print design ?s
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- CX
Do most print designers all find 1 or 2 good printers to work with?
It seems it would be good to get in good with a print company unless you can afford your own presses.
Do you ever print with laser or always with a press? Do you only use inkjets for proofs?
- CX0
bump
- Bio0
we have an inhouse printer, but we use a different company for all of our brochures, flyers, toppers, etc.
i would say it is best to find one printer that you like and trust and build a relationship with them. of course there are exceptions when they arent able to do certain special items, but that is no big thing. it cant really hurt to have a backup printer though just in case your primary one is backed up.
as for the inkjet issue, we use a phaser 7700 laser printer and it is generally only for proofs, but sometimes we will use it for printing books or tickets or other small things like that.
so im not sure if that is an answer like you wanted, but i tried.
- CX0
Yeah that was great and very informative. Thanks. Anyone else?
- doggy0
We tend stick with 2 printers here to print everything fom business cards, to catalogues. Shitty hp inkjets and laser printers to semi-proof in house, and iris' or pdfs from the printer. This way we have a better relationship, and since almost all of our print work goes out to mainly 1 of these places, we get great deals, amazing turnaround, and excellent customer service!!
- Bio0
word on that last part.
if you use a printer for a while and build a good working relationship, then you will get some pretty good deals. it is how they try to keep your business. if you are a good client for them, then they will jump thru hoops to keep you.
where i used to work, they had a guy that would come in to talk with me about new services and materials about once a month. he would always take me out to eat and we would talk about the new stuff.
he came for my last week of work there and took me out and bought me a huge margarita. ah.. . .good times. good times.
- doggy0
A good relationship with a printer will mean the difference between getting a rush job out and finished on time, and not risking your clients relationship! Plus they will see you as a superman! most likely not, they dont really realize what we have to go through sometimes!
Moral= love your printer, and they will love you back!
: ]
- doggy0
...and sometimes get you free drinks like Bio got!!
lucky bastard!
- arf0
I usually try in get in good with 1 small printer (for small jobs and offset), and 1 large printer (web press and varnishes). I would still send print bid requests to other printer, but let your client know which printer you typically work with. I use lasers for internal use only. When sending something to press (esp. color) they should do a fuji and a blueline (blueline unless you're printing direct to plate). Hope that helps.
- unknown0
Doggys comment is right on. Love your printer and get your stuff done right and right on time. However be picky about who you decide to fall in love with - in printing as well as in romance. I'd one place do all my stuff for a whole year before I realized that they used the fact that I was a regular to gradually raise the price. I've used another place for 90% of my stuff for the last 2 years, but compare prices with their competitors at least twice a year (and so far havent had a reason to change)