If you’re a fan of giving or receiving custom calendars, then now is the time for you to think ahead­­ to your calendar design for 2020! Whether you are a photographer trying to showcase your work, a nonprofit raising money, or a business promoting your services, it is important to jump into the calendar design with a strategic plan.

When you create an aesthetic calendar, you are utilizing the custom calendar as a rare opportunity to have your brand in front of someone for an entire year. So how do you ensure you are seizing this opportunity? To get you started in the right direction, we have compiled some tips that will guide you through planning, designing, and ordering your custom online calendar. 

Tips for Planning Your Calendar Design

1. Choose a Theme and Stick to it

Consistency is key to a successful calendar. Think about your stand-out calendars from the past. Was it a nature photography calendar? A calendar full of cute puppies? Did it include business promotions?

Be sure to keep your audience in mind when selecting your theme as well. What type of photos will they want to look at for a whole year?

2. Photos are Key

If you are a photographer, then you have the advantage of showcasing your own work without having to search and pay for stock images. But plan ahead! If you’re going on a trip, come up with ideas beforehand for different photos and layouts that can be used as the monthly images in your 2020 calendar printing.

For the rest of us non-photographers, it is still crucial that your calendar includes vibrant, high resolution images. This will probably mean that you will have to search online and potentially buy the perfect image. Here are some valuable resources that will ensure you have sharp pictures.

• Unsplash: These are free, breathtaking images that are free to download at hi-res. However, it is recommended that you give due credit to the photographer if possible.
• Flickr: If you are using your calendar for promotional purposes, you must be sure to choose “All Creative Commons” under the “Any License” dropdown.
• Fotolia: You’ll have to buy your images from here, but they have tons of options for you to sift through (especially for puppies).
• Shutterstock: Whether you’re looking for landscapes, cities or animals, this site has a variety of images available for you to purchase.

Really, there are tons of websites out there, both paid and unpaid, that will have exactly what you need. For a more definitive list of these sites, click here.

3. Keep it Functional. 

For your business/promotional calendar, be sure to include which days your business will be closed or have obscure hours. For example, if your business will be closed on Labor Day, make note of that on the calendar grid.

Another useful element to add into your calendar are deadlines for your most popular seasonal products. For example, if you’re a clothing store that designs custom ugly sweaters for Christmas, you’ll want to put a reminder on your November grid for your customers to put in their custom order by a certain date to ensure they get their item by the holiday.

4. Include Promotions

A nice way to thank your customers is to utilize any extra space in the monthly grids by filling it with a promo code. This gives your customers more incentive to purchase from you and puts a positive light on your company.

Also, boldly mark the days you have big sales, such as Black Friday, Valentine’s Day, Labor Day, etc. so you can drive traffic to your store during those peak times.

To learn more about how you can get the most out of your fundraising calendar, click here.

Calendar Design Resources

Okay, now that you have your plan, how on earth do you execute the design? Luckily, we have a few design resources that will help you create the perfect calendar.

Free Online Photo Calendar Designer

We recently upgraded our online calendar designer, making it easier to design your calendar than ever! Our new design tool offers 3 binding types (saddle stitch, spiral & wire-o), 3 sizes to choose from (11” x 8.5”, 8.5” x 5.5” and 12” x 12”), as well as 2 grid options (Advertising vs. Generic).

Predesigned Calendar Grid Template Downloads

Have the Adobe design software (Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator)? Choose between one of our many free calendar template grid downloads to help jump start your design!

If you are starting a calendar project and would like to speak with an expert, feel free to give us a call at 800-995-1555. Ready to place your next calendar order? Visit our website to get started!

When it comes to printing, most people turn to what is familiar – their local Kinkos®, now called FedEx Office®. And when they search online, they are trying to find out some specific information on how much their printing needs will cost. But have you ever wondered why Kinkos® printing costs are SO expensive if you want more than one copy of that flyer your boss needs? This article helps you understand why they are so pricey and how you can save money on your printing needs!

What are Kinkos® Printing Costs?

Before we jump into pricing, have you decided which product you need printed? Some of our top products are Brochures and Flyers so for arguments sake, we want to show you our Brochure and Flyer prices vs FedEx Office®, so you can really understand their pricing.

