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Once you have selected the right paper, as discussed in Part 1 of our Print Smart Series, the next step is choosing the finishes and bindery options that determine how your printed piece feels, performs, and holds up over time. These elements add protection, personality, and polish, helping your materials stand out and support your brand. At AliGraphics, we bring clarity to these options by helping clients understand how each finish and binding method enhances both function and presentation.

Below is an overview of several different options available and how each one can enhance your printed pieces:

Protective Coatings

Protective coatings offer both visual impact and practical durability:

• Aqueous coating is a popular, water-based option available in gloss, satin, and matte. It dries quickly and adds a layer of protection that resists fingerprints and everyday handling.
• UV coating is cured under ultraviolet light for a harder, more durable surface that stands up well on high touch items.
• Spot UV adds shine only to specific areas, allowing important design elements to stand out without overwhelming the piece.

Tactile and Premium Effects

Finishes can also introduce texture to create a more memorable experience:

• Soft touch coating adds a velvety feel that signals premium quality and pairs well with minimal design.
• Foil stamping, embossing, and debossing add dimension and elegance. These effects work best when used strategically to highlight logos, titles, or key details.
• Lamination strengthens covers, menus, and presentation materials that need long term durability.

Choosing the Right Bindery

Bindery plays a major role in how your printed piece functions in the hands of the reader, and these are some of the most popular options clients use to achieve a professional, functional finish:

• Saddle stitch is a clean and economical choice for shorter booklets. It creates a simple, polished look that works well for programs, newsletters, and slim brochures.
• Perfect binding adds a flat, square spine that gives reports, catalogs, and publications a more refined, book like appearance. It is ideal for projects that require durability and a high-end feel.
• Coil and wire binding allow pages to lay completely flat, making them excellent for training manuals, workbooks, instructional guides, and reference documents.

Precision trimming, folding, and scoring complete the process by ensuring each finished piece opens smoothly and maintains consistent, professional alignment from cover to cover.

File Prep and Proofing Support from AliGraphics

AliGraphics provides expert guidance to ensure that your files are set up correctly for the finishes and bindery you select. Our team reviews artwork placement, ensures important elements are positioned safely away from folds and trim edges, and confirms that specialty effects such as spot UV are applied precisely. We also advise on combinations that create strong visual impact, like pairing matte finishes with selective gloss. For projects involving rich blacks, detailed photography, or color sensitive graphics, we provide printed proofs when needed to guarantee accuracy before production begins. We handle these technical details so you can be confident in the final result.

Why Work with AliGraphics

AliGraphics runs specialty coatings and completes in-house bindery with consistent quality control from start to finish. Our print specialists help you determine the best combination of finishes, effects, and binding methods to elevate your materials and align with your brand. We are proud of our strong union roots and our mission to support working people and their families. That commitment shows in the craftsmanship and care behind every finished piece.

Ready to elevate your next project? Contact AliGraphics to choose finishes and bindery that bring your vision to life.

Choosing the right paper stock can make the difference between a printed piece that simply informs and one that truly stands out. Whether you are designing a sales brochure, a multi-page booklet, or an important annual report, the paper you choose influences how your audience feels about your message long before they read a single word. The weight, coating, brightness, and texture all work together to shape the experience. At AliGraphics, we help clients navigate these options with ease, so their materials not only look polished but also align with their brand and communication goals.

Below is an overview of several different options available and how each one can enhance your printed pieces:

Paper Weight

Understanding paper weight is an important part of choosing the right materials for your project. It influences how your piece feels in the hand and how well it holds up over time. Two common paper types used in printing are text weight and cover weight.

Text weight paper is thinner and flexible, which makes it ideal for multi-page documents such as booklets and detailed reports. Cover weight paper is thicker and more robust, making it a strong choice for brochures or materials that need added strength. Brochures especially benefit from a heavier paper weight because it delivers an immediate sense of quality the moment it is picked up.

Coated vs. Uncoated Paper

Coating influences how ink interacts with paper, and each type offers its own unique benefits:

• Gloss coated paper boosts color vibrancy and sharp image reproduction, perfect for marketing brochures with impactful visuals.
• Matte coated paper provides an elegant, low glare finish that supports readability for information heavy documents.
• Uncoated paper offers a clean, natural look that complements modern, minimalistic designs.

The Importance of Brightness

Brightness affects contrast and clarity. Higher brightness levels create crisp text and vivid imagery. Corporate reports and professional booklets often use bright paper to enhance readability. Designs with strong graphics or bold colors also benefit from bright coated paper that help colors stand out.

