wewow.co.uk - Experts in CD/DVD Duplication, Replication and Eco-friendly Media Packaging

Product Spotlight- WowWallet with window (wedding)

This month our product spotlight is the WowWallet with Window (Wedding)

This is perfect for photographers wanting small quantites, and something that can be edited to suit each client.

The pack includes:

• Professionally printed disc, with your branding/contact details on.
• Wowwallet with window which is made out of white recycled board.
• A pack of blank pre die cut booklet sheets which YOU print as and when you need them, on your own printer so you can make each one individual to suit your clients needs.


Want more information?

Visit our website or call us on 01274 301410

 

Using QR codes to add value to a music CD release

Add interactive, bonus content to your CD or poster by using QR codes.  This post is part of a series by wewow, helping you to optimise your CD or poster artwork using interactive QR codes.

Maximise your CD artwork and packaging

If you’ve decided to avoid printing hundreds of CD booklets to accompany your CD packaging, perhaps because of budget or environmental concerns, you may find yourself struggle to fit all the information you want onto your CD and packaging.

This is where QR codes come into play; include a QR code on your CD artwork and your fans will be able to quickly scan the barcode and get access to bonus information about the CD and the band.  This might be lyrics for the CD tracks, tour dates or even a pre-composed tweet so that your fans start to spread the word!

Make the most of your gigs

Live music is an important opportunity for you to create new fans and get them hooked on your music.  There are a number of ways that you can use QR codes to encourage your fans to interact with your band at gigs.  By printing your QR code on large posters displayed around the venue you could;

• Link a QR code to song lyrics so that your new fans can sing along.
• Allow fans to buy your latest CD or download on the spot.
• Get fans to tweet about how good the gig was!

These are just a few suggestions as to how QR codes can be used to create new fans, get your music heard and add value to your CD releases and gigs.  All you really need is a bit of creativity and the possibilities for using QR codes will be endless!

If you need a helping hand adding QR codes to your CD artwork, CD packaging or posters contact wewow and we will be happy to help with QR code generation and artwork placement.

Approving artwork for CD, DVD & packaging print

Approving artwork for CD/DVD printing, paper parts and packaging is vital to ensure that the finished product is of a professional standard.  wewow provide digital PDF proofs as standard and can also supply cromalin/wet proofs upon request.  Digital and/or wet proofs should be checked thoroughly by clients before approval is given so we have compiled a short checklist to guide you through the process. 

You should be confident that;

Text

1. The correct fonts are displayed on proofs.
2. Text is properly aligned.
3. There are no spelling/grammatical errors.

Colour
Please be aware that PDF proofs are not an accurate reflection of colour as digital proofs are displayed in RGB colour on a computer monitor.  Please request cromalin/wet proofs if you concerned about colour output (this may be chargeable).

1. Spot pantone colours are stated correctly.
2. For CD/DVD print a white or silver based should be specified on the proof.
   A silver base will generally be indicated by a 2^nd page on the PDF.
3. Matt or gloss finishes should be specified on proofs, where applicable.
4. PDF proofs should be checked with overprint preview switched on.

Layout

1. All images & text are displayed and placed correctly.
2. Artwork is aligned to tick marks.
3. Text and logos are a minimum of 3mm away from the trim line.
4. Page numbers are correct & you are confident that pages are laid out in the correct order – particularly if the artwork is set up in printer’s pairs.

wewow’s expert reprographics team are on hand to offer artwork guidance so please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or concerns.

Should I choose a matt or a gloss laminate to finish my CD/DVD packaging?

Many clients choose to have a lamination applied to their card CD & DVD packaging, producing a matt or gloss effect and sealing the print in order to avoid ‘cracking.’  As the picture above demonstrates, the laminate produces a professional and attractive finish but the colour will vary between matt laminated and gloss laminated packages.

 

Why apply a laminate to CD or DVD packaging?

Matt or gloss lamination is the best way to prevent the print on your packaging from cracking along the fold lines.  The added benefit is that a matt or gloss effect can be created, added to the overall look and feel of the CD or DVD packaging.

