Custom Ribbon Definitions: Part 3

Defining our business helps our customers to understand what we do.

While our FAQ pages contain many questions, we thought about getting down to the nitty-gritty for you. Here is part three of our definitions series. Find out more about how our business runs! While our Artwork Guide features most of this topic, there might still be a few unanswered questions.

HORIZONTAL VS VERTICAL RIBBONS

Our classic ribbons come in two different orientations. Both horizontal and vertical ribbons are useful for many different things. Attach these ribbons to a name badge with a simple adhesive strip located at the top of the ribbon.

Horizontal ribbons feature a width that is longer than the length of the ribbon. These ribbons are ideal for sales and promotions. They can also recognize accomplishments or feature a title or position.

Vertical ribbons feature a length that is longer than the width of the ribbon. These ribbons are perfect for making someone stand out. With the longer feature of this ribbon, graphics and sayings stand out for anyone to see.

IMAGE BLEED

This feature is only available on our full-color ribbons. A bleed means that the background colors of a design may extend off the edges of the ribbon. The design may bleed on any and all sides of the ribbon. However, because the ribbons are printed and cut from a continuous roll, ribbons with a background image that extends off the pinked edges (the zigzag edge cutting) may show the beginning of the repeated background on the tips of the pinking. To avoid this, design your background so that both pinked edges have the same color or pattern.

Do you have any further questions about these definitions?

There will be more articles coming with even more definitions! Please help us by letting us know what definitions you need. Are there specific things you just don’t quite understand? Reply with anything that you might need help with!

Happy Halloween from Coller Industries!

Trick-Or-Treat and Happy Halloween from Coller Industries!

Not only do we make and sell the best Halloween name tags, signs and ribbons, but we also know how to celebrate! Every year our company looks forward to our annual employee costume contest and potluck. And each year the costumes and food get better!

In past years employees have dressed as werewolves, cartoon characters and more. This year no two costumes were alike. And we had outstanding participation! From a gnome to a banana and even our own resident Forest Gump, the costumes were well chosen and planned out. Some of the costumes were incorporated to fit exactly to the person. Our social media manager came as a social butterfly and an employee named Rainbow came as Rainbow Brite! And, as always, we love to share our festivities with our customers. So, here are all of the costumes!

Thank you to those who participated, and congratulations to the winners!

Every employee cast their vote for their favorite costume. And, each winner received a stock place award ribbon for their efforts. The first place winner also received a gift card in celebration of their hard work!

The company potluck this year was a build-your-own taco bar. Employees participated by bringing taco toppings such as lettuce, cheese, olives, tomatoes and even jalapenos. We all had a choice of taco shells, tortillas and even taco bowls for a salad. Of course, there were sides such as healthy black beans, chocolate covered marshmallows that looked like Frankenstein’s Monster, homemade peanut butter cheesecake, and a wonderful red drink concoction that bubbled and fizzed. No one went hungry!

We also had a reverse trick-or-treat from our marketing department to all our employees. Treats were passed out to everyone, even a couple of visitors. Coller Industries had no shortage of fun and sweets this year!

Custom Ribbon Definitions: Part 2

Defining our business helps our customers to fully understand what we do.

While our FAQ pages contain many questions, we thought about getting down to the nitty-gritty for you. Here is part two of our definitions series. Find out more about how our business runs! While our Artwork Guide features most of this topic, there might still be a few unanswered questions.

Our artwork guide says the following:
Imprinted Ribbons require black and white, one color vector art. Full Color Ribbons may be created using vector art or high quality bitmap files (300 dpi minimum). High quality artwork is required for all processes. Unfortunately, we cannot consider faxes, photocopies, business cards, printed products or photos of any of the above to be print-ready artwork. We can quote most jobs by using such artwork, but we cannot use this art for production.

To help you understand better what we need for your artwork, here are the definitions to the files we accept for production.

Vector Artwork
For the best results, we recommend submitting all artwork as vector files (.eps, .ai,.cdr ) with all text converted to curves or outlines. Vector art means the computer mathematically plots the outline of each shape and applies a fill color. The computer knows exactly what shapes are in the image. If you zoom in on a vector file the colors remain clear and the edges are clean and well defined.

Bitmap Artwork
The quality of your printed ribbons depends on the quality of the artwork submitted. Bitmap art uses a grid of tiny squares of color (pixels) to create the image. The computer will not know what shape is in the image because it does not recognize color differences in pixels. This is also known as raster artwork. An image from the internet (usually a .jpg, .png, or .gif saved at a resolution of 72 dpi) that looks great on your monitor will not print well. When you zoom in on a low-quality bitmap image you will see squares, rough edges and uneven colors. You cannot improve the quality of the image simply by saving it with higher dpi settings. The image will have more dots per inch, but the quality will remain the same or even degrade further.

