{"id":27304,"date":"2020-03-06T17:27:26","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T17:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suprefreshprod.wpengine.com\/\/?page_id=27304"},"modified":"2025-05-28T13:49:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T18:49:56","slug":"postcard-marks-smudges-scratches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/direct-mail\/postcard-marks-smudges-scratches","title":{"rendered":"Postcard Marks, Smudges & Scratches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever received a postcard<\/a> in the mail with marks, smudges or scratches? These postcard marks aren\u2019t online printing errors or defects, they\u2019re actually an occasional reminder of the incredible journey that direct mail<\/a> pieces take as they travel through the postal system to your mailbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On its journey, your mailer passes through rollers, rubber wheels, belts and metal gates at extremely high speeds during machine sorting at the post office. It may go through as many as five passes on various pieces of processing and sorting equipment before it\u2019s finally handed off to your local postal carrier for delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a lot like traveling with checked luggage and occasionally finding that new scuff or ding on your suitcase. Check out this video<\/a> footage of USPS sorting mail for a better idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reducing the Likelihood for Postcards Marks or Damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can use two strategies to reduce the possibility of damage or smudges on postcards for your next direct mail project:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Protect the piece by making it more durable<\/li>
  2. Take steps to reduce the amount of handling\/sorting required at the post office<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"A<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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    Designing for Durability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A few minor tweaks during the design and production stages at your online printer can really help mitigate wear and tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Don a Good Coat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n