There are various methods for binding materials together, and the choice of binding method depends on the type of materials involved, the intended use, and the desired appearance.

Stapling

Commonly used for binding sheets of paper along the edge, staples are driven through materials such as paper or cardboard to hold them together.

Sewing

In bookbinding, groups of paper are sewn together with thread. You can see along the spine of the product the visible stitching, although some styles are concealed. Paper, book pages, and fabric are common materials used.

Gluing

A glued binding is when adhesive is applied to the surface to be bound and a bond is created when it dries. Bookbinding and various crafts often utilize this method.

Spiral Bind or Spiral Bound

This a particularly common method. Pages are held together by a continuous plastic or metal spiral coil that is threaded through holes along the binding edge. Notebooks are often held together this way.

Perfect Binding

A perfect bound item is held together when a strong adhesive is used to attach the pages to the cover along the spine. Most common in paperback bookbinding.

Saddle Stitching

Finally, saddle stitching is created by folding sheets are stapled along the spine. Picture this as a booklet that can be opened flat. Paper, magazines, and booklets are some of the materials used.

The best binding for your use depends on overall aesthetic, intended use, durability, and number of pages. These are just some of the binding methods available.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

The world’s first digital printing hit the market in 1993, and its name was Indigo.

Digital printing differs from conventional methods by directly transferring digital files onto a variety of surfaces. This process eliminates the need for cumbersome plates and allows for quicker turnaround times, making it an ideal choice for on-demand and short-run printing. Whether you’re producing marketing materials, packaging, or personalized items, digital printing offers flexibility and precision.

One of the key advantages of this method is in its ability to accommodate variable data printing. This means that each printed piece can be customized with unique information, catering to individual preferences or targeted marketing efforts. Personalized direct mail, labels, and promotional products can be more effective when tailored to specific audiences.

Furthermore, digital printing provides vibrant and high-quality results. The technology allows for finer details, intricate designs, and a broader color spectrum, ensuring that the final product accurately reflects the digital file. It offers color matching and can remain consistent with brand design and larger presses.

There are two primary methods: inkjet and laser printing. Inkjet printers use tiny nozzles to spray liquid ink onto the printing surface. The nozzles are controlled electronically to create precise patterns, resulting in high-resolution prints. Laser printers use a laser beam to create an electrostatic charge on a photoconductive drum or belt. This charge attracts toner particles, which transfer and fuse onto the substrate using heat. Laser printing is common in commercial and office settings.

The environmental benefits of digital printing are also noteworthy. Unlike traditional methods that often generate excess waste in the form of plates and chemicals, digital printing produces minimal setup waste. Additionally, the ability to print on demand reduces the need for large inventories, minimizing the environmental impact associated with excess production and disposal. Further, our press uses liquid inks instead of dry toners, which is environmentally conscious as it reduces the amount of liquid required. This also complies with California Propistion 65 on toxic materials.

For over 20 years, Calitho has been offering digital printing services. We are a commercial printer and visual communications company serving clients across the U.S. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

In today’s fast-paced digital age, it’s easy to forget about print collateral. Any printed materials used to promote services, a company, offers, events, or any other announcements fall under this category. It’s incredibly versatile!

In an era where we are bombarded with digital ads and emails, print collateral offers a physical connection to a company. Holding a well-designed brochure or booklet can have a stronger and more memorable impact. People often keep brochures, business cards, and posters for future reference, which can provide an ongoing reminder of your brand.

With an increase in digital marketing, sending tangible items can be a powerful tool that compliments any online effort. By using the same color schemes, fonts, and imagery across your digital platform and print materials, you create a cohesive brand identity that resonates with your audience. For example, QR codes can link print collateral to online content, providing a cohesive, interactive experience.

Print materials offer a different way to engage with your audience. People often associate well-crafted print materials with trustworthiness and professionalism. Even more, you can tailor your materials to specific demographics, events, or locations, ensuring that your message reaches the right people at the right time.

Calitho can create customized collateral that speaks directly to individual recipients, increasing engagement and response rates. With flexible quantities, no batch is too big or too small. Even more, we have our own mail house which cuts costs and increases reliability.

