This year is 30 years in Printing for me ... I've now worked for the same US company for almost 10 years through a couple of different W2s ... and I'm at a point I've seen EVERYTHING production related that comes attached to the printing of packaging, until today.

We went from Unwind 1-8-9-16 and now we are using unwind 17-18-19 and 20!
Didn't even know 17-20 existed!

Not complaining, especially since it SOLVED a problem with minimal fuss on future projects, I'm just shocked, I feel like I won a prize or something!!   
(but I don't really have a prize)


That's all, carry on troops! 

Preface: Yes, I know we shouldn't help people with their hobbies when it comes to Printing, but this woman was ready to dive in and help last month, as soon as she heard I was unemployed. She's from our industry, and knows why I "paused" when she asked!  

It's a straight 48x24 banner/1 color/less than 50 words, I've already done the text in Illustrator and working on a vector version of the logo ...
- Is there a preference on file format these days? 
- Do people work in AI nowdays? (AI is still my weakest program)

Any constructive advice/pointers welcome! 

Is it possible to reset/format/wipe a Mac and start over?
(I have a MacBook Pro the company doesn't seem to want back)

I got into a weird argument with an IT guy over my PC, he "demanded" I give him the key for a licensed version of Adobe Acrobat, which (ironically) I got from THIS SITE about 6 years back ... I don't have it.
Now I think they've forgot about the Mac, in their haste/annoyance!


I'm happy to send the Mac back to them, but REALLY would like to wipe the damn thing and avoid dealing with these people ever again.

Fast question... (not complicated)
Approximately how thick is a sheet of board to read 175# with a caliper?


(I hope I'm wrong... please be wrong.)

Hey anyone have any recommended guides to photographic printing out of Photoshop?
Pretty sure I have a profile issue, but have downloaded all the standard software.

My excuses so far:
Haven't tried to print from Photoshop in 5+(?) years,
The software was different back when I was working with CS2 and my OS was WinXP.


A friend's son has started doing photography and his prints are really MEDIOCRE, while his photo work is impressive after only a year at it. And I have 2 Epson's sitting here, thanks to a Craigslist addiction about 10 years ago...

I have a heap of BS work I'm sending out to a contract designer, for text changes ... I'm getting tired of it and would like to do them myself, when time permits. (It's quicker and saves on formality!)

AI doesn't like my font program though, any suggestions or recommendations?
Don't need to be free either - we're under budget this year, so I see a few new things in my future.

Hey all,
I'm getting my ass kicked the past few months as I try to "standardize" our layout details across 30+ printers, creating multiple items on EVERY medium you can print on.

Is there an industry standard anyone here has seen (or uses) for a Linetype Legend? Like a Key list of line types and what they are normally used to depict?
Something like this but a little more "all round":


I'm really just looking for a "good start", we're going to have to add things to it, but I have a whole team who have been beat up, trying to convey layouts with cut/score/perfs/copy limit/bleed/varnish areas, on ANYTHING or EVERYTHING printable. They are ready to get organized, after the past 6 months!



Yeah, I know, sounds like a big ask/mission impossible (I'm already threatening violence against co-workers over this idea when they offer "suggestions") so I thought I'd start here!

Hey all,
I'm posting this for my team, who use these guys to setup all our packaging:
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Oec-Graphics,-Inc/jobs

If you have experience (not a blood sausage), location works for you and you're looking - take a shot by applying to see what happens.

While I haven't worked for this specific group, I can vouch for the guy looking to hire the people and will say he is "one of us" when it comes to printers and all the insane-nerd crap that we know, that keeps us employed in this business.

I worked for 4 years at a competitor company in the same position ... it's nice to NOT stink of fixer, replenisher or MRC anymore ... though it's still in my blood! 

Who has replaced a battery before in a MacBook Pro before?
Is it easy, do you have steps or a guide?

...

Corporate and our Agency are breaking up (it's been coming for a while) ... and when I asked management about our Macs (2nd machine), "apparently" leaving them with us was part of the deal, but our IT department will NOT support Mac.
I asked our IT team about my annoying (0%) battery and they replied it was my responsibility to go to a Mac store, they won't pay either.

So basically, once I replace the battery the Mac will become MINE! It's been a few years since I had an actual Mac but getting one for free is SWEET! 

I have a few small run jobs coming in 5 different jobs, , all 4C coated, 1 side, 500-2000 pieces, 14pt board, all on 8.5x11.
Best pricing I can find has been 4over (Category: Sell Sheets), their stuff best represents "get what you pay for" so far.