Texture and Its Role in Brand Identity

The texture of your paper also plays a significant role in the impression your printed piece makes. Smooth paper offers a polished look and feel, while textured paper such as linen or vellum add a sense of craftsmanship and sophistication. Textured paper in particular can reinforce your brand identity, especially for industries where the tactile experience matters.

Why Work with AliGraphics

With leading digital and offset printing technology and complete in-house bindery capabilities, AliGraphics manages every detail from start to finish. Our team supports trimming, folding, binding, and specialty finishing recommendations that bring projects to life with accuracy and consistency.

AliGraphics is also deeply rooted in a proud union tradition. Our mission has always focused on supporting working people and their families, and that commitment to integrity guides the quality of every print project we produce.

Ready to bring your brochures, booklets, or reports to life? Contact AliGraphics today to get expert support and start your next print project with confidence.

An event 115 years ago would change the lives of factory workers forever. It was March 25, 1911 and the location was downtown Manhattan; specifically, the Triangle Shirtwaist factory located in Greenwich Village. It was there on that date that the deadliest industrial fire occurred in the history of New York City. In total, 146 garment industry workers – 123 women and girls, two as young as 14 years old, and 23 men, then earning between $7 and $12 for a 52-hour work week – lost their lives. Because the factory’s exit doors were locked, these largely Italian and Jewish immigrants died of fire, smoke inhalation and from jumping to their deaths from the factory’s 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th floors. The outrage at these needless deaths led to both the introduction of new workplace safety standards and gave birth to a labor movement and growth of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU), among others. The union would go on to fight for better working conditions for laborers in sweatshop environments like those who perished in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

Those visiting lower Manhattan can still see the building where the fire took place. It has since been designated a National History Landmark as well as a New York City landmark and annual events occur to commemorate the occasion and remember those who perished. The real legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, however, in addition to the growth of the labor movement, was the inception of the American Society of Safety Professionals (formerly known as the American Society of Safety Engineers), formed the same year as the fire. This global organization now supports over 37,000 occupational safety and health professional members in their efforts to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities through education, advocacy, and standards development.

For the Amalgamated Family of Companies, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire has special significance. In giving momentum to the labor movement, it also served as a catalyst for Sidney Hillman’s emergence as a national labor leader. Like others, the fire had a profound effect on Hillman who was moved to defend and advocate for garment workers. His roles as a rank-and-file strike leader and business agent for a local of the United Garment Workers, ultimately led to the formation of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. It was regarded as a nontraditional union in prioritizing the interests and well-being of its members above all.

Over the years, Sidney Hillman would go on to lead many important labor initiatives ranging from developing working standards to regulate the industry to promoting cooperative dispute resolution among unions and employers. Hillman’s effective leadership earned him prominent roles under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration including appointments to the Labor Advisory Board and National Industrial Recovery Board. He was instrumental in the drafting of the National Labor Relations Act and enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Other of his labor achievements include his role in many major Congress of Industrial Organizations initiatives and the formation of both the Textile Workers Union of America and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers Union of America.

In 1943, Sidney Hillman founded Amalgamated Life Insurance Company, whose mission continues today to advance his commitment to helping working people and their families achieve financial security by providing affordable life, health and pension products and services while maintaining an unwavering commitment to excellence. Hillman passed away in 1946, but just as the legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire lives on, so too does his legacy and many contributions to working people in America and across the globe.

This morning, our executives will once again attend the commemorative ceremony as a way of both remembering the victims and also honoring the legacy of our founder, Sidney Hillman.

In today’s digital world, print still matters. While online platforms deliver speed and reach, print creates a tangible, trustworthy connection that leaves a lasting impression. At AliGraphics, we believe the strongest campaigns combine both — blending the credibility of print with the power of digital.

Print offers what screens can’t: the feel of a premium postcard, the weight of a catalog, the impact of a beautifully designed brochure. These touchpoints build emotional connections and make your brand memorable.

When paired with digital, the results multiply. A mailer with a QR code can drive customers to a personalized landing page. A catalog with augmented reality can bring products to life on a phone. Together, print and digital create seamless journeys that engage audiences everywhere.

At AliGraphics, we design campaigns that are both memorable and measurable. Integrated strategies drive higher response rates, stronger recall, and more conversions — because they engage multiple senses and reinforce your message across channels.

Print still packs a punch. Used alongside digital tools, it adds depth, credibility, and presence in a crowded market. From direct mail to signage to promotional materials, print can be the anchor that elevates your entire campaign.

Ready to elevate your brand? Partner with AliGraphics and discover how print and digital synergy can turn attention into action.

