Paper comes in all weights, shapes and sizes, but there is a system used throughout the world (although not in the US or Canada) which makes it a simple enough process to specify the size of the item to be printed.

The format is based on a standard sheet measuring 841mm x 1189mm (A0) All other sheet sizes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, etc are made up by halving the next paper size along the longer side. For example, A3 landscape measures 420mm x 297mm and an A4 sheet measures 297mm x 210mm. The most common finished sheet size is the A4 (210mm x 297mm).

A simple formula to use is to work on the basis that the first sheet in the series is the A0. The longer length is then halved to give 1, and halved again to give 2 and halved again to give 3, etc. So, A4 is half of A3, A5 is half of A4, etc.

This is a clean and easy way of calculating the dimensions of a project. An advantage of this system is that, for example, folded brochures of any size can be made by using sheets of the next larger size, e.g. A4 sheets are folded to make A5 brochures (4 page A5). Also, using this priciple, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly 1 sheet of A4 without any cutoff or margins (see diagram below).

This system of calulating the size of a sheet of paper was introduced in Germany in 1922 and adopted by most of the world, with the exeption of the USA and Canada). It was adopted by the Irish printing industry in 1959
A quick guide to common uses of the A sizes used in the printing industry.

A4 is commonly used for stationery, brochures, newsletters, booklets, etc.
A5 is commonly used for items such as leaflets, flyers, 4 page A5, etc.
A6 is the internationally recognised size used for postcards.
A7 is generally used in the production of labels

And you thought they were just pieces of paper…

Stephen Dunne

Get fit, lose weight, start a new hobby…….It’s easy to come up with New Year’s resolutions but not so easy sticking to them!  So I guess the way forward is to set realistic goals.

Here’s one that we’d recommend you try when buying print in 2010:

Plan ahead: One of the most cost effective ways to purchase print is to plan ahead and try to print as many promotions/projects together as you can. By combining print jobs you will make real cost savings. Talk to your colleagues when placing print with us, ask if they have any print in the pipeline that you could print together. Planning several jobs together on a sheet reduces the cost of the individual items.

Remember: Combining jobs in this way really does drive costs down.

One of our New Year’s resolutions is to look at what we can do better. We will continue being pro-active; coming up with new POS products to offer you, ensuring we and you are always one step ahead of the competition, but always offering cost effective Point of Sale.

Remember – New Year’s resolutions don’t need to be just for New Year – you can use these tips all year round.

Louise Byrne

The most important factor in a busy retail environment is ensuring your product or promotion stands out from the rest. A lot of the POS you see in a retail environment is Screen printed. Our screen print facility is the most modern in the industry boasting a 4 Colour Sievia 60″ x 80″ running full size Direct To Screen Repro System.  As with our litho capacity, integration with our design studio ensures effective high quality production every time.

Within our screen department, we are innovators in engineering and producing bespoke or standard structural display items on a variety of substrates. Our screen products include: Free Standing Display Units, Backboards, Dump Bins, Dummy Boxes, Entry boxes, Pelmets, Pallet Displays, Six sheets, Counter Display Units, Banners, Shippers and complex display items.

And, for all those print anoraks out there…… here’s a little history for you, Screen Printing through the years…

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas and on to the substrate. (more…)

Printing isn’t an industry most people would think of when contemplating the green movement, however there are lots of ways in which even this market can lower its impact on the enviornment. The easiest way is through providing sustainable options for you, our valued customers.

Whether its tree free paper or simply recycled, let us know what your desires are and we can do our best to source the materials for you! And our efforts don’t stop there, here are a few more ways in which we are doing our part to make our business greener for everyone.

Energy Reduction – During the popular Power of One campaign broadcast throughout the nation we decided to have our own Power of Ten project. Ten people were given the responsibility of making sure our lights, computers and other electronics were switched off not only after hours, but whenever they weren’t being used. The habit caught on quickly and we now have small power of one reminders on every light switch in the building!

Recycling Waste - unfortunately waste is a necessary aspect of the print industry, and in light of this we make every effort to ensure that all unused and left over materials are immediately recycled. We’ve also gone a step further and introduced a very detailed recycling program in our offices and lunch rooms as well as the floor, ensuring there’s a place for papers, plastics and much more for everyone who works here! (more…)