Best Practice Archives

Mediapoint’s Print Process: One Job Is One Dispatch

Posted on September 10, 2022February 24, 2023 by admin

In this article we detail our Mediapoint’s print process and how that facilitates expedited completion of print jobs for customers.

We operate by a single rule when it comes to dispatching: One Job is One Dispatch.

Whilst other trade printers may split orders or create kits to be dispatched to multiple locations, we’ve consciously chosen not to do this. When you order using our self serve printing system we treat that order as an individual batch intended for one destination.

Over 150 orders a day are handled by Mediapoint’s print process. It involves the use of a highly-automated system and optimised, Lean processes. The moment an order is placed in our system every element required to complete the job – materials, print time, custom packaging, staff – is locked in. Everything is accounted for which leads to jobs completed exactly as intended.

Automation means leaves no room for ad-hoc changes but it means we can deliver on high volume orders with a quick turnaround. Furthermore, customers are benefitted by predictable lead times for print runs.

Splitting print orders is one such sacrifice of Mediapoint’s print process. However, we believe it is outweighed by the benefits of streamlined procedures and the ease of using our system.

Mediapoint’s Print Process Minimises Mistakes

Following our simple rule minimises any chance of mistakes throughout our trade printing process. Common mistakes from other trade printers who do split orders:

Underdelivering stock amounts to each destination
Jobs going to wrong locations
Varied delivery times due to different couriers / routes.
Delayed delivery due to the time it takes to finish and package split jobs individually.

Each of these issues can be detrimental to both our reputation and that of our clients who have their own service-level guarantees in place with their customers.

Don’t forget every added step in the print process will add costs. This leads to increased prices and reduces the amount of margin passed onto customers.

Customers Can Still Order Multiple Jobs

When working with Mediapoint’s print process you can still have printing delivered to multiple sites. However, each pack need to be ordered under separate job numbers. The time it takes to complete multiple orders on our automated printing system (PrintIQ) is negligible.

The individual number of jobs aids in visibility of job progress for customers. Since each job number is treated separately there is full transparency around dispatch timelines and destinations. This also reduces the requirement for our teams to read convoluted notes or do extra work that may slow down the trade printing process.

Playing to Our Strengths

The advantages of Mediapoint’s print process are the ability to access live 24/7 pricing on orders, access to the lowest prices, next-day turnaround on most products, and outsourcing of high volume jobs to focus on sales rather than production. By providing clarity of our process, utilising a self-serve printing portal, and implementing automation at every stage we can sustain our standards and deliver on these advantages for every customer.

If you’re a high volume reseller looking for trade printing partner that offers the lowest prices, than look no further than Mediapoint. Simply sign up for a PrintIQ account to get started.

Why Are We Strict About Print Job Cut Off Times?

Posted on August 27, 2022February 24, 2023 by admin

Read on (and watch) to learn why we have strict, print job cut off times for certain products. We break down how that enables service levels above and beyond the competition.

Mediapoint averages 150+ orders a day. To deliver on these with next-day turnaround, we have established Lean processes that other trade printers can’t compete with.

A strict printing cut-off time of 12pm underpins these procedures. At this time, every day, our system automatically locks out any new next-day orders. From there, automations begin to run; preparing all inventory, equipment, artwork files and staff required for a batched print run.

Print Job Cut Off Times Create Predictability

Keeping strict printing cut off times (and making it clear to customers) means a predictable service level for customers. With no variance in lead times they have peace-of-mind that jobs will be completed and dispatched as expected.

It means that our printing teams have a clear set of tasks to complete. That means we can adequately prepare our lines for maximum efficiency. Set print job cut off times are key to batching jobs, minimising change to stock and print modes during operation.

We’ve previously discussed locking into one print mode only which helps maintain quality and speed.

Printing Once A Day Reduces Costs

We pride ourselves on offering the best prices. To do so we need to find savings wherever possible – all of which are passed onto our clients. Inventory represents a significant portion of any print cost. A batching process helps us keep an optimal amount of inventory on hand. Plus, we end up using less resources per print run. Trade printers need definitive print job cut off times to effectively schedule completion of these job batches.