TWO questions:
1 - Anyone else use 4Over for non critical jobs? If so, does your company get a discount with them - meaning should I contact their sales "people" and try to get it cheaper than the prices they have listed?
2 - Any other suggestions on who/where I could look for better pricing?

Any thoughts/feedback welcome.

Hey people, long time no see/post!

This "stupid idea" I had, like 6 years ago, is finally starting to bear some fruit... I think!
I have been issued a Patent from the USPTO and have trademarked a solid name to match!

However, in showing my plans to my business partner it seems like I'm "pushing the envelope" when it comes to folding and gluing. EVERYONE has now suggested that I'm going to need a Pharmaceutical folder to get the result I want!


I'm not actually looking to BUY a machine, but am trying to get a gauge on what the cost would be if in the next few months it was necessary. Interested in knowing prices for ANY machines you know of, whether it be nearby, recent, or something for sale upcoming!


Otherwise, I'm still living in Pittsburgh and involved in print, but am now doing more clerical work on labels for a nationwide food company - where they pay decent, and buy me lunch a couple of times a month! It's a sweet gig - not being on the shop floor anymore!

Let me know if you now anything,
Thanks

Been working on unclogging a stubborn printhead on an Epson 3000, and two heads on an Epson 4800...

Anyone have any advice or links for things they use? Windex has got me a long way, just looking for pointers I might have missed to get me "over the hump"...

Anyone here have any experience with small scale digital die cutters?
Just looking for recommendations or stories of what you have used.

I'd prefer a flat bed, or could settle for one with reliable positioning/registration.
And it MUST have the ability to score.

anyone?

Does anyone here have any experience with printing layouts onto (uncoated) board stock?
This is more for a personal project, I need to find a printer that works reasonably well on board stock, more FPO than for quality, but if I can get a decent colour output, that would be great! \

Thanks in advance!

I'm SO rusty at the technical side of Photoshop it's freakin' painful!!

Had a few problems this last week with my Epson Printer, it's working fine, but is printing things WAY TOO DARK!
I get the feeling it is applying a profile/adjustment in photoshop and THEN doing it again as it prints out the image.

I've tried hitting the Print button and then: turned off color management on the printer, then in photoshop, but to no avail.
I even turned on the "Preview Image" option, and it all looks fine there - but still prints out like shit!
I can get these things to print out pretty well though when NOT using photoshop though...


Is there a "reset" option in photoshop, or maybe a "undo the dumb change you made 2 weeks ago" option...?
Any advice appreciated!

Am going to buy some Epson paper off of Craigslist this week (or next), and the guy said he had an Epson Stylus 3000 there he'd be happy to get rid of for $50, as it hasn't been plugged in for the last 2 years. He admits that it will need some TLC to get it back up and going.
It would ONLY be for home use.  :wink:

Does ANYONE here have any experience using a Stylus 3000, and can you give me any feedback? (LINK HERE)

Anyone here ever started their own publication?
If so what was it, mag/newspaper, and what happened?

I'm considering starting one here, and am slowly wading my way through the nay-sayers ... it's looking more positive the longer I stay with it though! 

Christmas of 2008, I made calendars for my wife and Mother-in-law, they had everyone's birthdays on them with other dates and some pictures they both liked. Pressure is on to make them again this year, so I am looking to cut corners by using some scrap paper (from work) to print them on, using my home printer.

My question is: is there any difference between Epson paper and the stuff we print on?

Epson Paper Specs    Sheet
Basis Weight    48 lb. (179 g/m2)
Thickness    9.8 mil
ISO Brightness    97
Opacity    94%
Surface Finish    Matte


Do we have a paper specialist person here? :grin:

SEVEN months of Press Helper - today I had to go back and run PrePress department again ... my f%#$ing head hurts!
Regular PrePress guy is on Holidays, so I couldn't ask him what some of his methods were, and considering it's a 1 man operation ... Computer NEEDED more RAM 6 months ago, Rampage software needed updating 2 years ago - but they both cost money ... UGH!

So we have a job that involves 4 pages/images laid out on ONE file ILLUSTRATOR, put together by some lazy mother f#@$ng  slop merchant.

I need all these files to line up PERFECTLY, with Horizontal and Vertical lines crossing between pages. ANYONE have any ideas on the best method?
Not only am I rusty, but Illustrator is by FAR my weakest app, and this crap needs to be right before I put it into Rampage.
I'll read anything you suggest and see what will work best for me, thanks!  :laugh: