The "Paper Bag" Project: Making it work

A printer we know once commented that the "Paper Bag Project" is the most troublesome for pre-press production.

"You know what I mean," he said. "The customer brings in a paper bag of hand-written manuscripts, scraps of notes, rough sketches, a collection of photos and graphics, and tells us to 'do something nice' with it." We know, indeed. But unlike our printer friend, we excel in rewriting and editing, image processing, graphic design, and page layout composition.

There's nothing quite as rewarding as the pleasure our clients experience when their materials are transformed into a fine finished product.

Are you wasting time and money with materials in a paper bag? Take advantage of our 30+ years of experience with these tips for good project planning:

1. Know your marketing goals and the market you’re targeting.

2. Organize (sharp) copies of logos, photos, & other artwork before the project begins.

3. Provide your marketing consultant with details on your company’s history, products and services, previous brochures and advertising, and other pertinent information.

4. Most of us have a general idea of the “look & feel” we’re seeking for our marketing materials. Find samples of similar “looks” as a starting point.

5. Marketing is a team effort, but the fewer people you assign to review work products, the lower your fees will be (time is money).

6. Catch changes to copy, layout and other elements early in the draft process. “Author’s Alterations” (otherwise known as arbitrary changes and tinkering) to final proofs and bluelines are costly. (Charles Dickens died a pauper because of his notorious “editing” of printer’s proofs.)

7. Allow enough time for the project. Most graphic designers upcharge crash projects (although SiteLites does not). While rush jobs are a reality in business, haste makes waste (and breeds error).