The Wayback View - Printing: Dead or Alive

I just love how printing is portrayed in the media. Here are two scenes from 1958's TV show Wanted Dead or Alive starring Steve McQueen. Despite the equipment shown (which is still used today for specialty work) the characterization of printers and their customers is not too far off what still happens today.

The press in the TV episode is similar to this one:

Movie by Thomas & Erik Desmyter
A Liberty platen press invented and patented in 1859 by Frederick Otto Degener in New York.

BTW, "Josh" mentioned Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872). He was an American newspaper editor and a founder of the Liberal Republican Party. The New York Tribune (which he founded and edited) was America's most influential newspaper from the 1840s to the 1870s and "established Greeley's reputation as the greatest editor of his day."

Crusading against the corruption of Ulysses S. Grant's Republican administration, he was the new Liberal Republican Party's candidate in the 1872 U.S. presidential election. Despite having the additional support of the Democratic Party, he lost in a landslide. He is the only presidential candidate to have died prior to the counting of electoral votes.

Click HERE for more examples of printing in the movies.

5 Myths of Online Print Buying Exposed

While millions of people recognize the essential need for printed materials to successfully market their business, they find the process painful and expensive! Sure you can save money printing online, but who’d want to do that? The answer is: anyone who’s smart enough to ignore these common myths…

Myth #1: You can’t get quality customer service
If you’ve shopped for anything online, you know that customer service is one of the first things to suffer. Call for help, and you’ll get long hold times that often lead to inept sales reps who don’t answer your questions – and never call you back. Who needs it right? Why not spend the extra money and see your local printer who you can talk to face to face? Well, the truth is, in the online print industry – you simply don’t have to settle for poor service! It’s as simple as knowing where to shop and who to talk to. With devoted sales teams that follow your project from start to finish - companies like PrintingForLess.com have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating that often exceeds that of local printers. Don’t be jaded by bad experiences, and let that force you to miss all the opportunity that printing online has to offer.

Myth #2: You need to be a technical wizard to succeed
Knowing how to handle complex technical situations can be intimidating to say the least. The good thing is, when it comes to online printing – that’s not your job! You want to make sure that your printer is an expert who is eager to assist you in every aspect of file preparation. Make sure your printer accepts every file type – so you know your designs will be transferrable to their presses. This is another feature that you can research quickly and simply by making a few calls. Online printers who refuse to accept your Microsoft Word or Publisher file for example, don’t deserve your business – especially when many other printers will! The fact is online print shops typically have more resources than local printers to augment files, and prepare them for printing. Take advantage of their assets.

Myth #3: You can’t get professional design services
Perhaps you’ve been relying on your local printer to provide graphic design services – usually at a premium price. How could you ever switch to online printing where you’re expected to submit a completed file type? Answer: many online printers have pre-stocked templates that are free, and easy to use. Some even supply pre made industry copy that can be tweaked to your liking, but is generic enough to promote the benefits of your business. Check out what online printers have to offer – you might find their designs look better than anything your local printer has created!

Myth #4: You don’t know how it will turn out
A major myth surrounding online printing is that you submit your image and specs – and it’s done, no turning back. What comes out the other end of the pipe is what you get - with no recourse. Sure, that would turn anybody away from the process! But don’t let the poor practices of a few ruin your expectations for all online printers. Quality printers will always supply you with a “Proof” that you must approve as your final product before anything is produced on a mass scale. Why not benefit from the attention to detail that comes from a large staff of professional experts who are all dedicated to the success of your job?

Myth #5: You can’t guarantee the best results
There are actually some online printers who will guarantee their work, 100%. That means if you don’t like it for any reason, you can return it for a full refund! That’s almost unheard of with local print shops!

The bottom line is…find the right printer! With a minimal amount of research you’ll see that you can save money printing online - and you don’t have to sacrifice quality, customer service, or peace-of-mind to do it.

The information in this post is courtesy of PrintingForLess.com - America's Print Shop. Click HERE for more details.

The Paper Circle

Submitted by Print Guide subscriber "Alois Senefelder."