Color Matching
The best way to let us know what colors you expect is the Pantone Matching System (PMS). We make reasonable efforts to match these colors however, we do not offer exact color matches due to limitations of the production processes. Available materials limit the color of imprinted logos and surfaces. Variations in materials, printer ribbons, equipment, and environmental factors preclude any guarantee of color. If color matches are important, we recommend the purchase of a First Article; we may send a color sample in some circumstances. However, variations in materials, stamping foils, printer ribbons, equipment, and environmental factors preclude any guarantee of exact color consistency from lot to lot or even item to item within the same lot.

Do you have any further questions about these definitions?

Custom Ribbon Definitions: Part 1

Defining our business helps our customers to fully understand what we do.

While our FAQ pages are full of your questions, we thought we’d get down to the nitty-gritty for you. Here are some definitions of how our business runs. From what personalized ribbons actually are to all the fun and fabulous details of ordering, we want to make this process as easy as possible.

So, what are personalized or custom ribbons?

All personalized ribbons can be customized with logos, text and other designs. These are anything from ribbon rolls that are used to wrap presents or for decorations during a party to ribbons that are attached to a name tag or worn as a type of identifier. They include badge ribbons, classic ribbons, ribbon rolls and rosette ribbons.

Now let’s get some of the more technical definitions out of the way.

Need By Date

We often reference a need by date on our website when a customer is placing an order. This phrase might be confusing. A need by date is the exact date that a customer needs to have the product in hand. While we do our best to match everyone’s need by date, this date is not a guarantee.

Ribbon Titles
We often refer to ribbon titles for our pre-imprinted ribbons. A title is the word(s) that is imprinted on a ribbon. They are available as stock items on our website. Titles are words such as sponsor, president, staff, visitor or member. Each ribbon type we offer comes with varying available titles that can be found on the order pages. These ribbons are ready to ship the same day you place your order.

Custom Text
Most ribbons are also available with custom text. This means that instead of using pre-imprinted titles, you can provide your own text. This text can range from titles that you don’t see on the list to names or other messages. You can choose your own font and color to match your ribbon choice. Each of these ribbons can also be designed with or without a logo.

Die (not dye*)
A die is required for all imprinting on ribbons. These dies are engraved stamps for impressing a design or text onto a ribbon. (*Dye refers to the process of using a color to stain fabric or other material such as hair.) Using foils and a heat transfer process, your design or text is stamped directly onto a ribbon with a polymer or metal die. A polymer die is a less expensive way of imprinting simple designs. However, a metal die will always create a better imprint due to its ability to transfer heat more effectively.

Do you have any questions regarding these definitions?

There will be further articles with more definitions, but help us by letting us know what you need. How about anything of which you’re unsure? Please let us know what else you need help with as we’re here for all of your questions!

Customer Donations: Curry Senior Center

Providing customer donations is part of who we are.

From ribbons to name tags, Coller Industries is your go-to specialist for personal identification needs. While we do pride ourselves on our service and professionalism in producing these fantastic products, our main focus is to help you, our customers! And part of this is to donate what we can, whenever we can. These donations are truly something that helps us stand out from our competition.

This month we were able to help out a wonderful cause.

In the heart of San Francisco, Curry Senior Center, named after its namesake Dr. Francis J. Curry, has been a leader and a lifeline to seniors for nearly 40 years. Right in their own neighborhood, seniors can easily access a wide range of integrated services through Curry, from health care to housing and everything in between; it is comprehensive care in a single setting.

“Curry Senior Center’s Annual Gala (Helping Hands, Healing Hearts) is the single largest fund raising effort for the organization each year. This is due to taking a highly personalized, family-focused approach to our sponsors and donors. Part of that focus includes the use of name badge ribbons to highlight leadership roles and award winners at the gala. These lend an air of sophistication and importance not previously experienced until our use of Coller Industries’ highest quality of products.” says Tod Thorpe, Director of Development at Curry Senior Center.

“Our mission is to provide services to seniors that promote independent living while maintaining their dignity and self-esteem,” explains Thorpe.

Curry Senior Center is where more than 2,000 seniors, regardless of income or insurance, have access to top-notch health care as well as meals, housing, and social services in their own neighborhood. This helps meet seniors’ essential needs and lets them stay as active and socially connected as possible as they age.

Curry Senior Center received 62 of these badge ribbons. Badge ribbons can be printed with information to identify speakers, staff or an assortment of other functions during conferences and other meetings. The donated ribbons were all imprinted with different titles or awards to help the recipients stand out. Each of these ribbons can be fully personalized to meet any need.

“A ribbon may seem like a small thing but not when it makes our supporters feel special and cared for; that is priceless. Thanks to Coller Industries so much for your generosity!” expressed Thorpe.