An Insider's Graphic Design Tips
for the Creation of Production Ready Artwork for Promotional Products.

Imprinting on promotional products is a specialty and requires some care and skill when setting up your production file. With nearly a million different products and dozens of imprinting methods the production process can get confusing.

K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple-Sweetie! In most cases promotional products have a very limited amount of imprinting space. Make sure you use highly readable fonts and your text conveys the basics of your message. Keep it short and simple!

Whose got your number? Promotional products are usually printed with ink colors referenced by a numerical system known as Pantone Matching System (PMS). When submitting your artwork you should supply a PMS Spot Color number for each submitted color. If you are printing in CMYK process color make sure you submit the color formula for your graphic. Please keep in mind that exact matches to PMS Spot colors and CMYK formulas in most cases cannot be 100% guaranteed. Don’t know your PMS color? The printer of your business cards does.

Tip 1:
Make sure you’re your publishing software is set up and the file is compiled in the proper color gambit for the imprint method. A production file for promotional products should never be submitted in RGB color formulation. 99.9% of all promotional products are printed in PMS Spot Colors or in CMYK Process color.

Make the Call: Promotional products hare manufactured in a variety of environments with different imprint methods. Consider calling your promotional products representative and confirm the method that your project is likely to utilize. Once your imprint method is determined you the file set up is a breeze! This would be a great time to to get on the first name basies and establish a relationship in with a promotional product professional. A good rep can save you a lot of cash and a great deal of hassle. Don’t waste too much time surfing the web looking for product assistance. Most of the call centers that support web based promotional products companies don’t know the difference between coffee mug and a fleece vest and don’t have a clue about graphics.

Artwork Tips:

Beware of screens, halftones, shadows, and gradients of any kind. In most imprinting applications associated with promotional products, writing instruments, ceramics, engraving, and screen-printed items gradients are not recommended or not possible.

Adding Weight? Promotional products are special in that there are a huge number of imprinting possibilities. Be aware that with each imprinting method there are limitations to minimum line thickness and font size that can be reproduced. This is very important when printing in “Reverse.” Make sure you know what the minimum limitations for fonts and line weight for your imprint method. Big, bold, and simple are the rules of thumb.

Know the difference! 99.9% of promotional products are printed from Vector Art Files. Vector Art, the preferred format, can be enlarged and reduced without affecting the quality of the imprint and is resolution independent. Common Vector formats include Adobe Illustrator .EPS files. The redheaded stepchild of graphics world is Raster based files and this file type is resolution dependent. When you change the size of an imprint you also change the quality of the image. This means that the resolution of the file is critical and must be at least 600 dpi for most promotional product applications. Common raster files are: JPEG, GIF, PIC. Sending or nesting a in a low-resolution raster image; (“web images”, JPEGs) within an .EPS file will not magically increase the resolution. It just moves the problem to someone else’s workstation. Sending in a raster file when a vector file is required will almost always incur additoanl charages.

Insider Tip 2:
When you crank up the ol’ computer to create your file please resist the urge to save the file in the latest version of the software. For example, assume Adobe just released CS2 today and you bought the first retail copy. It would be inadvisable to create and save the artwork and the .EPS file in CS2 because the factory that produces the order may have CS1 and would be unable to open a CS2 file. It would be better to save the file in an older version and would reduce the possibility for an unforeseen delay.

Fonts! Make sure that you convert all fonts to curves/outlines when creating your file. We can go into the technical explanation on why this is so important but the short hand is this: Failure to convert the fonts to outlines will cause delays in your project and could produce “undesirable results.” (Most image setters really like Courier and like to insert it for missing fonts…)

Are You Registered? Color registration is a little tricky and when you peel back the onion it gets down to this little detail: The registration between colors is not absolute on every promotional product. Make sure you know the limitations of the process for the selected product. Hairline registration may not be possible for some items and especially true on ceramic products. Registration can become an issue when multi-colors are printed in close proximity to each other. This is a great time to review the K. I. S.S. rule. There are special imprint processes and techniques to assist with tight registration issues and they very by product. This is a great time to ask your promotional products representative to explain the available options for your product.

Have questions: webhelperone@bantapromo.com, www.bantapromo.com

Banta Promotions
29 Things to do with a Coffee Mug
(Using It for Coffee Does not Count!)

