[Colin Crabb]

Antalis Coala blockout banner 610gsm – We use it all the time with no issues, prints lovely & not bad price.

[Colin Crabb]

Personally I’d go for a Ricoh ‘gel’ ink printer (we have 2 of them, SG3110) – If unused for awhile the ink doesn’t dry in the printhead, which is a possibility with the Epson.

Mug Press – Go for a multi mug press, not a single mug-a-time type if your thinking of doing more than 10 a time (takes 180 seconds per mug, if your doing 100+ batches, that’s a lot of waiting around…). Single type is fine if its singles / very short custom runs.

Software – Photoshop is fine, but text will be rasterised (edges will not be 100% smooth), not really an issues with the size of mugs – Personally I’d go for Illustrator. (Adobe Creative Cloud or buy CS4 on Fleabay).

Training – not much to it! Design mug… print design in reverse (If using Ricoh, the powerdriver takes care of it for you).
Tape to mug. Bake! – Okay that’s simplifying it, but its not that hard.

Just my view 😉

[Colin Crabb]

Something I’m ‘attempting’ now!

So far we’ve started using cloud based programmes & Ipad(s).

Looking at a few accounts packages at the mment to see if we can get worksheets onto the Ipads.

All site work is now done with Ipad / Iphones (pictures, notes etc using Notes Plus or Evernotes apps).

[Colin Crabb]

yup take photos & sometime we video via ipad/iphone also for reference.

As Simon said – never trust customers measurements, we had issue once with an 8ft sign (measurement supplied by client)… should of been 6ft….. (He couldn’t read his own handwriting..)

[Colin Crabb]

Wait till you try a new Transit Custom……. 😮

[Colin Crabb]

Cough… cough… splutter…. MIMAKI… Ahem… cough. 😉 :lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

Doing little bits around the building & paperwork…. that’s it for me today 😛

[Colin Crabb]

If the want the graphic longer lasting…

..Sell them custom printed floor mats 😀
Few trade suppliers about & slap your mark up on.

[Colin Crabb]

Yup, would need to be backed with white, or over printed with white for this design to be visible, just printed on clear this would produce a translucent image when viewed.
Personally, I’d simplify the design and produce in cut vinyl – small/tiny details will be missed on a shop window, plenty of scope to adjust.

[Colin Crabb]

We use DigiSOL extra thick 150micron for our labels – can write on them okay, and being that bit thicker much easier for customers to apply themselves. Try Glenn at Allprint.

[Colin Crabb]

Antalis have/are expanding it range of Oracal

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

12hour days… ROCK ‘n ROLL :thumbup2:

YES! Someone else that works ‘standard’ days :thumbup2:

Production wise – worksheets & a huge white board
White board shows lists of jobs of each of our 5 machines.
Old school but works

[Colin Crabb]

Antalis do the larger sheets – but not sure about 10mm, might need to contact them

[Colin Crabb]

Just seen my eshot from Allprint they stock:

MacTac
Avery

And get bloody good service!

[Colin Crabb]

Martin:

Oracle vinyl – Antalis

[Colin Crabb]

http://www.printweek.com/print-week/new … hes-closed

🙁

[Colin Crabb]

Self adhesive hangers:

http://www.lionpic.co.uk/product/Hangin … 765,0.aspx

[Colin Crabb]

We apply tape & fold, then heat gun the hemmed area and run over with a small hand roller apply good pressure – all very quick, helps tape to bond & produces a sharper edge.

[Colin Crabb]

Planning permission…. UK councils will remove these quickly

[Colin Crabb]

+1 for Shutterstock

[Colin Crabb]

We buy our Conform application tape from Allprint (ask to speak to Glenn he’s the man!)

[Colin Crabb]

I see 119/131/157 & 126/111/72 RGB 😎

[Colin Crabb]

Try eurostanddisplay for the pop-up frames, great people, great products.
Print wise, we run them on our HP Z6200 for the uber quality it produces, using 330u grey backed (light stop) polyester media from Allprint with the 170u textured laminate, again from the top guys at Allprint.

