the four basic inks, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK), any full-color image can be attained and reproduced through printing. Offset printing also can utilize special mixed inks called PMS inks. These colors are traditionally used for typefaces and corporate logos. Cary Printing has the capability of printing multi-colored projects on our offset presses.
Digital printing utilizes toner-based inks similar to laser printers. Like offset CMYK inks, digital printing utilizes the same CMYK colors in toner ink rather than liquid ink. The image is transferred onto the paper through the use of an electrostatic charge and then fused with heat. Just like offset printing, any image can be achieved through the CMYK process.Cary Printing also has the capability of using enhanced toners as a fifth color which provides further ranges of colors.
While both of these printing processes are similar, the main differences surround “when” to use one or the other. Offset printing is typically used for higher quantity press runs of the same image while digital printing is best suited for short-run jobs with a faster turnaround on delivery. Whatever your need, Cary Printing can provide the highest quality printing either offset or digital.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cary printing, certified green printer, FSC, gracol7, PEFC Certified, quality, SFI, triple certified
So many people will submit files to us that are RGB and would like us to print them. When they receive the final, printed product, they are often shocked to see that the colors don’t line up with their computer screen. Here is why. All of our computer displays along with TV displays are in RGB or Red, Green and Blue. Those three colors make up the millions of colors we see everyday from the computer screen. However, when things go to print they are printed in CMYK or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Those 4 colors are all that are needed when a product gets printed. That is why it is called 4-color-offset printing.
Now, if a design happens to be in RGB and gets printed in CMYK it doesn’t look right. The colors will often look dull and the shadows and highlights will not be as bold. When you transfer data from an RGB color profile to a CMYK color profile use lose some of the color and gain other areas of color. So, if you design from CMYK in the first place, you get the exact colors you want. Even better, when you print with Cary Printing, you are practically guaranteed a perfect color match because we are certified by Gracol7 giving us a Master Printer Status. Basically, that means that we have met a level of excellence in the color and print quality of all of our products. Feel free to order samples from us today to see for yourself the beauty of “green” printing.
Filed under: printing green | Tags: cary printing, clean-up, environmentally friendly, get involved, green world, preservation, volunteer
You may be wondering, what can I do to be green in my community, my home or my work? Well today’s green tip is how to get involved in your community.
Did you know that there are probably groups that go out every weekend and pick up public parks, trails and greenways? You can get involved by volunteering to help clean-up the environment. The paths don’t clean themselves. You would be surprised how much trash is discarded in parks, on roads and on paths. Do your part in helping to clean-up. You don’t have to do it alone either! Bring friends or family or coworkers. It can actually be a lot of fun! Give it a try and do your part in helping us have a greener world.
Filed under: printing green | Tags: cary printing, certified, creative, creativity, custom printing, eco-friendly, FSC, graphic design, green, PEFC, printing company, quality, SFI
It is so easy to get stuck in the routine of designing things that all have a set size. But who ever said that brochures have to be rectangular and have to be tri-folded? No one! With Cary Printing’s easy “Custom Quote” button, you can get creative and original. Get a custom shape or a unique type of paper. Maybe you want something to have spot gloss or some rounded corners. That is easy if you come to Cary Printing. Get 100% custom pieces at a price you can afford. Even better, remember that they are not only 100% custom but they are 100% eco-friendly. Cary Printing only prints things that are eco-friendly. After all, they are triple certified for being “green.”
Filed under: printing green | Tags: cary printing, certifications, certified, eco-friendly, fake, FSC, green, PEFC, PEFC Certified, pefc printer, reliable, SFI, the nations' premier green printer
As sad as it might be, there are printers out there who might call themselves “green” but might not have all of the certificationsand authenticity that a true “green” printer would have. Now all printers that consider themselves “green” are probably stepping in the right direction, however a step in the right direction isn’t the same as being totally “green.”
What They Share
Both semi-green and real-green printers usually use recycled paper which is excellent. That way they are not causing more trees to be cut down. Both of these printers will often use vegetable-oil based inks or soy inks. These inks are made naturally and not synthetically which means that their waste is obviously better for the environment.
What Separates Them
Despite the fact the pseudo-green and the genuine-green printers use both recycled papers and natural inks, here is the way you can know that your printer is truly, 100% “green.”
- First, a true green printer will have certifications from national and international environmental agencies such as the PEFC, FSC, and the SFI. Cary Printing has all three of those certifications in addition to many awards and local “green” certifications. Even better, Cary Printing was the very first US printer awarded with the International Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or the PEFC.
- True green printers will have ethical environmental programs including a strong emphasis on recycling in the workplace. In addition, they use the least amount of paper possible in order to make sure they are being best stewards of their resources and doing everything in their power to leave no carbon footprint.
- The true “green” printer will make sure that they keep their certifications up-to-date. This is to ensure that they stay on top of things and are always on the forefront of being “green.”
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cary printing, environmentally friendly, green printing, PEFC Certified, pefc printer, recycled
Recycled paper has taken on new meaning and vast improvements during the past couple of years. The thought of recycled paper at one time brought forth images of brown paper bags from the local grocery store. Today’s recycled paper has an entirely different image. As the demand for recycled content papers has increased, paper companies have developed higher quality and a broader selection of recycled papers. For example, the three most common paper finishes, gloss, matte, and uncoated papers all are available with varying amounts of recycled content ranging from 10% to 100% post consumer waste.
Recycled paper is made by taking consumer paper products and “cooking” them down to a cellulose, or plant pulp mixture which is then pressed through screens to remove contaminants. The next step is to clean, de-ink and bleach the pulp. Most mills no longer use chlorine to bleach the pulp but rather use oxygen or hydrogen peroxide which is safer for the environment. Once the pulp has been processed, it is ready to be made into paper once again. The pulp is either mixed with virgin fiber (to give it more strength) or it is used alone to make new paper. The mixture is sprayed on a continuous moving screen where the water drains from the pulp allowing it to form into the beginning of paper. From here the paper is run through a series of rollers which squeeze the remaining moisture from the paper. The last series of rollers is heated, which dries the paper as it is made into large rolls.
If you are a print-buyer seeking “greener” methods of producing environmentally-friendly and sustainable projects, paper is the first place we can begin to help. According to the Environmental Paper Network, 41.1% of all printing papers are recovered and made into recycled paper. This percentage is likely to increase as will the availability of more recycled variety.
