May have asked this before... its been a while.

Been buying inks for our HP designjet 5500ps from Mac Mall, Media too, believe it or not, they beat out HP pricing.
But, got a crappy sales rep... HP reps are worse.

Anyone know of a good place to buy inks?
Time to price shop...

http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/server/

May have posted this before... sorry if so.
Keep seeing this Mac Mini server. & we want to move all our art files to a Mac.
(we dont have an extra one around thats good enough for a Server)
use our Netgear ReadyNAS as backup only.

Never had a server before. Is this a good deal? Does anyone have or would you buy?

anyone ever seen this?

Just bought 3- Lacie Referb firewire drives. One took a shit after 14 day return policy
(just contacted Lacie, so can get exchange - 90 warranty, luckily)
The other 2 seem to be working fine. (showed external power source online... but came with USB to A/C power adaptor... BUT said Time Machine Ready??)
 I plug in both the Firewire(Data.. but powers) & Plug in USB to A/C power adaptor to give it an extra boost of power (i hope?) (no data via USB... usb for power only)

Anyway... think we just have 1 bad drive... the other two SEEM to be fine, we'll see.
(the one that went bad... had a funny vibration. Time Machine did not see it, locked up computer... had to re-format with disk utility... tried on different machine... worked for a week. Took a shit / Hung up on back-up... disk utility says its fine, but wont backup >>> its going back to LACIE)

We will NEVER buy Lacie AGAIN (even though Apple supports them on their website... 2nd time had issues with a Lacie Drive... last one was several years ago)

Anyone use Time Capsule from Apple ($299 for 2TB think?) Wireless Time Machine Backups?
If so... how fast is it?

Also, what has everyone else been using for Time Machine Backups?
Any good deals on Good & Solid External Drives... with Good Warranty.
& been leaning towards Firewire... because dont want any lag on CPU... or will USB 2.0 be just fine??
-the first and only Time Machine I've used & setup... on my Mac.. external Maxtor (now Seagate)
1TB Firewire drive & has worked GREAT for YEARS (:

Thinking of going to Best Buy... Seagate 2TB firewire for $110 w/ 2 year WARRANTY(:
(only buying stuff with solid warranties for Business, for now on... even personal... now a days... with how they just Mass Produce & Slap everything together in China. Never know...)

our main client... most all designer files come in as process.
for example. we have a 2 different 2-Color logos.
one is Green and Gray... converts to PMS 329 & 425 C
the other is Blue & black... converts to PMS 661 & process black.

Working with PDF files. I use PitStop to covert every time. Is there an easier way.. or can i make this automated.
(guessing i could make a PitStop Action? Add to Action List Been a while... where is Matt Beals? haha)

Ok.. if you seen any of my previous postsss. We have this ReadyGear NAS, which is used as a Server.
Our network sucks, Save back issues to server. Red Dots. Subfolders not copying, Etc. Blah Blah Blah.

we need to be able to work off the server. Everyone does anyway. leaves files open over night, etc.--- Im old school i guess, I copy local... do work... copy back. Feels Safer. and less network traffic. For quick fixes. i work off server of course.
We have new people starting & want to get this all fixed.

Will this work... Im willing to bet a weeks Pay. Just so they will buy. If  it dont work... I'll keep for myself guess. thats how sick of network issues. Just want to use NAS as we did before, like tape backups...  NAS for Backup ONLY. Not working off of... Just dont think their ment too be used as a "Server" 

http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/

Im excited Period that Mac seems to have made Simple Server software built into the New OS X as an option.
or is it a completely different thing? or just an Add-on that you can request.

want to go with the Mac Mini. Looks like a good price for what it is...

Just wondering... How many people are going to Update or Upgrade to 10.8?
& Why, Besides keeping up with newer software...

Looks like CS6 is Nice!!
(were on CS5 & think the CS5.5 was BS... 2 Macs on 5.5... im on 5... We all just need to upgrade to CS6 so no workflow issues)

 Anyone using CS6 yet? Photoshop & Indy look cool...nice new features.

