Full sheets of cards for Joyce Watson of Beannachd Cards

Joyce has recently taken the opportunity to place an order for a whole range of postcards,greetings cards, bookmarks and mini cards. Here at Abacus we were able to fill the large SRA2 sheet economically by mixing both postcards and greetings cards on the same sheet leaving no empty waste space.

Abacus offers this flexibility in relation to full sheets to enable clients to maximise the available spaces. We at Abacus are not rigid in our sheet layouts and will guide you to what is and what is not possible on these SRA2 sheets. Your financial success is our success as further orders will inevitably follow.

With previous orders Joyce has sent in her own scans originated on her own desktop scanner, but having not been entirely happy with cards originated in this way, this year she left the scanning to Abacus. [A route we always recommend as the final print quality is only as good as the origination].

We at Abacus were delighted to ensure the scans from our very expensive drum scanner met her approval by submitting press profiled digital proofs for her to see before printing. On receiving this approval the postcards, greetings cards, bookmarks and mini cards were printed, cut, scored packed and despatched to her base in the Isle of Iona.

Joyce chose a matt finish to completely seal the colour front side of the cards.When ordering a full card sheet there are several options available for a range of finishes, such as gloss or matt lamination, gloss sealer, spot varnish,or very matt sealer, all of which are undertaken in house[some involve extra costs].

Spot UV varnish is yet another option but this involves significant additional costs as it is only available from a company based in Yorkshire.

Full Card sheets of Postcards

The most efficient way to print postcards at a economic unit cost is to fill a fullcard sheet.
The sheet size we print on is SRA2 a sheet measuring 640 x 450mm, which can accommodate 16 standard postcards.
Turtle photography have been taking advantage of this cost effective waterless printing of postcards for several years www.turtlephotography.co.uk
Turtle Photography based in their gallery within The Craft Centre, Abersoch, not only offer for sale postcards but a full range of photographic photo prints, all based on the beautiful local seascapes.
Their full sheet of postcards are spot UV varnished on the image area of the postcard only. This very shiny varnish really brings up the colours in their vivid photographic postcards, and is a dramatic contrast to the white silky 380gsm Abacus card.
Special finishes like this are only available on full card sheets specific to an individual client. These full card sheets can also include greetings cards and Christmas cards.
In every case of full card sheet printing the run on price of each additional 1000 sheets dramatically reduces the unit cost of the postcards or greetings cards. Here at Abacus we have some clients who print up to 14000 sheets of cards to successfully achieve a minimum unit cost to wholsale at realistic profitable margins to the retail trade.
Special estimates are available for full card sheet printing from sales@abacusprinters.co.uk.

An interesting new Giclee line for Andy Weber

World renown internationally, as one of the worlds leading artists in Buddhist iconography, Andy is returning to Buddhist routes.
By printing his images on canvas by Giclee printing it is giving the work a robustness to roll up. Why the need to roll? Andy's most recent idea is to recreate traditional Buddhist Tangkhas which are sewn into a brocade specially made by local craftsman in Kathmandu, Nepal.The completed pieces including a wooden scroll, and saffron protective curtain is a contemporary rendition of traditional Buddhist Tangkhas. The whole Tangkha rolls around the scroll for ease of transportation so important to nomadic Buddhists.
We at Abacus are happy to welcome and help expand the many opportunities Giclee printing offers.
Andy Weber’s Tangkhas are an unusual departure from the norm, especially as they are returning funds to craftsmen in Kathmandu. These ten new contemporary Tangkhas will offer ten different Giclee prints of Andy's paintings and are available to be seen on his web site www.andyweberstudios.com and will be available online or from the many buddhist events he attends.
These Tangkhas are quite beautiful, and really must be seen to be fully appreciated.

FEBRUARY SPECIAL OFFER

For February we are offering a choice of two fantastic offers.

Order any size of postcard or greetings card before 28th February 2010 and you can choose one the following offers:


500 free business cards 85 x55mm (worth £65.00) in addition to the card you are having printed. The same image must be used, but you can have different text on the reverse of the business card.

OR

FREE colour and text proof with any card order which is a saving of at least £15

For full details of prices have a look at our “special offer” page, all prices and information can be found on our postcard and greetings card pages.

