Custom Notebook Builder Guide
How to utilise branding options for bespoke notebooks
Bring to life your custom branded notebooks with a variety of bespoke elements. Stand out from the crowd using standard stock and create a completely unique notebook for your brand.
At Sycal, we can offer a variety of eye-catching options for notebook customisation including, tipped pages, coloured edging, edge-to-edge printing, sustainable paper and much more.
Paper Options
Choose from a range of paper stocks that suit the purpose of your pad, whether you’re making notes on lined paper, doodling some designs on plain or need something sturdier that’s water resistant like stone paper.
While white-coloured paper is usually standard, we can source pads with cream, recycled, and FSC-certified paper.
Lined Paper
Plain Paper
Dot
Stone Paper
Cover Branding Options
Almost every branding method is possible with notebooks, you can even combine different techniques, like print and deboss, to elevate your design.
Foil blocking adds luxury and sophistication to your design and is considered one of the most durable printing techniques.
On the other hand, pad printing is extremely versatile, cost-effective and often has short lead times. Pad printing allows you to match Pantone-coloured inks to your design with minimal variation when repeated.
Pad Print
Foil Blocking
Debossing is great for subtle and elegant designs, it can create a more premium finish across any material. Depending on the material used, the heat from the stamp can sometimes leave a darker contrasting colour which gives depth to your artwork.
Digital Print creates bright, bold and eye-catching designs, from detailed images to complex patterns. This print method allows for gradients which cannot be achieved with pad or spot print.
Deboss
Digital Print
Edge to edge allows you to use your entire notebook cover as space to fill with artwork and maximise your branding. With non-restricted space and continuous design, edge-to-edge creates an immersive cohesive look.
Flocking is a unique print method which adds fabric particles to your cover. This entices consumers to touch and engage with the notebook, adding a secondary sense to interact with your artwork.
Edge to Edge
Flocking
UV or Lacquer print has two purposes for print, it can be used to coat a digitally printed image resulting in sharper colours and a quality finish. On the other hand, it can be used to highlight elements of a design by being strategically placed to make aspects of your artwork pop.
Pantone Matching is as simple as that, provide a Pantone whether it be from your logo or colour scheme and create a notebook in that same colour. Ideal for creating uniformity across your stationery, especially with a Pantone Matched pen.
UV / Lacquer
Pantone Match
Extra Branding Options
There are a variety of optional extras to consider for your branded notebooks that give you, even more, finesses to customise with your branding or marketing message.
Tipped pages are a lower-cost way to add extra pages into your notebook with more information that doesn’t require the set-up of bespoke printed paged book blocks. You can add 2 or 4 additional pages to either the front or back of your notebook.
Printed end pages are an even lower-cost alternative for adding extra information or imagery as it doesn’t require adding sheets into your book block.
Printed End Pages
Tipped Pages
Edge printing gives the ability to add colour or print to the edge of your book, this print method is unique and allows your notebook to stand out from any angle.
Clasps and closures make any notebook feel more premium and keep your contents firmly closed while travelling. These clasps can be a simple buttoned strap to a professional enamelled logo.
Edge Printing
Clasps & Closures
Belly bands are ideal for including temporary information such as welcome message for new starters. They provide additional information without impacting the design of the notepad that can easily be recycled. These also suit notebooks intended for retail and gifts, adding an extra protective barrier.
If you’re looking for bespoke wording, dates, lining, imagery or logos printed throughout your pages, printed pages allow you to customise the entire inner pages of your notebook. This option can often be priced higher, but it has a significant impact on those using the book.
Belly Band
Printed Pages
Binding Options
Sewn bound is considered the classic binding technique for notebooks, this allows for a more durable and bulky book block. Sewn bound allows notebooks to lie flat and is often considered more environmentally conscious as it does not involve adhesives. Our suppliers mainly provide sewn spines, however it’s good to look out for glue-bound notebooks, these tend to be cheaper but also have the possibility of pages dropping out.
Wire-o notebooks offer great flexibility in that you can flip your pages 360°. The metal loops offer greater durability and can range in a variety of sizes to hold great amounts of paper. Wire-o notebooks are great for rapid note-takers and allowing speed when flipping through pages.
Sewn Spine
Wire-o
Cover Material Options
There are vast amounts of materials used to cover notebooks. As technology and focus on sustainability evolve, more and more materials are created.
PU is the classic low-cost material on traditional notebooks, this material is a plastic alternative to leather as it achieves the same texture and sheen. Recycled PU, made from plastic bottles, also offers the same texture but is sourced more sustainably.
Materials can range from paper, cork, cotton, denim, stone, and even recycled organic waste such as apples! Switching your notebook cover material to paper can even make your entire notebook recyclable.
PU
Paper
Recycled Materials
Fabric
Additions and Extras
Traditional notebooks usually include an elastic closure and ribbon marker, however, we work with notebook manufacturers that allow complete customisation when designing your pad.
Our bespoke notebooks have 50 different colours for elastic closures, ribbon markers and even pen loops, all with Pantone references to find the closest match to your branding.
Add extra durability and reinforcement with sewn edges, or use them to simply incorporate another colour into your cover. Handy pockets and cardholders can also be added to your notebook to hold extra loose sheets and business cards; ideal for networking, meetings and attending events.
Elastic Closure
Sewn Edges
Pen Loop
Card Holder
Pockets
Ribbon Marker
There are many possibilities when creating your own bespoke branded notebook. If a customisation option isn’t listed here that you’d like to enquire about, please get in touch and we’ll help build your custom notebook.
We work with several book manufacturers in the UK and abroad with years of experience and knowledge to help us build the perfect promotional notebook for your business.
Please note that some options may have a MOQ, for example, Pantone Matched notebooks start at 100 units, and Flocking is 500 units. More complex design elements will have a longer lead time.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Whether you have an upcoming marketing campaign, event, or promotional drive, Sycal is here to help.
With decades of experience and success at your disposal, speak to our team of branded merchandise experts today.
Want to see the benefits of promotional merchandise? Click here to find out more.
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MERCHANDISE FULFILMENT AND DROPSHIPPING SERVICES
Organising storage facilities and fulfilment channels shouldn’t need to be a time-consuming or expensive task.
At Sycal, we provide our customers with the opportunity to extend their corporate branding initiatives to ensure their logo and messaging is in front of consumers as efficiently as possible.
We help brands build innovative ranges of promotional products, and host them on bespoke web stores and online fulfilment platforms. With free product storage and distribution options, these online portals help staff, clients, and consumers source your products quickly and conveniently.
Fully integrated for e-commerce, easy user navigation and secure checkouts, getting your products in the hands of your customers has never been easier.
