Name tag content

Name Tags are an essential part of any event where nobody knows everybody. They will have both your institution's brand, as well as variable registrant content such as name, class year, etc. The name tag stock (paper) will be pre-printed with your specified design and then used with our thermal printers, which prints all of the variable content in black. This guide will help you to provide specs to your design team, start discussing the content layout, outline costs, and help you ensure everything is ordered in time to show up on campus.

Our timeline requires that we place the order 4 weeks in advance to ensure timely delivery. Therefore, we ask that you share the first draft of design at least 6 weeks in advance; the remaining 2 weeks will allow us to confirm costs, and give you ample time to make adjustments and final approval.

Paper Size

The amount of variable content you want to print on the tag (and how readable you want it to be from a distance) will drive the decision of what size to use.

To avoid overcomplicating matters further, AlumnIQ supports a predefined set of stock sizes.

(BP) 3.625"x 5.5" Backstage Pass

• Larger size allows ample space for content

• Inserts into badge holder attached to lanyard

• Most popular for reunions/homecomings

(43) 4"x 3" Single Side

• Standard name tag size for basic content

• Insert into badge holder with lanyard, magnet or clip

• Can also clip directly to paper for short events (dinners and similar)

(43F) 4"x 6" Foldover

• Same content on both sides (4”x 3” each side)

• No need for badge holder, attach directly to lanyard

• Not recommended for 2-3 day events as they may bend and rip

(ST) 3.5" x 2.5" Sticker

• A slightly smaller version of the 4x3 for use with sticker stock (it just looks proportionally nicer)

Cost will be based on 3 things: size, quantity, and design (number of colors).

Layout Options

Once you've selected a size, you'll then need to think about where to apply your branding and how that will work around the dynamic/variable content.

A word about Color

Our printers are thermal for both speed and durability. That means you can't print colors in real time. Anything colorful must already be on the stock (paper or sticker). Our printers only yield up content in greyscale.

The most common option is to put your branding (institutional and/or event) at the top. But we are seeing increased use of bottom artwork, which prioritizes and elevates name content -- an entirely appropriate decision given the primary purpose of the name tag.

Layout A

Design at bottom, QR code to right side. Room for icons above and below (prefer below) the QR code. Supports at most 4 lines of copy at legible sizes.

Preferred due to left alignment of text makes for EASY readability.

Layout AF

Same as Layout A but in foldover format.

Layout B

Design at bottom, QR code to left side. Room for icons above and below (prefer below) the QR code. Supports at most 4 lines of copy at legible sizes.

Not as ideal because the eye needs to find the left margin to scan for name content.

Layout BF

Same as Layout B but in foldover format.

Layout C (most popular)

Design at top, QR code to left side. Room for icons above and below (prefer below) the QR code. Supports at most 4 lines of copy at legible sizes.

Preferred due to left alignment of text makes for EASY readability.

Layout CF

Same as Layout C but in foldover format.

Layout D

Design at bottom, QR code to left side. Room for icons above and below (prefer below) the QR code. Supports at most 4 lines of copy at legible sizes.

Not as ideal because the eye needs to find the left margin to scan for name content.

Layout DF

Same as Layout D but in foldover format.

Backstage Pass sizes

Because of the increased tag size, you may be tempted to put artwork at the top and bottom - that's fine, but keep in mind every quarter inch of vertical you take away also shrinks the available space for larger names (a frequent request) or more visible icons.

Cost is largely a factor of Quantity and Color

More colors = higher cost. If you can convince your designer to simplify to reduce color count your plating fees will reflect it.

More stock = higher cost, though marginal additions of 1k blocks is cheap insurance!

The quantity you order is not solely based on your expected attendance. Consider if you will be printing a list of ribbons for certain people, if you are printing any tickets (for admission or giveaways), and of course reprints. The minimum quantity per order is 1,000 and must be ordered in increments of 1,000. One final consideration: if you will be sharing the stock among several printers (12+) throughout the event, order extra!

Also, particularly for rolls of sticker stock, you'll end up ordering more than you expect if you're running a lot of machines in parallel. Unlike paper (which is delivered in fanfold bricks), we can't break up rolls.

Running out of paper is a nightmare scenario best avoided.

Stock invoices typically fall in the $800-1800 range. Reprints of an already-plated print are very cheap.

Design/Art

We will work with you to share your design with our name tag partner, Apogee, and provide you with a proof as well as the anticipated cost. You will approve the final specifications before the order is placed. When working on the design, our recommendation is to keep it in the 2-3-4 color range. Most of our customers manage to keep it to 2 thanks to thoughtful consideration for shades of the selected colors. The cost will increase if using 3 colors, and increase more if using 4+ colors.

The variable printed content can only render on the paper itself, not on top of any artwork, so please keep that in mind during the design process. If you are designing both a header and footer on the Backstage Pass, give us between 3.5" and 4" of whitespace to print on and we'll be good.

• Header artwork should not exceed 1¼” on Backstage Pass

• Footer artwork should not exceed ¾” on Backstage Pass; most customers keep it to ½”

• For the 4"x 3" size, use a header OR footer, not to exceed ¾”, but ideally ½”

• Any borders will reduce the space for content, likely reducing text size and are not recommended

In summary, here’s what we need from you for the order: [ ] Paper size [ ] Order Quantity [ ] Print-ready PDF [ ] Design files [ ] Final artwork approval

What you will get from us: [ ] Proof of artwork for approval [ ] Final Order Cost [ ] Expected shipment arrival date

What you will acquire on your own: [ ] Badge holders [ ] Lanyards

Dynamic Content

Before you dive in, explore our nametag gallery for inspiration!