PaperStudio Opens Small-Run Printing Web Site

Much of the world seems headed toward electronic everything, but start-up firm PaperStudio wants to find the right mix of the paper, digital, and online worlds. The firm has launched a Web site for consumers and small business users who want to avoid the high overhead of commercially printed greeting cards, business cards, pamphlets, letterhead, and other small-run output.

In practice, a customer downloads a free template for Microsoft's Word 97, customizes the content, and then prints it.

The templates are designed to fit specially prepared papers for either ink jet or laser printers that can be ordered at the site.

The paper is pre-cut using a patented technology called "PaperEdge" that perforates the paper to leave a clean edge when separated. When printed, the image bleeds over the perforation creating edge-to-edge coverage after the perforations are separated.

Currently, templates are available only for Microsoft Word 97, but Steve Lett, the firm's president, says the firm is currently preparing templates that will work with other desktop publishing products as well. The templates now available are designed to be simple and fast to use, Lett said.

The designs are free. The firm makes its money from sales of the specialty paper stock. The firm offers choices in glossy and matte, with perforations sized for greeting cards, business cards, postcards, table "tent," and even heart-shaped and round cutouts.

"This clean-edged, clean bleed technology is what makes our service stand out above other similar services," he added. "We try to make the process as easy and convenient as possible for new businesses that want to spruce up their image without spending a fortune on commercial printing."

"We have professional designers who have created the templates for us. Users can add in their own photographs, clip art or text, but the context is professional," Lett said.

Next to each design template, the firm suggests the paper stock or stocks best suited for that particular template.

The firm is on the Web at http://www.paperstudio.com.