Catalogs are a popular marketing tool that offers companies an opportunity to showcase their products and services in a systematic and aesthetically-pleasing arrangement. Oftentimes, they also include valuable information about the company and important contact and ordering information. Regardless of the industry, well-designed catalogs are an effective marketing tool that can increase brand awareness, boost product sales, and drive long-term customer loyalty.
When designing your printed catalog, you should be sure to keep the following tips in mind:
Use a variety of design elements, but resist the urge to over-clutter. Cramming too much information into your design can be counterproductive, and it will cause the eye to get fatigued quickly. It’s a good idea to hire a professional that is familiar with modern printing techniques and can guide you through the best practices for creating a clean, polished look for your prints.
The color of your printed catalog will make a big difference in the overall appearance and appeal of the finished product. Full-color printing is almost always recommended, especially for sales and promotional catalogs. Additionally, consider the type of paper you’ll be using for your print project. If your catalog includes a lot of text, it’s best to stick with matte or uncoated paper, which is less likely to glare in bright lighting conditions. If your catalog features a lot of images, you’ll want to consider glossy or coated paper for its sheen and visual appeal.
Before you send your catalog to the printer, be sure to count all of your pages and include both the front and back outside and inside covers. When counting your catalog pages, remember to add the ink coverage that extends past the edges of each page, also known as an ink bleed. Ink bleeds can be expensive to produce, and they will typically require printing on a larger sheet of paper before trimming it down to size.
Once your printed catalogs are finished, you’ll need to determine how they will be bound. Saddle stitch binding, a style of bookbinding that consists of stitches along the spine to hold together the cover and interior pages, is an inexpensive and sturdy option that works well for catalogs. However, for an even more premium and polished finish, wire binding is a great option. Wire binding, or twin loop binding, uses double wires that run through punched holes along the binding edge to secure your catalog pages. This style of binding provides a more durable, longer-lasting cover that’s ideal for showcasing your product imagery and ensuring your catalog stays open easily.
Whether you’re printing one catalog for a new retail business or creating an expansive corporate catalog for multiple brands, your finished catalog should reflect the quality of your products and services. By working with a Detroit catalog printing professional that offers comprehensive catalog production and printing under one roof, you’ll be able to ensure your finished products are the best they can be for maximum impact.
Once your catalogs are printed, your digital printing company in Detroit can help you acquire mailing lists and address them for distribution. Then, your bindery department will collate all of the printed pages into the correct order and trim them to their final dimensions before they are ready to be shipped out to customers. At Midway Press, we have both perfect-binding and multiple saddle-stitch machines in-house, providing our clients with a wide range of options and single-source convenience.