Print collateral is far from obsolete; it remains a valuable and effective marketing tool. When integrated strategically with your digital marketing efforts, print materials can help you stand out in a crowded digital landscape. Never underestimate the timeless power of print collateral in our digital world.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

The World of Wide format printing, also known as large format printing, involves producing prints larger than standard sizes. It relies on specialized equipment capable of handling a variety of substrates and larger than average sizes. Wide format printing encompasses a range of technologies, including inkjet and UV-curable printing, enabling diverse applications.

The size and vivid colors grab attention, making them ideal for point of sale displays on banners, posters and signs in stores. They are used to promote products and special offers, attracting customers and enhancing brand visibility. Storefronts utilize wide-format posters in a variety of shapes and sizes or window graphics to showcase their brands on a grand scale. The expansive color range and detail retention, capture the essence of the uniqueness of the brands, making them ideal for displaying art and photography. Trade show and exhibitors use a variety of posters and custom displays to showcase their wares.

The versatility for these graphics extends to advertising or informative signage on cars, trucks, buses and even trains. The transportation industry utilizes them on their vehicles as well as in their stations.

Wide format printers can print on a wide range of media types, including paper, vinyl, canvas, fabric, metal, foam board, corrugated plastic, glass and more. This versatility allows for a diverse range of signage options both indoor and outdoor.

Calitho, excels in delivering top-notch wide format printing services. Our commitment to excellence, diverse substrate options, customization, innovation, and sustainability sets us apart. Calitho’s expertise extends way beyond posters, banners, retail signage, vehicle wraps, and trade show displays!

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Did you know you can print on wood? What about plastic, metal, vinyl, cloth, or cork? These are just some of many possible substrates that can be printed on.

Both Offset and Wide Format printing have the ability to produce some interesting pieces. They can achieve any look, style, or texture. Creativity in print materials can convey a brand’s values, enhance aesthetics, and create a memorable or unique customer experience. Moreover, elevate any print and packaging above the competition by incorporating some unique materials, let the packaging paint a picture of how you want your product to be seen.

Our Motto: Ink on Anything!

You can achieve anything with print. Even if a unique material is not immediately feasible, you can still make stylistic choices that reflect the desired result. Selecting a substrate based on a brand’s image can be a strategic decision that can influence consumer perception and selection. A unique substrate has the power to bring packaging to life to tell a story. Whether through texture, color, or material choice, the right substrate can turn a product’s packaging into an interesting focal point.

Do you want to know more about Offset and Wide Format printing? Check out these posts: What is large format printing? | Calitho Printing Packaging Bay Area, What’s the difference between Offset and Digital printing?

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the integration of technology with traditional industries continues to reshape the way we interact with the world around us. One striking example of this can be observed in the convergence of tech within the print and packaging industry. Once considered two distinct domains, these industries are now intertwining in innovative and mutually beneficial ways.

Companies can bridge the gap between physical and digital in their print and packaging easily. There are a variety of ways technology and printing are working together, from QR codes to E-Commerce. Interactive product demonstrations can stand out and highlight a brand’s connectivity or awareness with technology. They bring advantages that can bring valuable information and personalized content.

From a brand standpoint, one of the most significant advantages of QR codes is the ability to manage data about customer engagement. By leveraging engagement, brands can have valuable feedback about how to improve their product or bring more customers in. QR codes offer a direct and convenient bridge into online content from physical materials. Consumers can effortlessly scan QR codes to instantly access a wealth of information. Whether it’s product details, promotional offers, or exclusive content, codes provide a unique opportunity for brands to enhance customer engagement. The most challenging aspect of QR codes is proper implementation and landing page success. But some technological tinkering can solve this issue.

While the marriage of technology and print in the packaging industry undoubtedly presents challenges, the potential for enhancing user experiences and bridging the two industries is inevitable.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving clients across the U.S. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Calitho has long been committed to sustainable, responsible management of natural resources and what impact we have on the environment. This is evident in our significant investment in our pressroom technologies, our FSC certification, and Green practices.

As an early adopter of Green printing technology, Calitho acted as a Beta test site for the US market. We spent months configuring our locally available inks and chemistry to this brand-new technology. After nearly 12 months of testing, reporting, adapting, problem solving, and reformulating, we are able to offer a well-managed and environmentally better alternative to the traditional pressroom. This Green alternative not only uses 80% less energy in producing the highest caliber print, but it emits zero Volital Organic Compounds (VOC) into the environment. An achievement previously not viable.

