Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Magazines Canada magazine shows off boggling print solutions

Why go halfway when you can go all the way? At least that's what Magazines Canada seems to be saying. The spring issue of the twice-a-year Canadan Magazines Canadiens(CMC) showcase publication, to be officially released Wednesday (you can see it online now). It sets out to prove that the form of a printed page is only limited by your imagination -- or your budget. The cover focus is on what are called "splurge-worthy" print solutions, and the 72-page issue incorporates not one, not two but three of them:
  • An exploding page: a four-page insert that, when opened, unfolds and expands to almost twice its size It costs anywhere from $0.35 to $2.00 apiece depending on the size of the press run;
  • Webkeys: customizable and trackable paper-based USB webkey. These involve a small chip, layered between two pieces of paper that, when inserted into a PC or MAC USB port, automatically launches a web browser leading to a microsite or game;
  • The Snapperâ„¢, a folded page that snaps out on a cover (in this case) or interior page into a double page spread. (MC proudly says this marks the first use of this innovation on a magazine cover.) For a cover, it costs anywhere from $1.25 to $2.00 a unit depending on press run, inside page, slightly less.
The bells and whistles are provided through a collaboration with of designer and manufacturer Information Packaging, custom publisher Spafax (which produces CMC on behalf of Magazines Canada) and Dollco Integrated Print Solutions.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The digital version is not optimized for the computers which proves that even Magazines Canada still has a lot to learn about digital publishing and they are trying teach the industry what to do. Plus they are not using using Zinio that they are using for the digital newsstand, but Issu that is flash based and will not work on my iMac.Talk about the lack of strong leadership they tell all their members to use Zinio, but they use Issu for their magazine.

6:32 pm  
Anonymous Media Buyer said...

As a media buyer these novelties are interesting, but I doubt my clients can afford them or care for them. I would rather see some innovative online activities such as webinars and transactional marketing opportunities than just gimmicks that do not help me sell product.I would not recommend them to my clients.

6:42 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I applaud the effort the team at Magazines Canada, but it seems that Magazines Canada has no clue how to produce a magazine as they farm it out and make critical mistakes on how to produce an industry showcase that is world class. This magazine falls short of this goal.It seems this is just a waste of the taxpapayer's money.

12:01 pm  

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