Another overlooked cost of printing is labour. This rises significantly when print runs are not batched. The time it takes to set up equipment for each differing print run, to cut print jobs, to complete finishing work and to package items are all areas where great savings can be made. In combination with our automated PrintIQ system – which reduces the need for manual servicing of quotes and design – we significantly reduce costs.

These savings then provide margin for our print reseller customers to play with when on-selling work.

Mediapoint’s Print Process Benefits Our People

The batching process and printing cut off times mentioned above mean our staff just need to complete each task once before moving onto the next stage of the print run. They become more efficient and we can do more, with less people. Unlike other trade printers, our teams are not burdened by wastes of rework or overproduction. In fact, our staff gain valuable time back and are involved in every stage of the work, allowing them to build and maintain their skillset.

Mediapoint Cut Off Times — Our Durst 512R LED in action. We used the points in these posts when making decision to buy this printer as it fit our business

Our Process Keeps Us Honest

Our established, automated system for overnight printing means there is minimal variance in our output and a predictable low-touch level of service. This reduces friction in the ordering process, and allows us to be transparent about how jobs are handled.

This visibility is useful for resellers looking for the right trade print partner for high volume output. It removes the guesswork involved in the print process for them and ensures they can deliver on service levels to their own customers.

We’ve established our print job cut off times based on experience and optimisation over the last 16 years of servicing high volume resellers. In that time we’ve identified that the 12pm cutoff provided an ideal lead-time for a majority of our clients and our internal processes. Furthermore when rush print jobs are required (which we don’t cater to) our customers’ in-house capabilities can handle them.

As we say, “the proof is in the print” so if you’re looking for a trade print partner that can deliver on high volume jobs day-in, day-out, give our 24-hour turnaround process a try on your next high volume print run. Simply sign up to PrintIQ here and order by 12pm for dispatch by next business day.

4 Tips for Optimal Large Format Printing

Posted on August 6, 2022February 24, 2023 by Jamie Xuereb

Jamie shares several tips to minimise delays and achieve optimal output from your large format printing.

1) Always Use Vectors Where Possible

When creating / supplying artwork, utilise vectors – these are your best friend! Vectors are images created from shapes based on mathematical formulas. This keeps them sharp no matter how large the artwork needs to be. Don’t worry – you don’t need to know the tech or mathematics behind it all. Your graphic design software should look after that. The reason we (and other printers) recommend vectors is that they are sharper than Rasters. With rasters, there is always a point where the images will pixelate. Rasters are essentially a photo – hence the inability to scale infinitely. In large format printing this is invaluable as it eliminates the possibility of any issues.

Even better, vector images contain the CMYK values of a graphic which leads to more accurate colour output in the finished print.

2) Ensure Fonts Are Converted to Outlines

Fonts are perhaps the most fickle element when it comes to supplied artwork – just ahead of colours. Due to the variety of fonts in existence and the legal / technical limitations of having them stored within a database, you should always convert your text elements to outlines. Without conversion there’s a high chance your printer may not have the font available and it will be automatically substituted by their graphic design software. This is particularly true of bespoke fonts or those in languages that do not use the English alphabet.

There are other processes to workaround these issues – like flattening of an image file – however this can create other issues that need fixes of their own. By simply converting fonts to outlines you can ensure that artwork will print as it is provided, and avoid any delays to printing.

Most trade printers will not undertake proofing and require artwork to be provided in this way. This allows for automation and expedited printing with minimal service requirements. If you want to better understand what is required by your trade printer, and find the right match, we recently discussed the fundamental questions to ask.

3) Flatten Gradients Where Possible

When it comes to gradients (unlike Fonts), flattening is a useful process to ensure an accurate finished product. If you leave gradients as a raster, or simply a selected effect option in a PDF, it may be interpreted differently depending on the Raster Image Processing Software (RIPS) used by the printer. Not all RIPS are made the same, so it is best to standardise your images and eliminate the chance of gradients going awry in your wide format printing.

It’s always safer to flatten your gradients and it doesn’t take long – so what have you got to lose?