[Colin Crabb]

Not a flexi user, but you should be able to export file as a PDF

[Colin Crabb]

We use an ‘Evolution Rage’ circular saw (slightly messy) cutting on reverse, gives a nice edge – and then as others, tidy with a hand plane as required.

[Colin Crabb]

try:

Solopress

Fairprint

[Colin Crabb]

Hmmm would attach the file for you…. but can’t see how to……

[Colin Crabb]

Its newer than CS6 – Creative Cloud

Try:

New file – Place (select & place the file) – embed image

[Colin Crabb]

DILITE COLOURS – Antalis

[Colin Crabb]

Smack ‘Designer’ and tell them to:

Right click text layer (in layers panel) & convert to shape…..

That’s it, text is now outline

😮

[Colin Crabb]

Sounds like the paint work might of been treat with nanotech style polish. If the surface is made wet, does the water ‘bead’ as normal or run straight off – if it runs straight off, its this type of polish, now the bad news: is its acid, alkali, water & alcohol resistant 😮
I have a customer that uses it for boats, but never tried applying graphics to it.

Sorry can’t help with removal of this polish, you’d need to consult the manufacturer for advice 😕

[Colin Crabb]

http://www.hexis.co.uk/Hexis/Home.html

There aware – Its a new trend to send these type of malware, since start of this year thing we’ve had a few of them 😕 A few from debt collection services, one from a builders merchant – all from highjacked email address.

From what I understand, the ‘hackers’ are now targeting the server networks that route emails – not hacking the business directly – and highjacking email addresses.

…If only they would put there knowledge to a better use.

[Colin Crabb]

Same here which was odd…. as I don’t use Hexis!

The word (or can be excel) attachments if opened will run a macro that will download various password stealers or trojans.

Newer genuine versions of Word & Excel have macros disabled by default and should open these type of files in protected mode, protecting you from these type of malware (you would see a blank document).

Worth checking your versions of Word & Excel to make sure protected mode is active

[Colin Crabb]

Nope this isn’t a mistake – Austerity cuts, savings have to be made!
:lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

Great little programme called ‘Number Press’

http://www.praetersoftware.com/numberingsoftware/

Makes its so much easier :lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

Allprint supply a range of fabrics, unsure if they do a cotton based material but worth checking.

[Colin Crabb]

Out-of-the-box idea – Have a pyrography stamp made and melt the logo / name into the plastic 😮

We had a stamp made ages ago for local woodworker that wanted to stamp bread boards.

[Colin Crabb]

We’ve just installed a memjet printer for this type of work, great technology these fixed printhead systems!

[Colin Crabb]

If orange light stays on, the LCD should also show an error code I think.

[Colin Crabb]

I’m guessing the printable vinyl is for aqueous inkjet machines?

If so unless its laminated it will just wash away, the media has a special coating to hold the ink, but its by no means waterproof – your struggle to find a completely waterproof media for aqueous machines
(Edit: yes there is a few ‘waterproof’ medias, but there not cost effective).

Unfortunately this type of work really should be printed on a solvent or UV type of printer – have you thought of sending it out to a trade printer?

[Colin Crabb]

We use http://themeforest.net/ for templates when designing websites (wordpress, magento etc etc) a lot easier them CCS / PHP / HTML coding from sratch.

[Colin Crabb]

We (I Guess) have the same as James – Europa cutter bar with table mount & lifters.

Works well, nice an accurate when trimming 8ft panels to butt together when we do exhibition panels on foamex.

[Colin Crabb]

Or 3M vikuiti rear projection vinyl & projector?

