Articles: imprint

When a design leaves paper for another object, the rules change. The surface may be glossy, curved or very small, and the colour underneath can shift the printed shades. The articles under this tag gather practical conclusions from discs, envelopes, pens and small giveaways.

Discs and packaging

With CDs and DVDs one question keeps returning: print straight onto the disc or stick a label on it. Printing looks calmer and more even, does not lift at the edge and does not upset the balance of the disc. A label can be convenient for single copies, but across a larger run it is harder to keep every one perfectly centred.

• Check the colour underneath - on silver or coloured material shades come out differently than on white.
• Leave room at the edges - lettering placed right against the rim easily loses its even margin.
• Simplify the mark - thin lines and small letters get lost on a tiny surface.
• Think about touch - an envelope with an insert or a seal works before anyone opens it.

Giveaways and small objects

On a pen or a keyring there is only as much room as there is. That is a good reason to cut the message to its simplest form: the logo alone, or the logo plus a web address. Material matters too - printing behaves one way on plastic and another on metal, and the colour of the body can dull bright shades.

If you are still deciding where to begin, look through the pieces on discs and on marking giveaways. They explain what to expect from the artwork before you order a larger batch.