4) Utilise CMYK For Large Format Printing

Always create and supply your print artwork in CMYK colour format. Conventional large format printing is done using CMYK inks, so you’ll want to ensure your artwork matches. Whilst it may be tempting to use RGB in this digital age, that colour format is only best for screen / web design. Quite often we find people are surprised by the difference in colour between a digital RGB file and a sample CMYK print output.

By using CMYK from the very beginning you’ll be able to see the actual output throughout the entire processes. This leads to accurate printing, a better idea of the finished product to set expectations, and satisfied customers.

BONUS: Inspect Your Artwork At 100% On Screen

Here’s a bonus tip we’ll throw in for free: make sure you view your PDF Files at 100%!

This simple trick can pay dividends down the line and help you avoid any issues with large format printing quality. By viewing at 100% you will get an idea of the actual quality of images and see any potential pixelation.

For those more technically-inclined here’s what this means from a DPI perspective:

If the file is 10% then make sure to zoom in at 1000% to see the artwork as it will end up.

120 DPI for raster photos at 100% size is what we generally recommended. Going over this is likely overkill and will see diminishing returns.

An example: For banner files at 10% size, ensure that it is set up at 1200 DPI so when blown up it gets to the 120 DPI mark.

Mediapoint Optimal Large Format Printing — Optimal Large Format Printing

Eliminating Errors From Wide Format Printing

So there you have it – our top tips for eliminating any issues when utilising a trade printing partner. We’ve worked thousands of print jobs over the years; by following these recommendations our customers have accelerated their print processes and eliminated the burden of rework / delays.

If you’re a high volume print reseller looking for a trade-only printing partner with a wide range of products speak to us today.

Large Format Printing: A Best Practice Guide

Posted on July 30, 2022February 24, 2023 by Jamie Xuereb

In this article we discuss the best practices for optimal large format printing in this video and accompanying article.

Many of our customers have prior experience with differing forms of printing – offset, small format, merchandising, and screen printing. Large format printing, however, has its own nuances. So getting across these best practices can help you expedite printing, save headaches, and achieve better printing results.

Convert Fonts In Your Large Format Printing Artwork to Outlines

Fonts, like colours, are a particularly tricky element of printing artwork. There are legal / technical limitations when it comes to fonts. You can never be sure the printer will have the font you require available. So to mitigate any issues you should always convert your text elements to outlines. Without conversion it’s likely to be automatically substituted by graphic design software. This is particularly true of custom fonts or those in languages that do not use the English alphabet.

Converting fonts into outlines ensures that artwork will print as it is provided. Quite often we see text elements being the cause of delays to wide format printing. There are other processes that can help, like flattening of an image file but this create other issues.

Most trade printers will not undertake proofing – so double check your work before sending. Conducting conversion of text elements and following the other tips below will set you up for success. If you want to better understand what is required by your trade printer, and find the right match, we recently discussed the fundamental questions to ask.

Use CMYK & Pantone For Accurate Colour Matching

Always setup your artwork files in CMYK and not RGB. Whilst RGB is the go-to for digital design, the finished, printed colours won’t match. Trust us – there is quite the difference in colour between an RGB specification and the CMYK print output.

If you’re after a very specific colour match you’ll want to go a step further. Specify a Pantone C colour to correctly match and achieve your desired output. As colours can change from inkset to inkset, Pantone C colouring specifications keep wide format printing profiles in check.

Aim For 120DPI in Any Photos

Keep to the golden number of 120DPI photos to be printed in a large format. Any lower than this and it’s highly likely pixelation will occur. If you go too high you run the risk of RIP (Raster Image Processing) issues due to massive file sizes.

There really is no need to overdo it on the DPI. Don’t forget: most large format printing is designed to be viewed from a few meters back. You’ll find that there is a larger dot size (compared to small format printing) due to the outdoor durability requirement of the ink. So when it comes to the finished product, whilst it may look odd up close, you’ll get an accurate representation of the image when viewed from the intended distance.

Another thing to keep in mind here is the file size compared to its final scale. If the file is at 10% size, then set your DPI to match so that once blown up the image appears as intended.

For example:

If you’re delivering banner files at 10% size, set them up at 1200DPI. Once blown up to 100% size you’ll be right on that ideal 120DPI mark.

