Beyond  CMYK

Let’s start with the basics. CMYK represents the primary Colours of PIGMENT or ink namely Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key). These are the Colours you see on printed outputs like magazines and other marketing materials.

If you own a printer at home or at the office, you will notice that these are the only colours you need to print any image. If one Is missing, then it’s enough to miss out on a lot of colors when you try printing an image.

Any printing machine whether standard or professional ones create images and prints by combining CMYK colours using a process called subtractive mixing. Using this method and colour format increases your chance of matching the exact colour you want once the design is printed and will lead to more accurate results.

But take note - there is so much more to print than CMYK. There are countless embellishments that can be utilized to create an attractive and compelling  marketing message through print, one that is much more effective than if you were to remain within the confines of a CMYK only print.  

In fact, it has been found that most of your everyday consumers will be more likely to engage with direct mail that has textures and added specialty colour design techniques.

This begs the question, what else can you add to your marketing mix of prints?

The great thing about print is that we are not only limited to ink. Everything from the material being printed on, the different finishes and laminates available for textile sensation, metallic foils and specialty colours such as neon for aesthetics, all can be utilized and combined to create a powerful marketing message at your fingertips.

Applying that extra element beyond CMYK can not only boost visibility to your target consumers, but can also increase activity with your brand and motivate action from the consumer’s end, giving your product an edge in the market. [readmore]

Hands-On Visual Marketing

In a generation where people get E-invites to events by the press of a button, can have a full on conversation entirely through the web, and are exposed to an endless stream of media online, you would think that anything to do with offline communications would be completely extinct by now.

There is a reason why offline marketing is still very much alive in today’s generation despite the unfathomable pace of technology advancements pouring in every year - and this is simply because having something tangible to see and hold that can represent your brand in an attractive light provides a completely different experience for the recipient.

From unboxing the packaging of a product, to seeing the engaging combination of colors and metallic, and finally, feeling that soft touch velvet texture of the stock at your fingertips - this is what can help produce a pleasant and memorable experience of interacting with your brand for your customers - giving a good impression of your brand to newer audiences and also keeping your existing customers coming back for more.

It All Hinges on Design

For a single print to be truly memorable and meaningful, it not only has to be visually captivating, but it must also inform and sway the recipient to take some form of action in your favor. This is the reason that design takes a fundamental role in creating prints that are productive for your brand.

Design does not merely include the editing and assembling of texts and images, in fact - it is an elaborate process of combining colors, finishes, embellishments, and even specialty inks to create something that will provoke thought and catch attention.

On top of that, design also involves assigning which elements on the artwork would be more compatible with a certain stock embellishment like foiling, and figuring out which base would complement that metallic finish to make it pop. It is an intricate and continuously innovative technique that requires the skill and ability to communicate a brand’s story through a relatable and striking print.

What's your ROMI (Return on Marketing Investment)

ROMI also known as Return On Marketing Investment is a metric used to measure how effective a marketing campaign has been in generating leads and profit. This metric is utilized to help marketing specialists and business owners make improved decisions about allocating the budgets necessary for future investments. To keep it simple, ROMI is basically calculated by comparing revenue gains against marketing investment.

An important thing to note here is that profit is not the only quantifiable measure on the success of a marketing campaign. Many marketers - especially in the digital and print industries include dwell time and brand awareness as gained benefits in their ROMI metrics. These are less tangible benefits but still create exposure and more  opportunities for your brand to generate more leads as it increases engagement with your target audience.

The Power of Prints

As mentioned earlier, print media is still very much alive in the marketing world today. You might think otherwise considering that we live in a world where digital media is starting to take over, but in fact it is this exact phenomenon that is giving the print world a striking edge when it comes to marketing. Why, you ask? This is because it’s easy for your target audience to become overwhelmed with online advertisements and email marketing campaigns getting lost in their spam boxes with the constant scrolling of screens on the web these days. But with print media, we are able to produce something tangible for your target audience and allow them to  experience your brand in a way that just can’t be replicated online.

A powerful feature of print media is it’s permanence in existing. Brochures, flyers, promotional cards and other marketing materials can remain in homes or offices for a long duration of time after they are received which can serve as a constant reminder of your brand. It’s an easy way for your clientele to have all your details on a convenient piece of print so they know how to get to you. Not only that, but because of its physical and interactive form, customers will be more likely to stay engaged for a longer period of time with your brand.

