Hello! New member of this board, first time posting.
I work at a small printing company here in OKC, OK and my work has slowed down a lot in the past few weeks. Most days, I'm having to make up things to do to make myself *look* busy. :)
I've sent some resumes and applications out, but so far, just general interest, "thanks for your time", etc..
I've been in printing for more than 20 years, started here in the pre-press/digital printing area about 7 years ago when a co-worker/friend left for another job and he recommended me for the position.
I do some graphic work, but so far, haven't created anything original other than things for myself. I have been updating my skill-set in the Adobe software when I can.
Any help here?
-David
First off - Welcome! Good folks here, glad to have you!
Not sure I can lend any help with openings, on the East Coast here but there are some members out your way I think. If the market is anything like here, a big problem is the number of places left that are viable. On the flipside though there's also a shortage of people like us that know wtf we're doing.
It's not a question of your ability anymore, It's finding the place that has the work and is willing to pay for your skill.
Also I find that with all the printing that has gone to the web (like product instructions) or gone to other countries, the smaller shops are disappearing. It's a sinkhole - fewer shops but also fewer people being trained in or know what we do.
Might want to check out your local EDD and see if they have any resume classes etc..
Also the EDD might have free classes on Graphics programs, all these things help
you change modes, you will meet people, talk about jobs etc...
It will get you into the job hunting mode if anything.
sign up for Indeed and other job posting places.
Quote from: Possum on May 03, 2019, 07:53:42 AM
Also I find that with all the printing that has gone to the web (like product instructions) or gone to other countries, the smaller shops are disappearing. It's a sinkhole - fewer shops but also fewer people being trained in or know what we do.
Oddly enough, we still print a TON of IFUs. PITA work though, they want zero defect... in printing... yeah.
We used to print one that had the recycled paper logo on it. Only they didn't want to pay for printing it on recycled paper. :rotf:
Shady. And not surprising.
Those compliant type of customers have very high demands and strict specs... except when it comes to themselves.
High demands and strict specs are not cheap. Talk however, is.
Quote from: Possum on May 03, 2019, 11:32:49 AM
We used to print one that had the recycled paper logo on it. Only they didn't want to pay for printing it on recycled paper. :rotf:
At my last job I was handed a rush brochure with a post-it note from the sales idiot (the biggest idiot of the bunch, of course) "add the Forest Stewardship Council Recycled logo here".
I was suspicious, having never seen the FSC logo on a job before, and went to the person in charge of stuff like this and showed her the note. She was really pissed, he'd asked her for the logo and she told him the owners had decided not to go through with registering with the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning it would be illegal to put the FSC logo on a job. She'd told him we couldn't use it. He left her office and later tried to order me to just do it anyways. I told him to go fuck himself.
I'm in charge of the FSC logos and overlooking pieces that get the logos on them, here. And there are big fines for using it when you are not supposed too (like any crime, if you get caught that is). :police:
At my last place, we used them and we were FSC certified.
We had to go through an audit every year and provide documentation of all the jobs that were printed with the logo or not if the job was spec'd to be FSC.
Sometimes there was either no space for the logo or the designer didn't want that ugly ass logo on the fine work of art. Still had to identify ALL jobs.
PITA
Quote from: scottrsimons on May 15, 2019, 09:06:54 AM
I'm in charge of the FSC logos and overlooking pieces that get the logos on them, here. And there are big fines for using it when you are not supposed too (like any crime, if you get caught that is). :police:
Interesting, so the last place I worked who used them at will (without being Certified, of course) could potentially get dinged if there were samples floating around, with that logo and those samples somehow found their way to the FSC folks?
Very interesting. :evil:
It's actually tied to the code on the FSC logo. That code is tied back to the company that is in the "chain of custody".
Which FSC, and anyone can use to track the forest products used, were in line with FSC. So in the case of printing, the print shop has a FSC number that they use on "their" FSC logo. That can be used to verify that they are a "responsible" supplier of FSC products/services. And then each job can be tracked back to the paper be used back to where the vendor it was purchased from (as they have a FSC number), and then back to paper mill who produced the paper (as they have a FSC number), and then of course back to the forester who harvested the trees to make the paper (as they have a FSC number). It is A LOT of work to track it down, but it can be done. Don't know why you would.
I have seen a printed piece where the FSC number on the piece actually goes back to the paper vendor, which is wrong.
Yes, the company using it wrongly may or may not get a fine. But the biggest issue is, they may lose the ability to use the FSC logo on printed pieces, which could mean loss of business, and is probably worse.
Is it worse than claiming you are G7 certified when you have never come close to actually attempting to get certified? Asking for a friend. :tapedshut:
So if a printshop is not FSC-certified and never agreed to anything, how can the FSC fine them if they somehow figure out that the printshop used the logo? I would think they would need to sue, but otherwise if no agreement is in place they have no jurisdiction.
:oops: Guess I should have kept my mouth shut. :rotf:
G7, that would be on the customer finding out that they are paying for a service that was advertised they are not getting. And basically the same with FSC. But the fines, I don't know about the fining process. I'm sure there are some lawyers around that could. I'm just a lowly prepress operator, that the boss found out I have way more talents than just that. Lucky me. :banana:
I had to play this silly SFI /FSC documentation game also. My idea was to create a similar knock off logo to print and not pay the ransom fee!
Kudo's to the people who invented this scam.
Serious about recycling? Show me a solution to reuse or recycle the tons of pallets & wood the paper companies dump on us!
I knew a guy who built a shed out of pallets. They must have been different than the ones we get, without the spaces between the slats, or I doubt that would be much of a shed.
I built a walkway in front of my shed with pallets about 3 years ago. Now they are rotten and are dangerous to walk on. Now it is a new job to get rid of the old crap and do it over right. (with treated lumber)
Quote from: Joe on May 16, 2019, 07:41:10 AM
Is it worse than claiming you are G7 certified when you have never come close to actually attempting to get certified? Asking for a friend. :tapedshut:
Should have used plastic pallets. :popcorn:
Well since you have a total redo, maybe you could extend the life using pier footings.
Less digging / expense / work than pouring real footings and will get job done.
Even treated lumber + ground = rot :shrug:
Quote from: born2print on May 16, 2019, 12:28:06 PM
Well since you have a total redo, maybe you could extend the life using pier footings.
Less digging / expense / work than pouring real footings and will get job done.
Even treated lumber + ground = rot :shrug:
Yeah I know about the rot but I only have about 4" from the ground to the bottom of the door so it can't be any higher than about 3" - 3.5" tall max. But the treated lumber will last longer than the non-treated wood from the pallets. Plus I'm no spring chicken so it might last "long enough" for me.
:grimreaper:
I guess I could use those pier footings if I put them down in the ground so a treated 2x4 ripped in half is just off the ground by about .5". The 2x4 ripped in half would only be 1.75" tall and then lay flat treated 2x4 over the top of that would end up being only 3.75" high. Might work like that. Thanks for the idea born!
Yep, that's the idea, burry them a bit - gives you the right height and adds a bit of stability too.
You're very welcome Joe :cool:
Or I could just dig out the walkway about 6" and do it right. Seems like a lot of work though! ;D
naw, just use the piers, it will outlast us if you stain the treated lumber.
You talked me into it! ;D
Quote from: Joe on May 16, 2019, 01:41:02 PM
Or I could just dig out the walkway about 6" and do it right. Seems like a lot of work though! ;D
We work in Prepress, you should be used to it by now.
I've never looked at prepress as work. Torture yes. Work no.