Variable Data, Data Merging, Event Cards

Layout Design • Template Design • Handling Variable Data • Data Merging | InDesign • Excel • Illustrator • Canon Fiery

We Print Lanyards introduced a new product line called Digituff, alongside their existing variable data products (PVC cards and Foam name badges). Digituff is durable polyester sheet. Instead of UV printing on pre-cut cards, Digituff can be printed using inkjet and laser jet printers and die-cut afterwards, which allows for more variation in sizes of card.

For this new product I had to develop the working practices and create sample cards for customers that can demonstrate the product.

Initially, Digituff print images were created on Active Reports, however it had its limitations. It would have to generate each line as an image, and those images would get imported again onto the print template. This method often lead to images being missing and would lead to the whole print run being mismatched.

Being that I'm more familiar with InDesign, I wanted to see what is possible to do on it. Which is where I learnt about data merging. In addition to being able to export images with different text, I could change colours and barcodes through the data set. I would love to waffle on about the technical parts, but I would give away too many of my secrets.

For the sample products, I want to inspire and show limitations of the product. I wanted to show the good parts of the products: custom sizes, what data can be customised, and what data can look like in practice (long names go on 2 lines, circular images). I also wanted to show limitations of the product and set some expectations, such as setting a visual standard for how much bleed space to leave, the amount of detail in images or font size.