The presentation folder for Milestone Communities uses specialty paper and embossing to create a unique tactile experience.

Presentation Folder For

Milestone Communities

An interview with Randy Desjardins of Atlantic Digital Reproductions

Randy, please introduce yourself and tell us why you love print.

I’m a Print Solutions Specialist at Atlantic Digital in Nova Scotia. Six years ago, I found myself in the printing industry where I’ve developed a passion for helping small businesses get their message out to potential customers. 

Digital communication is very important but it doesn’t have the same longevity as print. I enjoy marrying the two mediums to help businesses amplify their marketing results. 

For example, you could run a digital campaign and then follow it up with a print piece in the mail. That digital ad will grab their attention for a few seconds. Then when a print piece arrives in the mail a few days later, it reinforces the messaging but with better staying power.

Tell us about a print asset you’ve produced that had great staying power.

This presentation folder for Milestone Communities uses subtle print techniques to create a unique experience.  

The beauty is in the subtle details. The cover is simple, featuring the Milestone Communities branding. The Milestone logo is embossed – meaning it’s raised up from the paper. Adding dimension to the folder. The paper has a unique leatherette texture which creates a very tactile experience. 

Inside, the pockets are rounded and embossing is used once again to add dimension. The Milestone flower is blind-embossed on the left-side pocket. This is called a blind-emboss because no ink is used to create the flower.  

Presentation folders commonly have pockets where brochures and other sales materials can be inserted. The Milestone Communities folder has a 4 page brochure built right in. You can see it’s stitched into the folder. This is useful when you have certain information that will need to go in every folder.

A blind-emboss of the Milestone flower on the inside left pocket.

How was the folder produced?

To start, this folder was printed on a 4-color offset press. 

Then, to create the unique shape of the folder – the rounded pockets – we created what’s called a die. A die is like a large metal cookie cutter that can be used to cut and score the paper in unique ways. This process is known as die-cutting.

Next was the embossing. We work with a local company for embossing. Similar to the die-cutting process, a metal die was created. This time with the flower and the Milestone Communities logo. The die was then pressed into the paper to create the emboss. 

The final step is assembly. Assembly was done manually by our team. The scores created during the die-cutting process make it easy to see how to fold and assemble each folder. The pockets were glued in place, and the 4-page brochure was saddle-stitched into the folder. 

What stands out the most to you about this presentation folder? 

My favourite part is the texture of the paper. It is a unique stock that had to be specially ordered from the paper mill. The grain of the paper looks like leather. I also enjoy the embossing. The tactile features are what makes this piece stand out for me.

What advice would you give to someone looking to produce a unique print piece with tactile elements?

The first step is to set a budget. 

The Milestone piece has many unique tactile features. Specialty paper, die-cutting, and the embossing. These may not be economical for every project. 

Start by incorporating one tactile feature. You could use a standard, smooth cover stock, and still add the embossing. Giving you some unique detail without breaking the bank.

My number one piece of advice is: don’t assume the artwork you use for your digital marketing will work for print. 

When you’re developing your logo, I recommend hiring a graphic designer who can create proper versions of your logo for different mediums. For print, you’ll need a vector logo file that can be scaled to any size without becoming pixelated or blurry. 

It’s good to have a single colour version of your logo, a two colour version, and a full colour version. Simple is better than something intricate with too many colours. 

If your logo is not properly set up for print it can lead to low quality printing, your logo needing to be recreated, and a lot of back and forth between the printer, a designer, and yourself to sort the issue out. Ensuring you have   proper logo files will save you time and money in the long run.

Is there anything else that you would like readers to know about print?

I truly believe in using all the tools at your disposal to market your business. Take time to think through your marketing strategy and the mediums that are available to you. 

Print offers a longevity that other mediums can’t replicate. And you can even personalize it! If you send someone a marketing piece with their name on it, they’re like “wow, somebody took the time to send me a physical piece with my name on it!”

You can connect with Randy and the team at Atlantic Digital Reproductions at atlanticdigital.ca.

If you’re ready to design print assets to surprise and delight your clients, Fill out the contact form to book a call.