The non-profit organization I contribute to has decided to stop spending money on professional print services and use black & white photocopys for any campaign (recruitment, fund raising, etc.).
I think that will make difficult to communicate with our target, diminish our corporate identity and, in short, result on a waste of resources.
The problem is that I am unable to persuade them, and I think it’s because a lack of scintific knowledge about the effects of “cheap” supports over target individuals. Or maybe because I’m wrong and that ugly dirty papers are great…
So the question is: what are the PROs and CONs of using low-cost supports as photocopies?
Answer
To me (a designer), a company (non-profit or otherwise) using b&w photocopies as their unique print communication comes across as on a shoestring or no budget, amateurist, college-back-room and underground, maybe even semi-legal. I can’t really call this a pro or con — If these are associations your company and your target audience and benefactors will value, then it’s worth a shot. Fair chance, though, is that they don’t, and will not feel like they are being taken seriously.
One of the possbile biggest cons is that b&w photocopies will simply never stand out. Barring some really good (and thus expensive) designs, your publications are going to be ignored and cast aside as easily as the cheap material they are made with. Depending on how and where you distribute your printings, this could be not more or less relevant.
As Horatio pointed out, downscaling your print to b&w photocopy is a rather pointless exercise expense-wise, unless you’re currently printing at an expensive printer and on luxury stock. These days, there are online printers who are barely more expensive than photocopiers.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : simbirsk , Answer Author : Vincent