VIVE LA PRINT
“LONG LIVE PRINT”
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Enter the National
Print Awards…
and Join the Print
Revolution!
Can you hear the
people shout?
The call is out for those
with ink in their veins
and a love of print in
their hearts, to gather
under the National Print
Awards banner and join
the Print Revolution!
The National Print Awards celebrates excellence
in the print, packaging, and visual communication
industries in Australia, and recognises the highest
quality work and exceptional craftsmanship.
The Awards continue to be instrumental in lifting
the standard of our best work to its present level
and for attaining recognition internationally for
the excellence of our industry’s skills.
You are invited to submit your best work for entry
into the 2015 National Print Awards. After a major
review of the Awards process, we have returned
to a direct entry process and the former 30
categories have been revised to a more compact
lineup. We believe these are reflective of our
industry as it transforms and evolves to meet the
markets of the future. We anticipate that these
categories will continue to be reviewed
and renewed in line with changing technologies
and demands.
Our three major awards, the Currie Award, the
Heidelberg Australia Award and the Fuji Xerox
Effectiveness Award continue to be a highlight of
the Awards and recognize outstanding excellence.
The Currie and the Heidelberg Award winners
will be drawn from all gold winning entries in the
general categories.
The Fuji Xerox Effectiveness Award will have a
more defined entry criteria this year, and entries
for this award should be submitted via a separate
entry form. For more details see the “Categories”
section of this brochure.
The National Print Awards are run under the
auspices of the Printing Industries Association
of Australia. The Association is an independent,
not-for-profit member-based organisation,
representing large, medium and small businesses.
To those who have their business and
their heart in print – now is the time
to join the crusade and show what
you can do; to come to the barricades
and put your best alongside the best
from your colleagues and compatriots
around the country.
To those on the front line – your
struggle has been recognised; your
striving for excellence will be
rewarded. Join the quest and shout
about your achievements to anyone
who will listen.
If the beating of your heart echoes
the pounding of the press, it’s time
to join the fray with the very best you
have to offer – and to stand together
with your industry to demonstrate
the Power of Print.
Print is Powerful! Print can Change
the World! Make way for the Print
Revolution!
Categories
1. Leaflets, flyers or brochures on a single sheet
of stock
(1a) 1-3 Colours, Offset.
(1b) 4 Colours, Offset.
(1c) Any number of colours, Digital
2. Books
(2a) Case Bound. Any number of colours, Offset.
(2b) Limp Bound. Any number of colours, Offset.
(2c) Case Bound or Limp Bound, Digital.
3. Booklets, Catalogues, Brochures & Magazines
(3a) Any binding, with or without a cover.
Any style of finish or binding. Up to 72pp. Offset.
(3b) Any binding, with or without a cover.
Any style of finish or binding. Up to 72pp. Digital.
4. Packaging
Any material. Any printing method.
Do not supply mounted.
5. Stationery
Any format. Any printing method.
Do not supply mounted.
6. Web Offset - Heat Set or Cold Set.
With or without cover. (Offset covers will
not be judged - web offset components only
will be judged). Web Offset.
7. Commercial Posters, Show Cards, Card
Constructions, Postcards and Greeting Cards
Any number of colours on any material.
Any printing method.
8. Wide Format
(8a) Rigid Substrate - Suits flatbeds but could also
be roll fed and mounted. Any printing method.
(8b) Wide Format - Flexible Substrate, Suits roll fed
machines of all types but allows for hybrid machines
to be included. Any printing method.
9. Impact, Sensory and Direct Mail
Impact mail is a mail item of virtually any shape
or design that can be posted without the need
of an envelope. Sensory mail includes items of
visual impact (eg lenticular printing), smell, taste,
sound or touch. Direct mail can include any item
addressed or unaddressed, including marketing
and promotional material. Any printing method.
10. Presentation Folders
Any number of colours on a single sheet.
Any printing method.
11. Multi Piece Productions and Campaigns
May include such items as folders including
leaflets, ring binders including indices, printed
envelopes including contents or any production
of three or more items of a consistent theme for
the same client. Any printing method.
