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Categories / Codes for Entry Form

A.  Presentation Folders/ Portfolios and Binders

Entries submitted with inserts will be judged as a unit.

B.  Brochures, Booklets and Flyers

C.  Catalogs

D.  Books, Book Jackets and Diaries

E.  Magazines and Magazine Inserts
Magazine Series: To be eligible for judging entries must consist of at least three different issues of the same magazine title during a one-year period. Work will be judged on consistency of printing and design in the series.

F.  Internal Communication Pieces and Newsletters
Publications produced exclusively for the internal communication needs of a single company or organization.

G.  Wide/Grand Format
For entries in one or more colors with at least one dimension measuring more than 60 inches. Includes POP Signs, Banners, Billboards, and Display Graphics. If piece is too large to ship you may provide photo or reduced representation with a brief description of the project.

G-1: Roll-fed and Flatbed Press

G-2: Industrial Printing
This includes using print technologies within the process of manufacturing, referring to a procedure whereby ink or another substance if printed onto a product for a functional purpose. Examples include metal decorating, car wraps, printing on textiles, fabrics or vinyl.

G-3: Single Installation

GD.  Graphic Design
Category open to Graphic Designers who create printed media.

GD-1: Label Design

GD-2: Packaging Design

GD-3: Point of Sale/Display

GD-4: Poster Design

GD-5: Corporate Identity/Branding
Identity package must contain at least three different media types including collateral, business cards, letterhead, signage, web, etc.

GD-6: Integrated Campaign
Campaign must include a minimum of three different media types including retail display, signage, packaging, labels, web, brochure, social media etc.

H.  Business and Annual Reports

I.  Point-of-Purchase Materials
Includes any in-store promotional materials such as take-ones, counter cards, shelf displays, etc.

J.  Posters, Art Prints and Other Art Reproductions
To be eligible for judging entries must be the actual poster or print. Do not send photographs or slides. Please ship entries flat if possible.

K.  Cards
Holiday cards, greeting cards, postcards and blank notes.

L.  Invitations and Programs

M.  Calendars
Calendars designed to be posters may also be eligible for entry into category

N. Digital and Print Driven Marketing Projects
Targeted campaign showcasing effectiveness of print. Entry can use multiple mediums and data points to reach the intended audience.

To be eligible for judging entries must include a paragraph describing methodology, techniques implemented, goals and how results were measured. Entries can include use of 1:1 marketing techniques, direct response, augmented reality, QR codes, social media, etc.

O.  Bindery and Finishing Techniques

O-1: Binding, Case

O-2: Binding, Comb, Spiral, Wire-O or coil

O-3: Binding, Perfect

O-4: Binding, Tape

O-5: Binding, Turn Edge

O-6: Coating and Film Lamination

O-7: Foil Stamping

O-8: Embossing/Debossing

O-9: Diecuts, Pop-ups, Unique Folds and Involvement Devices

O-O: Other Special Finishing Techniques
Includes specialty inks, coatings and fragrances. To be eligible for judging entries must include a paragraph or brief description of the project and the processes used to produce the entry.

P.  Alternative Printing Methods

P-1: Hi-Fidelity Printing
Printed using more than 4 colors in halftone areas to enhance images and graphics

P-2: Stochastic Printing

Q.  Directories and Source Books
Publications listing names, addresses, etc. of individuals or companies

R.  Stationery and Office Materials
Individual pieces of your entry should be placed in separate envelopes. Including but not exclusive to: Letterhead, Business Card and Envelope packages.

S.  Specialty Printing

S-1: 3-D Printing

S-2: Screen Printing
Entries that do not fit in category G. May include t-shirts, fabrics or other small format mediums.

S-3: Miscellaneous Specialties
For entries that do not fit the criteria for any other category. Examples: menus, matchbooks, record covers, maps, playing cards, decals, metal decorating, printing on textiles or fabrics, holograms, CD-ROMs and silk-screened items. To be eligible for judging entries must include a paragraph describing materials and processes employed.

SA.  They Said “It Couldn’t Be Done”
This category is for the company that overcame obstacles and exceeded expectations when tackling a client challenge. To be eligible for judging, entries must include a copy of the finished piece(s) and a paragraph telling the story of how your team ROCKED this for the customer.

T.  Packaging/Labels

T-1: Cartons and Containers
Includes single cartons and containers or an integrated series. Integrated series should be entered as a single unit with one entry fee.

T-2: Package Engineering
Category includes unique or challenging package designs. To be eligible for judging entries must include a brief description of the project and the processes used to produce the entry.

T-3: Labels and Wraps
Cut and stack, sheet fed

T-4: Labels and Wraps
Rolled products/pressure-sensitive

Both T-3 and T-4 include single labels and wraps or an integrated series. It is strongly recommended that the entry be submitted adhered to the actual product. Integrated series should be entered as a single unit with one entry fee.

T-5: Flexographic Printing
Includes narrow-web labels and wraps, rolled products, pressure-sensitive, wide-web process and wide-web line

U.  Print/Graphic Arts Self-Promotion
Entries may include more than one item if the material was mailed as a single unit or was part of a campaign. If the entry includes more than one item, please submit the entry in an envelope.

U-1: Printers with 20 employees or less

U-2: Printers with 21–50 employees

U-3: Printers with 51–100 employees

U-4: Printers with 101–250 employees

U-5: Printers with 250 employees or more

U-6: Prepress companies, printing and advertising

V.  Web Press Printing

V-1: Web Press Printing
(1,2 or 3 colors; coated or uncoated paper)

V-2: Web Press Printing
(4 or more colors; coated paper)

V-3: Web Press Printing
(4 or more colors; uncoated paper

W.  Marketing/Promotional Materials
To be eligible for judging entries in categories W-1 through W-5 must include more than one piece. Entrant should have printed substantially all parts of the finished package. Individual pieces of your entry should be placed into an envelope.

W-1: Promotional Campaigns, business-to-business

W-2: Promotional Campaigns, consumer

W-3: Direct Mail Campaigns, business-to-business

W-4: Direct Mail Campaigns, consumer

W-5: Media Kits
A single package of promotional or informational materials packed into a folder or carrier for distribution.

W-6: Single Promotional Self-Mailer

W-7: Cross-Media Promotion

X.  Environmentally Sound Materials

To be eligible for judging entries must include a paragraph describing the materials and processes employed and use at least two of the following:

• Recycled papers
• Soy or vegetable-based inks
• Direct-to-plate
• Aqueous coating, energy-curable inks and coatings
• Other environmentally sound product, process, certification, etc.

Y.  Special Innovation Awards
To be eligible for judging entries must be submitted with a statement — at least 50 words and no more than 500 words — as to why the piece is innovative: (i.e. new, expanded or unique uses of technology; an innovative mix of existing techniques). Your entry and the accompanying description should be placed into an envelope.

Z. Students, Schools and Education
Open to any student or student group in high school vocational school or college involved in a print/multi-media related project. For example, yearbooks and school newspapers. Submissions will be judged on creativity, concept information and final piece(s) submitted. Please include a short summary about the piece(s). In-plant university press operations not run by students are ineligible for this category.

Z-1: High school Students

Z-2: Post-secondary Students

ZA.  Pro Bono
Judged on printing and benefit/impact of the project on the community or organization. To be eligible for judging entries must have been printed at no cost to the organization and include a paragraph describing the organization and why your company chose to print this piece at no cost.