Tips for Converting Envelopes

Designing

  • Communicate. Failing to communicate with all parties involved can result in your job not meeting its schedule, incurring extra costs or having to be redesigned.
  • The more complicated or unusual your design, the more important it is for you to communicate in the concept phase while design adjustments can still be made.
  • Use Premier’s digital die line. Indicate the location of the window(s) and the bleed areas. Avoid design concepts that call for an exact register of graphics across any envelope seam.
  • If you need to overprint multiple return addresses after converting, design your envelope so the address is on the back flap and not registered to the logo or copy on the face.
  • After your concept has been approved, send a mock up back to Premier and your mailing house and request sufficient time for Premier to approve a blue line proof before the printer puts ink to paper.
  • Discuss choice of stock. We can assist in selecting paper which will deliver your creative concept and which meets all the production requirements. For converting, you want a stock that will carry a lot of ink and not show through. We will also help to ensure proper grain direction in the paper, which is very important to the folding process.

Requesting a Quote

Please provide the following information:

  • The sheet size and finished envelope size.
  • The type of stock you will be printing on.
  • Specify full bleed or spot coverage.
  • Envelopes with non-standard flap lengths, including chisel-cut and wallet flaps, must be stated at the time of inquiry. Chisel-cut envelopes have +/-1/8” tolerance. These are special envelopes and will be priced accordingly.

Proceeding with an Order

  • Premier Envelope’s layout sheet must be used. Place the layout sheet in the sidelay and gripper edge of the stock. (Do not centre).
  • Prior to printing, please supply two bluelines of the full sheet size for approval, along with the original layout from Premier Envelope. We will ensure the envelopes are printed in the best possible position for die-cutting, best yield and manufacturing quality. One blueline will be cut, folded and returned with the approved blueline. Premier Envelope can not assume liability if bluelines are not supplied.
  • Envelopes with a full bleed must be printed with a 1/8” bleed off each affected edge of the blank, and cannot be printed within the gummed area. Bleeds at the score and fold lines have a tolerance of +/- 1/8”.
  • Die marks (small dots in the corner of the die) must be printed on all stock. Registry lines must also appear on all stock opposite the feed and jog edges. These marks must run off the sheet.
  • Extra stock is required for set-up. The percentage of set-up will vary on special size and stock manufacturing. Standard dies require 20% overs on orders of 1000 to 5000 and 10% on orders of 5000 or more. All make ready at your press can be marked “MAKE READY”. This helps provide a better yield.

Shipping

  • Please mark the feed and jog edges on the top sheet of the stock prior to wrapping.
  • Please use flat surfaced skids, as we lose bottom cuts if paper arrives creased or wrinkled.
  • All stock must be jogged and corner protectors applied before tightly shrink wrapping and banding skids for shipping.
  • Please enclose a packing slip with your printed sheet count. If you have more than one copy, please state this on your paperwork.

    • Thank you for your assistance, and helping us to ensure the quality of your envelopes. if you have any questions throughout this process, do not hesitate to give us a call.