How eco-friendly is lamination?

Whilst a laminate adds a professional finish to CD or DVD packaging, unfortunately it means that the card based packaging will not be recyclable and the carbon emissions of the lamination process are also a factor to consider.

If you want your CD or DVD packaging to be recyclable and have a gloss finish then ask us about our specialist paper board stock – we have a number of glossy (eco-friendly) paper stocks which can be used to produce your eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging.

 

What do you need before starting a CD or DVD duplication project?

So you’re ready for place your CD or DVD duplication order.  Here’s a quick check-list to help you prepare all the parts that your CD and DVD duplication supplier will need in order to start producing your order.

• Master disc
  Check your master CD/DVD thoroughly and make sure it is set up exactly how you want your duplicated CDs to be.  Your CD/DVD duplicator will make exact copies of the master disc so you must make sure that it runs smoothly and works on all the relevant media players.
  
  
• Artwork
  Thorough guidance on how to set your CD, DVD and packaging artwork up can be found on our website and in previous blog posts but here are a few pointers:
  
  Request artwork templates from your supplier and any other guidelines they may have – every supplier has slightly different specifications so its important to use your current suppliers templates to avoid having to amend your artwork at a later stage.
  
  Check your CD/DVD artwork thoroughly before sending it to print, including checking for spelling mistakes.
  
  It’s always a good idea to print out your artwork and make a quick mock-up of any packaging and paper parts you are ordering, to ensure that the design is laid out as you want it.
  
  
• Payment
  Ask your CD/DVD duplication company what their payment terms are and ensure that you’re happy with these terms before going ahead.
  If you are a brand new customer then they may ask for 50% payment before production starts and most suppliers ask for full payment prior to dispatch so be sure to agree this with your duplication company before placing an order.

Having submitted your CD/DVD master disc, artwork and payment to your supplier you can expect to receive digital proofs and confirmation of an expected delivery date.  Then sit back and wait for your finished discs to arrive! :-)

Designing Artwork for CD & DVD Projects – Outlining Fonts

Our design team often get asked how to outline or embed fonts on artwork for CD and DVD printing and why this step in the artwork preparation is necessary.  Here is a quick step by step guide to make your life that bit easier:

Guide for Adobe Illustrator:

1. Open up your artwork in Adobe Illustrator and select all (Ctrl+A).
2. Select Type from the menu bar and Create Outlines (Shift+Ctrl+O)

Guide for Adobe Photoshop:

1. Open up your artwork in Adobe Photoshop and make sure your template layer is hidden.
2. Select Layer from the menu bar and Convert to Shape

Alternatively, you can save your artwork as a .jpeg file.

I sent a PDF document so why do the fonts need to be embedded?

Our pre-production process means that all artwork is opened up in Adobe Illustrator and set up for print or for the production of screens.  If fonts have not be outlined or embedded and we do not have the font you have used then the text will revert to our default font.  By outlining/embedding the fonts or supplying a flattened image, your original design will be preserved and the artwork will be printed exactly how you intended.

Go for Green with Wewow's Eco-friendly Printing

When producing an eco-friendly CD or DVD project, it is important to assess every aspect of the production process.  The good news is that wewow have done the hard work for you by designing packaging solutions so that every aspect of the package is as green as possible.

 

The printing of a CD or DVD packaging solution is sometimes overlooked as the emphasis is often on material and design.  However, wewow are committed to using vegetable based inks to produce all of their packaging products.  Not only do these inks draw upon natural and sustainable sources – vegetables – they massively reduce the amount of harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds), in comparison with petroleum based inks.

 

This autumn wewow have also introduced alcohol-free printing and their unique packaging solutions will now be printed on a completely alcohol free printer or on a printer which uses less than 5% (the average on most presses is 25%).  As with vegetable based inks, alcohol-free printing reduces the VOCs released into the atmosphere and it actually produces higher quality results, so you will find that the finished print has brighter and cleaner colours.