Utilise Vectors For Wide Format Printing

Use vectors wherever possible for any wide format printing. Vectors are incredibly handy for this typoe of printing. Vectors utilise mathematical formulas to create the shapes that make up your image. So no matter how large the artwork needs to be, the image will remain sharp. Industry standard graphic design software will be able to look after the technical side of things for you.

Trade printers recommend vectors due to their better sharpness when compared to rasters. With rasters, there is always a point where the images will pixelate. Rasters are essentially a photo – so they cannot scale infinitely. In wide format printing this ability to scale eliminates the possibility of any pixelation or blurring.

Plus vector images contain the CMYK values. Which takes care of the best practices above and leads to more accurate colour in the finished print.

If you’re a print reseller and outsourcing (or looking to outsource) over 30 jobs a month, we can help. Mediapoint has over 16 years of experience servicing high volume resellers exclusively. Talk to us today.

Trade Printing VS In-House Production

Posted on July 2, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

In this video Jamie Xuereb from Mediapoint discussing the benefits of Trade Printing VS In-house Printing

In this article we discuss the various benefits of Trade Printing VS In-house Printing so you can decide which is right for your print business.

What are the benefits of Printing In-House?

When printing in-house, it is likely that jobs will be completed on entry-level equipment with a smaller footprint, and lower volume. You’re likely to achieve a decent quality from these machines – when running at their best these printers have a good output The caveat here is that these machines require longer time and minimal strain.

In-house equipment also gives you the power to print on any stock ad-hoc. Due to the lower volume and accessibility, you can chop and change stocks after each sheet or load. This makes it easy to pump out small orders in a rush and even same day – from the same machine.

On the flip side, you will see that your cost in ink, stock and labour per square meter are much higher. Your pricing then needs to reflect this to be profitable.

Add to that the inability to run multiple, different jobs in tandem and you will hit your equipment’s max availability (and therefore max revenue) earlier in your schedule.

So you then need to determine whether it is worth running your equipment on an overtime shift and paying higher rates for labour outside of your normal operating hours. This is where trade printing becomes the better, more economical option.

What is Trade Printing

Trade printing is a service where you outsource your printing to another supplier who then produces the work on your behalf. This leaves you with higher equipment availability for priority, short-run or custom jobs, and more time to focus on selling / growing your business. A quality trade printer (also known as a Wholesale Printer) will deal only with you – not your customer – allowing you to focus on growing relationships and your customer base, without the financial outlay for new equipment.

What Are the Advantages of a Wholesale Printer?

1. Inventory, Experience, and Equipment

Trade printing partners like Mediapoint have invested in the factory space, high-end equipment, staff, inventory of stock, and processes to deliver quality at much higher volumes.

For example our high-volume Durst printing equipment, means we have the capacity to handle 150+ jobs daily. This is achieved by batching and printing stock once a day alongside multiple production shifts in the schedule. That allows us to offer an ultra-fast 24-hour turnaround time for most jobs do.

2. Lower Costs for Us, Higher Profits for Customers

Our consumable cost per square meter is much lower than entry-level and mid-range printing equipment that you may have in-house.

Since the volumes we are producing for trade print clients are much higher than your average print shop, we tend to buy stock in containers which means we have a lower stock cost.

This means we can focus on printing to a model that gives our reselling partners more margin to work with. We pass the volume savings on – it’s a win-win situation.

When Is A Trade Printer Not Suitable?

Most trade printing models are designed on set products with preset options. That means: set stock, print quality, finishing and packing methods.

If you are looking for anything a little more off the cuff or bespoke then a trade printer might not be suitable. Generally, the trade printers with the best margins are not nimble. In this case, speaking to a general retail printer, or signage company, might be your best bet.

To make the model work, batching and automation is needed as a trade printer. So doing things like same-day / rush orders would not be suitable. However, turnaround times of 24 hours (even on some solid volumes) is still possible.

A trade printer’s number one priority is to give its resellers the most margin. To do this it has heavily invested in its manufacturing capabilities. All other areas of the business including the frontend, prepress and dispatch need to be fairly automated. So if you require personal service on every order, a trade printer is not the optimal choice. You will be directed to an automated system for the aforementioned benefits of speed, efficiency and cost.