12. Annual Reports / Prospectus
(12a) Any binding method. Offset.
(12b) Any binding method. Digital.
13. Labels
(13a) Offset.
(13b) Other than Offset.
14. Limited Edition
May include any item that is produced in
numbered quantities - i.e. 3 of 1000. The total
number produced must not exceed 1000 copies.
Any printing method.
15. Self Promotion
Entries, regardless of category or format, that
promote any organisation within the scope of the
printing industry, or which feature the printing
company or entrant’s name as a prominent
feature, will be classified as “self-promotion”.
Any printing method.
16. Specialty Printing
May include promotional printing, letterpress,
architectural printing, glass printing, screen
printing, 3D printing, laser etching or textile
printing. Any number of colours, any substrate.
Any printing method.
17. Embellishment
The enhancement of a printed job by the addition
of decorative processes. These may include
embossing or de-bossing, gold blocking or other
foiling or use of specialised adhesive panels.
It does not include, for example, the addition only
of a spot varnish.
Currie Group Award is awarded for the most
innovative use of imaging in printing. This award is
judged by representatives from Currie Group, and
all gold winning entries from the above categories
will automatically be eligible for consideration.
Heidelberg Australia Award is awarded for
excellence in craft. This award is judged by
representatives from Heidelberg Australia, all gold
winning entries from the above categories will
automatically be eligible for consideration.
Fuji Xerox Effectiveness Award is awarded
for the most effective use of digital printing
technologies. This award is judged by
representatives from Fuji Xerox Australia.
Entry into this Award is via a separate entry form
available from the National Print Awards website www.nationalprintawards.com.au.
*Note: NPA will no longer feature a separate “Flexographic
Printing” category in the Awards. Entries into the
Flexographic Printing” category should be directed to
the ANZFTA Awards. See www.afta.org.au for further
information on upcoming awards. The Best in Show from
these Awards will be acknowledged at the National Print
Awards Presentation Dinner. Print jobs in this category
may, however, be entered into other National Print Awards
Categories where the criteria is met.
National Print Awards
Conditions of Entry
1. All entries must have been printed between
1 September 2013 and 12 December 2014.
2. Entries should be delivered to:
National Print Awards,
Unit 3, 5-7 Compark Circuit
MULGRAVE VIC 3170
Entries close at 5pm on Friday 12 December 2014.
Late entries may not be accepted.
3. All entries must be accompanied by the relevant
entry fee ($50 per entry, GST inclusive).
Cheques should be made payable to “National Print
Awards”. Payment can be made via EFT to: National
Print Awards – BSB 033 126 Account: 409793.
Please include remittance advice with entry form.
4. This competition is open to all Australian based
companies, individuals or associations involved in
any area of print production, including:
Advertising agencies, art and design studios,
advertisers and clients, printing companies, prepress companies, print finishing, paper merchants,
or any other person or company associated with
the production or purchase of print.
5. There is no restriction on the type of stock used.
Imported stock, artwork or photographs from
overseas sources are acceptable. PRINTING AND
FINISHING MUST BE PRODUCED IN AUSTRALIA.
National Print Awards
Conditions of Entry (CONT’D)
6. An official entry form must be completed
for each entry (photocopies are acceptable)
or download additional forms at
www.nationalprintawards.com.au. Please supply
typed or clearly written details. Forms must
be fully completed and make recognition of
all contributing sources, with accurate spelling
as the details submitted on the entry will be used
as copy for the award book and certificates.
The committee accepts no responsibility for
any inaccuracies in the details submitted.
7. Two (2) samples of each entry are required
where possible. Both samples should be entered
together with the entry form attached to one
sample via paper clip or similar. Where original
work cannot be submitted (e.g.: large scale
signage), a high resolution reproduction of the
work should be entered, along with a small sample
(1 metre x 1 metre maximum) of the original work.
8. All entries will be retained by National Print
Awards. However, if you do require your entry to
be returned, this must be noted on the entry form,
and pick-up arranged before 30 June 2015, at the
entrant’s cost. After this date, all entries become
the property of National Print Awards and will be
disposed of.
