Nine Ways to Customize a Three Ring Binder
It is not everyday that you are asked to Design a Custom Three Ring Binder for your company or a client. So, where do you start? Not a problem, this article reviews the design and material options for your consideration. As an added bonus, each option has an environmental review to help make important decisions about your eco-friendly binder and the relative environmental properties and recyclability.
Offset Printing | Lamination | UV Coating | Foil Stamping | Debossing | Flush Cut | Cloth | Spine Wrap | Die Cut
1. Offset Printing - Offset printing with full color graphics on the cover and liner is a very popular binder style. Design possibilities are endless with the combination of 4-color process and Pantone Matching (PMS) colors. It is possible to combine photographs, graphics, line art and logos to create a stunning informational marketing product. Offset printing maximizes the opportunity to impress the end user by allowing print to extend over the entire front, spine and back cover as well as the inside of the binder. As the binder is opened to the first page of contents, the inside liner provides a full landscape for adding additional marketing messages. As an added bonus, offset printing is also one of the most cost effective options for large volumes.
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Environmental Considerations: Offset printed binders are 100% recyclable along with other paper. Simply separate the steel rings from the binder cover and recycle accordingly. Corporate Image offers two styles of offset printed binders, Flush-cut and Turned-edge. The flush-cut binder is printed up to the edge of the cover and liner. However, the edges of the binder show raw board. The flush cut binder is made with up to 95% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. One of the components of the turned-edge binder is nylon, polypropylene or nylon lamination film. Lamination is inert and non-toxic. The turned-edge binder is recyclable with other paper. The lamination will get separated from the paper in the recycling process and be recycled itself.
2. Lamination - Lamination is a durable, protective film that extends the life of the binder and helps the graphics stand out. There are several types of lamination that help to customize your project. Each one has specific qualities that will enhance the look and feel of your project and each one is 100% recyclable along with standard paper recycling.
The most popular lamination is Natural Matte Polypropylene Lamination. Polypropylene film has been used in Europe for many years because it is silky smooth and non-reflective. The matte qualities of the film slightly mute the printed colors but most designers find this effect preferable. The second most popular film is Gloss Nylon Lamination. Gloss film is very clear and will not interfere with the printed colors. Gloss film is also reflective so it will glare in certain lighting. The third option is Semi-gloss Polyester Film. This option has some properties of both the Matte polypropylene film and the Gloss Film. Semi-gloss film is only slightly reflective and slightly matte yet it also slightly mutes the printed colors of a binder. (+ Click to view enlarged image)
Environmental Considerations - Lamination film adds durability to the printed binder with a minimum use of resources. Laminated binders are recyclable along with other paper. The lamination film is removed from the paper in the recycling process and it is recycled as plastic. Lamination is also inert and nontoxic. While the films are produced from petroleum, they are far more desirable than chlorine based plastic such as vinyl (PVC).
3. UV Coating – Spot Gloss UV coating on a custom three ring binder is a decorating option that highlights specific printed areas of the binder or that can be used as a design element on its own. Applied over Natural Matte Lamination film, the gloss UV creates a stunning contrast. It adds to the richness and quality of any printed project.
Environmental Considerations: The paper that is printed with UV can be recycled.
4. Foil Stamping – Generally, foil stamping is used to decorate surfaces that are difficult to offset print. For instance, cloth, binders board, or even lamination. Stamping foil comes in many colors and styles including Matte Pigmented Foil, Metallic Foil and Holographic Foil. Foil stamping adds a quality of elegance and craftsmanship that is reminiscent of bookbinding and fine packaging. (+ Click to view enlarged image)
Environmental Considerations: Paper and board that have been foil-stamped can be recycled along with paper products. Foils stamping also involves the use of a copper or brass stamping die. The die can be recycled.
5. Debossing - To create a tactile impression, debossing can be combined with printing or foil stamping to make your binder take on an added dimension. Debossing is when an image is pressed into the binders board so it lies below the surface forming a slight ridge around the image.
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Environmental Considerations - Debossing is very environmentally friendly because it does not use resources such as Foil or UV printing. Although debossing involves the use of a copper or brass stamping die, the Die can easily be recycled.
6. Flush Cut – When you “Flush Cut” a binder, you expose the raw, binders board at the edges. Whether the board is covered with paper or just left raw or naked, the overall esthetics suggests Ecological and Green. It should, because it is Green! Our binder board is made from 100% post-consumer waste paper fiber and is FSC certified. Decorate the flush cut binder with printed sheets or leave the binders board raw to be foil stamped or debossed. Rounded corners add to the binders’ overall aesthetic appeal. (+ Click to view enlarged image)
Environment Considerations: The Flush-cut binders are rated the most environmentally friendly binder option at Corporate Image. Flush cut binders are 100% recyclable. Depending on the style you choose, the binder could be made from virtually 100% post consumer fiber!
7. Cloth - An elegant and durable design option for your custom binder is cloth. Choose from a wide range of colors and cloth finishes. Choose coated cloth for a smooth, refined look or uncoated, loosely woven natural fibers for a more ecological presentation. Decorating a cloth binder is easy with debossing or foil stamping. Wrap the entire binder or simply add a spine wrap. Combine paper and cloth together for a truly stunning presentation.
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Environmental considerations: Cotton cloth is very durable and renewable. Cloth binders can outlast other options by two or three times. For heavy use, the cloth binder may be the best environmental option. On the other hand, cloth is not recyclable with paper and will have to be removed before the binders board can be recycled.
8. Spine Wrap - Create a spine wrap to give your binder the look of an elegant book. Using a square or round spine, you can enhance the binder through a wide variety of cover material options. Mix and match a cloth binder with a printed, laminated wrap…a printed cover with a cloth spine wrap…a bare board binder with a cloth or printed spine wrap…and many more combinations. (+ Click to view enlarged image)
9. Die Cut - Design a custom die-cut on the binders board to create a custom shape or add a window to allow your interior pages to show through.
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