Mediapoint is a reliable Australian Trade Printer and this is their Durst Flatbed Printer

Durst 512 Mediapoint — Mediapoint is a reliable Australian Trade Printer and this is their Durst Flatbed Printer

What Can a Trustworthy Trade Printer Like Mediapoint Do For Your Business?

At Mediapoint we believe we are the best trade printers in the market as we allow our resell partners to:

* Add different products to their mix.

* Make more margin from their existing customers without the outlay.

* Downsize whilst becoming more profitable.

* Cut out products that they traditionally produce that are not profitable.

* Focus on the strengths of their business which might be design, selling, or marketing instead of production.

If you have a gap with trade printing products such as mesh banners, corrugated plastic boards, stickers and posters, then feel free to register on our trade pricing page. Mediapoint has been servicing high volume print resellers and brokers exclusively for over 16 years. We have the experience, knowledge and equipment to cater to any requirement.

How To Pick The Right Material For Mesh Fence Panels & Fence Banners

Posted on June 15, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

We are constantly asked what the best mesh banner stock is for mesh fence panels & fence mesh banners. Being a trade printer and having a lot of knowledge in this area we know that one size does not fit all when it comes to the best type of material for fence banners.

We understand that being tied into one way or one stock is not suitable when it comes to all of the solutions you will need to provide for fence mesh banners. See below for the range of different fence banner materials used and in what scenario they are used in.

PVC Vinyl Fence Banners

This stock is suitable for fence banners needing a more solid construction. As it not perforated the whole image is printed and lands on the material, the whole image is shown. So the benefit here is for anyone who wants the maximum impact of their mesh fence panels as the most punchy print is visible. As it is a heavier stock (we offer a 510gsm), it also means the banner is going to be more durable over time.

On the other hand, as this has a solid construction, it naturally does not allow any wind flow through the banner. Because of this in high wind flow area’s the banner may tear over time or cause temporary fences to fall over. Some companies use wind slits to combat this but in our testing, we have found that this weakens the banner and can cause tearing.

12×12 PVC Mesh Fence Panels

As this is a tight-knit mesh it is often referred to as a ‘premium’ mesh. Because of this more of the image is shown on the print so there is less show through compared to other mesh options. This stock typically comes in a 280gsm weight so it has a solid tensile strength. Because of the above, this stock is used more for smaller fence mesh banners as the better print visibility and strength on a smaller banner is good in most instances. It also has the longest life in outdoor conditions than other mesh options.

On the flip side as this is a closer knit mesh, the compromise comes with the amount of air flow through the fence mesh panels. In high wind loads, this stock can turn into a sail as not all of the wind can flow through the banner. So typically a strong fence or install is needed when installing these banners. As this stock is made of PVC, as the dyne level of the stock drops, UV ink is susceptible to fail on this stock. At Mediapoint we print on latex inks to avoid this issue. And the inks are more environmentally friendlier as an added bonus.

6×6 PVC Fence Mesh Banners

Often considered a more ‘open’ mesh this stock is perfect for longer fence mesh banners. The reason being is the stock is constructed with a 180gsm makeup which allows the most air permeability compared to any other PVC mesh fence panel options. What this means is this stock allows the most wind to flow through it which is suitable in high wind loads where there is a risk of the banner turning into a sail. This can potentially cause the banner to tear or a fence to fall over.

The compromise with this stock though is due to the more open makeup of the stock, less of the print is visible. This really dulls down any colors and you are not able to get any vibrancy on any colors because of this. We also avoid the issue of ink failing on this stock by using latex inks. With UV inks, as the stock ages, there is a risk of the ink coming off. Latex inks do not have this issue and have the added benefits of being more environmentally friendlier as well.

Shade Cloth

Shade Cloth has the benefit of being considered the ‘cheapest’ option of the fence banners range. It is often constructed of cotton or HDPE Mesh depending on the supplier. The print quality is decent as the knits are closer together.