<embed width=”500″ height=”361″ quality=”high” bgcolor=”#000000″ wmode=”transparent” name=”main” id=”main” allowfullscreen=”false” src=”http://www.isigntube.com/player/vPlayer.swf?f=http://www.isigntube.com/player/vConfig_embed.php?vkey=e77f13a6d184dbf1232f” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”>

<embed width=”500″ height=”361″ quality=”high” bgcolor=”#000000″ wmode=”transparent” name=”main” id=”main” allowfullscreen=”false” src=”http://www.isigntube.com/player/vPlayer.swf?f=http://www.isigntube.com/player/vConfig_embed.php?vkey=40ce177cf70da146c8dc” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”>

<embed width=”500″ height=”361″ quality=”high” bgcolor=”#000000″ wmode=”transparent” name=”main” id=”main” allowfullscreen=”false” src=”http://www.isigntube.com/player/vPlayer.swf?f=http://www.isigntube.com/player/vConfig_embed.php?vkey=dfaecdc212708f721b78″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”>

[Colin Crabb]

I’ve started seeing them used in the USA on road side bill boards & a few hotel / motel road signs.

View angle is about not to bad now, around about 100degrees or better – main problem I’m told is the cost, not sure how true this is from my sparky mate, but a 3 x 8 programmable colour led panel cost £15,000…

[Colin Crabb]

+1 for grafityp’s clothing vinyl

We’ve tried a few brands and found Grafityp’s the best – nice thin material, good sticky backing, easy & quick to weed.

[Colin Crabb]

Also speak to the very lovely Donna @ AMLabels for a price – found them very good

[Colin Crabb]

Litho presses – can’t go wrong with Heidelberg top machines.
We did also get a 4 colour Ryobi 524 at one point, was a second user machine, think we paid around £30k for it, not bad kit but wasn’t my favorite.

Do you have any Litho equipment at the moment? If not your need to add a plate maker also.

A 8 sheet (16pp) 1000 run would roughly work out at £350 run on digital press. Its the bigger 40pp 20k run that’s out of range! Hence why you have digital & litho together. Massive difference between 1000 & 20k run!

Konica Minolta are currently pushing a new ranges, might be worth having a chat with them (I keep getting rep’s & phone calls this month hehehhe), I always liked Xerox, check them out too, they have some kits designed for magazine / brochure printing with inline finishing units.
Ask them about click costs etc, then your be able to work out some rough costs -perhaps then you only need to send the large runs away to a trade printer.

[Colin Crabb]

On a 40pp booklet? – around 500 run, 1000 if there was a time factor involved (eg 24hr turnaround) but at a premium cost of around £750 for a 40pp, A5 full colour run on 130gsm silk or gloss.

Digital print is very very good for smaller print-on-demand runs, most commercial printers will run both a digital press along side litho presses, by digital I’m referring to a commercial production machine, eg HP indigo, Xerox Docutech series etc.

Yes I agree current printers are using digital, but not at the volume your talking about, don’t think even an iGen would be able to hit the price mark for 20k full colour run.

I only sold out my stake last year and still involved with some very large commercial printers, there is some new tech coming onto the market that may change things in the future with inkjet based webpresses like HP’s T series.

[Colin Crabb]

For a 20k run you’d have to go litho – digital would be to slow & expensive, litho will always win on this volume.

A ‘cheap’ digital printer (something like a xerox phaser, costs about 5k) runs at 2500 sheets per hour, HP Indigo (depending on model, 50k – 150k+) runs at a max speed of 4000 sheets per hour safely, compared to a Heidelberg speedmaster (500k ++++) which runs at 15,000 sheets per hour – and twice the sheet size.

I’d really avoid the digital route on this job, time factor would be an issue and your ‘click’ cost would out price the job (Click cost is the amount your charged per side/sheet – yes you can buy the machine outright and purchase your own toner / electrostatic ink, but this is very expensive route to go down if you doing volume printing as you also have to purchase all comsummables, so drums, waste carts, belts etc etc), I think your typical charged 5-7p per click for an SRA3 sheet, per side, so therefore a 40pp booklet would cost around 50-70p on ink only, without paper cost, running cost etc.