& Does anyone use Creative Cloud... Thinking about using for my Mac. Since its an non Volume License. CS5. Need to update To latest OS 10.7 or whatever i see for tech spec issues.
But thinking getting Creative Cloud for 29.99 a month since they have a deal right now save 40%
(for non volume license i guess.. and mines the only one that is not. So Nows the time to test, if so..)

Worried about Legacy saving backwards to CS5.5 (they say still IDML files will be fine... and way to go for future, forget when they started using? Did not like at first, something about saving back a version, forget in CS3 or 4 pissed me off)
I understand you Still install (apps they call them now. hahah) local. Work local... Get all the goodies(:
Does it still work for normal Workflow? Save Local? Save down to CS 5.5 no problem??

I watched a few videos... They say its great and stuff. But I want Real PrePress Feedback!!

Hope its a Great Friday for Everyone!!
Enjoy Your Day!!
Thanks!

We got a ReadyNAS to handle our backup...
The way we did it b4 was using a Old Mac as a Server & Tape Backup. Simple.. Worked Fast & Great.

Now ever since we got this NAS device (I hate NAS... NO OS)
We lag... different Macs with 10.6 and above act funny.

From my machine for example Mac OS 10.5.8... I MUST double check EVERYTIME i save something back to the NAS. It will ask to overwrite the existing folder (or even if i put a new folder in) .. can see no progress bar. just a flash of it... Then it Zeros out all the Files and SubFolders with-in the Main Folder??

Driving me NUTZ & slowing us Down Big Time!! Thinking about using an old mac again as Main Server & having the NAS setup to just back-up the Mac at night.
(I know we could use a Server... But they wont buy after spending all the money on NAS)
Funny, but sucks... We were Faster B4 we had IT Geeks out setting up all new Switches, router, etc.
I really dont think anyone know what they are doing...
Any help or others who experienced this... be great to get put in the right direction.
(or just going to do some Google Research , take an IT night class or something.... its Ridiculous )
Help... 

My machine is on 10.5... I've hesitated to update to latest OS.
Because everything works fine. & dont want to have any issues.
Programs, network, printers, etc, etc.
But starting to notice it not being supported as much

I Do have Time machine Setup...
Any known issues with upgrading. Esp. Network & printers
&
If i do have issues... Can Time Machine Roll me back to 10.5 flawlessly?

See attached... I've used these settings for this job Many times.
And it usually seps it to Black.

Now cant get it to work?? Brain Fart?

Anyone have an idea... or better way? thanks

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8525742/RGB%20Black%20needs%20converted.pdf
(file was too big to attach... setting used are attached)

Just happen to go to the site ... Our current ver wont install on new imacs, guessing because 10.6.
Works on mine. Intel 10.5.8 (i dont see any reason to upgrade my mac to 10.6, seems buggy?)

But anyway... Did find they have a Free update 2.9b
http://www.quite.com/direct/anyupgrade.htm

Just plug in your serial... it will tell you if update. I dont know what or if any changes. Mby just some bug fixes. I will google it later. Sure some of you already know of this... Just thought I'd share

Without getting into a bunch of talk...

Anyone else have, seen or herd of Transparency issues....
Gray Transparency issues with Indy CS5, 5.5 or Acrobat X

We have had just a few jobs .... after the latest upgrade to imacs, Lion & CS5.5, etc. all on the latest versions. etc.
Thinking mby a software bug?

Twice now, Around a transparency. We had a Brown Vector Dear nose turn Gray. and now Type in a logo??
Trying to pinpoint... Fig I check here B4 Googling around.

Thanks!!

Hey quick question...

Looking at the system info on the new imacs we got 2.7ghz intel i5 (are they quad core??)
But it does not say Quad core like my older intel mac  (shows up as Quad-Core intel Xeon)

Is it because all new i5 chips are Quad Core??... Seen the Box and he shipping serial info says 2.7QC on it??

