Online Printing Blog

New Addition at PrintPapa.com - Horizon Automated Booklet Maker

NEWS UPDATE: 3/3/2010

We have finally finished with the installation and training on our new Booklet maker from Horizon. Now we can produce booklets in-house, thus reducing cost and turnaround time. To see a quick video of it in action click on the link below:

See a Video in action of Short Run of a 40 Page 8.5×5.5 inch Booklet

Visit out Booklet Section to start ordering your next booklet. We offer 2 sizes and from 8 Pages to 60 Pages.

Discounts that will Make You Fall in Love with PrintPapa.com

This month we are offering specials on all the following product categories. Our prices are low to begin with it, and with these specials they become more attractive. So hurry up and start ordering. These specials will expire by end of Feb.

Advantages of Pro-Environmental Digital Offset Printing

Conserving environment is one of the top issues in the list of the scientists all over the world. With careless human activities enough damage has already been done to nature. So today everybody needs to be that extra bit careful in their daily activities and check whether their activities are hurting nature. Printing and the materials used in it are also causes of environmental pollution albeit to a minimum amount. Now there is the option for going the green way with your printing projects. Digital offset printing is not only environment friendly but also gives you the desired result for your printing project. There are more and more printers that are using the digital offset printing and thus doing their bid to save nature.

But it is important to know the detailed benefits of using such pro-environment printing. So here they are:

• Green Printers: Most of the digital offset printers nowadays use green printers. Such printers are specially designed to reduce pollution. The chemicals used in these printers do not have the harmful chemicals in large amount. The ink is made with organic pigments. The paper used in these printers is the recycled paper but even then the prints are long lasting and of distinct quality.
• Less Time Required: The orders can be delivered in quick time. In other types of printing the solvent has to be dried out and only after that can it be cut and folded. Digital prints will make the prints ready to use.
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• Less Quantity Orders: Orders can be made as per requirement. Though there is a minimum order margin but that is very low too. So you do not have to pay a large amount for the material used in your printing project.
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• Last Minute Updating: The content and designs for the materials can be changed at the last moment too. As the turn around time is not much, so changes can be incorporated easily into your project. Say you are printing a catalog and you want some changes in the prices of a couple of items, you can do that easily.

If conserving nature and getting great quality could come in a package what could be a better deal! One such printing agency that offers ideal eco-friendly digital prints is PrintPapa. So go for the green today!

PrintPapa Expands into Short Run on Demand Book Printing in 2010 !!

As one of the Bay Area’s Premier Provider of Printing Services and a G7 Certified Master Printer, PrintPapa has now added Short Run Book Printing to its list of services. This latest addition to our product list has been made possible due to some recent equipment acquisitions:

Morgana Digifold - The world’s first fully automated, integrated creasing and folding machine. This is is the only automated folder using a creasing rule and matrix with the ability to crease material prior to folding. Unlike scoring, which breaks the surface of the material, the creasing rule and matrix mechanism prevents cracking during the folding process. Provides the capability of folding a wide range of stocks from 70 lb text to 120 lb Cover. Check out the video at the manufacturer site.

ExactBind PBS6101 Perfect Binder - Is the only automated Binding System capable of binding both soft and hard cover books. An extremely quick and easy setup combined with a fast cycle time ensures that PrintPapa is now ready to take on any short run soft cover book printing project.

Polar 76EM Paper Cutter - This is a programmable paper cutter for automated cutting operation 24×7 and is the second one in PrintPapa’s arsenal to boost capacity and eliminate any bottlenecks that are expected in the bindery department.

Last but not the least PrintPapa added another 33% of working space (total of about 5200 sq. ft) by leasing an adjacent building and adding a third unit to the two existing units. This expansion will greatly enhance production capacity and ease bottlenecks in the flow of materials thru the work areas. Overall in 2010, PrintPapa is well poised to make significant inroads towards the goal of being a one-stop shop for all our customer’s printing needs under one roof.

Happy Holidays from PrintPapa.

Happy Holidays! This seems like the busiest time of year, but no one is thinking about work! As our focus turns to family, friends and holiday cheer, we send our best wishes to you and yours. However you celebrate, we wish you peace, joy and prosperity! From your friends at PrintPapa

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Reasons to use Green Printing!