Hope this helps you decided – I use to run a commercial printers with both litho & digital setups. 20k, 40pp run – litho all the way, I’d not even consider trying to run this on a office type of xerox machine or even a HP indigo.

[Colin Crabb]

Guessing something like 130gsm gloss throughout (self cover) ?

Most commercial printers should be able to turn out a 40pp, A5, full colour, stitch finished from direct artwork for around 25p based on a 20k run. (I priced this at approx. £5000 for 20k run = 25p per booklet + VAT), You might find cheaper online, BUT Your only issue will be the turnaround & delivery speed.

My advice is to find a large commercial litho printer near you with an 8 or 10 colour B2 press and inline finishing – those machines eat these types of jobs. If this mag’s weekly, they’d bite your hand off for a £260k+ yearly contract and meet delivery requirements.

[Colin Crabb]

Not sure about Corel (soz I’m an Adobe user), but we always tile our large prints in the RIP – Both Rasterlink & Onyx11 have the in RIP ability to tile,

Hope this helps!
Colin

[Colin Crabb]

Wow its looking great!

I see all that nice space is slowly disappearing :lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

Phill Fenton wrote:

David Hammond wrote:
And today’s award goes to:

The customer who wants us to replicate EXACTLY the vehicle graphics from their Early Berlingo van onto a new shape Berlingo and Nemo van without moving a thing.

In this day and age when everyone is fighting for every scrap of business out there, it’s important to listen carefully to our customers and then go the extra mile to meet their needs.

The answer in this case is relatively easy. You just require a little ingenuity. Simply cut a template of the old style berlingo into 9mm plywood and attach these to the new berlingo and nemo before applying the signs.

If you don’t do it – the customer will simply go elsewhere to someone that will

You know it makes sense

Now thats just plain silly everyone knows it should be ACM and NOT plywood

Woodn’t ( 🙄 ) ACM cause an MOT failure due to sharp edges?

[Colin Crabb]

Yeah sounds very familiar 🙁

Being printers I’m quite surprised! Tell them if you asked for a 4pp booklet and then sent artwork for a 48pp perfect bound book they’d not be happy and wouldn’t stick with quote !

[Colin Crabb]

Customer had to agree to a compromise in the end after a long battle, lots of ‘It Ain’t Gonna Work’ 😮 – and plenty of ‘No it will not just stretch out and cover the van’ 🙄

Just sent a lot of illustrator proofs and photoshopped pictures.

Hate VW crafters, just to much space…..

[Colin Crabb]

Just impregnate the kids wall graphics with Ethylisopropyltryptamine will keep them happy for ohh.. 4-6 hours at a lick…..

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

you seem to be a bit accident prone there fella

In 22 years never had one accident… till this year, 9 stitches in my hand 🙁

I did a Ford Connect van, they were so happy with it, decided to have there other van done – ‘just make it look the same’, it turn out to be a Hi-Top, Longwheel base VW Crafter……

[Colin Crabb]

Is it April already! – being seriously never heard this one before, I think something’s been taken out of context.

Yes it is true that vinyl chloride, a chemical used in PVC is classified toxic, and manufacture can creates dioxins.
But this is at the manufacturing stage, and you will notice a lot of sign vinyl’s state PVC free or phthalate free PVC or similar.

I’d be more worried about accidents while cutting & using the material, lapse of concentration last month left me with 9 stitches in my hand 😮

If you look carefully at anything, it can be dangerous, poisonous, etc. – the beauty of free speech & the internet!

[Colin Crabb]

Okay this might sound odd, but do you stop at all when using the manual laminator, or do you continuously feed the material through without stopping?

I have known an issue when using pressure sensitive material, that a ripple is caused when you stop/start the laminator.

Also is the ripple effect evenly spaced? – if so check laminator rollers for damage & flat spots.

