Global Printing Solutions in Austin

Posts in the printer category

We live in a digital age, so most print shops you visit will have- you guessed it!  Digital printers.  We have 7 digital printers in our shop, and when it comes to hi speed, low quantity jobs with a million different colors and  variable data- those machines are our workhorses.  What sets us apart from many other print shops is that we also have an old school offset printing press.  With offset printing, each color used in a design must have its own special plate, containing tiny holes that allow the ink to reach the paper only on the intended areas.  The paper is run through one time for each color used in the design, a process very similar to screen printing.  The advantage of offset is it makes orders with very large quantities more affordable, a wide variety of specialty papers can be used, and exact color matching is possible.  We often use our press for stationery, because with digitally printed letterhead and envelopes, the ink can sometimes crack if run through an industrial printer a second time.  With papers printed on the press with ink, the design is unaffected by later being run through a hot digital machine.  Below is a photo of a letterhead plate for our friends at Tableaux.  We keep the plates on file, and when they need more letterhead, we load up the press with their signature 60% Grey Ink and go!  Denny runs our press, and despite the many fast moving parts, he still has most of his fingers.  If you’re in need of a great deal on stationery or other large quantity printed items, drop us a line and we’ll get you a quote!

Custom Letterhead Printing on Offset PressOffset Printing in Austin Texas

If you’re in need of affordable, yet durable and UV resistant signage, look no further than Global Printing!  We’ve compiled our most popular yard sign products in to this handy dandy graphic for your convenience.  Don’t forget to ask us about large quantity discounts!

Yard Signs Custom Printed Durable Affordable

We were printing some custom velvet invitations for a super secret wedding (sorry we can’t show you the final product!), and look how pretty these test prints came out!  They are almost worth framing as they are, but imagine how cool it would be to print images or quotes on!  Thanks to our flatbed printer, we’re able to print on any surface up to 4′ x 8′, so bring us more fun materials to experiment with!

Custom Printing on Velvet Custom Art Print on Velvet Custom Wedding Invitation

Here’s our lovely designer Amy modeling these shirts we made for Victory Christian Center.  We’re not sure if Jesus was into chips and queso back in the day, but we’re sure it sounds like a great time!  Amy is also our resident t-shirt and apparel specialist, so drop her a line if you’re thinking of getting some custom shirts of your own!

Custom Printed T-shirts in Austin Texas

Has your printer ever asked you if your file has bleeds, and sent you into a blind panic?  Put the bandages away, we’re here to explain!

 

What are bleeds? penny dreadful gif

How To Add Bleeds to you Print File

If you would like color to go all the way to the edge of your finished piece, you will need to include a .125″ bleed on all four sides.  This will add a total of .25″ to the height and width of your file size, so a file for a 5″x 7″ Invitation with full bleed would need to be 5.25″ x 7.25″.  All text and important visual elements should remain at least .25″ away from the cut line.  The graphic above shows proper file setup for a standard 3.5″x 2″ business card with bleeds.

 

Need help exporting your files with bleeds?  Here’s a few handy reference links:

We just designed and printed these business cards for Anna at Phillips Interiors, and we love how they came out.  Anna wanted to add some photography on the back of her cards to showcase her work, and she chose to add glossy UV coating in the shape of the “P” from her logo over top.  Way to drive your branding home Anna!  Spot UV can be applied to one or both sides of your product, in any shape or pattern you like.  Contact us about adding some well placed shine to your printed products today!

Custom Business Card Design with Spot UV

You all know Sarah the customer service rep (and her parrot), but today we’d like to introduce Austin!  Austin is a talented designer and bindery master who just moved here from New Mexico.  Here we see the two of them working it in a freshly trimmed custom photo frame.  These are such a great addition to any party, and surprisingly inexpensive!  Contact us today to create a custom photo prop for your next event!

Custom Photo Frames for Parties

We printed these beautiful coasters for the Fairmont, which feature their logo with a special cocktail recipe on the back.  This is a great example of adding  functionality to an already useful item, increasing the value of the item and the likelihood that it will be saved as a keepsake!  These coasters now serve as a home for each guest’s beverage, surface protector, advertising for the business, and recipe card all in one.  Gotta love that!  We print small quantity coaster orders in house, so turnaround time is only 2-3 business days.  Larger orders are available with about 2 weeks notice, and with significant quantity discounts.  Contact us about custom coasters for your event today!

Custom Printed Coasters for Fairmont Austin

Global Printing Solutions in Austin