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This article is reproduced from the February, 2006 issue of "PrintSavvy", our online marketing newsletter [subscribe me]

About Envelopes

At Savoirprint, we offer full-color printing for four standard size envelopes. The envelopes are printed on full size flat sheets and then converted. We also offer blank envelopes with some greeting cards and folded cards. (For one- or two-color printed envelopes, please contact us for pricing and turnaround.

Designing for Standard Size Envelopes

Since the size of the envelope must correspond with the final size of the piece that fits inside, it is often said that projects involving envelopes need to be "designed backwards."

In planning a project that will go inside an envelope, determine the envelope size you will use first, then size the item to fit. About 1/8" clearance on all four sides of the inside piece is recommended, but be sure to consider such factors as the weight of the stock being printed, how many items need to go into the envelope (for example, is there a reply card), etc.

Although there are envelopes to fit almost any size, many of these are specialty items; for budgetary (and postal) reasons, it often makes sense to plan for a standard envelope size, since these are readily available to printers at wholesale prices via their paper vendors.

Envelope Printing and Converting

Envelopes are manufactured from flat sheets on specialty equipment using steel dies which cut the sheets to the proper shape. The sheets are transferred to high-speed machines that affix glue to the seams, then fold and complete the envelope.

We print your artwork on flat sheets and then convert them as described above. This is a preferred printing method since all parts of your job can be printed using the same press technology, so we can achieve a superior color match. While color printing of blank envelopes can be done on special envelope presses, the color match from press to press will not be as good. Additionally, using our method, you can print on the envelope flap at no additional cost.

Envelopes at Savoirprint

On the Savoirprint website, we offer four printed envelope sizes, shown below. We also offer greeting cards and folding cards to fit within these:

A2 Envelope: (4.375 x 5.75") accommodates our 4 x 5.5" greeting cards.
A6 Envelope: (4.75 x 6.5") accommodates our 4.25 x 6" and 4.5 x 6.25" greeting cards.
A7 Envelope: (5.25 x 7.25") accommodates our 5 x 7" greeting cards.
#10 Envelope: (4.125 x 9.5") loosely fits standard letter size items folded twice to 8.5 x 3.66"; also ideal for 4 x 9" rack cards and 4 x 9" folding cards.

Envelope Production Notes

Please keep in mind when designing your envelope:

Bleeds are not recommended. Unlike our other print products where the paper outside the crop marks gets trimmed away, the envelope paper gets folded to the back side, so the ink printed beyond the edge of the front will show. Likewise, if your design gets too close to the edge of the front of the envelope, it may get slightly clipped and folded to the back.
Careful with borders. Like on all our products, we recommend at least 1/4" on all white borders. The expected tolerances of high speed folding machines means that the location of the fold can vary slightly from envelope to envelope. If a white border is too thin, this anticipated imperfection will be more obvious.
Allow extra time for turnaround. Plan ahead for envelope printing and allow for a ten-business day turnaround.