Where the compromise is on this stock comes down to the type of print, finishing, and strength of the product. This type of stock can typically only be printed with less environmentally friendly solvent inks. This is not as safe as the latex inks that we use. This stock also comes pre-finished with buttonhole edging. This is nowhere near as strong as hemming and eyeletting which will cause banners to tear after a bit of wind exposure. As this stock is a closer knit it does not handle wind load like a more open weave mesh to does. This is why it is considered more of a short-term banner mesh panel option. At Mediapoint, we do not offer it because of these factors and recommend our customers to look at a more open weave mesh which is not too different in price point. But it provides a host of added benefits.

Polyester Mesh

As this stock is constructed with polyester, it is often considered as a fabric mesh. Typically it has a 115gsm weight, it is the lightest option out of the mesh fence panels material outlined in this post. This makes transporting this stock the easiest out of all of the options here. Due to the makeup of the threads, a lot of the print can be shown which makes this a fairly punchy print stock. This stock is often used for outdoor events.

As it is a fabric through, it can only be printed with a dye sublimation process. This is great for producing a punchy print but it is also only a short-term outdoor ink solution. Also as this is a fabric it needs to be sewn for the hem which is often a costlier process. Being a fabric as well it naturally will only hold up short-term outdoors.

If you have any queries about which stock is best for your customers mesh fence panels and fence banners, then have a chat to us if the above is not clear. Also don’t forget to checkout our pricing product to get instant online pricing about some of the options we offer from the above.

How To Grow Your Print Business

Posted on May 12, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

In this article, Jamie discusses his top tips for how to grow your print business.

We are constantly getting feedback from our customers and even our suppliers to how much we are growing. In the current market climate, it is not easy to grow your print business. But our formula over the last 13 years is below.

KNOW YOURSELF

The key thing we found which switched us from being just another print business to really surging, was knowing yourself. Several years ago, we realized our advantage was being a production house and most of our top customers were trade customers. So, we pivoted Mediapoint to be a trade-only printer.

GET LEAN IN THE RIGHT AREAS TO GROW YOUR PRINT BUSINESS

By knowing yourself it will allow you to get lean in 3 key areas which are your processes, people and products. By knowing your target area and your target customers you can tailor your setup towards them. It also allows you to focus and make decisions with a target market in mind.

PROCESSES

One of the biggest issues we see with a lot of our customers is they do not have time as they are working on unprofitable tasks. By knowing yourself you can drill down on your processes and cut anything out which is not relevant to your target market. When someone requests something outside of your processes you can say no to them as they are probably outside of your target market.

PEOPLE

By knowing yourself and having tight processes it makes it easier to bring in a good team. The reason being is your team will be given clear instructions as well as fewer areas to manage. One of the key issues a lot of print businesses face is being spread too thin and expecting a lot of their team.

PRODUCTS

With the above points working in synergy, it is important that the products that you offer, and the specifications reflect this. If you do not do this, your whole system will fall over. Also, by following the above system you can adequately price products knowing all of the true costs.

We use the above formula to cut a lot of waste and save a lot of time so we can give our print partners more margin. That is our distinct advantage. We have been refining the above for 13 years. Also, do you notice how in this post we have not talked about marketing and sales?

WORD OF MOUTH

Retaining your customers and getting customers via word of mouthis the first step you should get right before plastering the market. To grow your print business you need a solid base and reputation or else you will waste a lot of your marketing dollars. A lot of our customers that try to grow waste a lot of their budget in marketing as they do not have the points outlined above solid within their own business.

Our Secret To Hiring Print Staff

Posted on April 14, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

From what we hear from our trade partners, it seems that hiring print staff is one of the trickiest parts of running a print business. We know this from experience as well. From over 13 years of experience and having plenty of time to learn from each hire, we have developed our own way of doing this.

A bad hire will cost your business thousands of dollars. But a good hire will be worth a lot more to your business.

WE GET OVER 1000 PRODUCTION APPLICANTS A MONTH

Yes, you read that right!