1. It's reusable packaging (as a coffee mug or desk caddy).
2. It's a memo (imprint with important company dates, announcements, etc.).
3. It's a shirt box (stuff with an imprinted T-shirt).
4. It's a computer disk case (insert a mini-CD or DVD, or shrink-wrap to the bottom).
5. It's a planter (put a layer of small rock or gravel in the bottom first for drainage).
6. It's a candle (these are available in the industry).
7. It's a calendar (imprint a calendar on one side, company message on the other).
8. It's a desk caddy (fill with imprinted pens, pencils, small ruler, letter opener, etc.).
9. It's a candy dispenser (fill with candy...duh!).
10. It's a unique invitation (imprint invitation on side - another twist: require that they bring the invitation with them to the event).
11. It's a presentation container (insert client's product).
12. It's an award (imprint with achievement - consider gold imprint).
13. It's an enhancer (adds perceived value to whatever you put inside).
14. It's a thank-you gift (wrap in cellophane and clinch with a ribbon at the top).
15. It's a tool box (insert mini-screwdrivers, mini-flashlight, tape measure, etc.).
16. It's a first-aid kit (insert bandages, headache medicine, etc.).
17. It's a hangover kit (insert headache medicine, ear plugs, phone number for AA, etc.)
18. It's a watch case (insert imprinted wristwatch).
19. It's a coaster set (insert cork or disposable coasters).
20. It's a cold-recovery kit, AKA "get yourself back to work" kit (imprint with good wishes, fill with chicken soup mix, a thermometer, cold medicine, etc.).
21. It's a wedding favor (fill with birdseed to send off the bridal couple)
22. It's a business card (imprint with a business card on side -- sure to be remembered).
23. It's a sewing kit (insert sewing supplies).
24. It's a coin catcher (insert coin rollers -- great alternative to the old piggy bank).
25. It's a greeting card (imprint with sentiment of choice).
26. It's a frequent shopper card (imprint with offer on side, redeemed with every visit - a funny twist: "refills free with coffee purchase").
27. It's a commemorative souvenir (imprint with event info or picture).
28. It's a fundraiser (imprint with worthy cause info -- then sell it).

29. It's a premium (insert product or attach to product as an added premium with purchase).

For ideas check out Banta Promtoions Denver... (http://www.bantapromo.com/)

One of the most frequent mistakes that business make in marketing is that they fail to measure the results, and fail to realize what marketing methods work and more importantly which ones that don’t yield results. Often times business make marketing decisions without a solid understating of where their customers come from.

Marketing's Number 1 Rule

1) 50% of your marketing budget is wasted on ineffective advertising. The trick is to figure out which 50%.
2) Never spend money on advertising without some way to measure its effectiveness. It is critical to know how your advertising performs. If it does not generate bottom line sales you are wasting your money. There is a difference between generating “traffic” and generated targeted business leads. If you do not know the critical distinctions please contact: http://www.bantapromo.com/ for FREE help. Email the Web Helper.

Promotional Products hold one of the more interesting positions in the “marking arsenal” in the endless battle to gain “top of the mind” awareness within the targeted prospect. The industry trade association PPIA has estimated Promotional Products purchases by business have approached $16 billion annually. This money has been used to emblazon the official corporate logo or corporate message on anyone of over 600,000 products. Generally, the goal of this marketing expenditure for most organizations is fairly straightforward: to create excitement, or, reinforce brand awareness, or maybe to create customer goodwill. Hopefully, this marketing expenditure will translate into an increase in sales or at the least an increase in sales activities for the sponsoring organization.

Unfortunately, promotional products are one of the more misunderstood marking tools available. Often times, a prospective client will call our office seeking a quote for a particular item for a trade show giveaway. Frequently, the would-be client is focused on obtaining something “cool” to “handout” at the “booth” with little regard to as to the marketing or commutation goal of the organization.
When shopping and developing an idea for a promotional product there are a few questions to keep in mind: What is the “response” that we are looking for with our target prospect when they receive the promotional item? Is the goal to giveaway something “cool” or an alternative use a product that is effective in communicating the message to the end user? There is a reason that the largest selling categories for the last several years are Drink ware, Writing Instruments, and Apparel.