 

For more information, please contact us today on 01274 301410 or email us at info@wewow.co.uk

Professional CD and DVD Printing Options

Gone are the days of sticking printed labels onto discs.  Quality CD/DVD duplication and replication companies now print directly onto the face of CDs and DVDs with a range of high-quality solutions available for projects of varying size.

Inkjet Print

Inkjet-print technology is now so advanced that professional results can be produced with ease and at a low cost for short-run projects.  CMYK ink is laid onto CD-R and DVD-R discs which are coated specifically to allow for the absorption of the ink.  High standard printable discs are available but budget discs can also be used if necessary as both produce professional results.  For large volume jobs, a more cost-effective option is to opt for silk screen or lithographic print.

  

Silk-Screen Print

  

For large volume projects, generally those above 500 units, silk-screen is one of the most cost-effective print methods and produces visually stunning results.  Each individual colour, up to 5 being printed in total, is applied using a separate film.  For designs that utilize large areas of block colour, silk-screen is the ideal solution as spot/pantone colours can be applied and produce glossy, solid results.  Pantone colours also allow for an exact colour match.

  

Lithographic Offset Print

  

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black) are printed onto the disc using rollers.  Smaller text, detailed photographic images and gradients are printed much more effectively with this method.  Lithographic print is available at 150-175lpi (lines per inch), in contrast to silk screen which is usually at 85-100lpi.  Both methods are industry standard.

  

wewow always advise customers on the most appropriate print option for their project and are on hand to provide explanations and guidance of the various print options that are available.

Happy Birthday…wewow turns 5!

On 18^th June, wewow celebrated its 5^th birthday!  Here at the wow offices we celebrated with fancy dress and a special lunch.  Of course, we used bio-degradable plates, cutlery and cups so that our celebrations were eco-friendly!

Over the 5 years wewow has been trading there have been a lot of developments and exciting changes…having established itself as a leading media packaging supplier, wewow moved into CD/DVD replication and duplication and built a name for itself as a top quality supplier with a reputation for excellent customer service.

In recent years, wewow has developed its own range of bespoke, eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging including; wowPak, WowWallet and the recent addition of the windowed WowWallet.

Now going into our 6^th year we are looking forward to developing our unique range of environmentally friendly packaging and aim to continue promoting green issues throughout the optical media industry.

 

World Environment Day

As World Environment Day 2009 is on 5^th June, we have decided to zoom in on some of the environmental issues surrounding the optical media industry.  This month, we will be publishing a series of blogs offering practical advice and guidance on how to make your media project eco-friendly.

  

CD/DVD packaging is coming under close scrutiny at the moment as the industry looks to improve on the impact its products have upon the environment.  The question is what should customers look for when selecting environmentally-friendly packaging?

  

The best way to explore the various eco-friendly options that are available is to deal with a supplier who is leading the way with environmentally friendly media packaging.  Not only will they be experts in this area and able to offer you lots of information and guidance, they won’t be afraid to try something new.  This area of the industry is growing quickly and eco-friendly media packaging experts are constantly researching new eco-friendly options and packaging designs.

  

wewow have been keen to take the lead in reducing the industries carbon footprint by developing a range of eco-friendly packaging options as alternatives to the traditional plastic based products.  The wowPak set the ball rolling as wewow’s first packaging option to be manufactured entirely from FSC accredited board, meaning that the wowPak is made only from sustainable sources.  The plastic tray was replaced by the unique pop up compartment which securely holds the disc in place and the entire CD/DVD pack can be printed with vegetable based inks.

  

Following the success of wowPak, wewow have gone on to develop the WowWallet, which has become one of the most popular developments within the industry this year.  Similar to wowPak, WowWallet is made from FSC accredited paperboard, printed with vegetable based inks and there is not a plastic tray in sight.  In order to reduce the products carbon emissions further, wewow have introduced an option to finish the WowWallet with a bio-degradable laminate and the wallet can be secured with bio-degradable shrink wrap.

  

wewow are dedicated to developing their range of eco-friendly CD & DVD packaging and are set to expand the range in the coming months.  In our next blog entry we will focus on the benefits of using eco-friendly packaging in comparison to traditional plastic packages.