With widespread concerns about pollution in various quarters of life isn’t it wise to do whatever one can to save this beautiful planet? Green printing is the latest trend in the industry. This type of printing service not only reflects the caring attitude for the planet but is affordable too. Though green printing is not as cheap as some of the other conventional types of printing services, it has many other advantages that are making people go green. Below are some of the advantages:

• Cost Effective – Though the costing for green printing might seem high initially but in the long run they prove to be an economic option. On top of this, there are many green printing agencies that offer very competitive prices for such services.
• End Results – The recycled papers used in this process are of the highest quality and give great prints while the vegetable or soy inks are made to produce vibrant colors. Such prints also last for a longer time than the prints made from conventional printers.
• Quick Shift – It is easy to make a switch from conventional printing to green printing. Just place your order and watch the results. These printers follow the same process as conventional printers.

• Eco friendly – The sole purpose of using such printing service is to make others feel that you care for the planet. The earth has given so much to us. This is just a small gesture on your part.
• Appreciated by Customers – Using green printing service is a feather in your cap. Your customers will appreciate the caring heart you have for nature. It will convey your obligations to the society and the environment at the same time.
• Printing is Essential – Printing is needed by all organizations big and small for various purposes. So, if you are going to use the printing services why not use green printing and show your responsibility towards the planet.

• Spreading the Thought – It might so happen that your green prints might inspire many other companies to take up this form of eco-friendly printing service.

When there is a way to thank the planet for all it has given why not use the green alternative! There are so many printing agencies (one of them is PrintPapa) that provides green printing services. So, use it and feel good!

At PrintPapa below are the list of things we do which classifies us as a Green Printer

• Chemistry Free Plate Making Process: We use Presstek Computer To Plate Making machine to make the printing plates, which can just be rinsed with plain water. No need for developer or fixer, or polyester films, masking sheets and tapes.
• Waterless Offset DI Presses: Our presses are waterless press and here is a link to read more about how environmental friendly is a DI Press.
• We recycle all paper waste.
• We recycle all metal plates
• We turn off all lights, AC, fans before we go home.
• We use electronic Job Tickets to save on paper and also allows us to be more efficient.
• Plus many more small things we do everyday.

PrintPapa is Now a G7 Master Printer

It is a great pleasure for PrintPapa to have attained the G7 Master certification. This certification is a mark of the company’s success and supremacy in the printing industry. The G7 Master certification marks the superb quality of service that is provided by PrintPapa. Founded in 2004, this company has taken rapid strides to grow from a copy shop to one of the niche leaders. A key reason for its growth is the dedication to bring the latest in the field of offset printing. There are many new technologies pouring into the printing industry everyday and PrintPapa upgrades their services and technologies to meet all the demands of their customers.

What does G7 Master Certification mean?

Attaining the G7 Master certification is a major feather in the cap for a printing company like PrintPapa. The G7 certification is given to only those printing companies, agencies or prepress service providers that are trained to use G7 Proof-to-Point Process and those that can produce proofs or are in a position to print to G7. This certification has a lot of worth as it means that the company prints using the latest technology, proofing techniques, and press controls. The company should also meet the standards needed to produce a close visual match between proof and print.

But what is the G7?
G7 is a method that has been defined by Print Properties and Colorimetrics Working Group of IDEAlliance. Initially the method was conceived by the IDEAlliance GRACoL Working Group but as the popularity of the method grew it was vastly used. Today, with the application of this method, the printers can produce similar visual appearance for all printing types. The printing materials required for this method should be beyond the sheetfed offset printing material. Though initially it was only under the purview of the GRACoL working group but today with the help of the PPC working group experts from all around the world can contribute to this method.

If you want to learn more about the G7 Master Certification or about IDEAlliace then do visit the website.

PrintPapa Achieves G7 Master Certification

PrintPapa recently attained the G7 Certification from IDEAlliance and is now a certified G7 Master Printer, making it one of only 5 printers in the Bay Area and about 220 nationwide to achieve this goal. This program certifies that PrintPapa has been trained to implement the new G7 Proof-to-Print process and recognizes that PrintPapa uses the most modern technology and techniques as well as process controls and standards required to consistently produce high-quality commercial printing.

“The G7 process will provide our clients with 100 percent verifiable accuracy of color reproduction throughout the entire workflow, from digital image to final printed press sheet. Achieving this certification is a major accomplishment, and PrintPapa is proud to be part of this elite group,” says Shawn Nag, Vice President & CTO of PrintPapa and one of the key people who was a driving force in securing the G7 certification.

Shawn says, “Being a G7 Master Printer means that PrintPapa has invested the time and money to calibrate our equipment and to train our people on consistently providing the highest quality on all our printed products.”