The inks and coatings used in production do not contain any perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or related chemicals. There is no silicone or plastic with detectable levels of BPA. Instead, some of these materials are plant-based; meaning, they are repulpable, biodegradable, compostable, and can be entered into the recycling stream.

Our packaging is repulpable, biodegradable, compostable, and can enter into the recycling stream!

We have been a FSC certified printer for 19 years. In fact, we recently renewed our FSC certification with flying colors! This certification recognizes our commitment to the continuity of the chain of custody for the tracking of paper usage from harvest to consumer from responsibly managed forests.

Green practice is a broad commitment which encompasses everything from material, energy and water usage to employee behaviors. We actively recycle and repurpose aspects of production in order to maximize materials.

All of this in addition to operating in, arguably, one of the strictest environmentally regions in the world. The San Francisco Bay Area is subject to several strict environmental measures from the state of California and the United States government. Complacence with these measurers gives us confidence that we are functioning as Green as possible!

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Where do I go to print tiny folding inserts?

Patient information leaflets, prescription inserts, folded inserts, tiny folding inserts, instruction inserts, PI’s; these are just some names for the super folded leaflets found in cosmetics or pharmaceutical packaging. Regardless of their name, these tiny fold inserts serve an important function.

PI’s contain important information about the product or medication. They provide essential information to patients and consumers, such as directions for use and safety warnings.  Enclosing these in product packaging assures consumers immediate access to the information. These inserts allow pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other FDA approved companies to fulfill their legal obligations by providing accurate and comprehensive information to consumers.

The uses for tiny inserts extend into many business types. Instructional manuals or quick start guides for tech devices and gadgets. Step by step assembly guides and troubleshooting. Travel guides with mini fold out maps, itineraries, and transportation schedules, making things portable and convenient for a traveler to refer to on the go. Tiny inserts are commonly in textbooks as reference guides to present concise information, graphs, or study aids for quick reference. Anytime you need portable, compact, information to reference.    

Generally, these information packed inserts do not receive much attention when designing and constructing a product presentation. However, that does not have to be the case. Any kind of paper can be the base for these tiny inserts, and they’re format can be elegant enough for use in invitations for weddings, parties, or corporate gatherings.  It is an economical and efficient way to include large amounts of information in one small space.

Access to a tiny folding machine can affect cost and time!

Here at Calitho we provide this service with ease! Upon completion of printing, our state-of-the-art folding machine can produce a variety of folds, whether it be simple, a trifold, or a complex folded accordion insert. Larger paper can be folded down to less than a one-inch square. Tiny folding and packaging go together!

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving clients across the U.S. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

We are excited to announce a new addition to Calitho in-house capabilities: String Tie Neckers!

String tie neckers, also known as hang tags, are a common tool to market on wine and spirits, clothing, and all different types of products. It is a decorative accessory that is regularly used in a functional and aesthetic way. The string or ribbon attaches to a label or tag showcasing a message, logo, or brand. It dangles from the neck of a bottle or often wound around the product. These fun little advertising pieces are an easy, customizable way to bring more attention to a product.

Here at Calitho, we are thrilled to announce the addition of string machines to our in-house print and packaging line-up! There are only a couple of companies in the U.S. who have the capacity to print and create string-tie products in-house. This investment gives us the ability to print, die cut, and string nearly any type of bottle necker, clothing hangtag, or string tie product all under one roof.

First and foremost, having in-house string tie necker capabilities allows for greater control and flexibility. Calitho can handle the entire process internally. Adapting quickly to changing demands, schedules, and preferences is not only easier, but more economical. Working with only one vendor provides greater peace of mind. With all work done in one place, production timing improves and coordinates in the most economical manner. We can manage the creation and distribution of these products with tighter quality control and on a timely basis.

Whether it’s customizing necker designs, adjusting production schedules, or addressing specific client requests, our in-house capabilities allow us to respond swiftly and efficiently. The value of in-house production lies in the ability to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and cohesion throughout the entire production process.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving clients across the U.S. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Discount USPS postage at Calitho? Yes Please! We are proud to announce the Calitho Mail House has officially upgraded to an “All Electronic Transactions” USPS system.

Here is how it benefits you:

For more detailed information, please visit the USPS website at: Full-Service Fact Sheets | PostalPro (usps.com)

Please give us a call for more information or help with your next mailing!

