Talking Through My Hat - Latest Comments

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

Mark Richards — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:40:44 -0000

In the relatively basic world of inkjet printing the hardware is now sometimes cheaper than the peripherals it uses. It is no exaggeration to say that at the economy end of the market it is sometimes less expensive to buy a brand new multifunction printer than it is to equip the old one with ink. That is unless one uses compatible ink cartridges.

Presumably there must be some kind of equivalent in offset printing?

Re: Does Anyone Print Board Books in the USA?

Slakz Shu — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:42:41 -0000

Hello,

Most board books are coming overseas from China as you stated. If every board book was experiencing this, no one would print with China.

Having only 1 option in the United States sounds like printing with them is extremely expensive. As an American myself, I can understand that we need to keep jobs in the U.S.

However, this was solved by having printing collaborations that encompasses a variety of printers and brokers such as PIA and NAPL. America has been a service nation and not so much in production anymore. We all want office jobs, M-F, with a lot of benefits and great pay. How much would a single book cost from a production warehouse with these beneficial factors?

Regarding the board book warping issue, which is a very unfortunately yet isolated incident. I believe what is causing this issue, is that the glue or paper that was used for this project was probably a lower quality stock or it might have been a packaging issue. It does come from overseas on a boat so humidity is high.

An added protection against warping other than using quality materials, is getting each book shrink wrapped or a reusable polybag. This is a solution that we, at Cross Blue, have figured out 10 years ago how to solve this warping issue.

My name is Jon with Cross Blue, and we are based in Chino, California. Feel free to ask me for any questions regarding how to solve warping issues or overseas printing problems.

Re: Out of the Frying Pan–Into the Frying Pan?

Kent — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:53:42 -0000

This is so true. I own a laptop and other mobile devices which can enable me to read 'books' on it but i stil lchoose to buy and bring along a real solid book with paper pages. It just isn't the same.

Kent

gift card printing

Re: Out of the Frying Pan–Into the Frying Pan?

Sign Supplies — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:22:43 -0000

Great post...thanks for the reminder to blog about the everyday things that people want to read. As a real estate agent, I too struggle with what to blog about. Thanks!

Re: Out of the Frying Pan–Into the Frying Pan?

meenakshi — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:22:37 -0000

Good thoughts on printing books. I also agree with you. There is a trend of eBooks but printing books have their own value and place in our life. If anybody interested in printing then trade printing, wholesale printing or discount printing can help you. definitely printing books will never die.

Re: Printing on Black Paper

harrydenzon — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:40:17 -0000

This article shows how to print on black paper. Printed Black paper looks awesome. It's result is very good. I will use these tips to print on black paper.

123inkjets coupon code

Re: Here’s to Flyboys, Printer Talk, and Web Breaks

Offset Pressman — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:50:55 -0000

I love this post. I'll be checking back. Definitely written by a guy that works on a press. Thanks.

Bill

Web breaks

Re: Top 5 Reasons Print Brokers P.O. Printers

Crombie0421 — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:45:22 -0000

Jmfprinting.com -check them out, great prices and phenomenal quality!

Re: Out of the Frying Pan–Into the Frying Pan?

Lisa — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:47:09 -0000

Bravo! I am 100% with you. I worked in the bindery and ran a press at a small book printer in Anaheim for years. Self publishers were our bread and butter and will always hold a place in my heart. Printed books will never die.

Re: Printing on Black Paper

Sticker Printing — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:12:21 -0000

Printing dark gives good results. and also with varnish on black paper gave good results. Great article guideline.

Re: Printing: A Quaint Curiosity in a Dusty Museum?

Cokiedog — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:13:30 -0000

Apparently you have never visited Oregon City's Blue Heron Paper mill. The photo above is of the West Linn Paper Company, right across the river from Blue Heron.

Re: A Faint Voice from the Way Back Machine

BillRuesch — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:44:59 -0000

Okay Robert,
I went to the link and read about the book. Honestly it sounds like every other book out there. What makes it so different? I'm not doubting you, I just want to know.

Re: A Faint Voice from the Way Back Machine

Robert Smith — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:24:46 -0000

Hey Bill,

I don't want this to sound like a sales pitch. However, I'm really proud of some of the thought leadership going on where I work. You may want to check out http://www.amazon.com/Open-Bra...

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

Bill — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:57:17 -0000

You've asked two different questions. Printing costs would go down if US and Canadian workers earned the same scale as China and India. $.75 an hour won't go very far to feed a family here. Would you work for that? I know I wouldn't. I wouldn't even be able to buy groceries with that salary let alone put a roof over our head.

As for eco friendly, the printing business may be the most eco friendly business out there. Paper, for example, now comes from tree farms. For all of the hollering about saving trees, trees are a renewable resource. Many printers are using wind energy credits and are required by law to have clean air emissions. I'm proud of our industry and the strides it has taken. Show me another industry that has done as well.

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

iprint4ca — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:43:30 -0000

Fantastic article bill. Why is printing so costly in US and Canada? Are we going to print eco friendly ?

