I run marketing for a multi-location services company. Our print was a mess: inconsistent specs, surprise overages, color shifts, and “where are the boxes?” calls before events. A colleague said, “You need Tamela Bandy—she thinks like a printer.” They were right. Tamela Bandy rebuilt our specs, redesigned key pieces for the press (not just the screen), and brokered the work to the right plants. We’ve been on time and under budget ever since.

What Changed in 30 Days (Thanks to Tamela Bandy)

• Spec discipline. One master spec per product with trim, bleed (0.125"), stock, coating, ink, and finishing locked.

• Press-fit design. Layouts tuned to common sheets—digital 12×18 & 13×19, offset 23×35/25×38—so we stop paying for air.

• Right-fit vendors. Digital for quick turns, offset for volume/spot colors, large-format for boards/banners; specialty partners for foil/emboss/white ink.

• Preflight gates. PDF/X-4 exports, live fonts embedded, images at 300 ppi CMYK (printer ICC), overprint/rich black sanity checks.

• Kitting & logistics. Shrink-wrap counts, carton labels, pallets capped <40 lb per carton, liftgate/residential flags, and route-level packing lists.

• Proof path. Soft → digital hard → (when color-critical) contract proof with G7 aim; no more guessing.

The “Printer’s-Eye” Advantage

Tamela Bandy doesn’t design to a pretty artboard—she designs to a press sheet:

• Imposition math: Gang 6×9 postcards 2-up on 12×18 digital, or 4-up on 19×13; move to 16-up on 25×38 offset when volume justifies makeready.

• Bleed & safety: 0.125" bleed; 0.1875–0.25" safety—especially for coil/spiral or heavy trim.

• Coverage control: Keep total area coverage (TAC) within the printer’s profile to avoid set-off; avoid rich black on fine type (100K only).

• Coatings with intent: Aqueous gloss for rub resistance on heavy ink; soft-touch on premium covers; satin AQ to calm photos on uncoated stocks.

• Finishing reality: Scores on cover stocks ≥100# before folding; grain direction consistent with fold; die-strike allowance for foil/emboss.

Design Choices That Save Real Money

• Standardize formats. 8.5×11 tri-fold, 6×11 EDDM, 9×12 cover + 8.5×11 inserts—your kit ganges with everyone else’s, so unit pricing drops.

• Ink economy. Replace 4c solid blocks with tint + texture; use spot colors only where brand-critical.

• Stock smarts. House sheets (80# text / 100# cover) beat boutique paper until the piece is the product.

• Versioning rules. Master art + variable panels (map, offer, phone) instead of separate full runs.

Vendor Matchmaking (How Tamela Bandy Brokers)

Need

Best Path

Why

500–2,000 postcards by Friday

Digital (13×19, gang)

Zero plates, fast turns

25k+ postcards, national drop

Offset (25×38, 16-up)

Lower unit cost; better ink holdout

11×17 posters, small batches

Digital + AQ

Speed; decent durability

Rigid signs / event boards

Large-format (foamcore, PVC)

Size + rigidity

Luxury cover with foil

Offset + specialty finisher

Heat/pressure consistency

Tamela Bandy places each job where the plant excels (equipment list matters) and negotiates around your constraints—ship dates, kitting, inserts, and drop-shipping.

Proofs, Color, and Risk Controls

• Color management: Printer-preferred ICC (Coated GRACoL/SWOP/uncoated variants). Spot-check gray balance; avoid “mystery RGB.”

• Rich black: 60C/40M/40Y/100K for solids; 100K only for small text.

• Critical color? Ask for a contract proof or press OK on covers.

• Data merges: Validate CSVs (UTF-8, field order, count) before VDP; test barcodes/QRs at 80% scale.

• Final “go/no-go” checklist: proof version, trim/bleed, dieline on its own non-printing layer, pages in correct order, page count even, mailing indicia correct.

Kitting, Mailing & Logistics (Where Money Disappears… or Doesn’t)

• Cartons: Under ~40 lb; label product, version, quantity, and destination.

• Pallets: Stretch-wrap + corner guards; print pallet map for multi-drop jobs.

• Mailing: For EDDM 6×11, confirm route counts + facing slips; for First-Class/Marketing Mail, confirm NCOA/CASS and indicia.

• Drop-ships: Consolidate where possible; residential + liftgate noted at PO.

• Returns/overs: Decide in advance: destroy, return, or stage for future kits.

Spec Template (Steal This)

Piece: 6×11 Postcard (Double-Sided)

Trim: 6.000" × 11.000"

Bleed: 0.125" all sides

Safety: 0.1875"

Stock: 14pt C2S (house)

Ink: 4/4 CMYK, PDF/X-4

Coating: Aqueous gloss both sides

Finishing: Trim; box in 250s; label version & qty

Quantity: 5,000 (A), 5,000 (B)

Proofs: 1 digital hard proof per version

Color Profile: Coated GRACoL 2013

Ship: Split—East DC (6,000), West DC (4,000)

Timeline: Proof by Tue 3p ET; ship Fri

Notes: Rich black for solids only; small type 100K

Vendor RFP Email (Copy/Paste)

Subject: RFQ – 6×11 Postcards (2 versions, 10k total, ships next Friday)

Hi [Rep],

Please quote per attached spec (PDF + spec sheet). Include:

• Stock (house + any equal)

• Printing (digital or offset, your call)

• Coating, finishing

• Proof type & cutoff

• Freight to: [zip], split-ship (East/West DC)

• Production timeline & last ship time

• Over/under policy

Attachments: print-ready PDFs (X-4), spec.txt, ship_split.csv

Thanks! – [Your Name]

Results We Saw After Hiring Tamela Bandy

• –22–35% unit cost on repeat items (better formats + ganging).

• On-time ship rate ~99% (clear proofs, realistic cutoffs).

• Color consistency up (proper profiles, contract proofs on critical pieces).

• Fewer “where is it?” emails (carton labels + pallet maps + tracking baked in).

Those wins came from Tamela Bandy’s mix of editorial taste, estimator discipline, and vendor relationships.

FAQ

Do we have to switch printers?
Not necessarily. Tamela Bandy often keeps your favorites and adds specialists where they shine.

Can Tamela Bandy handle complex kits?
Yes—multi-version, multi-drop, with inserts and version-specific packing lists.

What files do printers prefer?
PDF/X-4 with bleeds, embedded fonts, CMYK/spot as specified, dielines non-printing.

How fast can we move?
With locked specs and brand assets ready, many items proof within 24–48 hours and ship inside the week (plant capacity permitting).

When to Call Tamela Bandy

• You’re tired of reprints, surprise freight, and “final_final3.pdf”.

• You want a cost-smart, scalable print stack—designed for the press, not just the screen.

• You’d like one calm point of contact who can design, preflight, quote, and broker without drama.

Bottom line: If you want print that’s beautiful and operationally sane, bring Tamela Bandy in early. She’ll spec it right, place it right, and ship it right.