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Lamination is typically about getting a visual effect: gloss is extra shine, matte is a dull finish. Soft touch lamination looks like a standard matte finish, but adds extra depth. Soft touch, or velvet, lamination, appeals to the sense of touch. The smooth velvet feel creates a luxurious experience for anyone holding your product.

What are the benefits of soft touch?

Soft touch lamination offers more than visual and tactile benefits to your printing, including:

When products are able to stay clean and new for a long period, it could mean extending the use of the printed material. Unfortunately, excessive use usually means that the product will get damaged in some way.  Soft touch lamination reduces the chance of toner chipping and corners curling.

The natural oils from your fingertips immediately transfer on to gloss or UV finishes and are difficult to remove. The textured matte finish of velvet lamination is resistant to fingerprints, as well as scratches and scuffs.

Soft touch lamination gives every printed piece a deluxe finish that a customer can see and feel. The obvious visual difference will make your packaging or marketing materials stand out from the crowd. But the texture is what will make your product worth remembering.

What are the disadvantages of soft touch?

The matte finish of the soft touch will dull the colors on the printed piece somewhat. Sometimes this can be considered a benefit when you want to give more depth to your materials. However, if a piece is rich in color, the lamination will mute your colors. Gloss lamination, on the other hand, will give off a high shine and make rich colors “pop”.  

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

We eliminate the use of plastic whenever we can and replace it with paper products. Whether this means plain paper, paperboard, or corrugated board, we always recycle any excess materials we have and only use corrugated product with at least 30% recycled content. On top of using the best base products, we also work to engineer efficient designs. We strive to reduce the amount of board, in turn reducing the total weight of the board used. Reduced weight leads to reduced shipping activities which in turn uses less fuel. Reducing the amount of empty air in our packaging also allows for more efficient packing and shipping.

Given the opportunity we modularize our packaging concepts to reduce tooling, increasing efficiencies for storage and re-ordering purchasing points. We can do this by analyzing packaging data with an Excel Spreadsheet to research commonalities. Additionally, we work with vendors to substitute petroleum based plastics/foams with plant based alternatives.

Finally, we develop packaging to reduce shipping damage, which helps to reduce merchandise being returned and re-sent.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today. 

Resolution is one primary concern when designing a file for printing. Using too low of a resolution can degrade an image and make the final printed product look blurry. Starting off with a low resolution image often leads to delayed production and headaches further down the process. However, too high of a resolution leads to bloated file sizes and increased time spent uploading and downloading assets.The preferred resolution for any printed image lies somewhere in the middle – 300 PPI. 

What is PPI?

PPI, or pixels per inch, is the most common metric for measuring image resolution when printing digital files. As the name suggests, PPI refers to the number of pixels that would be printed in a 1 inch line. For example, an image that is 1 square inch would contain 90,000 pixels when printed. The higher the PPI, the more densely packed the pixels will be, leading to a higher clarity image.

Why 300 PPI? 

Any image printed at below 300 pixels per inch might appear to be blocky, blurry, or flat-out pixelated. That’s because each individual pixel will be large enough for the human eye to perceive. 300 is that magic number where each pixel is small enough to go unnoticed without a magnifying glass. Consequently, images printed at above 300 PPI won’t look any noticeably different or clearer, making the excess file size unnecessary. 

How can I make sure my images print clearly?

The first step is to set your design program to 300 PPI before creating your file. In Photoshop, the default resolution is 72 PPI, well below our magic number of 300. Increasing the PPI after the design is completed, or “upconverting”, won’t change how the file is printed. You should also consider the resolution source images you use. Don’t get too attached to an image, especially if it falls short of the 300 PPI line. Plenty of high resolution images are online, and settling for a low-res picture all but guarantees a low quality print.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Variable data printing (VDP) is a printing method that can change printed content within a press run with no interruptions. While older, offset methods would require numerous stoppages to change content from piece to piece, VDP does not. As a result, VDP has quickly become one of the most useful tools in a marketer’s toolbox. With so much customer data now available, VDP actually allows marketers to put these insights to use in printed projects. Read more about how VDP can take your business’ marketing efforts to the next level. 

How does variable data printing work?