Thanks, about to call apple say whatsup?

Ok, I dont use the creep feature much... think ive asked same question over and over.

Saved a Reply from 06 prepressforums.com (see attached)

His Reply has been the only one that has made sense? But... Im finding need to shift the inside pages by a positive amount .14 (for 60pg Sig)... and my creep notes say shift by -.14 (neg amount??.. but when i shift by negative it does it backwards??) and why do I not shift outside pgs?? Idk...
This should be easy... but something not making sense.

got it to work by doing what you see Attached?? Any feedback.... Tks!!
(im sure its my OCD/ worrying too much, we hardly ever use creep... but Prod Mgr gives me a hard time, cuz he knows we can do it... makes me feel STUPID)

What's Your Favorite NEW Feature in CS5??

Haven't got to use much yet, but will be now that we Got New imacs!! and all on CS5 workflow...

So Far... for me, Content-Aware in PS. So nice...

Our HP DesignJet 5500ps UV ink... has been acting up.

Several restarts due to loss of connection. Then asked to have cyan printhead replaced.
Even though it was just a couple of month ago I replaced.

Then today, go to print. ALL printheads asked to be replaced. (some are 4years old... usually just run them till they ask) Ive had it ask b4 to replace ALL. So I recovered them (done this b4 to clean up when issues) Was fine all printheads ok.... Soon as I print NOW >>> Then Locks up. So Reboot and Normally comes back.
Did once.... printheads said OK. Soon as I sent job over... said preparing printheads. Then same thing... says printheads bad. ALL. WTF. NO WAY all bad @ once. Just replaced CYAN yesterday!!!

Now it wont boot past 70% on startup?? Kept fooling with, even faked it out to check out the printheads, cleaned up the gunk on the connectors. had issues with that b4. Got it to boot up b4 i did this.... idk how... just did.
but Like I said ... soon as I went to print. and says prep printheads. Then it says they are all bad...
Then Locks up. Then Reboot. Stuck at 70%????

Help? Anyone ever have this??

We got 2 older G5 towers, getting older...

Boss wants / thinking upgrading.
Told him I felt the imacs were the best bang for the buck to replace 2 stations.
Running CS3

Can anyone help...b4 I go Goggling around (funny google comes up in spell check, like a verb)
See new 22" imacs 1300 to 1500 depending guess. Thinking 4gb Ram would do??
Then since we at CS3 they want $950, per machine, might as well update every time, as they charge you based on how old verz your running. WTF.
Seems as if you pay the same at the end... and miss out on CS4, then being able to save back to CS4 to use CS3... Sneaky Bastards

So, think we looking @ $3Gs for 2 imacs & bout $1900 upgrades for 2 machines to CS5... So lets say $5,000 to do this??
Seems about Right...

Any better deals anyone know of?? Thought I'd check here first... b4 wasting lots time. Someone may have just delt with same....
Thanks!!

http://www.google.com/webfonts


I'm prob late finding this.... but VERY COOL
Can download and use.... so far so good. just tested one.


Wish you could just download the entire Google Font Lib 

Im wondering what others do...
Most of the time we have a B&W job... its not built that way. Ha. Sure most others deal with the same.
We just use the convert color tool in Acrobat.... pick Gamma gray 1.8 or 2.2 (never see much diff?)
Then Print... Or we print directly from the color, depending which looks better.
Is there a better way to do this?


Here is an example of color file after converting
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8525742/B4print%20Weird%20Gray%20haze%20Test.pdf


One of my questions... when we convert using acrobat to Gamma Gray 1.8 or 2.2....seems like there is a "haze" or transparency overlay. making everything look flat. When I select a Pic, using the edit orig tool in acrobat. Open it in PhotoShop. Looks different. Nice... Not like a haze overlay???
Is there a way to make it look sharper?? With out editing every pic?