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!

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 2

The boring badge ribbon has proven functional at many professional gatherings. Keep this in mind when choosing badge ribbons as they are meant to improve the effectiveness of a name badge. The five previous tips were aimed to help decide which type of badge ribbon was the best for each ribbon project. Here are five more tips to help with the overall design of any badge ribbon.

TIP #6 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Choose a distinctive font.

The easiest way to drastically improve how your ribbon looks, and to keep it from being boring, is by using a nice font. There are many fonts available that will meet most any need. Keep in mind that most fonts will require a metal die.

Badge ribbon printing requires the use of dies, which are made to imprint onto the ribbons. A die is basically like a stamp as it presses a printing foil down on to the badge ribbon. Wherever the stamp touches the foil to the ribbon, the foil will stay printed, or dyed, onto the badge ribbon.

Many badge ribbons may be printed using a polymer die. Polymer dies are faster and less expensive, but they do have a few drawbacks. They are made from a softer material than metal dies; they also wear out quickly, so they can’t be used for large runs of the same ribbon; and they don’t hold detail well, so only thick, plain letters and shapes can be used. Small holes in the design, like the inside of a letter “a” or “e” may fill in because the die can’t press hard enough to ensure a clean impression.

A metal die, which is much stronger than the polymer die, can hold much more detail and will ensure a much cleaner imprint. Using a metal die no longer limits the choice of font; text may be made smaller or even add a logo or other image. Metal dies give much more freedom in the design of a badge ribbon and are well worth the additional cost. They can also be saved to use again and again.

TIP #7 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Have fun with your text.

Text doesn’t have to be boring like straight side-to-side or up-and-down. Depending on the badge ribbon chosen, the text can be set at an angle or even on a curve. This is a great trick to get longer words to fit on a narrower ribbon and doesn’t always require a metal die.

TIP #8 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Don’t limit yourself to one color.

For a better looking badge ribbon, use a combination of colors. A plain badge ribbon suddenly seems less boring when changes to a few elements are made. If the badge ribbon really needs to make an impression, try a Full Color Custom Ribbon. This badge ribbon will be printed in full color and has no limits to fonts or number of colors and no metal dies. You can even get a photograph printed on these badge ribbons.

TIP #9 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Plan the shape and size of your ribbon.

Each ribbon should take content and function into account when adjusting the length or shape. If there is extra empty space, make the ribbon smaller or request options for making the text fill it better. Each badge ribbon should fit the text comfortably and not be crowded or empty. Make the badge ribbon unique by replacing the pinked ends with a fishtail.

TIP #10 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Add a company logo.

Nothing spices up a badge ribbon like an image. Use a company logo or find a basic image that will set off the design on the ribbon; it will instantly increase the ribbon’s appeal. Remember, a metal die will be required.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a ribbon for that upcoming event, keep these 10 tips in mind and the planning stages should be a bit easier and more enjoyable.

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 1

The boring badge ribbon makes its debut at many business conventions, corporate retreats, or any number of other professional gatherings. One can usually find these badge ribbons attached to someone’s name badge or possibly just pinned onto someone’s shirt or jacket. The boring badge ribbon is meant to be functional in presenting a word or short phrase, usually in all capital letters and a very plain font. Please note that there is nothing wrong with this ribbon type if the purpose is to simply designate a particular person as a “Speaker” or any other title.

Badge ribbons that are going to be given out as prizes or promotions are ribbons that aim to get the viewer interested in asking about a particular topic, business or cause you are representing. These badge ribbons are meant for something more, but sometimes they look just as plain as the examples described above. It is this ribbon type that deserves a little extra planning to really perform in their function the best way possible.

TIP #1: Remember what medium you are working with.

You are printing on a ribbon not a brochure or flier. Your text should be concise and to the point.

TIP #2: Consider the badge ribbon size you are ordering.

A horizontal ribbon that is four inches wide can fit words like “promotional” or “team leader” and still be big enough to read from a short distance. But, if you’re getting a vertical ribbon that is only two inches wide, try to use shorter words.

TIP #3: Vertical text should be limited.

Vertical ribbons typically have printing running vertically stacked down the ribbon. Usually you can only get away with having one word like that; any more and it becomes hard to read.

TIP #4: When lots of text is acceptable.

There are promotional ribbons with entire poems that are used as bookmarks, ribbons with wedding details for favors, and keepsake ribbons from family reunions or church events. But, if you want your ribbon to say a lot, plan on having small letters and be prepared to order a metal die to be able to imprint the fine details that are required to have this small print.

TIP #5: Consider the tone of your words.

A corporate meeting would be a great setting for the boring badge ribbon with a simple ribbon saying “President” but, if you have a smaller or less formal meeting why not have a ribbon saying “Man In Charge” or “Big Cheese” instead?

Take some time to consider these five tips when choosing which badge ribbon is the best for your purpose. There will be five more tips to follow up after you make your choice to help solidify what you really need. These final tips will help you maximize your badge ribbons and promotional ribbons.

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*

Making the Most of Stackable Badge Ribbons

stackable badge ribbons with a reusable name badge

veritcle and horizontal stacked badge ribbons with a reusable name badge

The Benefits of Stacking Badge Ribbons

Each badge ribbon obtained from a conference or convention serves its purpose. So, what happens when they are all combined? And where do you put them all? Every badge ribbon is used as an identifier and as a visual stimulant for the wearer.

Badge ribbons are meant to make the wearer stand out from the crowd. They are also suggested as an effective way to make an initial introduction and break the ice for those attending a social meeting. These crowds can be found anywhere, but most badge ribbons are obtained from trade shows, conventions, conferences, meeting or other social functions.

Name badges are the best place to attach any badge ribbon. They provide an extension on the name/title of the wearer. The ribbons are made to be “stackable” so that the wear doesn’t have to pick and choose which ones to add to their name badges.

Each title can range from council member and president to greeter and sponsor. Personalized Ribbons offers an abundance of these stock badge ribbons, and each title comes in several choices of colors. And each title will help anyone stand out in any crowd.

It’s always fun thinking outside of the box and coming up with unique ways to personalize badge ribbons to meet the needs of any social function. Creative titles can still be custom ordered so that not everyone has to have an official title attached to their name badge.

Badge ribbons don’t just have to remain at professional functions though. They can be found at parties, weddings and other intimate or family events.

Fundraisers are also a common place to see badge ribbons. They are an excellent tool for identifying a cause or support group for each fundraiser. Choose a color, such as pink for breast cancer support or a rainbow ribbon for autism supporters, and then add a title or function for the wearer to attach to their name badge.

Badge ribbons are inexpensive and come in both horizontal and vertical designs and can be customized to meet any need for any function. Don’t limit yourself on these great personalizing tools. Even blank ribbons may be ordered to identify specific groups by a single color worn by each person.

Badge ribbons are an excellent way to break the ice and stop any awkward stares or uncomfortable moments when someone doesn’t know what to say or how to introduce themselves. Stacking personalized ribbons on name badges is an effective way to identify any role at these events.