Just some thoughts 🙂

[Colin Crabb]

+1 vote for James @ group101

Great guy & top service

[Colin Crabb]

Good luck – your love it! (that what you must tell yourself at 1am on a rush job! 😛 )

Seriously good luck, we wish you all the best.

Colin & Team

[Colin Crabb]

If customer is writing MOT due date on sticker – no lamination.

We use 150micron for stickers, produced 1000’s per week and don’t have an issue with the vinyl & cutting or contour cutting.

[Colin Crabb]

Personal I’d use thicker vinyl than standard makes it easy for end user to apply, and easier to write on (mot due date)

[Colin Crabb]

Wonder how much post-heating’s required for the drip effects – or are these separate pieces… 😛

[Colin Crabb]

hehhe 😮 That’s the new H&S rules – must leave clear, uninterrupted space to access the light fittings above!

[Colin Crabb]

Ummmmmm…… or is that a really bad spray job?!

[Colin Crabb]

yup your correct, print on clear in reverse & laminate with white (make sure you don’t use a grey adhesive!)

Crop marks – we have a light box setup. Have before just used a window and put pencil marks.

[Colin Crabb]

Thursday put in a 15 hour day to get two customers out of the s (!) t

Have noticed (same as last year) lull in the online sales

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

SWB T5 85ps 90K miles for £2150

😮

Nice deal!

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

VW T5 TDi sport

that what we’d like next, get rid of our van & family car for one of these babies…. Its just the price that puts us off 🙁

[Colin Crabb]

Yeah latest version seems very power hungry, 2 RIPS on an i5 + 16GB ram works fine, until you try to import large 40MG + files.

Oh well time to add PC 7 to our set up lol

[Colin Crabb]

Cheers Stafford – was running X10 & Rasterlink fine on the PC, since upgrade…. not soo good, could say its a little sloooooooooooooooooow 🙄

[Colin Crabb]

Slightly off topic – with Onyx X11 should we run it on its own dedicated PC, or is it happy to run along side another RIP?

[Colin Crabb]

If your using RasterLink – modify the ink curve – Ink limits – zero the CMY and force the printer to just use black ink.

[Colin Crabb]

Don’t ask here – if we think it looks good we put our sticker on lol

[Colin Crabb]

We do on selective vehicles etc, small biz card size.

quote :

I have printed up some 0.8mm magnetic business cards.
I put one of these on the drivers door.

Like this idea! nice one

[Colin Crabb]

Also give Allprint a call, they do a couple of canvas & fabric materials too.

[Colin Crabb]

hahaha love the flow chart!

[Colin Crabb]

Thats genius! Rat look without killin’ the vehicle 😎

[Colin Crabb]

LG ultra tack from Allprint – prints very nicely, sticks like….. very sticky stuff :lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

Reinstall is the fastest option unfortunately 🙁

We’ve turned off window updates for the rasterlink machine, saves a lot of trouble (and use Nortons to protect it from any nasty’s in cyberland)

Good luck mate!

[Colin Crabb]

Jet is a Java component in your computers OS – have you updated any java or windows before this error?(Rasterlink hates any updates 👿 )

[Colin Crabb]

Yes we warn them, and they sign the ‘happy to proceed’ work ticket 😀

[Colin Crabb]

If you use a Charted Accountant – much less likely to be investigated.

Personally due to my business setup, sole trader works better for me, But my wife is a Limited Company due to nature of her business.

[Colin Crabb]

Same as Chris, sole trader & VAT registered – you have to go VAT registered if your turnover in 12 months is going to be £81k or more (you can also go VAT registered voluntarily)

You’ll need to speak to an accountant about going limited, there’d pros & cons, it all depends on your situation.

As a sole trader you are the business, any income goes directly to you, and as such you pay the tax and are responsibly personally for any debts etc.