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

dom — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:11:56 -0000

There has definitely been a shift over the last 10-15 years. First it was Macs and DTP negating the need for light boxes and stripping-in bromides etc then came along digital technology with the Oce,Xerox etc products changing the way copy shops produced documents with shorter run lengths, more colour and eventually the corporates (our traditional client base) installing their own devices.On the back of that came CTP in the press world - all of sudden On Demand was the way to go. Run lengths have shortened, the need for pick and pack of print through warehousing has decreased with clients printing only what they want 'now' enabling them to change content next time.Cheque printing has almost vanished along with annual reports etc(In Australia its no longer a requirement for a listed company to print one).There are ,however, some positives.Design and point of sale/display have increased with the need for clients to forever look for ways for their products to break through the 'noise barrier' created by such a variety of choice. There is always some spin-off print from these products. Printers need to embrace this segment of the market and look for opportunities to offer higher end graphic design that sets them apart.The industry is changing rapidly and is certainly consolidating, however there is still an enormous amount of print out there. We just need our BDM's to be more pro-active and imaginative in their sales and service strategies.

Re: Shouldn’t Every Service Business Have a Bill of Rights?

Argentina Willets — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:37:18 -0000

I'm such a newbie when it comes to all this, thanks for taking the time to write this up, keep them coming! Shouldn't Every Service Business Have a Bill of Rights? | Talking Through My Hat was a wonderful read.

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

Donna Erickson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:21:28 -0000

Interesting article, Bill. I agree. I am definitely seeing a shift occur and wonder where it's all headed. My family ran a small, thriving printing business, which opened its doors in 1917. My father ended up at the helm until his health forced him to slow down in his 80's. The business was finally dissolved a decade ago after his death. Today he would not be able to survive the way he was operating--setting type by hand and operating old-fashioned letter presses. I saw the end of an era with his passing, and now I feel as if I'm witnessing the end of another era--traditional publishing as we have known it.

Re: Is Printing Injured, Maimed, or Dead?

PNY — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:58:17 -0000

I predict that business books and marketing collateral and adult novels will gravitate toward e-book and online alternatives. Some magazines may become more electronic as well. Newspapers, definitiely. Children's books -- both for pleasure and for school -- will continue to have a large presence in print. What I think printers in the U.S. need to do is figure out a way to get back the print jobs that are now going to China. How can we do it as cheaply or green-ly? That is the key, in my opinion.

Re: Printers & Publishers Prepare to be Amazed!

Peter — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:09:30 -0000

Same here buddy...We were on same track. but ya now my vision is cleared and can see further. hope m not wrong...

Re: Here’s to Flyboys, Printer Talk, and Web Breaks

Freddie Baratta — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:01:40 -0000

Hi I was searching for trustworthy information on consumables for large format printers. Your site was listed on Alta Vista in this category, you have an interesting site.

Re: Quality, Price, and Service–Pick Two

Ramiro Hamiter — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:45:00 -0000

Hi Some good content on here. Good work.

Re: It’s the Market, Stupid!

Milford Wondra — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:52:28 -0000

Hi Some good thought provoking content on here. Nice work.

Re: Top 5 Reasons Print Brokers P.O. Printers

Kathryn — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:10:42 -0000

I'm a print broker and I consider my printers important business partners. They are treated with the same respect and consideration I afford my clients, and as my printers' partner I supply them with print ready files that are truly "print ready," and personally follow every job through the plant with experience most clients do not have. I am there to help both sides, and it is a win-win for all concerned.

Because I don't have much overhead, I can price the printing very competitively without asking the printer to discount. When you start asking for concessions, it will show up somewhere in the product; and I want only the best printing for my clients.

I've never had a printer treat me in a sub-standard way, and I think it is ill advised for such treatment to occur. Why would any printer do this? We bring them business they would not otherwise have!

Re: More Dangerous To Us Than Terrorists

Kathryn — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:50:07 -0000

Dear Bill,

I’ve been in the printing industry for nearly 20 years. During half that time I sold commercial printing for a large printing firm. I was worked nearly to death; selling, managing my accounts, standing by presses 24-7, and who got rich? My employer. Finally my employer sold out to an even larger company; why? Greed. They let their entire staff, some 25 year vets go, and management retired like fat cats.

You don’t like printing in China. You say the workers don’t get rich, but the owners do. What is the difference here?

For the past 11 years I’ve been a print broker, mostly in China, and my clients have been very pleased with the results.

You are sorry the printing industry in this country is suffering. Why are they suffering? Because in many cases they don’t take “pride” in their work like they used to. Because big labor forces companies to pay people for work that is often sub-standard. I’m sorry, too, because I used to use American printers until they 1) became too expensive and 2)I had to attend too many press checks and bindery checks to be sure the operators got it right. Should I need to do this? In this case yes, because if I didn’t, the finished product all too often did not come close to the proofs.

For nearly 10 years, at the initial request of my clients, I’ve been printing in China. The Chinese know manufacturing, and have invested in good equipment. Their people are highly skilled and take pride in their work. I’ve never attended a press check (though I've visited their clean factories), yet in all these years I have had less than a handful of complaints about the printing quality. In every case, the printer re-printed the job immediately at their own expense.

I hope the printing industry in this country takes notice and turns itself around, so they can once again compete with China. It is analogous to the car industry; when cars were expensive “schlock,” consumers looked overseas to buy. I think the auto industry is changing, so there is hope that American workers will quit watching the clock and pay more attention to increasing their skills and productivity.