The basics of variable data printing are quite simple. A printer will pull information from a database of relevant customer info, from name and address to prior shopping habits. Special VDP software will then insert this data between each printed sheet, leading to completely customized content. Whereas traditional print might produce 10,000 identical copies of the same document, VDP can produce 10,000 unique and personalized documents. The most basic use of variable data printing might be addressing marketing materials to the name of the recipient. However, the capabilities go far beyond. VDP in many ways represents the intersection of digital and physical marketing. Just like producing different versions of an online ad for different audiences, everything from content to images can be customized.This introduction of audience targeting to the world of printed marketing can yield huge gains in ROI. 

How can I use variable data printing?

The most obvious application for variable data printing is in direct mail marketing. Whether you are sending brochures, postcards, or coupons, adding a personalized touch can be key to driving engagement. Beyond customizing content, consider adding QR codes, integrating your mail and digital campaigns and collecting even more relevant data. Business cards are another great use; you could create an entire company’s worth of cards in a single press run!

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Large format, or wide format printing, is becoming one of the most popular printing methods today. As more advertising goes digital, the best way to make an impression in the physical world is to go big. You’ve almost certainly encountered examples of large format print jobs in your daily life. From banners to displays, large format is the best choice for printing bigger than the standard sheet of paper. 

What actually is large format printing?

Large format printing refers to printed pieces too large for most commercial printing presses. Generally, large format jobs can have a paper width anywhere from 18 to 100 inches, making it particularly versatile. Anything beyond 100 inches in width is considered super-wide or grand format. While the naming conventions are somewhat confusing, most good printers will know what method best suits your project. Large format printing is perfect for short-run projects that need a big impact, like event or trade show signage. Beyond paper, large format jobs can print on vinyl, fabric, wood and more, making your project standout from the crowd.

What type of projects should use large format?

With evermore marketing spend going to digital, it’s important to get the most bang for your buck on printed materials. Printing doesn’t just live on the page anymore; it’s everywhere you go and the dimensions have blown past 8.5”x11”. One way to stand out to consumers is to go for large, colorful prints that immediately catch the eye. In retail, large format printing is ideal for floor, wall, and window graphics as well as point of purchase displays. For trade shows and events, large-scale signage and posters are the way to go. Whether indoor or outdoor, banners can make a great visual first impression and draw the attention of crowds.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today. 

UV coated paper can add extra shine or another layer of protection to your printed materials. But not everybody knows what UV coating is or how it works.

What is ultraviolet coating?

UV (ultraviolet) coating is a thin, shiny layer of liquid coating applied to a printed sheet. The coating is then cured, or dried, using a special machine emitting ultraviolet radiation. The liquid coating hardens around the sheet and gives the paper a smooth finish, perfect for making bright colors “pop”. While the process for ultraviolet coating is more or less standard, different amounts of coating can produce vastly different results.

What are the different types of coated papers?

Uncoated

Uncoated paper is, unsurprisingly, paper that has not been treated with any extra UV coating or finishing. The result is an “unshiny” look, making it ideal for text-heavy pieces that require ease of readability above all else. Additionally, uncoated paper produces “smudge-free” writing with the widest range of pens and pencils, especially compared to glossier finishes. 

Matte Coated

Matte coated paper has a light UV coating, roughly 25% on average, that produces minimal glare and a high contrast look to make color images pop. Consequently, Matte coated paper has a smoother look than uncoated, while maintaining the “smudge-free” benefits for most pens, making the paper ideal for calendars or visually engaging journals. 

Gloss Coated

Gloss coated paper has even more coating applied, roughly 50%, giving materials a lot of shine and, as the name suggests, a glossy look ideal for colorful images that need a boost in contrast. This coating gives materials a smooth and polished professional look, but the high levels of coating make it hard to write on without significant smudging, making gloss coated paper ideal for posters or other large scale visual projects.

UV Gloss Coated

Finally, UV Gloss coated paper has the maximum amount of coating applied, achieving the most vivid range and contrasts of colors in a printed piece. Naturally, UV gloss coating has the highest amount of shine or glare, making it harder to read large amounts of text. UV Gloss coating is ideal for purely visual communications and can give an image an unmatched eye-catching quality. 

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

If you look at any magazine, comic book, or brochure, you’re probably looking at an example of saddle stitch binding. It is one of the most popular book binding methods available today. In saddle stitching, folded sheets of paper are nested one within another and attached by staples through the fold. These stacks are placed over a holding apparatus, with each side hanging over like legs on a saddle. Then, long wire staples are threaded, or “stitched” through the paper, giving the method its peculiar name.  While two staples is the standard for saddle stitched booklets, larger paper sizes can necessitate more along the spine.