Sustainability isn’t a passing trend — it’s a responsibility. Today’s consumers care about the environmental impact of the brands they support, and at AliGraphics, we help you meet that expectation with eco-friendly printing that reduces your footprint without sacrificing quality.

Print offers something digital can’t: the texture of a brochure, the weight of a postcard, the credibility of a beautifully printed catalog. Now imagine pairing that tactile experience with sustainable practices — creating marketing that feels good in hand and does good for the planet.

Our eco-friendly approach includes:

• Digital & On-Demand Printing — eliminate waste by printing only what you need.
• Waterless Offset Technology — cut water use by up to 95% and reduce chemical runoff.
• Energy-Efficient Presses — LED drying and smart scheduling lower power consumption.
• Recycled & FSC-Certified Stocks — responsibly sourced paper that protects natural resources.

The result? Vibrant colors, sharp details, and premium finishes — with a lighter environmental impact.

At AliGraphics, we design campaigns that are both memorable and meaningful. By choosing sustainable printing, you show your values, build trust, and strengthen your brand’s connection with today’s eco-conscious audience.

Print still packs a punch — and when it’s sustainable, it leaves a lasting impression for all the right reasons. From brochures to packaging to signage, eco-friendly print can anchor your marketing while protecting the planet.

Print smarter. Print greener. Print with purpose — Partner with AliGraphics today.

Design isn’t just decoration — it’s strategy, storytelling, and influence. At AliGraphics, we craft visuals that don’t simply look appealing, they inspire action and leave a lasting impression.

Print and digital spaces are crowded, and attention is fleeting. That’s why design must do more than fill space — it must communicate clearly, connect emotionally, and reinforce your brand at every touchpoint.

Our approach is built on four pillars of powerful design:

• Bold Typography — Type that speaks with confidence and clarity, ensuring your message is seen and remembered.
• Vibrant Color — Palettes that grab attention, evoke emotion, and stay true to your brand identity.
• Thoughtful Imagery & Layout — Visuals that guide the eye, highlight your message, and create balance across every medium.
• Scalable Assets — Logos and graphics that shine everywhere, from mobile screens to billboards, maintaining consistency at every size.

When these elements work together, they transform your brand into something unforgettable. From startups looking to establish their identity to established businesses ready to refresh their look, we help brands stand out, build trust, and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

At AliGraphics, design is never one-size-fits-all. We tailor every project to your goals, your audience, and your story — ensuring your brand not only looks bold but feels bold.

Ready to cut through the noise? Partner with AliGraphics and discover how bold design can turn attention into action.

At Amalgamated Family of Companies, we believe that investing in education is one of the most meaningful ways to support working people and their families. That’s why we created the Amalgamated Scholarship Program, an annual initiative that offers support to employees and their dependents as they pursue higher education. A heartfelt thank you to all the students who applied, demonstrating a strong commitment to their education, and congratulations to this year’s deserving winners. Through this program, we continue to stand behind our community, helping individuals reach their goals, discover new opportunities, and build brighter futures.

Here’s what this year’s winners had to say about the program:

“Being selected for this scholarship through my father’s workplace, the Amalgamated Family of Companies, is an honor, and I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to receive it. This support will ease the financial burden of classes and extracurricular activities I’m passionate about, allowing me to pursue my academic goals, participate fully in enriching experiences, and focus on achieving my educational and career aspirations.” – Jakob Schroder, son of Michael Schroder, AliGraphics

“Thank You Amalgamated for offering the Amalgamated Family of Companies’ Scholarship Program. I am grateful for this opportunity as this scholarship will help reduce the financial burden and allow me to focus on my studies. I am currently enrolled in Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management pursuing a degree in Finance. Once again thank you for choosing me I am deeply appreciative.” – Christopher DeSouza, Son of Adeline DeSouza, Amalgamated Family of Companies

“I am truly grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Amalgamated Family of Companies Scholarship Award! I would like to thank the Scholarship Committee for their generosity and the time spent reviewing my application. This scholarship helps my family and me tremendously, especially as I pursue my education alongside my twin sister, which can be challenging financially. I promise to put this award to good use, as I continue to pursue a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University. This scholarship not only helps me but also inspires me to continue to work toward my education goals. I am extremely grateful and will continue to work hard in my future endeavors!” – Ricky Wetzel, Son of Richard Wetzel, AEBRx

We’re grateful to all of our employees and the Amalgamated Charity Committee for making this program possible. Initiatives like this reflect the values we hold as a company and the impact we strive to make every day.