Brochure Printing - Kinkos® vs. PrintingCenterUSA

After visiting the Kinkos® Brochure Printing page, you will see that their print specification options are very minimal. They only offer one size (8.5” x 11”) whereas other online printers, such as PrintingCenterUSA, have a number of available sizes ranging from 3.5” x 8.5” to 11” x 25.5”. After uploading your artwork and choosing the specs, you’ll see that the prices are ridiculous and border into crazy. (Don’t believe us? See the image on the right for a brochure printing price comparison). As you can see, even with the same specs selected, Kinkos® printing costs for 100 brochures is over 3 times higher than printing prices at PrintingCenterUSA!

Instant Brochure Pricing: 

Flyer Printing - Kinkos® vs. PrintingCenterUSA

Now say you’re on the market for some new flyers – again, online printers beat out Kinkos® Flyer Printing prices by a landslide. As shown in the image on the right, after uploading your artwork and choosing the product specifications, FedEx Kinkos® is not an affordable flyer printer choice. Even with the same product specifications selected at both printers, Kinkos® flyer printing costs are far higher than those of an online printing company. At PrintingCenterUSA, you can get 1,900 flyers for the same price as 100 flyers from Kinkos® (WOW!). Instant Flyer Pricing:

Why are Kinkos® Prices So Expensive?

The reason FedEx Office® is so expensive is because instead of existing as a trusted online printing company with a single location like us, they have about 2,000 locations nationwide. So basically, you pay extra to keep all those stores in business. You pay to stock those stores, you pay the staff, and you pay for all the equipment to keep each and every store running. Why not choose the #1 Rated Printing Company for your printing needs? Our single location means we have access to getting you the lowest price because we don’t overcharge you for operating costs.

We have hundreds of great reviews from our loyal customers, and we want to give you a great experience too!

Don’t Overpay, Order with Us Today!

Let us prove to you why our slogan is Fast, Easy and Affordable. Contact us today via email or call us at  for a custom quote. If you aren’t quite sure what you need, order a free sample packet of all our products so you can view all our high quality products. We also have online design tools and FREE templates to help you get started!

*Note: Our prices DO fluctuate throughout the year. This pricing is accurate for the time this article was posted.

First Off, What is a Zine?

Zine publications are a great format for anyone to share their thoughts, experiences, photos, artwork or interests, get them in front of an appreciative public and connect with other people with similar interests.

If you are just learning about zines, they are small-circulation independent publications with an endless list of themes from photography to flowers and from comics to science fiction. They cover niche subculture topics, generally outside of the mainstream and appeal to an alternative public. Zines are artistic, personal, political, cultural or experimental. You may have heard the word “fanzine” which is a non-official publication produced by ‘fans” of a cultural genre (art, music, film, literature).

Size tends to vary, but the most standard sizes are 8.5" x 11", 6" x 9" or 5.5" x 8.5" folded and stapled. Dimensions may be customized to suit your purpose, so let your creativity guide you! Page count varies from as few as 8 pages and up. The traditional binding process for zine printing is saddle stitching, which can accommodate a publication of up to 92 pages. Anything larger will need to be perfect bound. Instant Perfect Bound Pricing:  Instant Saddle Stitch Pricing:

Print High Quality Zines Every Time with These 5 Easy Tips

1. Begin by deciding on content. What would you like to express or share? Will you include photographs or artwork? Will the zine be published in color or take on a vintage style with black and white images? What type of text will be used for this project? What story do you want to tell and most importantly what about the cover? If you are publishing a photozine, the sequence will be of utmost importance since text will be sparse. This is where the fun begins!

2. Create a layout of your zine. To get started, either download our free zine templates, use our online design tool or use your own software. Get creative experimenting with different techniques and ideas. Sprinkle headings, descriptions or explanations throughout. Add color blocks, borders, special effects and make it your own. Once you are happy with the flow, print a black and white sample of your project and get an idea of how the printed version will look at this stage of the process.

3. Pick the perfect software program to design your Zine. Adobe products such as Illustrator or InDesign are a good choice or use free online products such as Canva. Adjustments to image size or placement that would negatively affect the printing of your zine will be made now. Most designers find they must move images or text to fine tune the layout and format your publication for printing. This is a very important step in the overall process.

