Send it in an Envelope

Envelopes seem like this monotonous ugly thing that true adults seem to have around. But once you take a closer look at what they are for and how they help get things from here to there, they aren’t half bad.

As a designer and soon to be new business world adult I’ve learned a bit about how envelopes are needed and important for companies and businesses. Through google searches and print/paper companies, MOO and Neenah Paper, I have learned about different types of envelopes, when to use them, and how fun looking they can be! So let’s just tear right in shall we?

Commercial

As commercial envelopes were designed for machine insertion, allowing a machine to quickly inset a large amount of letters into envelopes in a shorter amount of time, it makes them ideal for invoices, direct mail, and all those “To Resident” or auto name filled letters. Sometimes people will use them for sending out their personal letterheads to a client or for the everyday personal use. The most common size for these are #10’s. What does that mean? Well, envelopes have standard sizes 4 1/8 inches high by 9 1/2 inches long a #10 means that it is meant to hold a normal old 8 1/5 by 11 inch paper.

Still kind of confusing? Don’t worry I get it.

Square Flap

Now a square flap is not a whole envelope as I’m sure the word flap may have tipped you off, but none the less important to know. When folding closed the envelope the flap you fold can be a commercial flap which is the triangle shape or as we are stating here a square flap meaning it will be parallel to the sides of the envelope. (view bottom right envelope on image below, side-seamed).

As I stated before #10’s (commercial envelopes) are designed for machine insertion. Whether or not that #10 has a square flap or not determines if it can be used in a machine. Often times these are used for smaller audiences mailings and are better suited for personalization with thermography, engraving, etc.

Side-Seamed

A side-seam is part of four common seams, center, diagonal, side, and weld. But let’s focus on side-seams. The seams I am speaking of are how the envelope was folded to make the shape. Being the parts that fold onto each-other to be glued and held together. Seams can be placed on the inside or outside of the envelope. These types of seams are often used because of the wide space they allow for on the back of the envelope making it ideal for extra printing!

A-Style & Square

Remember getting your family-friends wedding or graduation invite? Or that one family member’s, the one you aren’t to sure how you’re related to? Well this is the type of envelope you more than likely got the invite in as these are commonly used for social announcements, invitations, and maybe even some promotional pieces.

Square styled envelopes are practically the same thing as A-styled envelopes. They do command attention against the typical rectangle with their durability, allowing you to add 3D accents to your invites, and a modern square shaping for the envelope and flap.

Business Announcement

These types are typical for businesses, booklets, and informal invitations due to the large available colors and finishes. They tend to have square flaps, as noted at the beginning, and are often more square in overall shape.

Booklet

Booklet envelopes are great for heavy-duty mailing such as annual reports, sales materials, and proposals. These have side openings making them able to be used in automatic insertion mailing, just like #10 envelopes.

Catalog

These are very similar to the booklets in that they are great for heavy-duty mailing materials. Where they differ is that catalogs are great for presentation material, catalogs, and multi documents. But the biggest difference is where the booklet opens on the long side, the catalog opens on the short edge. (See example above).

Now that wasn’t too bad, was it?

This is just a portion of the world of envelopes, there are plenty of opportunities find more and create more. As a designer and for anyone who has their own business knowing what types of envelops I have around is important.

I stated in my More Than Just a Piece of Paper I mentioned how paper can make an impact in a users experience through the feeling and visual of the paper choice. This can also extend into you envelope (smaller use needs) by having envelopes purchased or custom made in your brand’s paper. Doing so allows the experience through multiple levels for clients as well as setting a rememberable standard for your brand. After all the graphic logo (graphic identity) and name (typographic identity) are only a portion of the brand.

Now you’ll know what type of envelope you need next time you’re at the store rather than staring blankly at all the options. Have fun mailing!