Journal
Practical notes on specifying, proofing and ordering print, written for the people who sign off on it.
The journal is where we write down what we know: the sizes, stocks, wording and details that come up again and again on real estate, legal, corporate and development print. Each piece is practical, specific and checked against its sources.
Latest notes
Showing 34 articles
- Property development
Fence mesh banner printing: mesh vs PVC on temporary fencing
How to specify fence mesh banners for temporary site fencing: mesh vs PVC, wind load and porosity, panel sizes, eyelets, cable ties, safety and lifespan. · 6 min read - Corporate
Saddle stitch vs perfect binding: choosing a booklet binding
Saddle stitch, perfect binding, PUR, wire-o and section sewn compared: page limits, creep, spine width and lay-flat, and which suits reports and prospectuses. · 6 min read - Corporate
Pull-up banner design: viewing zones, type sizes and file setup
Design a pull-up banner that reads across a room: 850 x 2100 vs 850 x 2000 layouts, type sizes for distance, the base dead zone, materials and file setup. · 7 min read - Paper and finishes
Paper weight (gsm) guide: what the numbers mean for cards, letterheads and brochures
What gsm means, why caliper matters as much as weight, typical weights for cards, letterheads, brochures and postcards, and why 450gsm feels so unlike 350gsm. · 6 min read - Corporate
Conference stand checklist: what to print, when, and venue rules
A conference stand checklist for corporate events: what to print, a working timeline, freight to venue delivery windows, and venue rules on signage and fire. · 7 min read - Corporate
Annual report printing: a planning guide from page count to mail-out
How to plan a printed annual report: page counts in multiples of four, cover and text stocks, binding, finishing, proof rounds, quantities and mailing. · 7 min read - Property development
Display suite signage: a print checklist for a development launch
A practical checklist for display suite signage and print: hoardings, site signs, foam PVC boards, posters, brochures, price lists, folders and accessible signs. · 5 min read - Corporate
Do companies still print annual reports? Australian requirements explained
When Australian companies and charities must send annual reports, when members can ask for a hard copy since the 2022 changes, and who still prints and why. · 6 min read - Real estate
Real estate rebrand: how to roll out new print and signboards across branches
A sequenced plan for a real estate rebrand or franchise switch: print audit, brand masters, signboard changeover, agent stationery, staged delivery and budget. · 6 min read - Paper and finishes
Cotton paper vs coated paper: how each looks, feels and takes ink
Cotton, uncoated and coated papers compared: how ink sits on each, colour, writability, soft-touch laminate, fingerprints and reading green claims. · 6 min read - Working with print
How to write a print brief (with a copyable template)
What to put in a print brief: purpose, audience, quantity, specs, in-hand date, delivery addresses, files, approvals and budget, with a template you can copy. · 6 min read - Working with print
Print management services for multi-site businesses: a practical guide
What print management means for a business with 5 to 50 branches: approved masters, brand control, reorders, storage, split delivery and the questions to ask. · 7 min read - Legal and professional
Letterhead paper weight: 90, 100 or 120gsm, and when cotton makes sense
How to choose letterhead paper weight: 90, 100 or 120gsm, laser and inkjet use, cotton and watermarked stocks, envelopes and Australia Post letter limits. · 6 min read - Property development
Off the plan marketing materials: a print checklist from launch to settlement
A checklist for off the plan marketing materials from launch to settlement: hoardings, suite boards, brochures, price lists, floor plans and contract packs. · 7 min read - Real estate
Real estate signboard cost: what a board price includes, and how to compare quotes
What a real estate signboard price usually covers, from print and frame to install, removal and stickers, plus hire vs buy and comparing quotes per listing. · 7 min read - Legal and professional
Presentation folders printing: a guide to construction, board and finish
How A4 presentation folders are built: pockets, glued or locked construction, capacity, card slits, board weight, laminate and foil, quantities and storage. · 6 min read - Real estate
Real estate sign rules in WA, SA, the ACT, Tasmania and the NT
Who regulates real estate signs in WA, SA, the ACT, Tasmania and the NT, which planning instruments apply, and what to check before a board goes up. · 5 min read - Legal and professional
Law firm stationery: the anatomy of a practice suite
What goes into a law firm stationery suite, from letterhead and continuation sheets to DL, C5 and C4 envelopes and folders, plus quantities and reorders. · 7 min read - Real estate
Corflute vs aluminium signs: choosing a signboard material
Corflute, aluminium composite (ACM) and foam PVC compared on weather, reuse, frames, laminates and cost, and when each suits listings, prestige or site signage. · 6 min read - Legal and professional
