The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) recently announced that public television airings of its video, Spotlight On: Paperboard Packaging, reached two thirds of PBS households across the nation. According to data from A.C. Nielsen, the world’s leading market information company, PBS affiliates broadcast the program over 1,000 times during the latter months of 2006 reaching 61% of all U.S. television households in more than 150 markets. The video highlighting the benefits of paperboard packaging was viewed by more than 4.7 million Americans. Overall, PBS affiliates broadcasting the program scheduled an average of seven airings each.

Spotlight On: Paperboard Packaging was produced by Trivue Entertainment in cooperation with the PPC. “We’re thrilled with the success of the program,” said PPC’s President Jerry Van de Water. “It’s an important part of our mission to educate the public about the economic and social benefits of packaging made from paper-based materials. The video brings out facts about use of trees for paper packaging that are not known by many – that trees are grown on tree farms, just like vegetables, for example, and that five tress are planted for every tree harvested for our products. The public can lose sight of the fact that paper-based packaging continues to improve on its status as one of the most highly recycled materials. We need to tell our story again and again to the widest possible audience. That’s why we are encouraging our member companies and others to make use of the video in their own community and customer relations activities.”

PPC has posted a copy of the five minute video for downloading on its website www.ppcnet.org (just go to http://www.ppcnet.org/TheIndustry/index.aspx and click on the link below “Paperboard Packaging - Making Our Lives Easier”). The video is also available for the general public on www.youtube.com, by typing in “paperboard packaging” in the search box. For anyone desiring a personal CD copy at no cost, please contact the Paperboard Packaging Council, 201 N Union Street, Suite 220, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314 or email Steven Smith at ssmith@ppcnet.org.

Understanding various production techniques and how the design can affect the final outcome of a project is very important to ensure the highest quality work at the most efficient cost. This segment is the first of a three-part series that will discuss areas of production where the design of a piece directly impacts cost, quality, and the overall success of the job.

Image Placement

When dealing with multiple passes of hot stamping foil, where the images are placed within the design is extremely important in determining the number of passes it will take to foil stamp the piece on press. This is one area in the design process where communication with the foil stamper could possibly save production time and money. A slight change in the placement of an image may save an entire pass on press.

Many variables come into play when deciding whether or not to run a job with multiple foil pulls:

• Press type
• Direction of feed
• Placement of images to be stamped and/or embossed
• Types of foils specified
• Type of substrate

However, as a general rule, to run multiple webs of foil, you will need at least one inch between images to allow for foil waste and die lock-up. The key here is to discuss your options with your foil stamper while still in the design process.

Also keep in mind that stamping fine-line, intricate images at the same time as ones requiring large, solid coverage can be a challenge, depending on the variables listed above. These types of designs may also require additional passes through the press – even if ample space is allotted between images. Again, communication with your foil stamper is key.