November 22nd, 2021
Posted in Proofing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Choosing an InSite Digital Proofing Workflow

Photo purchased from … www.depositphotos.com
Back in the 1990s when I was an art director, I actually sent our print books to press as pasted-up “mechanicals.” From these, the printers would make negatives and from these blueline proofs. Finally they would “burn” plates from the same negatives used for the bluelines. Late in the ‘90s I had switched to submitting artwork as digital files rather than as mechanicals, and the printers had begun to expose and process custom printing plates without the interim step of creating negatives. Read the rest of this entry »
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November 18th, 2021
Posted in Digital Printing | Comments Off on Commercial Printing: Sidestepping Flaws in Digital Printing

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To reverse the common maxim, “Every silver lining has a cloud.” This also holds true for digital custom printing, the relatively new technology that has brought to commercial printing both a much wider color gamut than offset printing and the ability to make each printed piece different from every other piece in the press run. Read the rest of this entry »
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November 12th, 2021
Posted in Screen Printing | 2 Comments »

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My First Screen Printing Experience
The summer before college I worked (one on one) with a Mexican ceramics artist. He was the artist in residence at a church attached to a local high school. Night after night I would take a bus to his studio and learn (of all things, not pottery making but) custom screen printing. He was skilled at both disciplines. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Screen Printing | 2 Comments »
November 1st, 2021
Posted in Business Cards | Comments Off on Reasons to Print Handouts for Your Business

Businesses are always looking for ways to save time and money. Printing handouts with your logo or company information can be a great way to do both! With the use of color printing, you will also increase the visibility of your company’s message. If you’re interested in learning more about how to print handouts can help your business, keep reading! You’ll find out why it’s important that all companies have an effective marketing strategy that includes handouts.
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October 31st, 2021
Posted in Business Cards, Digital Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Printing Photos and Type on Cakes

Photo purchased from … www.depositphotos.com
About twenty years ago when I was consulting with a congressional publisher I attended a birthday gathering at which I saw my first printed cake. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the concept. I couldn’t picture how it had been done. Inkjet, I assumed, but I couldn’t envision the print heads elevated over a three-inch-deep sheet cake. Also, I thought about the health issues. How could you print on a cake and not compromise the health of those who ate it? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Business Cards, Digital Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Printing Photos and Type on Cakes
October 25th, 2021
Posted in Box Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: “Unboxing” the Subscription Box

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Marketers are geniuses. They have tapped into our innate desire to open pretty boxes. What subscription box (in fact, what opportunity to open any box) doesn’t bring back memories of Christmas morning, Chanukah, birthdays, and weddings? Something deep in the human brain just flips. Marketers understand. Now they own this experience. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Box Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: “Unboxing” the Subscription Box
October 18th, 2021
Posted in Security Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Protect Your Money and Documents with Security-Printing

Photo purchased from … www.depositphotos.com
When I read the news, sometimes it seems that identity theft and other forms of white collar crime constitute the fastest growing profession.
With that thought in mind I recently did some research on security printing, the branch of commercial printing focused on preventing fraud. I was pleased to see all the techniques and options this fast-growing arena of custom printing includes. The following paragraphs describe what I found. Read the rest of this entry »
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October 13th, 2021
Posted in Typography | Comments Off on Commercial Printing: Character and Mood in Typefaces

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In addition to providing content (the thoughts that words convey), typefaces provide a sense of character, tone, and value to the process of understanding these words. They tell you, often subconsciously, exactly how to feel about the words you’re reading. Read the rest of this entry »
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October 10th, 2021
Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Save Photos in RGB (Not CMYK) Format

Photo purchased from … www.depositphotos.com
I learned something today. A colleague of mine emailed me saying her book designer planned to save all photos in RGB rather than CMYK format. My colleague asked my opinion. So I did some homework. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Save Photos in RGB (Not CMYK) Format
October 6th, 2021
Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Selecting the Best Photos for Publication

Photo purchased from … www.depositphotos.com
If you look at the photo above, you’ll see a catastrophe in the making, a tornado just about to strike. It’s a powerful image. It also captures the emotions you might experience if you choose a bad photo for an important promotional piece. Believe me. I have made the mistakes noted below. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Selecting the Best Photos for Publication