{"id":1392,"date":"2020-06-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.copyexpress.co.nz\/blog\/?p=1392"},"modified":"2020-07-01T23:42:15","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T23:42:15","slug":"automation-and-printing-making-custom-documents-the-easy-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.copyexpress.co.nz\/blog\/automation-and-printing-making-custom-documents-the-easy-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Automation and printing, making custom documents the easy way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the great advantages of the digital print technology we use, is that every page we print is generated on the fly by the printer so it can be unique. What\u2019s so amazing about that, you might be wondering, every home and office printer can do that. We would agree with you on that fact, but what you might not realise is that it can be used to do some pretty impressive tricks. With nothing more than a little bit of planning, a few prepared files, and a simple spreadsheet, you can generate anything from a mailing label to multi page booklets, each one having unique contents. We are going to talk about variable data document printing and how it can make your next print job easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is variable data printing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Variable Data Printing (from here on we will call it VDP) is the process where part or all of the item being printed is different to the ones before or after it. If you have used the process of mail merge for address labels, then you have used a basic form of VDP. What VDP can do with a printing company, such as us here at Copy Express, is set up multi part documents that seamlessly merge to unified whole but are unique to each person receiving it. It can also be used to simplify production of multiple variations of a document, such as having local branch details on a flyer, while still giving economies of scale for the overall printing costs. This data isn\u2019t just limited to text either, it can be graphics (such as id card photos) or whole sections of larger documents (include only the relevant chapters of an employee handbook for each department).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why would you use it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Simple, to make your job easier. Take the example of business cards for a large company. With one template that sets how the card looks, and a spreadsheet containing the appropriate information and quantities of cards needed for each person. The printer can then generate each card with the text correctly formatted and set up in the batches so it\u2019s printed and cut with the most efficient way possible. Want to do a mail out to your customers and offer deals based on their buying history. Then with a prepared set of templates, document parts, and a spreadsheet, the system will generate the text to flow seamlessly on the page and add in the appropriate specials based on the data supplied. Another advantage is the reduction of time spent preparing and approving any standard documents. A new staffer needs business cards, using a VDP template you just fill in the blanks of the sheet, upload it to the printer, and then they send back the finished cards. No proof approval needed as you know it will automatically format correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a \u2018how long is a piece of string\u2019 question. Simply put every job will have a different price based on what needs to be done. There are a few general factors on how much more it\u2019s going to cost you over the standard pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n