4. Easy imposition. When working with PrintingCenterUSA there is no need to setup your pages for imposition. We will do it for you! Most online printers have software to automatically impose your files and setting up imposition can actually slow down your project with a commercial printing company. Imposition minimizes printing time by maximizing the number of pages per impression and reducing the cost of press time and materials meaning a savings for you!

5. The finalized version should be converted to PDF format, which we prefer to publish your freshly designed zine. You are now ready to place your order with us! If you have any questions, PrintingCenterUSA’s friendly customer service representatives can walk you through the process. Either give us a call at  or chat with us online.

Easy Online Order & Upload

Since you already know how many pages you need, just select the number of copies you would like to print and the type of paper weight and finish. You have a couple different options when selecting your paper. Text weight, which is a lighter brochure like paper, and cover weight, which is a cardstock paper, thicker & usually used as a cover to a nice zine product. Then, select gloss or matte paper based on your preferences. Coating options include UV coating to prevent scratching and to give the cover a professional, almost wet gloss look and feel. Click here to find more information about paper and options. You might also want to request paper samples before deciding.

Get an Instant Price, Upload Your Files and Place Your Order: 

What Binding Do You Want?

Choices for binding are also available and include saddle stitching or perfect binding. The traditional method for binding zines is saddle stitching which is a book binding tool using thin staples inserted into the spine of folded printed material and allows your booklet to lay flat. A zine publication with more than 92 pages will need to be bound with the perfect binding process. This process glues the pages and cover together at the spine and gives a sleek and professional look to thicker zine projects.

Get Zines Printed Fast

Once your order has been placed, we will provide you with a proof. Select either a hardcopy or a PDF proof which gives you one last opportunity to confirm that the placement, resolution, text, color, etc. is exactly as you want it. Once we receive your order and proof approval, in as little as 4-7 business days your zines will arrive! While you are waiting for your printed zines to show up, think about how you will distribute them. Share them with friends and family or explore the whole network of Zine Fests out there from Chicago to Houston and Los Angeles to New York, put on by independent creators and publishers to trade and celebrate zines. If you can attend one you will really get an idea of the popularity of zines and the diversity of styles and content as well as get some feedback on your creation.

Your first attempt at zine publishing might involve a learning curve, but the results will surprise you. Each time you will be inspired to create yet another. Congratulations! You have now joined the family of zinesters worldwide!

Many people don’t know where to start when it comes to catalog design. This daunting task is made simple when you follow these helpful tips. Don't get overwhelmed with all of the pages and information you want to include; instead start by outlining the goal of the catalog. Figure out what you need to accomplish there are different types such as a sales catalog, and informative piece, educational, a guide or a display catalog. Next, put yourself in the shoes of your audience. What would attract them, what information do they need, and what will keep them turning the pages. After gathering this information then start designing.

Do you have the look you want?

Don’t forget the design and  of your catalog is just as important as the information. It doesn’t matter how great your information is, if you have poor images and poor print quality, your audience may be disinterested and less likely to read.

1. Use engaging colors, images, and design elements that represent you or your company. 2. Stick to a simple font that is easy to read. Consider size, style, and color. 3. Use white space, and use your space wisely. Keep a good balance, don’t use too much or too little text or images. 4. Eliminate unnecessary elements or distractions. 5. Select the appropriate finished size and know how you will distribute: mailing, handing out, or hanging in a display…

6. Full color images with 300dpi or more resolution are perfect for catalogs.

7. Keep a consistent style and look throughout the entire document.

*Depending on the type of , you will need a reference to your website, an order form, table of contents, glossary, and an index.

PrintingCenterUSA can easily help you order a Catalog and have it shipped to your doorstep fast! We give you fast and free quotes, and have a knowledgeable staff and helpful customer service representatives who can help you get started. If you already have design software and just need help getting started, we also offer to help you start designing a beautiful catalog that people will always remember. We also have a  where you can drag and drop your images and make a stunning catalog without needing any of your own design software!

Now that you've seen the best way to showcase your products, !
Not sure if a catalog is right for your needs? Click here to see all of our printing options.