As a Limited company, the company is now an entity on its own, has legal protection & reasonability (you’re now an employee! okay, sole shareholder or director) – there are tax advantages of low salary / high dividend, but your need to balance this against the other aspects, increased paperwork (paperwork must now be watertight!), increased accountant costs, Directors duties, other legal requirements.

[Colin Crabb]

Total end of spectrum today – good customer sent me a luxury hamper, as they heard I had injured myself!

Chuffed 😀

[Colin Crabb]

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

Okay own up, who did this one:

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/mug-seller-co … s-smalling

🙂 :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: 🙂

[Colin Crabb]

Oh I really do loooove my customers……

Working on a van today – a Saturday as a ‘favour 4 a friend’..

Hand a accident which resulted in 9 stitches to my hand, wife called customer and said ‘Sorry vans unfinished, but can collect it, husbands gone to hospital’

Customer: Oh I don’t need van till Monday, keep it overnight & finish it Sunday, that’s fine… 😕

[Colin Crabb]

And while we’re replacing the F.A & squad, can we replace the commentary team?

---

Attachments:

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

What is wrong that they cannot seem to gel as a team….must be management?
Hodgson reminds me of a civil servant coasting to retirement, the height of his ambition was to get out of the group and it looks like he hasn’t even achieved that.

I hear the F.A have contacted David Moyes already…………………

Its down to the whole F.A setup at the moment – remember Grieg Dyke doing a cut throat gesture?

Hell take the under-17 squad and just play them from now onwards – least they now how to win !

[Colin Crabb]

quote :

Tell him to go to the other company, and spend your time finding another, more profitable customer

Wise words, if you told him £60, he’d have a quote for £50 quid 🙄

At £240 for 60 signs (£4 each) I’d not bother with him, unless you can out-source it totally and make a few £££ for the office admin, its not worth your time bud running it for tiny margin with your current equipment (labour intensive).

[Colin Crabb]

£250 on foamex – you should be able to get 12 signs per 8×4 sheet = 5 sheets
Foamex sheet @ max £26per sheet = £130

You can cut foamex with a good sharp knife, don’t worry about having it pre-cut, It will be easy to trim graphic & the foamex sheet in one.

Agree with David, life of these sign warrants a 3year vinyl, nothing more.

Call Antalis or Trent Plastics and ask for Foamex prices.

Hope this helps

Colin

[Colin Crabb]

Hmmm… I have Iran in my sweepstake, not convinced of my chances…

[Colin Crabb]

I’ve bought 3050mm x 2040mm before – but only in 10mm, from Trent Plastics.

[Colin Crabb]

I think, a lot of us here on this forum have been buying! – Phoned today to enquire about the tape and instantly got:

‘Yup, guess you want the box of 36 rolls for £3.00 per roll then’

paid and dispatched already to me, top people.

…………now to generate more banner business with all this extra tape :lol1:

[Colin Crabb]

Perfect Colours – Very nice company to deal with, always very helpful & reliable.

[Colin Crabb]

Love our Z6200 – top quality print and very fast.

We run, satin & gloss photo papers (cheap Oce brand), Kodak 260gsm lustre, Hahnemuhle photo rag, and various canvas material.

Might be worth opening a ticket with Onyx Advantage, see if there engineers have a work around for the SP-540i ?

[Colin Crabb]

Your get distracted with the all the idyllic scenery!

We do… we work 500 yards from the beach 😎

[Colin Crabb]

You do clean this machine regularly ? – Around printhead, capping station, wiper?

Can’t help with pulling ink through as never done it, only every changed dampers & wiper here on our Mimaki.

[Colin Crabb]

Can’t see the SP-540i on onyx 11 supported list.
Did you get the years ‘Onyx Advantage’ support with your upgrade?- if so contact them direct.

How you finding it with the HP Z6200, we’re liking it here some nice changes and finally chromatic red profiling!

Do notice it takes a lot longer to output from the RIP’d files to the printer now, but that’s minor issue.