Paul Nag, company president, said, “Customers benefit because they’re getting the very best color management available in the industry today. Printers who are G7 certified have to prove they can match proof, plates and press sheets—so the customers get a product that has been run with much tighter process controls than those simply depending upon a press operator’s eye for color consistency.”

PrintPapa is one of the Bay Area’s premier provider of printing services that strives to provide customers with high quality printing and other supportive services. PrintPapa offers the ability to design, print and mail—all under one roof.  

“We help our clients build their business by bringing customers to their door,” Paul said. “The G7 certification is just another tool that ensures that we provide our customers with a top-notch product at no additional cost and also reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest level of quality across our product line.”

Tips for Choosing the Right Printing Company

Before starting a printing project you must have chalked out every detail like the color of your booklets, the type of paper to be used, pictures to be used, etc. But all this planning can go in vain if you have not chosen the right printing service for your project. There are thousands of printing service providers available online and all of them claim that they can help you to attain your goals. It can, thus, become very confusing as how to choose the right printing service provider. The following tips might be of help in your quest to find the right printer:

• Quantity: You should know the amount of prints that are required for your project. This is a very important task before you begin your search for a printer. Inquire time and again, whether the company you are looking to take up the services can handle the bulk orders or not. You should also try and know whether the company will be doing the work themselves or send it to any third party. Outsourcing of work may cause unexpected delays as well as higher costs. Though most of the printing companies deliver the orders prior to the deadline, it is better to be safe.
• Quality: Take a close look at the past projects and judge the quality of the output. From materials to color to equipment, everything should be taken a close look at to make an informed judgment on quality.

• Customer Services: Choose those companies that do not make you wait in the counters consuming your precious time. Such companies also ensure speed and ease in the completion of your printing tasks. If you choose such a company, then you are sure to get efficient, effective and smooth services.
• Color Capabilities: Color is an essential ingredient of printing. So, the quality of color used for printing is very important for the clients. Choose a company using the latest equipment that will deliver only satisfactory results.
• Ask for Previews: Ask the printing company to give you a visual demonstration of how your prints will look. Seeing the preview before the printing is done will give you a lot of mental satisfaction.

• Order Tracking Facility: Select the printing company with order tracking facility. Thereby, you can judge the status of your delivery at every step.

These tips will make the task of choosing the right printing company easier. It will also ensure that nothing goes wrong with your printing project.

At PrintPapa we do all of the above:

• We offer short run printing from 50 sheets to long run or bulk printing upto 10000 sheets.
• Our quality is the best and we can boast about it. All the jobs are printed on state of the art printing presses, which are calibrated daily and can keep up with the growing demands. These presses are highly automated which allows us to produce high quality output at the correct cost.
• We excel in customer service. Check out our testimonials on our site and also on Yahoo local.

Customized Printing: Online v/s Local Printers

Printing in the past years dealt primarily with choosing local printers with whom clients could interact directly and give constant advice regarding their projects. But the Internet has brought in the concept of online printers that are located at a distance from their clients. Though the proximity is an issue there are many other positives that such printing services offer to their client base. Earlier people used to feel jittery in giving over their project to people they do not know, but with passing time, this gap has been bridged by various means. So, let us take a close look at the positives and negatives of online printers and local printers:

1. There is a large list of online printers available on the Internet that can give you the best deals for your custom printing project. Such websites also feature reviews by users so you can know the expertize of the printer before taking up their services.

2. In the online world, you can get the latest news regarding the best options in the field of custom printing as also the various promotional deals that are given.

3. Online printers thrive on their customer service; they make it a point that you get the best printing service. Often you might get a significant discount given out mainly to beat the competition. Local printers, on the other hand, may or may not provide satisfactory customer service.

4. Proofing often consumes a lot of time. With online printers, this is not a problem. Most of the online printers provide free proofing services where your projects are thoroughly checked for file problems. You may also ask for a PDF copy of the work to be mailed to you in case you want to proof the work personally.

5. With various means of communication available online nowadays putting through all the minute specifications across to the printers is not a problem. Online printing companies also go to such lengths as to call and email you all the details that are needed for the project.

It is up to you to choose the best printing services and for that you require an in-depth knowledge about the various facets of custom printing. With a good choice, you are sure to have good print quality, fast and quick delivery and all this without having to frequent the printer’s office.

PrintPapa has a  5 star rating from local Yahoo Users. Check out the products and the reviews. If you are local in Bay Area, then stop by at our shop and take a look at samples, our presses and most important us.