 How many pages can I have in a saddle stitch booklet? 

The page count of a saddle stitched booklet must be a multiple of four, including front and back covers. If you fold one sheet of paper in half, you will naturally end up with 4 different “pages”. Each additional sheet of paper added after this would increase the page count by 4. As a result, the minimum number of pages in a saddle-stitch booklet is 4. The maximum number of pages depends on factors including paper thickness, although 64 pages is considered a reasonable upper limit. With especially thin paper, you can get up to around 100 pages before the book becomes too thick to lie flat naturally. 

What are the benefits of saddle stitching?

Today, saddle stitch binding is still the most cost effective book binding method that still produces quality and professional looking brochures and booklets. Especially in cases of large quantities being shipped long distances, saddle stitching adds a minimal amount of excess bulk and weight, leaving shipping costs relatively low. While saddle stitching is generally best for lower page count projects, the method is extremely versatile and can be used for both long and short runs, as well as projects ranging in size from pocket pamphlet to road map. 

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.


Embossing refers to the process of making raised relief images into paper or cardstock, giving a three dimensional look. In the 19th century, the British postal service used embossing to give stamps a regal look. Embossing produces raised text or images, with the design sitting higher than the rest of the paper. Similarly, debossing produces a recessed image effect, with whatever design impressed into the surface of the paper. For blind embossing, printers apply no foil or ink to the embossed design, leaving only the slightly raised image. Consequently, blind embossing gives a simple and elegant look that can be ideal for folders or similar printed materials. 

Both embossing and debossing use two metal dies – one with a raised surface and one with a recessed surface. As a result, the two dies should fit perfectly into each other like puzzle pieces. Next, a sheet of paper or cardstock is placed between the two dies and, using heat and pressure, the raised die is pressed into the recessed die. When done correctly, this combination of heat and pressure will permanently alter the shape of the paper fibers and leave a lasting embossed or debossed design. 

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

Spend any time reading about the wide world of printing and you’re sure to encounter the term “die-cut”. But what is die-cutting? And just where does it fit into the printing process?

Die-cutting has nothing to do with rolling dice; it’s actually a process for efficiently cutting paper into easily replicable shapes. If you see a piece of printing, from packaging to labels, in a non-rectangular shape, die-cutting was likely involved. Die-cutting is not limited to just printing, and can be applied to cloth, leather, or other materials as well. A die, in this case, refers to a thin, sharp piece of metal molded into a particular shape. These dies are then uniformly applied to sheets of paper, separating out the desired shape from the rest of the paper, much like a cookie cutter. 

Die-cutting is an extremely versatile process, able to shape the edges of a piece as well as cutting out holes from within the middle of a sheet of paper. Even further, perforated die-cutting can leave a sheet of paper largely intact, while allowing for shapes to be cleanly and easily removed by users later on, ideal for coupons or crafts.   

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.

You may have heard of the two main types of print: Offset and Digital. But what’s really the difference? And what format fits best for your printing needs?

Offset Printing

Offset Printing uses the traditional methods, in which large etched metal plates are covered in ink and then pressed onto sheets of paper, one color at a time. With each sheet requiring multiple plates for each color, Offset printing can require considerably more initial investment than Digital. These setup costs can be (pardon the pun) offset by lower costs for ink and paper than in Digital printing.

Digital Printing

Digital Printing, on the other hand, uses electrostatic rollers to apply ink, or toner, onto a sheet. Without large etched plates, Digital printing requires far less setup and can print off a sheet with ease and minimal time investment. As a result of this low setup time, Digital printing is often favored for projects with lower turn-around times or quickly approaching deadlines.

But what’s right for me?

Usually, the determining factor in choosing either Offset or Digital is volume. Digital printing is typically preferred for low volume, or short run, jobs, while Offset is better for high volume printing. In this case volume refers to number of copies rather than number of sheets of paper. For example, one copy of a 10,000 page book would be well suited to Digital printing, while 10,000 copies of a single page flier would be a job for Offset.

Calitho is a commercial printer and visual communications company serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Let us help with your next printing project by requesting a quote today.