June 14th, 2017
Posted in Rack Cards | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Design vs. Production of a Rack Card
In addition to brokering commercial printing and writing about printing, I also do a little graphic design on the side. I used to be an art director, and I like keeping my hand in computer aided publishing because it keeps me aware of what full-time designers go through in designing their projects and preparing them for print. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Rack Cards | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Design vs. Production of a Rack Card
June 5th, 2017
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: A Sample of Outstanding Design and Production
At a thrift store this week, my fiancee found a print book that is one of the best examples I have seen of effective book design and custom printing. It is exceptional on so many levels. A close examination of the book shows exactly what happens when book design is well executed, when the design reflects the content of the print book, and when the production qualities of the book support both the design and the content of the book. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 30th, 2017
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Finding Flaws in a Lenticular Book
My fiancee recently bought two copies online of the same lenticular book as gifts from two separate vendors. When she had both in hand, she was surprised to see differences between the two. Naturally enough, when she had bought the books, since they were two copies of the same title, she expected them to be the same. So she brought this to my attention and asked me what had happened. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Finding Flaws in a Lenticular Book
May 24th, 2017
Posted in Standees | Comments Off on Custom Printing: A Movie Standee Production Case Study
After seven years of installing standees at movie theaters, I received contact information for a potential print brokering client who needed standees both printed and installed. This was an intriguing opportunity, since I have experience in buying and selling commercial printing, as well as an understanding of the marketing goals and graphic techniques involved in producing large format print signage. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Standees | Comments Off on Custom Printing: A Movie Standee Production Case Study
May 16th, 2017
Posted in Large-Format Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Large Banner Stand Case Study Follow Up
I noted in a prior blog article that I had been working on a large banner stand project for a print brokering client. To review, it is a 10’ x 8’ large format print on a frame made up of thin metal poles at right angles to one another, with feet on either side that are perpendicular to the frame. Fortunately, this was exactly what my client had wanted, and I found photos online showing this specific product. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Large-Format Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Large Banner Stand Case Study Follow Up
May 10th, 2017
Posted in Large-Format Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Case Study for a Large Banner Stand
A client came to me today with a request for a large banner stand. I mean large: 10 feet by 8 feet horizontal. Since my fiancee and I assemble and install movie theater standees and hang movie banners and posters, I can fully appreciate the size and heft of a 10 foot by 8 foot banner. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Large-Format Printing | Comments Off on Custom Printing: Case Study for a Large Banner Stand
April 25th, 2017
Posted in Book Printing, Prepress | Comments Off on Book Printing: Handing Off PDF Files to the Printer
A print brokering client of mine is getting closer to handing off files to the book printer. She has been producing a 550-page cookbook in InDesign, including many hundreds of photos prepared in Photoshop. What makes this a challenge is that she is relatively new to Photoshop. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing, Prepress | Comments Off on Book Printing: Handing Off PDF Files to the Printer
April 22nd, 2017
Posted in Book Printing, Photos, Prepress | 2 Comments »
In spite of the promotional literature implying the ease with which one can seamlessly use Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, there really is a lot to learn. And when you’re using these programs together to prepare large book printing jobs for either offset printing or digital printing, the learning curve is even steeper. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing, Photos, Prepress | 2 Comments »
April 14th, 2017
Posted in Book Binding | Comments Off on Book Printing: Smyth Sewing Books for Strength
For our rest and relaxation, my fiancee and I spend long hours in thrift stores. She likes the clothes; I like the books. One benefit for my work as a commercial printing broker is that I see how print books age. I see the yellowed paper in the books from the ‘70s and ‘80s and the pristine paper and binding work in books close to 100 years old (i.e., due to their superior materials). Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Binding | Comments Off on Book Printing: Smyth Sewing Books for Strength
April 7th, 2017
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: More Thoughts on Printing Overseas
As with anything else in life, a discount often comes with a cost. Maybe not in cash, but in time, effort, and diligent study.
I’m brokering three jobs for three clients at the moment. All three jobs are books (two case-bound; one perfect-bound). In light of their due dates, I am entertaining the possibility of printing one or more of the jobs abroad, in the Far East. This would be my first time. One of my clients has been printing in China for a number of years, successfully. She gets unbeatable prices. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Book Printing | Comments Off on Book Printing: More Thoughts on Printing Overseas