Variable Data Printing (VDP) is a digital printing technique that makes it possible to customise individual elements within a print job. This can include text, images, graphics or even entire layouts. VDP is often used for personalised marketing materials, such as direct mail, where each printed item contains information specific to the recipient. VDP uses databases and software to control variations in the printing process, enabling a customised approach.
Application and advantages of VDP
VDP is used in many areas, including
- Marketing and advertising: Creation of personalised mailings that are directly tailored to the interests and needs of the recipient.
- Transaction printing: Customisation of invoices, account statements and other documents with specific customer data.
- Publishing: Production of personalised books or magazines that are adapted for individual readers.
- Invitations and event materials: Personalised invitations and event programmes that speak directly to the recipient.
The advantages of VDP are:
- Increased relevance: Personalisation increases the relevance of printed materials, leading to higher reader retention and better response rates.
- More effective communication: Customised messages can be communicated in a more targeted manner, which increases the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
- Cost efficiency: Despite higher production costs per unit, the improved response rates and more targeted approach can reduce overall costs.
Why proofs are necessary for VDP
Proofs are essential in the VDP process to ensure that the personalised elements are printed correctly and consistently. Proofs help to ensure that the variable data is correctly integrated into the design. Errors in the database or layout can be recognised and corrected before final production. A proof shows exactly how the personalised elements will look in the finished print product, avoiding misunderstandings and errors.
As with conventional print jobs, colour accuracy is also crucial with VDP. Proofs make it possible to check colour reproduction and ensure that all individual elements are printed in the desired colours. This is particularly important when variable images or graphics are used, which may be available in different colour variants.
Proofs offer the customer the opportunity to check and approve the print product before final production. This gives the customer security and enables any adjustments or corrections to be made before the print job is fully executed. This ensures that the end product meets the customer’s expectations and requirements.
More articles related to this topic:
New PANTONE Formula Guides with incorrect ink formulations
Several errors have crept into the new PANTONE 2023 fan decks. In both the PANTONE Solid Coated and the Solid Uncoated color fans, there are colours for which the new ink formulations are incorrect. In the PANTONE Formula Guide Solid Coated fan 2023, PANTONE 107 C and PANTONE 108 C have absolutely identical ink recipes, as well as PANTONE 113 C and PANTONE 114 C. As the colors differ, this cannot be the correct. Several errors in the PANTONE Solid Uncoated fan 2023 In the PANTONE Solid Uncoated fan 2023 … read more
New certified proof papers at proof.de
In recent years, various problems have arisen with our previous proof paper supplier. On the one hand, we sometimes had to wait more than three months for paper deliveries; on the other hand, we sometimes had significant problems with batch-to-batch discrepancies, surface defects and much more. After lengthy deliberations, we decided in December to replace all the paper. We therefore received pallets of new paper at the turn of the year, which we are now gradually incorporating into our production. There will be no hard cut, but the new papers … read more
“Digital First” often means “Colour Problems Second!”
Whether it’s a large global corporation or a small company, the following often applies to designs or redesigns today: we develop everything for digital first.
Proof GmbH 2025 once again Fogra and Fogra “Spot Cert” certified
This year we once again created proofs for Fogra certification and sent them to Munich-Aschheim for testing. With these proof prints, which we print according to three different proof standards and on three different papers, we point out that we not only deliver excellent proof quality through internal quality controls and checks, but that the quality of our proofs is also measured and confirmed by external experts. We have now had test prints certified by Fogra for the 12th time. We have also been “Spot-cert” certified for the display of … read more
PANTONE surveys users online about product and service direction
Today I received an email in which PANTONE asked how it should orientate its products and services in the future. The users were asked which countries, industries and company sizes they come from, but also what PANTONE products should look like in the future and what customers would be prepared to pay for PANTONE services in the future. Question: How much can PANTONE services cost? PANTONE appears to be orientating itself on the PANTONE Connect prices: All price queries have the lowest price category < $ 7,- / month, i.e. … read more
Cross-media colour management really works
Peter Jäger is an expert in colour management that reliably works across the boundaries of printers and monitors, web and print – essentially: cross-media.
Fogra60 proofs for metal decor printing available
From now on you can order proofs for metal decor printing on white sheet metal at proof.de: The ICC profile for Fogra60 is Metal-Printing_MPC1_FOGRA60.icc
RGB colour spaces explained
RGB colour spaces are colour systems that represent different hues with the three primary colours red, green and blue. RGB colour spaces are used in digital image processing, photography and computer technology to precisely define colours. The most important RGB colour spaces and their special features are: sRGB sRGB is the most widely used RGB colour space and is used by most monitors, printers and digital cameras. It was developed by HP and Microsoft in the 1990s to create a standard for colour representation on the internet and on various … read more
Proof.de: New video online
In this short image video we – the Proof GmbH – introduce us and our work. Find out who we are and what drives us. What do you think of our short film?
New iPhone colour measuring devices: xade nano+ in test
A new generation of colour measuring devices is entering the market: in contrast to the classic measuring devices, which are available as a fully encapsulated system either as a colourimeter or as a spectrophotometer, and then supply the data to a computer via an interface or app or display it directly, the new generation of colour measuring devices consist only of lighting and software, with the optics of a modern iPhone from Apple being used as the sensor. Until now, there have been two categories of measuring devices on the … read more