How do I choose the right Paper Cover?

Companies all over the world use binding machines to bundle documents, reports presentations and proposals. These machines allow you to give your deliverables a professional look that is sure to impress your clients or your boss. However, in order to give your documents the professional look that you desire you will need to choose a binding cover that compliments your document. Of all the choices available in binding covers, more companies choose paper covers than any other. Yet, choosing a paper binding cover isn’t as simple as it might seem. Here are five things to consider when choosing binding covers for your reports:

1.) What color do you need? While color may not seem like an important consideration, it definitely is. Your cover is the first thing people will notice about your document so it’s crucial to choose the right color. Depending on the contents of the document, you may choose something bright and eye-catching or something more toned down – it depends on the image you want to project. A good way to pick a color is by looking at your company’s logo and selecting a hue that enhances it. This can help people remember your company more.

2.) What’s your ideal paper weight? One of the reasons why you need a cover is the protect the pages of your document. Thus, it makes sense to pick supplies that are thick enough to offer some amount of protection. The weight for card stock varies a fair bit with the thickest stock having a 17 point rating. Generally, thicker is better unless you anticipate needing to run things through a printer or photocopier. If that’s the case, thinner stock is better because your machine will be better equipped to handle it.

3.) What finish are you interested in? Something that’s great about paper covers is that they’re available in different finishes. Here are a few popular options to consider:

  1. Metallic. If your document calls for an elegant appearance, a metallic cover is your best bet. Generally speaking, these materials are made out of heavy stocks so they’re a good choice if you need something durable.

  2. Twill. One of the best choices for a book that needs to look professional is a twill cover. Each one of these items is embossed so they have a great texture that will make your document stand out.

  3. Regency Leatherette. Regency leatherette covers are more durable materials you can use for when your work needs some extra protection.

  4. Linen. If you like the way linen looks, then you may want to use linen covers the next time you put together your documents.

  5. Touche. Finally, if you want something that’s truly different, a touche cover is a terrific choice. These materials are incredibly soft and make handling your documents a unique experience.

4.) What size do you want? Size is very important as you can probably imagine. It’s important to select covers that will give your documents adequate protection. If you’ve decided to use index tabs in your document, the covers you choose should be a bit larger than the size of your paper. That’s so the index tabs will be covered up. Likewise, if you want rounded corners, you should choose supplies that are a bit larger so your document is covered.

5.) Do you need them customized? Another important consideration is whether you need customized covers. Some of the customizations include foil printing (great for titles and logos), windows (to show off your name and title), and offset printing (terrific for full-color graphics). Although customized supplies aren’t usually available at a moment’s notice, the wait is worth it and you’re likely to end up with documents that demand to be read.

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