Worse thing

Out of context: Reply #36

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  • gramme0

    A couple years ago I designed a complex folder with multiple folding inserts. I didn't make a tightly configured paper dummy before sending the files off, nor did I take the time to print everything out and mark it up with print specs...the job was a super fast turnaround.

    It ended up that the job was printed without any spot colors. Type throughout was supposed to be 404 gray, but ended up being horribly screened. The company's corporate red looked pink. There was a gold seal on one insert that was printed tan. The last piece in the kit, a warranty brochure, said "HEADLINE GOES HERE" in 40 pt. Bodoni. On the front cover.

    Everything was about 1/8" too small all around, so it flopped around in the folder. Total nightmare. We screwed up, the client didn't proof it, and the production manager phoned it in. We ended up eating 1/3 of the $20,000 cost. I thought I was going to get fired. I spent the next month walking on eggshells.

    Lessons learned:

    1. Always, Always always trim everything out by hand and make sure all pieces fit snugly and sensibly and feels right in the hand.
    2. Always always print out art at full size before sending off, and always make print specs extra explicit in large letters on said color copies.

    I still shiver.

    • Funny thing is, the client never noticed the FPO headline. I think they got two brochures in and chucked the lot in the trash.gramme
    • trash.gramme

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