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Sculpt by Studio Ok-Ok

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Studio Ok-Ok

Now and then, a project comes cross our desk that really jumps out. Whenthis exquisite coloured card package turned up at GSM we knew we needed to show it. Here is Sculpt by Studio Ok-Ok. Sculpt - a cosmetic studio with a difference Based in Adelaide’s inner east, Sculpt is a cosmetic studio with a difference. Welcoming all body types, tones, genders and maturities, and offering an approach grounded in rejuvenation that goes beyond the aesthetic. Treatment services, backed by progressive technologies, encourage physical and mental wellbeing to help restore confidence towards one’s skin. A welcome change in an industry often focussed on...

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Rebrand & New Label for Outcask Wild Rum

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outcask

Recently, Karu Distillery undertook a significant brand refresh for its Outcask Wild Rum. Originally, it had been released in a bit of a rush, and wasn't feeling 'quite us'. GSM takes a look... Karu Distillery, launched in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Ally, is an up-and-coming Australian brand known for its innovative spirits that blend traditional distilling with a modern sensibility. Located in the Devils Wilderness, NSW, the range has grown to include Affinity Gin, Lightning Navy Strength Gin, Morita Chipotle Vodka, and Outcask Wild Rum. As one of Australia’s most awarded distilleries, Karu is celebrated for its passion...

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Best & AGDA Design Awards: Class of 24

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Best award 24

2024 was another year of stellar entries in the national design awards in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. GSM takes a look at two award-winning print-based entries. The Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) Design Awards and the BEST Awards (hosted by the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)) are the two premier annual award events recognising excellence in design in our part of the world. And, thanks to some forward-thinking people within these organisations, entries are open to studios on either side of the Tasman. Both events include a wide range of entry categories across the visual design spectrum....

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Quick Chat Print – Caxton, working with design students

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Janice Page Caxton

We recently caught up with Janice Page, General Manager at Caxton, to hear her thoughts on working with the current crop of Kiwi design students. Caxton (formerly The Caxton Press) was founded in Christchurch in 1935 by celebrated New Zealand poet and publisher Denis Glover. The award-winning printery has a long history of producing high quality work and supporting the local industry. Recently, Caxton printed the NZ edition of the BJ Ball Calendar featuring winning entries from our 2024 Student Design Contest. Here’s how it all went down… GSM: Does Caxton have much involvement with Tertiary design schools and their...

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2024 Student Design Contest – Visions of the Future

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2024 student design contest Visions of the Future

Once again, the BJ Ball/Ball & Doggett Student Design Contest for 2024 was a great success and the resulting calendar showcases some of our fantastic emerging talent. The contest theme for 2024 was Visions of the Future—an expression of the future through type and colour. Students were tasked with creating a short saying about how the world may change for the better, and then to create a visual expression of this using type, colour, graphics and/or photography. Students were also required to match their design to a BJ Ball/Ball & Doggett paper stock from a provided swatch of samples. Judging...

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‘Find my Flavour’ Wausau Label Promotion

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find my flavour

In 2024, Ball & Doggett collaborated with a group of specialists to produce 'Find My Flavour' - a special promotion showcasing Wausau Coated Labels. The results were simply breathtaking. Find My Flavour Promotion ’Find My Flavour’ was conceived to promote Wausau Coated labels. Wausau is a range of premium tactile stocks specifically produced for high-end bespoke alcohol and beverage brands, available from Ball & Doggett and BJ Ball. The aim of the promotion was to show fantastic creative design, combined with high-quality print, matched to bespoke bottles and closures (caps & corks). Involved in the project were: Melbourne-based specialists in...

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Paper Sustainability – Environmental Certifications

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reforestation sustainable

Sustainability and looking after the environment are important considerations when selecting a paper grade for your print project. The environmental credibility of paper is expressed through a series of Credentials covering various aspects of paper manufacturing, such as where the raw material originates from, how these materials have been grown and harvested, the manufacturing process itself, and the general impact of papermaking on the environment. Environmental Certifications can be split into different levels of accreditation as follows: Chain-of-Custody Certifications Mill-level Certifications Product-level Certifications Chain-Of-Custody Certifications Chain of Custody Certifications are applied to paper from end-to-end―meaning; from origin to printing press....

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Paper: The Suitability of the Stock for your Print Project

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BJ Ball Swatch Books

Paper is to print, what canvas is to painting—you cannot have one without the other. As a designer, it is important to know that your choices around paper will impact the final output. The suitability of the stock when selecting paper for your print project includes a number of considerations. Let’s take a look: Types of Paper Paper, how it looks and feels, is going to have a big impact on the final printed result. And as such—should be an important design consideration early on in any project. Paper can be classified into six basic categories as follows: Uncoated Papers:...

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Artwork: Photographic Images

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photographic images

The use of photographic images in artwork creates a few important considerations that should always be checked. GSM investigates; Correct Colour Mode Photographic images should always be set to the correct Colour Mode—CMYK. RGB images used in CMYK-based printing can potentially create problems (including unexpected colour results). The best professional practice is to open any RGB images in an editing app (such as Adobe Photoshop) and change the Colour Mode—go to: Image > Mode > CMYK Colour. Image Resolution Image resolution, as measured in Pixels Per Inch (PPI), is critical to ensuring photos print correctly. If the resolution is too...

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Beyond Print – Binding

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binding

Commercially printed multi-page documents can be bound in several ways. But by far, the most common are soft-cover Saddle-Stitching, squared spine Binding and hardback Case-binding. GSM takes a look... Saddle-Stitching (Soft-Cover) Saddle-stitching is the most common form of ‘soft-cover’ commercial binding. This process uses two or more staples inserted along the spine to hold the document together. Saddle-stitching is a machine process with little manual input, apart from the initial collating of the printed sheets, making this the most costeffective way to bind multi-page documents. As mentioned in our article "Folding" some digital print systems have saddle-stitching capabilities running off the...

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