[Macworld]

Post your comments for Tips for dealing with professional print shops here

[MackyMoto]

Excellent article Marco. I've been in the printing industry over 30 years and currently own a print brokering business where I help large and small companies produce the best print communications for their dollar. You are right on target with your tips, especially paper. The variety of paper is as diverse as the variety of cars. Choosing paper can be very intimidating and confusing to novices, especially in the US where paper is categorized into several seemingly nonsensical size/weight classifications: Business, Text, Cover, Index, Bristol, etcetera. I say nonsensical because for example a 28 lb. business paper is actually heavier than a 60 lb. text. Europeans have a much more straight forward method of determining the weight of paper, grams per square meter or gsm.

One additional point I want to make is regarding what is called "ganging" jobs and how that effects the accuracy of the color of your job if it's being printed lithographically. Most online printers gang jobs, that is how they can print them so inexpensively. Ganging means they print your job on a large parent sheet with other jobs. This can adversely effect the fidelity of color an all the jobs due to "in line conflict". In an effort to be brief let me just say that an in line conflict arises when your job needs for example more black and another job needs less. There needs to be a compromise and somebody is going to lose and get something different then they expected. Most printers that cater to local customers do not gang jobs. There are focused on establishing a ongoing relationship with their clients and know that delivering a quality job is key to satisfaction and repeat business.

I am not saying that online printers necessarily deliver poor quality. They provide a terrific service to a huge number of people who might not be able to afford a printed product if it was not for the economic efficiencies of ganging jobs. Just be aware that if color fidelity is critical to your project, an online printer may not be the best choice.

[flybynight]

Some good points there, WackyMoto. I would add that if you aren't familiar with the printing terms and weights, sizes, etc., that your best bet is probably to find a local printer to partner with. They are going to be more willing to sit down with you in person, discuss your goals and needs and make educated suggestions to help you get there. They may have insight that can even save you some money. For instance, if your particular job isn't a good fit for their press size, they may suggest a very minor change in the design to make the job more efficient.
Like anything else, you might find a better deal online here and there, but the value of a good relationship is often worth some extra time and money... and may even end up saving you money through their shared wisdom. If you become a repeat customer, they may also be more willing to help you out for those times when you "need it yesterday" where a faceless online vendor may not.

[jpmhughes]

Quote

"For example, Word documents only render properly if all the fonts they contain are installed on the host machine"...
"but, these days, almost every printer will accept PDF files."

One thing to remember when creating Pdf's is that the same rule applies to Pdf's as the Word document concerning fonts, IF the fonts are not embedded in the Pdf.

[WarrenS]

The biggest problems I have encountered with print shops is color. CMYK alone is worth an article on print shops and computer output.

[RhymingDesigner]

If you're considering an online printer, contact them ahead of time and ask them to mail you a packet of printed samples. You need to hold each sample in your hand in order to judge color, weight, shine, and coating. Consider each attribute as it applies to your print job.

Good online printers will have good customer service reps to help you. Ask questions!

[flybynight]

MackyMoto, so sorry for the type-o I made in your user name.
Thanks for reaching out to me with the PM. It appears that too much time has past and I cannot edit the original post, but please accept my apologies!
I just read your user name wrong. Did not mean to imply that you are "Wacky" - though either way, it's a cool sounding name.

[HalHomler]

All good information - particularly the "Know Your Files".
Though you fail to mention the value of developing a relationship with a local printer. This has so many benefits from the consultative benefit you (generally) cannot obtain from an online print provider to keeping your hard earned money within your community by supporting locally owned/operated businesses.

I'd much rather lose a job to the shop down the street than lose it to an online provider sending money out of our community.

[Biallystock]

Hmmm.

Not one mention of problems with OSX pdfs, color management, transparency and spot colors.

Never mind, not your money. Nor Apple's.