Perfect binding is a popular type of book binding you see on soft cover books such as paperback books and magazines. The internal pages are printed on both sides of text weight paper, then gathered together (collated) into a book, one on top of the other, in numbered page order. The cardstock cover of the perfect bound book is placed over and around the inside pages, attached along the binding edge by the application of a strong yet flexible PUR glue.

Instant Perfect Bound Pricing: 
Instant Saddle Stitch Pricing: 

Is Perfect Binding Right for Your Project?

Perfect Bound Booklets aren’t limited to authors who are printing books of 500+ pages. The minimum page requirement is 28 pages and plenty of businesses and organizations use this method on a variety of printing projects because of its highly professional appearance and relatively low cost, in both short runs and larger order quantities. Perfect bound binding is commonly used for a variety of publications, such as manuals, reports, catalogs, magazines, photo books and more.

We know that perfect bound books are a no-brainer when it comes to high page counts. With any booklet that contains more than 92 pages, perfect binding is definitely superior and highly recommended and is affordable. Instant Perfect Bound Pricing:

The primary benefits of perfect binding books are that they look professional and offer great visual appeal. Also, there is the option of placing content on the spine, such as an author, book title or any type of design. This is something that neither  or  binding offer. Perfect binding definitely produces a high quality and professional look that can’t be matched.

How to Set Up a Perfect Bound Book

Understanding the difference between the term “sheet” and “page” is key to correctly assessing your booklet’s final page count, which can in turn affect your quote, production time and more. For perfect bound booklet printing, you must have at least 28 pages, and up to 2” thick.

First, let’s start with a single sheet of paper. It has 2 sides – a front side and a back side. With perfect binding, one sheet of paper equals two pages (unlike ). If you are holding up a sheet of paper in front of you, you are looking at page 1. Flip the page over and you are now looking at page 2. 

For example, pick up a book and as you turn its pages, notice that each “page” has two sides (the front and back of one sheet of paper). Your printer will refer to each side as its own page. So each sheet within your book will be counted as two pages.

Get Started on Your Perfect Binding Project Today:
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The Perfect Binding Process

Now that you understand the difference between sheets and pages, you can easily give your print shop the correct page count when submitting your .

As shown below, if you take a closed book so that you are looking at its cover – that’s page 1. Open the cover and you will be looking at page 2 (left) and page 3 (right). Keep going until you close the book and are looking at the back cover. The back cover will count as your last page. All-in-all, make sure to count every page, including the cover, the back cover and the inside pages (counting any blank pages) for your total page count. 

Custom Perfect Bound Quote: 

Perfect Bound Book Design Tips

If you have decided that your printed project is going to be perfect bound, there are a few important design tips to keep in mind when it comes to your inside pages and cover design:

1. Don't Lose Yourself in the Gutter

Unlike a whose open pages lay flat, perfect bound books are glued at the spine and cannot lay completely open without breaking. During the binding process, an area of each page will disappear into the spine, also known as the gutter. Depending on how many pages are in the booklet, the gutter can take up between 1/4” – 3/8” of each page. It’s good practice to leave at least a quarter inch of safety margin space on the insides of each page. Be careful to keep note of which pages will be on the left or right side of your perfect bound book so you can place your safety margins on the correct side. Keep all text and any images that need to remain visible inside the safety margin so they don't get lost in the gutter.

2. Be Careful with Two-Page Spreads

If you decide that you want one image to be featured across two pages, keep in mind that the alignment of the photo where the pages meet together might not perfectly match up. When an image covers two pages, the gutter area will still obscure at least a quarter inch off of each side. It might seem like a small amount of space to worry about, but it can drastically affect the photo’s appearance. It helps to choose photos that won't be so obvious that there's a gap missing (for example, a person's face across 2 pages might be a lot more noticeable than a photo with less detail).

3. Determining the Width of the Spine

A unique feature of  is the ability to design the spine. You can keep it a solid color, add text or have one continuous image covering the front cover across to the back cover. Setting up your cover correctly is very important for perfect binding because the width of the spine needs to match exactly with the thickness of your book (which depends on the paper weight and number of pages you choose).

As soon as you have a final page count, give us a call at  and we can help you choose your paper weight and calculate the width of your book's spine.

PrintingCenterUSA is happy to answer any questions you have about perfect book binding or any of our full color digital printing services. Call us at  or send us an e-mail.