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DELMARVA PRINTING PRESENTS
JUL
16
PRINTING IS OUR PASSION.
WELCOME TO TEN MINUTES OF GOOD NEWS AND FUN STUFF FROM YOUR FAVORITE PRINTER!
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A Message from Delmarva Printing
Lessons from the Office Microwave
 

There’s one universal truth in every workplace: the microwave is both a blessing and a battleground.

You’ve got the timer abusers. The “forgot-my-lunch-30-minutes-ago” crowd. And of course, the person who reheats fish like they’re conducting a social experiment.

But if you look past the smells and spills, that little machine actually teaches us a thing or two about business.

First, timing matters. Too short, and things fall flat. Too long, and everything burns. That’s true whether you’re pitching a new product or following up with a client.

Second, one setting doesn’t work for everything. What works for popcorn doesn’t work for leftover lasagna. The same goes for customers.

And finally, you can’t just walk away before the beep. Half-warmed ideas and abandoned initiatives leave others confused and progress stalled. Great work needs great follow-through.

Here’s the way I see it: Whether you’re cooking lunch or building a business, success depends on smart timing, personal attention, and the discipline to finish what you start.

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Idea of the Week
Enhance Your Print Designs: Recording and Saving Color Values for Consistency
WHY COLOR CONSISTENCY MATTERS

Creating a cohesive and visually appealing print design often hinges on the effective use of color. 

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Ensuring that your colors remain consistent across various projects and media is crucial. Recording and saving color values is a fundamental step that can help you achieve this consistency. Here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering this essential skill.

Why Color Consistency Matters

Color consistency is vital for brand identity and professional print design.

When you use consistent colors, your brand looks polished and trustworthy, which can significantly influence your audience's perception. Inconsistent colors, on the other hand, can make your materials look unprofessional and confuse your audience.

Understanding Color Values

Color values are numerical representations of colors that you can use across different digital and print platforms.

These values are expressed in various formats, including RGB, Hex, and CMYK. Understanding these formats and how to convert between them is essential for any designer.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue): This format is used primarily for digital designs. It represents colors through varying intensities of red, green, and blue light.

Hex (Hexadecimal): Often used in web design, Hex codes are six-digit representations of RGB values, making them perfect for online projects.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black): This format is used in print design. It represents colors through varying percentages of these four ink colors.

Using a Color Picker Tool

A color picker tool is helpful for accurately recording and saving color values.

These tools are included in most design software and are available online for free. A color picker allows you to select an area of an image and provides the exact color values for that area.

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To use a color picker tool, start by opening your design software or an online color picker tool. Next, upload the image from which you want to sample colors. Use the picker tool to click on the desired color area within the image, and then note the RGB, Hex, or CMYK values provided by the tool.

Creating and Saving a Color Palette

Once you have your color values, it’s time to create a palette.

A palette is a collection of colors you use consistently across your designs. Here’s how to create and save your color palette:

  1. Select Colors: Use the color picker tool to sample different colors from your image until you have a palette of three or more colors that work well together.
  2. Save Values: Record each color's RGB, Hex, or CMYK values. Most design software allows you to save these colors directly in your project file.
  3. Name Your Palette: Give your palette a name that relates to your project so it is easy to identify in the future.
  4. Store for Future Use: Save your palette in a central location, like a design library, so you can easily access it for future projects.

Practical Application: Ensuring Print Consistency

Always convert your RGB or Hex values to CMYK to ensure your colors print correctly.

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Print a test page to see how the colors look on paper. Colors often appear differently on screen than on paper. Adjust as necessary to match your desired outcome.

Next Steps for Consistent Design

Now that you understand the importance of recording and saving color values, start implementing this practice in your workflow.

Use color picker tools to create cohesive palettes and ensure your designs maintain color consistency across all platforms. This attention to detail will elevate your print projects and establish your expertise in creating visually stunning, professional designs.

See more great ideas like this!
Click here to visit the Delmarva Printing - Ideas Collection.
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Marketing Tip
Small Lists; Big Wins
YOU DON'T NEED A MILLION CONTACTS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

If you’ve ever looked at your customer list and thought, “Is this even enough for a campaign?” you’re not alone. But, good news! It’s not about list size. It’s about what you do with it.

Micro-targeted campaigns consistently outperform generic blasts. Why? Because people respond better when your message feels like it was made for them.

Here’s how to make a small list go further:

  • Segment by behavior or product type. Send different postcards to first-time buyers vs. long-time clients. They need different messages, and you already have the data.
  • Use personal details wisely. A campaign that includes someone’s name, location, or previous purchase can feel more like a conversation and less like advertising.
  • Create themed mini-campaigns. Got 35 gym owners? 18 boutique managers? Send each a print piece that speaks just to their industry.
  • Add a clear call to action. Don’t just tell, invite. Whether it’s “Book a consult,” “Try this sample,” or “Use this exclusive code,” give your audience a next step that feels easy and personal.

Want help turning a clean list into a custom campaign? Let us know—we’re experts at making print personal.

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Uncommon Product
Variable Data Stickers
WHEN ONE DESIGN ISN'T ENOUGH, GO VARIABLE

Imagine opening a package and seeing your name printed right on the sticker. It’s small, but it makes a big impression. That’s the power of variable data printing, and it’s not just for envelopes and postcards anymore—it works wonders on stickers too.

Variable data stickers let you customize individual pieces within a single print run. That means:

  • Different names, messages, or offers per sticker
  • Hyper-targeted promos by region, product, or customer segment
  • QR codes unique to each recipient, campaign, or landing page

Popular uses for variable data stickers include loyalty rewards or thank-you messages tailored to each buyer, event reminders or store details customized by location, and product packaging that speaks directly to individual customers.

Because stickers are tactile, visual, and versatile, adding personalization gives them even more sticking power (pun fully intended).

Ready to make your message stick? Ask us about custom variable sticker options for your next campaign.

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Tech Tip
Clean Your Contact List Like a Pro
FEWER BAD EMAILS = BETTER RESULTS

Before your next campaign hits the presses (or inbox), here’s a quick truth: dirty data drags everything down.

Whether you're sending postcards or emails, messy contact lists lead to wasted time and money. But with a little digital cleaning, your list can be sharper, more accurate, and more profitable.

Here are a few easy tools and tips to clean up your contact list:

  • Use a deduplication tool. In Excel or Google Sheets, try “Remove Duplicates” or use add-ons like Power Tools (Google) or Ablebits (Excel) to find and clean duplicates (even with slight name variations).
  • Fix funky capitalization. Apply the PROPER() function in Excel/Sheets to instantly change “jOHN dOE” to “John Doe.”
  • Validate emails before sending. Services like NeverBounce, ZeroBounce, or BriteVerify scan for outdated or misspelled addresses, so you don’t waste money mailing to dead ends.
  • Create a “clean list” rule. Before launching any campaign, set a quick checklist: no blanks, no dupes, no typos, no bounced addresses. It’s a 10-minute task that can save you hundreds.

Need help matching names to postcards or setting up variable data printing? We’d be glad to help your clean list make a bigger impact.

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Fun@Work

Spotlight Recipe

Quirky, complex, and always a standout—just like Steve Buscemi in any role.

Did You Know?

Pigeons: smarter and more self-aware than you think

Printing Quiz

If your printer mentions “widow,” what they really mean is…

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