If you are looking for custom printed full color catalogs, take a look below at some valuable information to help you become a wiser consumer.

First – What is a printed full color catalog?

Custom printed full color catalogs are multi-page documents that allow customers to view and purchase your products and/or services. Full color catalogs are great documents for complimenting other forms of businesses media like a website, a brochure, or a flyer. 

Full Color Printed Catalogs come in three standard sizes:

5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Catalog Printing
6 x 9 Catalog Printing
8-1/2 x 11 Catalog Printing

Second – Benefits of custom full color catalogs.
A custom printed full color catalog has numerous benefits, here are just a few:

• To acts as a constant representative of your business.
• To accompany other forms of communication, i.e. a website, or flyer, or brochure.
• To have constant access to products or services.
• To showcase your products or services in detail, like a sales kit.

Tip:  Research has shown that having a printed full color catalog of your products will generate 10%-20% more sales if combined with a website.
 
Whether it’s a simple folded or an elaborate 40 page full color catalog, allowing your customers a means of ordering your products or services in as many ways as possible is vital. 

Third - How Should I Design my full color catalog? 
Communication is the #1 goal of any design.  There are a number of things that can be included in a your design that will grab a reader’s attention.  Ask yourself these questions.

• How many pages will my full color catalog have? Are you going to have room to print the content and graphics you have decided upon?
• Are you going to print your catalog in full color?
• Have you thought about the paper you are going to print on? Most printed items look best on plain glossy paper with aqueous coating?
• How often will your full color catalog or booklet be distributed? Do you want to create template into which information can be plugged in each month?
• Will you provide graphics? Do you have graphics on file that you may be able to use?
• Will ordering information be included within your full color catalog? A separate brochure or flyer can be printed alongside your full color catalog or booklet to include this critical information.

Here are a few concepts that can give your custom printed full color catalog design a more dramatic feel and sharper look.

• Alignment - Most people unknowingly prefer symmetry.  They look for lines, shapes, circles and patterns.  Knowing this, make sure the images, graphics and text are designed to direct the most attention possible. 
• Parallelism – Parallelism, or repetition is achieved when throughout the document you keep the same feel and tone by using the same colors, fonts, and types of graphics or images; this will give your custom printed full color catalog a professional look and feel.

Fourth - What type of paper do I use for my full color catalog?
Don't forget to consider the performance characteristics needed when selecting a paper. While cost and look are important, strength can also play a determining factor.  Here are a few characteristics to consider when choosing paper:

• Surface strength – This measures the ability of a paper’s surface to resist ripping when ink is applied. When fibers flake off of the paper a coating blister forms and can produce holes in the ink coverage.
• Tear strength – This refers to the ability of a paper to resist tearing. 
• Bursting – Bursting measures the ability of a paper to withstand rupturing. This is important for packaging, bags and envelopes but not in full color catalog printing.
• Tensile strength - The extent that a paper can be stretched without breaking.

Fifth – Binding my printed full color catalog.

There are six types of standard stitching available for full color catalog binding: perfect binding, saddle-stitched binding, side-stitched binding, case binding, plastic comb binding, and three-ring binding.  Full color catalog Binding FAQ.   With these many different types of stitching available it can be a bit confusing.  Most printing companies are aware of what type of binding works best. If you have questions as to which binding is best for your full color catalog printing, just give us a call.

Custom Full Color Catalog Printing Services
You may do your full color catalog printing up to 48 pages on the 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 and 6 x 9 size full color catalogs. Up to 48 pages on the 8-1/2 x 11 printed full color catalog size. If your full color catalog printing requires a higher page count, just click on custom quote request. Full color catalog printing can be done with a full color cover and black ink only on the insides. Protective coating is available on the outside covers.

We've made it easy to get your color full color catalog printing quote. Just choose a few options and your online full color catalog printing quote is done.

Important Info for full color catalog submission
Full color catalog printing files must be submitted in a single page format all in one file. Please do not submit a separate file for each page. Please note that all pages in your file must be in the proper sequence required: outside front cover is page one, inside front cover is page two, etc.

Cover Options for Full Color Catalog Printing
Here are a few terms that you need to understand that may make a difference in the out come of your full color catalog printing project.

Self Cover vs Plus Cover
Full color catalog printing as a self cover means that the cover is printed on the same weight stock as the inside pages. Full color catalog printing as a plus cover means that the full color catalog cover is heavier than the inside pages. Your full color catalog printing can be done either way. The printing cost for plus cover full color catalog printing is a little higher due to the need to run a separate press sheet signature.

Binding Choices - Full Color Catalog Printing
There are generally (4) four binding methods used in color full color catalog printing.
 
*Full color catalog printing as a saddlestitched full color catalog printing project is folded in half and has a least 2 staples in it. Generally, most lower page count full color catalog printing projects will be saddlestitched.
*Full color catalog printing as Perfect Bound - When your full color catalog printing page count gets higher than 60 pages it’s time to consider perfect binding. A perfect bound full color catalog printing project has a square spine and the pages are glued in place.
*Full color catalog printing as Plastic Coil Binding- This form of binding is great for any page count full color catalog printing. The continuous plastic coil is available in a wide range of colors and sizes. The finished full color catalog will open up and lay flat and the plastic coil binding is very durable.
*Full color catalog printing as Wire-o-binding – This form of binding behaves much the same as plastic coil binding, except that metal wire is used instead of plastic.

The USA Printing Online web site offers only saddlestitching in the full color catalog printing options. But, we can do any of the above binding options. If you have any questions about binding any full color catalog printing project, please call us to discuss the options available.

Custom Full Color Catalog Printing
If you don’t see exactly what you need on the Instant Quote Calculator, just click on the “Custom Quote” link to fill out a quick quote request. This full color catalog printing quote request will be sent directly to our full color catalog printing estimator. USA Printing Online can quote any finished size full color catalog. Your Custom Quote request does not have to be full color catalog printing, you can specify PMS colors if that is your requirement.