Doug Curren

Co-Authored by Kimball Stadler

Kimball was asked by a potential customer to explain a few things about printing in easy to understand "everyday terms".  Here's how she responded.


I have recapped a few ideas below to help you understand the "printing lingo" from an outsiders viewpoint.  So many times we talk to companies that feel they are paying a high price for services but given no explanation as to why these charges are incurred so thank you for the chance to explain.  I hope it will save you time and money as you price this job in the local area.

1. Beware of on-line companies. They have very cheap prices, but no guarantees on the quality of printing and finishing and if they are out of your area ask about shipping charges and be careful. Ask them to explain the conditions of doing business and ask them for their version of "Printing Industry Trade Customs". See www.printing-press.org for more information.

2. Cut down costs by providing your artwork files in printing industry supported formats like .pdf and .eps. To be sure call and ask. If files need to be created set a budget and ask to be notified if the budget will be exceeded. Ask questions like "are there extra charges like the purchase of stock photos"? Best to know now then when you pick up your order and be held hostage.

3. For ultimate savings, run as many items as you can at the same time (business cards, envelopes, invoices, letterhead) in your color(s) because all printers charge an "ink wash charge". That charge may be $25.00 or more per color for each item.  BUT, when you run multiple items together, the ink wash charge is spread out over all the items - not for each.

4. How long will you have to wait for the job?  What if they miss deadlines on important projects?  How will you know that? All of those questions build up when your image and reputation are important to you. So ask questions.

These things don't happen here at Copans because we communicate and educate our clients. While we may not always be the lowest on pricing, we will be the highest in service, printing quality and the added value of ideas and strategies on how to grow your business and get your name out there. We believe these core values separates us for the competition.

I hope this helps and again, thank you for the opportunity.

Kimball Stadler
Account Representative
Copans Printing & Graphics

I have been so consumed in online social networking and "Getting My Name Out There" I have not been taking my own advice. To supplement my message by printing promotional and marketing pieces that target my selected market. OMG! What happened here? Nothing more than most of you I am sure. Can you relate to this? You probably have a laptop, PDA, Smart Phone, IPOD or an MP3 player. Maybe all of them.They play music and take pictures. Maybe listen to an audio book or music. You can get email, transfer funds in your bank account or check stocks all while sitting in the waiting room at your doctors office. How convienent is that?

This question is asked alot by my clients more and more in todays high tech digital world. It used to be plate, print and deliver. A plate by the way is made of high grade aluminum with a laser image that transfers the image to a rubber surface and then to the paper. Thats called offset printing. Now that plate plays a vital pricing role. A job thats full color on two sides 8.5" x 11" 500 sheets prices higher than using the digital process so it becomes a mute point. I used to outsource thiese projects until i noticed just how much i was "giving away" so we have just installed a brand new state of the art Xerox 700 Digital Press. The color is awesome! Its vibrant, it really pops and serves our clients short run color needs.

So where does that leave the tried and true historic conventional offset printing process? I believe it will always be with us because no new process can produce the same quality and there are many clients out there who know and can see the difference but under 500 sheets of 8.5" x 11" digital printing is the way to go. You can print using a variety of papers too. From glossy text and cover papers to textured papers. They are specially made to handle the heat some digital machines dish out. That is one excellent advantage with the Xerox 700. It has decurlers to minimize curling as it exits the machine so it lays nice and flat. In addition it uses less power so it generates less heat making it a very green machine. If you would like more information contact me directly.

The following is a “fire control” email between myself and and a identity designer whose customer was unhappy with his printing on an uncoated paper versus a coated or gloss paper and I thought the subject was worthy to share. When the customer received his PDF business card proofs, he thought he would receive exactly what he saw in the PDF. A nice shiny new “jump off the paper” logo. First thing my designer should have done was to educate the client BEFORE going to press, the differences between coated and uncoated stocks and how ink appears on both. Using the Pantone Matching System each color sample appears both on coated and uncoated. As an example the “U” in PMS 431U means “uncoated.” For “coated” stocks it appears 431C, the “C” meaning “coated.” This is how it went.