Spotlight: Xerox
Tight deadlines. Tighter budgets. Is it any wonder that we designers keep going back to the same old bag of tricks for each new project?
Suppose, however, you could dramatically improve your work by making just a few simple changes?
Nothing very complex, nothing very expensive. But changes that would make your current clients happier, and get you noticed by new ones?
How?
It’s all about learning to think differently. And harnessing the power of the latest digital printing technology.
Why Cutting-Edge Technology Affects Every Designer
We’ve all been there. We hear about the most recent miracles of digital printing and roll our eyes thinking, ‘Fabulous but my clients will never give me the budget for this. I’m stuck designing 4-color postcards that no one’s ever going to read.’
And that’s the point.
While recent surveys show that consumers are more likely to read postcards than any other type of direct mail, and postcards have an average response rate of 4.4% compared to email’s measly 0.12%, we also know what it’s like to receive them.
If a postcard doesn’t grab our attention in the first 1-3 seconds, it’s going straight into recycling.
The same goes for brochures, business cards, invitations, you name it.
Preventing that instant trip to the bin is what the Xerox line of digital presses does so well.
The Extended–Gamut Revolution
Simply put, if you’ve seen a printed piece recently that really “pops” color-wise, chances are it’s because an additional color was added to the usual mix of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK).
Not simply as a “spot color,” mind you, but blended with the rest of those CMYK inks.
Take this example of a brochure (from Xerox’s amazing “Kaleidoscope of Possibilities” promo) that’s been enhanced by printing CMYK + Gold on the Xerox Iridesse Production Press:
Notice how the subtle addition of Gold throughout enhances the elegance of the interior design without overwhelming it?
And by adding Fluorescent Pink dry ink, this extended gamut color printing also allows you to match nearly every Pantone shade in a digital press run – something that’s crucial when you need to reproduce those all-important brand colors.
And while you can go super-high-end with digital printing, you can also be extremely subtle with it, too. Think watermarks, tone on tone, and more.
Not into subtle?
Fine.
Let’s get crazy!
Metallic Inks and More
Whether you want retina-searing fluorescents – like the “Kaleidoscope of Possibilities” cover, which actually seems to move as you do –
or merely ultra-vivid colors that leap off the page:
you can do it all with Xerox’s Beyond CMYK technology. And of course you can use Gold and Silver inks for that metallic shine that practically screams “luxury,” too.
All of which makes it perfect for:
- Packaging
- Invitations
- Business cards
- Direct mail
- Books and magazines
- Brochures
and more.
And because it’s digital printing, you can also:
- Add personalization to each and every piece in your print run
- Make those print runs as small as you like
- Expect speedy turnaround times
So Let’s Talk Budget
Yes, let’s.
While there are a number of factors to consider – type of media, area coverage of ink, degree of personalization – printers generally charge much less for “Beyond CMYK” effects than for more traditional enhancements such as Hot Foil Stamping and Embossing.
Some charge a setup fee along with a per-piece premium (e.g., $100 + $1 more per piece for Gold ink). Others add an additional percentage to the whole job.
Yet, when weighed against the increased attention a “Beyond CMYK” piece gets you, it easily pays for itself.
Hmmm…So How Do I Get Started?
Probably the best way is to beg, borrow or steal (or win!) the “Kaleidoscope of Possibilities” promo book mentioned earlier.
Inside you will not only find inspiring creations, but also “before and after” shots demonstrating how adding even a single colored ink can transform “Good” designs into “OMG” ones.
You can also find a whole host of resources at Xerox.com/Creative, including:
- File prep & design guides
- How-to Videos
- InDesign swatch palettes you can import to recreate some of the stunning colors you’ll find in the “Kaleidoscope” book
Then, when you’re finally ready to make your next project an “enhanced” one, you can find a print service provider in your area who has a Xerox Iridesse press right here.
Win Your Copy of the ‘Kaleidoscope of Possibilities’ Promo!
Enter to win 1 of 100 copies right now! Hurry, this contest ends June 5, 2025! (North American entries only, please.)
[SAMPLE REQUESTS ARE NOW CLOSED]
As a reminder, if you are a PRO member, you can get your copy for free in the PRO portal (click the button below). Not a PRO Member yet? Explore PRO Membership
PRO MEMBERS: GET YOUR COPY HERE!
