If you’re tired of cobbling together business cards, mailers, or brochures that don’t look—or feel—like your brand, you’re not alone. This guide is for marketers, designers, and anyone who wants to actually get branded collateral done without getting lost in the weeds. We’ll walk through the real process of using Pfl, a platform for creating and printing branded materials, and I’ll be straight with you about what’s worth your time and what isn’t.
Whether you’re a small business or you just got “put in charge of collateral,” you’ll find what you need here. Let’s cut through the fluff and get started.
Step 1: Get Your Brand Assets Straight
Before you even log into Pfl, make sure you’ve got your brand materials together. Trust me, hunting for logos and fonts during setup is a recipe for headaches.
What you need: - High-res logo file (SVG or PNG) - Brand colors (hex codes, not “that kind of blue”) - Brand fonts (downloaded, not just named) - Any required legal text or disclaimers
Pro tip: If your brand guidelines live in a Google Doc or a PDF, keep it open. You’ll reference it a lot.
What to skip
Don’t spend hours perfecting your “brand story” for collateral. Focus on visuals and key phrases.
Step 2: Set Up Your Pfl Account and Workspace
Sign up, log in, and poke around the dashboard. Pfl’s interface is built for business users, so it’s not going to feel like Adobe or Canva. That’s fine—its strength is print fulfillment, not fancy animations.
Quick setup checklist: - Create an organization or team if you need others to help. - Upload your logos and color palette. - Set up your shipping address—seriously, do this now or you’ll forget.
Heads-up: Pfl sometimes hides features behind paywalls or tiers. If you don’t see something you expect (like advanced templates), check your plan before spiraling.
Step 3: Pick Your Collateral Type
Pfl offers a lot of products: business cards, postcards, brochures, folders, and more. Here’s how to decide:
- Start small. If this is your first run, test with something cheap like postcards or business cards.
- Skip the weird stuff. Unless you know you need branded socks, stick with the basics.
When you select a product, Pfl will show you available sizes and finishes. Glossy, matte, recycled—pick what matches your brand, but don’t overthink it. Most customers won’t care if your postcard is “velvet touch.”
Step 4: Use (or Ignore) the Templates
Pfl has built-in templates for most products. Some look fine; others feel like a time warp to 2010. Here’s the honest take:
- Use templates: If you want speed, use a template and swap in your logo/colors.
- Import your own: If you have a designer, upload a print-ready PDF. Just check Pfl’s bleed and margin specs—print shops are picky.
- Don’t get stuck customizing: Minor tweaks are fine, but don’t spend an hour moving a logo 3 pixels. Good enough is good enough.
What to watch out for: Some templates are locked down. If you can’t move an element you hate, try a different template or start from scratch.
Step 5: Drop in Your Content
Add your details: names, contact info, taglines, and any legal disclaimers. This is where typos sneak in, so:
- Double-check phone numbers and URLs
- Use real info, not “insert name here”
- Preview before you move on
Pro tip: For teams, Pfl has variable data options. That means you can upload a spreadsheet of names/addresses and auto-fill cards or mailers. Saves a ton of time—and typos.
Step 6: Customize Print Specs (But Don’t Go Overboard)
You’ll see options for paper weight, coating, edge styles, and so on. Here’s what actually matters:
- Paper weight: Standard is fine. Only go heavier for a luxury look.
- Finish: Matte hides fingerprints; gloss pops color.
- Quantity: Order a small batch first. Print errors are real.
Skip expensive upgrades unless you know it’s worth it for your audience.
Step 7: Proof, Proof, Proof
Pfl has a digital proofing tool. It’s not perfect, but it’ll help you catch most issues.
- Zoom in—check for blurry logos or fuzzy text.
- Make sure nothing’s getting cut off by bleed.
- Look for typos, especially in contact info.
What doesn’t work: Don’t trust how colors look on your screen. Print colors always shift a bit, so if you’re picky, order a single proof first.
Step 8: Approve and Print
Once you’re happy, hit approve. Pfl will take care of printing and shipping. You can usually track the order from your dashboard.
Keep in mind: - Print times vary—rush shipping costs more. - Budget for a small delay, especially if you’re new.
Step 9: Manage and Reorder
Pfl saves your designs and orders, so you don’t have to start from scratch next time.
- Use “reorder” for new batches—just update details if needed.
- Archive old collateral you don’t want anyone using.
Pro tip: Set up approval workflows if you’re at a bigger company. You don’t want a rogue employee printing 5000 off-brand flyers.
What Works (and What Doesn’t) in Pfl
The Good
- Print fulfillment is reliable—stuff shows up looking like you expected.
- Variable data is a lifesaver for large teams or mailers.
- Templates save time if you’re not picky.
The Not-So-Good
- Design tools are basic. Don’t expect Canva-level flexibility.
- Some templates feel dated.
- Pricing can creep up fast with upgrades and shipping.
What to Ignore
- Gimmicky print finishes unless you have a clear reason.
- Over-customizing templates—no one’s framing your business card.
- Anything that takes more than 20 minutes to set up. Move on.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Designing branded collateral in Pfl doesn’t need to be complicated. Get your assets together, pick a template (or upload your own), and get something in people’s hands. Don’t chase perfection—get a batch out there, see how it lands, and tweak as needed. Your brand’s consistency matters more than obsessing over paper thickness or foil stamping.
You’ll get faster (and better) each time you go through the process. The key: keep it simple, don’t overspend, and don’t be afraid to hit “order.” That’s how you actually get your brand out in the world.