9. Entries of value should be insured by the
entrant. Although every care is taken, National
Print Awards accepts no responsibility for any
entry that is lost or damaged whilst in their
possession or in transit.
10. Entries will be restricted to four entries per
category, per company. Companies may enter
as many categories as they choose.
11. The Judging Committee’s decision will
be final.
12. Where a duplicate entry of the same item
is entered into the same category by different
entrants, priority will be given to the printer’s
entry and the subsequent entry and payment will
be returned with a letter of explanation to the
other entrant.
13. Your entry form must specify a category
in which to enter the piece. An entry may be
recategorised at the Chief Judge’s discretion
and the entrant notified.
14. In the event of low entry numbers in a
particular category, the entries from that category
may be combined into another suitable category.
15. Entries, regardless of category or format, that
promote any organization within the scope of the
printing industry, or which feature the printing
company or entrant’s name as a prominent feature
of the entry, will be classified as “self-promotion”.
For more information contact:
National Print Awards
Unit 3, 5 -7 Compark Circuit,
Mulgrave VIC 3170.
Telephone 03 8541 7333, Facsimile 03 9561 8780
[email protected]
Filling out the entry form
An official entry form must be completed for each
entry (photocopies are acceptable) or download
additional forms at www.nationalprintawards.com.au
Section A of the entry form is used to catalogue
all entries and is not shown to the judges. Attach
Section A to the front of your entry with a paper
clip or similar.
Section B is for technical details to be considered
by the judges. Ensure you do not have your business
name or any identifying information written on this
section. Tape Section B to the back of your entry.
What happens when you win?
Finalists will be notified by post.
All Medal winners, as well as Major Sponsor
Award winners, will be recognised during the
Awards presentation in Sydney on Friday 15th May
2015. Gold medal winners will have their medals
presented on stage.
Who receives the award?
The printer of the entry is the recipient of the
award except in the case of the Embellishment
category, where the Award will be made to the
Embellisher.
All businesses associated with the job that have
their name clearly stated on the entry form, will
be acknowledged in the awards book and on the
National Print Awards website.
Closing date:
Entries close 5pm Friday
12 December 2014.
Judging
The judges are appointed by National Print
Awards for their expertise across the various
categories. Entries have all the production
information removed before judging and are
identified by number only to ensure complete
independent and unbiased assessment.
The submitted sample will be assumed to
be representative of the total run.
Judges Tips
Remember, these awards are for Excellence
in Print so....
1. Don’t leave it until the last moment to select
your entries for submission. When a suitable job
comes in, carefully check during the run and keep
some perfect copies for potential entry
in the National Print Awards.
2. Supply duplicate copies whenever possible;
(to allow for damage in transit etc). The judges
will always check the second copy if a problem
appears to be not the printer/print finisher’s error.
3. Consider entering the same entry in more than
one category to increase your chances
of winning.
4. Ensure good presentation - creased
or folded prints do not maximise the appearance
of the entry.
5. Fill out all the criteria required on the entry
form carefully and accurately, describing the
processes that went into the job, (including the
machine), difficulties in production, details of
embellishment or specific effects required by
the customer.
Judging (continued)
6. Examine the entire job with a magnifying
glass, the Judges will! Check and re-check
before submission. At least two judges will look
at every page.
7. The Judges will be looking for:
• Perfect registration – mis-registration is the most
common fault in ALL categories
• Total absence of all forms of hickies and spots
• Reverse type that fills in
• Precise page line-ups and even colour continuity
across the print
• No mottle, setoff, scuff, scratches or other
marking
• In digital, no banding, gloss differentiation, guide
marking, adhesion wicking, bleed
• In solvent based systems, no filling in, tailing, dot
skip (and especially no mottle)
In addition to print appearance, judges may also
consider:
• Quality of image preparation, bleed and plate fit.
• Accuracy of finishing – folding, binding, trimming
and assembly.
• Cleanness and precision of die-cutting and other
embellishments
The Judges also assess the degree of difficulty and
the skill required in producing the job. This is the
real evidence of good printing management, not just
good luck!
The National Print Awards committee
acknowledge with grateful thanks the continuing
support of our major sponsors and patrons.