Can you put foil letterhead through a laser printer? What survives the fuser
Which letterhead finishes survive an office laser printer and which don't: foil, thermography, spot UV, raised gloss and coatings, plus inkjet and testing. · 8 min read - Real estate
Real estate brochure printing: formats, stock and proof checks for a listing
How to plan a listing brochure: A3, A4 and DL formats, paper weight, cover image, floor plans, copy order, quantities, proof checks and print timing. · 7 min read - Property development
Hoarding signage regulations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
How hoarding permits, artwork rules and advertising limits differ across the City of Sydney, City of Melbourne and Brisbane, with a cross-city comparison table. · 7 min read - Paper and finishes
Pantone colour matching in print: spot vs CMYK, C vs U, and keeping brand colours consistent
How Pantone colour matching works in print: spot vs CMYK, C vs U, why brand colours shift on uncoated stock, proof options and consistency across suppliers. · 6 min read - Real estate
Open home checklist: the print an agency needs, and when to order it
A practical open home checklist for agencies: brochures, A-frames, board riders, sign-in sheets and privacy, DL cards, magnets, quantities and print timing. · 6 min read - Real estate
Real estate advertising rules in Australia: what your print must and must not say
Real estate advertising rules for printed property marketing in NSW, Victoria and Queensland: agent details, price wording, ACL, photo editing and a proof list. · 6 min read - Legal and professional
Accountant letterhead requirements: TPB, professional bodies and scheme lines
What an Australian accounting practice should check on its letterhead: TPB registration and symbol, CA ANZ and CPA designations, scheme line and AFSL. · 6 min read - Property development
Construction site signage requirements in Australia, state by state
The signs a construction site must display: principal contractor details under WHS laws, NSW certifier signs, Victorian permit details and AS 1319 safety signs. · 6 min read - Working with print
How to check a print proof: a 12-point checklist from the client's side
How to check a print proof: what only you can check, what a PDF proof can and can't show, when to order a posted proof, and what approving a proof means. · 7 min read - Paper and finishes
Letterpress vs foil vs spot UV: how each finish is made, and when to choose it
Letterpress, hot foil, spot UV and raised tactile gloss compared: how each is made, which stocks suit it, minimum line weights, set-up costs and turnaround. · 7 min read - Legal and professional
Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation: where the line goes
Where the professional standards scheme disclosure must appear, its exact wording and size, and what law firm letterhead does and does not need to show. · 6 min read - Paper and finishes
Premium business cards: a practical guide for professional firms
How professional firms choose premium business cards: stock weight, soft-touch, finishes, corners, double-sided layout, what to include and new-staff reorders. · 6 min read - Real estate
Real estate sign council rules in NSW, Victoria and Queensland
When real estate signs are exempt in NSW, Victoria and Queensland: area limits, one sign per property, removal after sale or lease, and A-frame permits. · 6 min read - Real estate
Real estate sign sizes in Australia: a practical spec sheet
Common Australian real estate sign sizes, from 600 x 900mm boards to photo and auction boards, with type size, photo resolution and board thickness explained. · 7 min read - Legal and professional
What must be on a company letterhead in Australia: name, ACN and ABN
What the Corporations Act and the ATO require on Australian letterheads and invoices: company name, ACN or ABN, business names, trusts and partnerships. · 7 min read
Browse by topic
- Real estate. Signboard sizes and materials, listing brochures and campaign print. See also real estate print marketing.
- Legal and professional. Letterhead details, matched suites and stationery for practices. See also law firm stationery.
- Corporate. Annual reports, presentation folders and event display. See also corporate print.
- Property development. Hoardings, site mesh and marketing suites. See also property development print.
- Stocks and finishes. Soft-touch, spot gloss, foil and what gsm means in the hand.
Questions
Something else? All questions or ask your consultant.
Who writes the journal?
Proof & Print. Each piece is written from the questions clients ask us and the details we check on every proof.
Is the journal legal or planning advice?
No. Where a piece mentions a rule or requirement, we link to the source. Check anything that matters with the relevant authority or your adviser.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Email studio@proofprint.com.au with the question you would like answered.
How often do you publish?
When we have something useful to say. We would rather publish a few accurate pieces than many thin ones.
Have a job in mind?
If a note has answered your question, the next step is a brief or a 15-minute call.