Early Adopters Of High Speed Variable Data Printing For Highly Targeted Print Products.

Raff Printing invested early in high speed variable data printing technology and uniquely configurable software allowing businesses to custom print high quality, highly personalized printing products in quantity.

Variable Data Printing Services

Variable Data Printing From Raff Produces Incredibly Personalized, Targeted Communications.

Raff recognized the value of exponentially expanding amounts of audience consumer data and information, and how variable data printing production and hardware could distinguish truly personalized communications from the rest. The result was one of the first variable data addressing, printing and production lines available in Western PA.

From personalized first names and demographic information, to the insertion of unique purchasing history and distinguishing individual consumer characteristics—variable data printing technology makes for one-to-one communications that are highly specific and targeted. With results that drive response rates higher.

Learn more about our commitment to print technology.

Corporate Online Print Collateral Ordering

Raff Online Ordering Simplifies Client Reorders Through Digital StoreFront.

Raff Printing’s Digital Storefront allows clients to create unique, branded ordering pages for easy storage, access and management of document template reorders like business cards, collateral, flyers and more.

  • Create custom on-line templates featuring your corporate brand guidelines
  • Streamlined job submission integrates with an EFI MIS system for seamless business integration
  • Order and reorder at your convenience 24/7, from any location worldwide
  • Increase productivity and volume without increasing staff or costs
  • Improve client retention and satisfaction with direct access to Raff Printing services for materials you use often
Digital Variable Data Printing

Taking Personalized Communications To The Next Level At Raff

We’re helping you put CRM and aggregated data to work as effectively as possible with Raff’s Variable Data Printing.

  • 1-to-1 Individualized Printing & Mailing
  • Direct Mail, Campaigns & Outreach
  • Include Personal Preferences, Purchase History & More
  • Full service integration between printing & mailing
  • Online Ordering Capabilities

Request A Quote

Variable Data Printing Customer Support FAQs

What does variable date printing (VDP) mean?

Variable data printing is a printing technology that allows for incredibly distinct personalization of individual print pieces across an entire print run. VDP utilizes high-quality digital printing presses combined with template-driven products that use “variable data “ (information such as text, colors, images, or logos) that can be changed dynamically from printed piece to printed piece by inserting unique “data” for each piece. 

VDP relies on correctly planned, stored, and formatted data in a database (an Excel file, for example).

What types or products can Raff produce with variable data?

Specific promotional material, postcards, letters, mailers and more—basically any print product designed to be viewed and interacted with by a unique recipient can utilize variable data to better target and personalize that product.

How should I prepare my data files for printing?

Proper file preparation, coupled with print designs optimized to best present that data, are critical to efficient VDP.  If you are familiar with “form fields” in a responder or “fields” within a database, you already know the basics of file preparation for a variable data-driven project.    What you need to understand specifically is how your data and “fields” will transfer or “map” to the final printed product.

Whether it’s a name, address, unique headline or offer, a color, an image, a logo—each item that potentially changes from piece to piece must be included in the data you provide. In fact, it should be the only data you provide. By taking ownership and understanding of the data fields necessary to complete your project, you can save both time and money.

Raff will work closely with you (and your data) to determine whether or not it has been formatted properly for seamless integration into VDP.  While it is generally more cost-effective for you to prepare your data—we certainly can help!

What types of databases does Raff support?

Ideally, Raff prefers properly formatted Excel files --.xls .xlsx .csv.

Can Raff help me prepare my data files for print?

Yes. In fact—in a sense, we have to help you prepare your data to a certain degree because we must review your information to ensure it is properly formatted for the VDP process.

That means checking for like-sized images; unique, properly formatted form fields for names and addresses; specific associated information that might change piece to piece; even color choices and unique offers.  

We can provide guidance in advance to help you make the changes necessary to your data for seamless integration into your project.

What are common VDP data preparation errors?

The most common errors relate to uniformity and consistency of data from record to record, and the correct separation (or aggregation) of data that make it difficult to “map” to corresponding fields on the final printed piece.

Not separating first and last names into separate fields, combining multiple lines of address information into a single field, submitting different sizes or resolution for images (such as personal images on ID cards), and including extraneous information in data files not required by the project…. are by far the types of errors we encounter most.

We recommend you clean and prepare the data you own (you are the experts in that data, after all). However, we’re more than willing to help, so long as it is understood that data cleansing on our part may add time or additional cost to your project, depending upon the complexity of the “fix” we provide for you.

How can we put our remarkable variety of printing presses and experience to work for you?

Contact Raff today to start printing faster, better, easier and more cost effective!

Call Us:
412-431-4044
or:
Toll Free: 1-800-994-4044

 

47 years at Raff. 41 years at Raff. 33 years at Raff... Our people are our heart!

Many Have Been With Raff Printing So Long, We Really Are A Family.

Image of Harry Bard - Production Manager at Raff Printing
Harry Bard
Production Manager
Years With Raff: 38

Our guys seriously take pride in their work. They want everyone to have an excellent finished product. People stay here for a reason—me? I enjoy work, it’s close to home, and Raff treats me well. What’s not to love?

Image of Josh Ziegler - Bindery Specialist at Raff Printing
Josh Ziegler
Bindery Specialist
Years With Raff: 4

I enjoy working here with the people I work with every day. We’ve got father-and-son teams working here and there, including our ownership. That says something about a place. Raff is just a nice company to work for.

Dan Butler - Indigo Digital Press Operator
Dan Butler
Indigo Digital Press Operator
Years With Raff: 31

"I know how hard I work, and I see how hard my friends work, and I believe…we’ll put our workmanship up against anybody. Not just in the city or the state or the country, but on the whole planet.”

Jason Stoker - Shipping Supervisor
Jason Stoker
Shipping Supervisor
Years With Raff: Since Highschool

"I’ve worked here all my life. I knew some people that got me in the door. I started in the bindery shrink-wrapping… now I handle all the UPS, FEDEX, freight shipments and driver coordination."

Ron Loreski, Jr.  - Jet Press/Envelope Operator
Ron Loreski, Jr.
Jet Press/Envelope Operator
Years With Raff: 34

"We key on quality. We don’t want garbage going out of the building. You want a product? We’re going to give you that product and then some. We’re into our job—that’s why we’ve been here so long."

Mike Stull - Prepress Supervisor
Mike Stull
Prepress Supervisor
Years With Raff: 20

"Everything that comes in? We treat it as if it’s our most important job. We pay attention to make sure it gets done right. We call out file problems to clients and agencies because we care if it looks good."

Image of Keith Wank - Warehouse Manager at Raff Printing
Keith Wank
Warehouse Manager + More
Years With Raff: 32

I’ve been at Raff Printing for 32+ years. It has been a long and interesting journey — it’s more like working with family rather than fellow employees. I think ultimately that’s the Raff secret.

Ron Loreski, III - Variable Data/Mail Operator
Ron Loreski, III
Variable Data/Mail Operator
Years With Raff: 10

"My dad brought me in after high school and I’ve been here ever since. It’s like a family, really. I’ve been here 10 years and I’m probably the third newest employee! People stick together here."

Tim Hackel - Mail Operator
Tim Hackel
Mail Operator
Years With Raff: 15

"We’re full service. Really. If you come in with a mail piece, print, bind, address and mail, all in house. It all gets done. Done right. Right here.”