Opposites Attract: Which Print Idea is Perfect for You?
In honor of National Opposite Day (yes, it’s a pseudo-holiday that can indeed be celebrated), we’re going from one end of the spectrum to the other to present our very own print opposites. From print ideas with products to techniques, let our creative contrasts bring your online printing projects together. Oh, and we’ve included some fun facts, too!
Aluminum Sign, Clear Sign
The Great Sign Debate
Whether you’re printing business signage or interior decor with custom signs, the material matters. Two of our favorites? Aluminum Signs and Clear Signs. Talk about polar opposites! So when do you use one instead of the other? Both are perfect for indoor and outdoor use, but there are some differences you’ll need to know.
Aluminum Signs
Our custom metal signs feature white-painted aluminum sheets with a solid plastic core that’s durable and resistant to harsh UV rays. Plus, when you do your metal sign printing with Smartpress, you get to choose between one- and two-sided designs. Create yours for:
- Parking signs
- Real estate signs
- Business signs (directional, utilities, etc.)
- Brewery and home decor
Clear Signs
These custom signs feature PETG material that’s five times stronger than acrylic. PETG signs are available in three different thicknesses and are printed on one side with potential for a second printed surface where artwork shows from behind. Consider them for:
- High-traffic areas
- Lining POP displays
- Hanging window displays
Hint: Want the ins and outs of sign printing? As your customer-focused online printing shop, we got ’em: Vital Signs: Choosing Custom Signage for Indoor or Outdoor Use.
Fun Fact: Coffee stays warm 20% longer when you add cream. Cocktails stay cold longer 100% of the time when you add ice.
Spiral Coil Menu, Take-out Menu
Food for Thought
Whether you’re slinging steaks or seitan, great food deserves an impressive menu. But one size definitely does not fit all. Stepping into the opposites ring, we have Spiral Coil Menus versus Take-out Menus.
Spiral Coil Menus
For custom menus that last, spiral bound is the only way to go. Professionalism on every page, these menus feature a sturdy plastic coil that ensures the pages fully rotate and lay flat for easy viewing. Bring these out for:
- Menus with large page counts or a lot of content
- Drink menus
- Appetizer or happy hour menus (Tip: Select a top binding for a cool twist.)
Take-out Menus
For menu printing on the go, our disposable menus take the cake. With paper stock and folding options, these single-use menus are a must for take-out orders of all kinds. Plus, you can mail them to residents in your neighborhood with our complete mailing services. Print these for:
- To-go orders
- Pick-up inserts
- Local advertising (Tip: Leave a stack at businesses near you.)
Hint: Did someone order menu design ideas? Coming right up: Restaurant Menus: 6 Print Ideas for Dine-in & Take-out
Fun Fact: There are eight types of vegetarianism: vegetarian, pescatarian, flexitarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarians, vegans and raw vegans. One surprisingly vegan animal? The rhinoceros.
Saddle stitch booklet, Perfect bound book
Cover to Cover
Custom book printing can encompass a wide range of content, from swimwear catalogs to winter gear lookbooks. Part of our wide range of online printing services, Saddle Stitch Booklets and Perfect Bound Booklets go head to head based on what you’re promoting.
Saddle Stitch Booklets
You want versatile catalog printing? You want saddle stitched books. With pages stapled through the fold line, these custom booklets are easy to hand out at events or include in shopping bags or shipping boxes. They’re best for:
- Policy and training manuals
- Annual reports
- Magazines
- Holiday and seasonal catalogs
- Event programs
Perfect Bound Booklets
You want professional booklet printing? You want perfect bound books. With a seamless square spine, a perfect binding makes a perfect statement on a coffee table or all lined up on a shelf. You’ll want it for:
- Publications up to 2” thick
- Lookbooks
- Portfolios
- Graphic novels
- Workbooks
Hint: Not sure which binding is for you? As an online printer that puts our customers first, we’ve got you covered: How to Choose the Right Book Binding
Fun Fact: The holy grail for outdoor adventurers? A place where you can surf and ski on the same day. Find them in California, Maine, Canada, France, New Zealand, Morocco and Chile.
Small Posters
To Color or Not to Color
From our printer’s perspective, the most obvious opposite pairing is black versus full-color printing. It’s the age-old question, going back as far as cats versus dogs. So before you design Small Posters, or any print marketing with artwork that’s animal or otherwise, check out this ink inspection.
Full-Color Printing
No matter what you’re printing, full-color ink makes it pop. Whether you’re showcasing your personal photography or creating collateral for your business, full-color imagery makes a vibrant, engaging impact. (After all, life is in color!) Print in full-color to:
- Elicit an emotional response from the viewer
- Create images with visual appeal
- Catch the eye of your audience immediately
Black and White Printing
There’s just something timeless about printing in black and white. When it comes to portraits and imagery that remains in your mind long after you’ve seen it, our black-only ink option gets it right every time. Print in black and white to:
- Focus on the subject without noticing inconsistencies in tone or lighting
- Create a feeling of nostalgia
- Build uniformity so multiple images fit nicely together on a wall or throughout a space
- Ensure your photography stays relevant – no need to worry about fashion or decor colors looking dated
Hint: Full-color printing is also known as four-color printing. Can you guess the four colors? See if you’re right here: Color Space.
Fun Fact: While humans domesticated dogs to perform tasks, DNA evidence now suggests that cats chose to domesticate themselves. (They discovered there are perks to living close to people.) True to form, our feline companions still don’t do anything unless they want to.
Sticker, Die-cut Magnet
Branding Bonuses
As a Minnesota-based company, there’s one pair of opposites that rivals no other: Vikings versus Packers. Purple people eaters versus cheeseheads. (Good versus evil?) It’s a clashing duo kind of like our custom Stickers and Die-Cut Magnets.
Stickers
So you think you can brand? Not without sticker printing, you can’t. And with Smartpress, you can design both permanent and removable stickers, so your message sticks as long as you’d like. Adhering best to smooth, hard surfaces, print yours:
- For promo and merch items
- As giveaways, prizes or package inserts
- With safety and awareness information
Die-Cut Magnets
What’s a way to stay top-of-mind with customers? Custom magnets in their home or work space. Our magnet printing lets you design yours in any shape and size (aka perfect for brand logos). Adhering best to whiteboards, lockers, refrigerators and filing cabinets, utilize magnets like this:
- Hand them out at trade shows
- Include them in media kits
- Mail them to customers
Hint: You can design your stickers with digital laser cutting and your magnets with digital die cutting. What’s the diff? Find out here: Digital Laser Cutting versus Digital Die Cutting.
Fun Fact: Due to the large contingent of Wisconsin natives living in Minnesota, the Vikings/Packers rivalry tends to be more heated in the Land of 10,000 Lakes than in America’s Dairyland.