You might think that getting 1000 applicants on Seek is a godsend. In reality it is like finding a needle in a haystack. We like using Seek as it has an in-built questionnaire feature which makes screening print staff more efficient.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR PRINT STAFF

Through lessons in the past with staff, we have a tighter view on the characteristics we look for when hiring staff. For us there are some basic screening questions we ask to ensure we are not wasting each other’s time such as:

Proximity & Do they have a license
Will this job be their primary focus or are they studying?
Do they want to work on their feet or behind a desk?

THE MEDIAPOINT PRINT STAFF DIFFERENCE

What makes the Mediapoint process special for hiring print staff is we are also looking for mental aptitude when hiring. We also do psychological testing. The key things we look for in a candidate are:

Can they follow a process?
Can they take instructions?
Do they like working at an efficient pace?

With our testing we can get a general idea of print staff candidates. The key think is we are looking for character over experience. As it leads to the next point…

IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW GOOD A CANDIDATE IS

If you do not have good training and processes behind an employee, they are doomed to fail. To be able to keep our quality and consistency up, we keep our products, equipment and processes simple. We can get a new candidate up to speed in weeks and not years. This allows us to scale quickly and rapidly.

Setting Up Custom Cut Shape, Crease & Scores on your Artwork

Posted on March 15, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

Please watch the above video on the process for setting up your artwork for custom cut shape, score or creases.

For a PDF version of this guide click HERE

Close Your Artwork With A Thru-Cut & Not a Trim Box

As soon as custom cut finishing steps are added to a job, you are required to close the size with a Thru-cut stroke and note a Trim Box.

For example if you were creating a standee with 2 faces cut out. For the finished size, we would require a Thru-cut stroke as per this image.

Stroke and Custom Cut Names

Please ensure your strokes are Spot colours only or else our flow will not detect them. They also need to be named:

Thru-cut – For custom shape cuts. Please ensure if you are doing any small cut-outs such as holes in the artwork, you also have an outer Thru-cut stroke as the trim box.

Crease – For any creasing on products such as Bollards. Please ensure that your crease does not extend past your outer Thru-cut.

Score – For any face scoring on products such as Toblerone Signs. Please ensure that your Score does not extend past your outer Thru-cut.

Custom Cut and Shape FAQs

Can my stroke be any colour?

Your stroke can be any colour except white, but what is more important to us is that it is a Spot colour and named exactly like the above. The colour the actual Spot Thru-cut stroke is, does not matter to us. Our flow will remove this if it detects it but know where to cut.

Can Mediapoint set up my artwork for me?

No, Mediapoint is 100% trade only. So we expect to get any artwork print ready and to our specs. It is the only way we can stay lean on our front end and give you more margin.

Can I supply the custom cut line in a separate file?

No, your artwork and Thru-cut need to be in the same file and imposed exactly where you want the cut to be.

Can I supply an EPS, AI or another file format?

We only accept PDF files so we will not accept another file format. This process means your file can go straight into our rip and minimize any potential issues.

Stop Competing On Price

Posted on February 15, 2022February 24, 2023 by mediapoint_admin

We often get asked by our customers, how they can convert more quotes on our products such as corflute and banners. Most people initially go down to price. But based on the data and trends we have seen; this is not necessarily the case.

What the Data Tells Us

From our top 20 customers, we have seen that they are all creating value in different ways. By doing this they are creating a more premium product they can charge more for. From the data it also tells us 2 clear things:

That our customers are using our system to get pricing quickly. When their customer requests a quote, they are not waiting on us to get back to them. They are getting the quote accurately through our IQ system and getting back to their customer in minutes.
These customers are in a niche and have developed a high level of trust with their target market. For example, they are in a certain market segment and they only do that sort of work. So, the reviews on their business are from target customers in that demographic. It creates a lot of trust with potential customers which they can charge a little more for.

Think About It on A Larger Scale

Typically, someone who needs print, it is not about the product. It is about solving a problem. They need the product by a certain date, or the print will be rendered useless. If they do not get it in time, then they have wasted the whole price on the spend.

By eliminating any potential stumbling blocks, you can nail the sale and take it outside of price.

What This Means For You

In your setup, it means you need to ensure you have a system which gets pricing out fast. It also means you need to narrow down and focus on your target market so you can be the go-to company in that niche.

If you want to chat and just get some feedback on how this applies to your business, feel free to get in touch.