Don't delay get your postcards and greetings cards printed to the highest quality.

We can also send you our free sample pack with examples of our high quality printing on 380gsm sustainable card as well as the finishes that are available. Just phone 01229 885 361 or email us at sales@abacusprinters.co.uk and we will pop one in the post for you today!

As well as the February special offers we also are running a STUDENT SPECIAL OFFER Prices have been reduced for 2010 and new this year you can order as an individual - no need to be a part of a large group.

Lowest prices ever and a free card for large groups. 500 matt 6x4 postcards will cost only £45.00 per student as long as 16 students join to make a group order.
We also for the first time have made a student special offer for small groups and individuals 500 matt 6x4 postcards cost from only £65.00 per student. Please check our student offer pages for details. Alternatively phone or email with any enquiries as we are always happy to help you.

Keep an eye out for our online design facility which is now in the last stages of being thoroughly tested and it should be ready to be put onto our website soon! We will have a special offer linked to our online design, so please keep checking our special offers pages as you don't want to miss out!

New Giclee Prints

Andy Weber (www.andyweberstudios.co.uk) is back again at Abacus to have his most recent painting Avalokitsvara set up as a Giclee print for a limited edition. This flexible original painting is first scanned on our drum scanner. Why? Simply because drum scanners which are very expensive pieces of equipment, produce the finest, most accurate digital colour separations of the original painting. This is the best possible starting point from which all Giclee prints should originate as every nuance of every colour and tone is held - detail of which is not obtained as accurately by digital photography.
Once the scans are sent to Sarah, our dedicated Giclee artist, they are colour corrected against the original and a proof is printed on our Mutoh printer with pigmented inks.
Andy then returns to our Giclee studio to pass the printed Giclee proof against his original painting. Only then can the edition of prints be printed from the stored digital file.
Andy usually has a few Giclee prints initially printed, returning when the Giclee prints are sold to replenish his stock. This means he does not have to store large quantities of prints and of course there is no large financial outlay.
Andy’s entire Giclee print collection can be viewed on his new website www.andyweberstudios.com.
together with his extensive range of postcards, all can be ordered online.

NEW STUDENT SPECIAL OFFER

The time of year is rapidly approaching when all final year students are concluding details for their degree shows. For the majority of students this will be their first exposure to the public eye. It is very important that a professional, lasting impression is made and we are here to help them make it.

We have developed a special offer taking into account student’s lack of funds and our experience in the art field. Also waterless offset printing, almost unique to Abacus, is the most environmentally ‘green’ printing media available today. We are offering all our expertise but at a greatly reduced cost to help them with the first steps towards a successful career. For many years we have offered prices for large group printing and this year we are delighted to announce that we have also cut prices for small groups and individual orders. Please refer to the “Student Offer” page or phone / email us for full details.

Some colleges prefer a folder of cards, a bound booklet or catalogue rather than individual cards, or indeed posters. Please feel free to contact us on sales@abacusprinters as we can quote the most cost effective package for individual and group students requirements, free sample packs are available on request.

We look forward to helping you with your college print needs for 2010. We’re here to help!

Snow Snow Snow ......

its all you hear about on the news. We have been having snow since before Christmas and its fabulous. The trees sparkle and the ground crunches under your feet. Everything looks lovely and clean, all the fields are white. The kids have made snow men and been sledging. Lots of adults have done the same and not many have managed to escape a snow ball fight. We have very little snow forecast for the next week but with the really low temperatures the snow is not going anywhere for the next few days anyway.

I am from South Africa so love the snow more than anyone else at Abacus as its a novelty to me. Minus 11 at six o Clock this morning the coldest I have ever been in my life. Today I got dressed warm and my colleagues took me sledging for the first time ever. What good fun!! These pictures show Judith our guillotine operator, Margaret one of the directors and me the Giclee printer enjoying the snow! I hope everyone has managed to take some time to enjoy the snow as much as we have.

If you would like to put any of your snow photos into print we have a January special offer of free proofs with any order. We have already received an order from Alison Connick to print greetings cards of sledging on Wimbledon Common.