Envelopes / Bags

An envelope is a wrapping made of paper or other material that is generally used for inserting elements like cards, letter paper, brochures or any other document in order to deliver them by hand or send them by post (mailing).

In the latter case, the envelope can be designed to incorporate the corresponding postage, the recipient on the front and the sender on the back.

Definition

There are several types of envelope design: Without window and with window (right or left).

Depending on the closing system used for the envelope, we can distinguish the following types of envelopes:

  • Adhesive free
  • Normal moistenable or gummed closure
  • Silicone strip closure

Some of the envelopes have an easy opening system consisting of a perforated line on the flap that opens easily when pulled.

Envelopes of larger dimensions and side closure are generically called bags. That is, while envelopes have the opening on the long side, bags open on the short side.

According to their flaps, we find the following classification:

  • Contour flap or classic envelope: Triangle-shaped flaps.
  • Konstancia envelope: Straight flap, trapezoidal flap or rounded flap.
Format

The most commonly used dimensions for envelopes are as follows:

  • DL envelope (110x220 mm) and (115x225)
  • Commercial (120x176 mm)
  • DL envelope (110x220 mm) and (115x225)
  • Commercial (120x176 mm)
  • C4 (324x229 mm)
  • C5 (229x162 mm)
  • C6 (114x162 mm)
  • B4 (353x250 mm)
  • B5 (250x176 mm)
  • B6 (176x125 mm)
  • Square (165x165 mm), (175x175) and (220x220)
  • Long sheet (260x360 mm)

and of course it is possible to manufacture custom or special envelopes and bags outside of these common formats.

Printing

Automatic envelope machines use flexographic printing to print. However, Offset printing is higher quality and is applied to already manufactured envelopes and, above all, prior to the manufacture of the envelope, starting from both sheet and reel.

Although there are other less usual printing procedures: Typography, screen printing, hot foil stamping, dry stamping...

As to be expected, envelopes and bags are printed on the outside, and this can be done in several ways:

  • colour (four-colour)
  • in black
  • in two colours
  • in Pantone colours
  • a combination of all of them

It is possible to print the envelope on the inside and this is obviously done before manufacture and gives the paper opacity, confidentiality for its content and added personality.

Medium

The most common material for the manufacture of standard envelopes and bags is white offset (from 90 grams to 150 grams).

However, it is not the only material that can be used, as any special type of paper in any weight up to 150 grams can be used to make envelopes. E.g.: metallic, laid, coated...)

However, there are special types of envelopes that require other types of specific media to meet their function, among these are the following:

  • Kraft paper
  • Synthetic
  • Padded bags, with bubble padding for protection
  • Laminated paper
  • Expandable bags, the sides of which have a fold of paper to make them wider when opened out
  • Reinforced envelopes and bags that have very resistant threads within the paper that prevent breakage
Tips

Printing envelopes and bags is a very versatile and practical way to send invoices, notifications or any type of document you like inside.

Within the company's stationery, the envelope or bag with the corporate colours is a fundamental element to portray the company's image to its customers.

On the other hand, one of the greatest utilities we can give to envelopes and bags is their use in sending mass mailings of documents.

Mailing is a fast, cheap and direct system of contacting potential consumers of a good or service. The key principle to achieve good impact in a campaign is to have an up-to-date database with which to customize the mailing.

Depending on the units to be sent, it will be necessary to put the mailing elements in envelopes by hand or use specialized machinery to automatically envelop, address and customize these shipments.

Each mailing requires a specific type of envelope or bag, depending on the size of the elements contained in the mailing.

An initial attractive and appealing message on the envelope is important so that the mailing does not go straight in the bin. For this, we recommend printing it in attractive colours, displaying a message that raises curiosity and invites the recipient to open it, and giving it a special texture or shape, if possible, to make it stand out.