Another great thing about print is that there are so many different kinds of print mediums - from packaging, promotional, to informational materials - which you can utilize to integrate into your marketing strategies for your business. The power of print is hugely versatile - all you have to do is decide which medium would reap the greatest benefits to your brand. Are you after building more exposure to your target audience, or perhaps looking to create a premium customer experience for your existing clients through your products and packaging? Think about it and let us know.

The Power of Fluorescent

Feast your eyes with the stunning glow of Fluorescent ink. Just like we spoke about, all the embellishments in the world would not have the capability to shout your brand’s message without an inspired design to pull it all together. Let’s find out more about how you can integrate fluorescent ink to your designs in order to make an extraordinary print.

Yellow neon ink is one of the most striking print embellishments as its brightness is bound to catch a lot of eyes and attention. This neon color is most commonly used when producing safety signages but because of its luminous nature it can be applied to various marketing pieces to capture the interest of potential clients.

Fluorescent pink is another staple of neon ink, this charming pop of color is typically used when creating marketing pieces for all things trendy such as fashion and cosmetics. But don’t limit yourself, neon pink can be used to highlight certain aspects of your marketing piece that you want your audience to focus on as well.

In fact, once applied to a print, the neon ink palette becomes reflective when placed under UV light - adding to that unique brand experience we keep going on about.

How to stand out from the crowd?

With the various print elements that can be used to enhance your prints, it’s easy to get carried away with all the different possibilities. Adding print embellishments is certainly an excellent way to increase visibility to your marketing and packaging solutions, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the more laminates, special inks, and foils you apply the more superior and fruitful your prints will become.

What really makes an effective print relies on HOW you execute and integrate specific embellishments to complement certain aspects of your marketing or packaging piece. Knowing which parts of your artwork would be more visually pleasing to interact with when having this kind of texture or laminate applied, or factoring in if the perceptual effect of your brand’s logo could be amplified further with a spot UV coating or just plain clear foil.

Taking all of this into consideration to make a printed piece that goes beyond CMYK is what can make all the difference when a customer is deciding on which product to purchase or when a potential client is contemplating on which company seems more professional to deal with.

Print embellishments do not only heighten the overall aesthetic appeal on the surface, but they also have the power to deliver profit-driving results. In fact, it was found in a previous study by the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University that a product from an uncommon brand that was packaged with added gold foil would sell just as often or even more frequently than well-known brands.

The bottom line is, first impressions are vital when introducing your business to the market - and through an inspired and well put together set of packaging and marketing pieces you can reflect exactly what you have to offer.

How to stand-out from the crowd?

What makes your company better than the rest? 

To start with, there is only one of your brand. Getting this to be reflected on your prints, packaging, and promotional materials by creating a unique set of artwork and customizing which print embellishments would fit your brand message best is what could make all the difference.

Through print media, you can provide an experience to your target consumer base that will make them want to keep doing business with you. Aside from profits, one goal of marketing is to work out how you can keep customers coming back for more business - YOUR  business. And with a productive and even interactive piece of print that can evoke interest and a call to action, you can start to build a strong customer - business relationship.

Even something as simple as sending a Thank You card can allow your existing customers to feel a sense of loyalty to your brand. By accomplishing this, you can become a business that customers would want to be a regular at.

It’s always that one extra step that will keep you ahead of your competitors.

Turn the Ordinary into Extraordinary

It’s all the little details and intricacies that can draw the line between an ordinary and extraordinary print. 

Now that you know how you can go beyond CMYK to further improve your marketing plan, take a look at your existing branding and prints and think of how you can elevate each element. Which print solution would reap the greatest benefits for your business? A new premium set of packaging, or a complimentary marketing card to send out with each of your products? There’s a huge selection to choose from, from brochures, to custom boxes, to product wraps, and even something as basic as business cards can be elevated to create a good impression and positive impact.

You can turn any plain looking piece of artwork into something completely captivating with the various print embellishments available within your grasp. Think it over and let us know what your brand needs - we can make it happen together.