Preserved Topic: Printing press question... (Page 1 of 1)

I do a lot of graphics for print. Most of the print jobs are 9.25"x11.25" covers for presentations. I generally have 8-12 copies printed for each presentation which generally rules out using offset printing (due to the high cost of offset image setup). This leaves me with the only decent option of printing on a LightJet 5000 (cost of 8 covers = $112.00 delivered) http://www.cymbolic.com/products/lightjet5000.html . The LightJet 5000 is the highest quality RGB laser printer in my area. What I generally do is have the print bureau print the covers, laminate them with a deep crystal laminate(matte), punch them for GBC Twin Loop Wire Binding, and round the right hand corners.


My problem is that I'm getting bored with the look of these and would like some alternative ideas for cover creations. Can any of you who do graphics for print suggest any other types of cover formats?

well good lord, man, you've got lots of options!

go to a convention some time and see what some other people are doing--fantastic work there; punches of logos through pages, non-spiral bindings, impressions on leather-like pages (i did one of those once, i had a lot of fun)...there's just so much! i say create a cover that matches the content or feel of whats inside, rather than the same old shit over and over and over.

just me, i guess...but i certainly couldn't give you ideas based off of "i want to do something different." i mean, isn't that was designing is all about?

(nickname=twItch)(realname=steve)(email=steve@th-inknet.com)(chatname=8520632)(minutiae= whatthefuck)

My biggest obstacle has been budget....

Screen printing, yeah! You can do some big bold graphics, print them on a matte lexan, put your copy and whatnot on the front, and then print big blocks of fill color on the back! Looks neato-cool, really, and probably still costs about what you're paying now. I did one print job (also screen printed, you can print on all sorts of crazy shit), where we printed this companies annual report in black ink on some kind of tree bark, cut into thin sheets. Mucked my screens up good, they had to be scrapped afterwards, tree bark is rough stuff.

(Wierdest things we ever printed on? LIVE TURTLES, I shite you not. About 4" long they were, and we had to print one color, let it dry, and then print another. Little bastards kept walking away from the guides, they didn't seem to *like* that big wopping screen coming down and the squeegee squashing them to the table! We ended up printing all the little guys by hand, using sticky tape on the tables to make 'em sit still for 5 seconds. The best part was when they were drying, we had them walking around in this little pen, strange scene there.)

Ah well, that had nothing to do with your question, did it? The point is, if you don't mind working only with broad graphics, Illustrator style, you can print on some wild stuff for the "gee whiz" factor. I'd look into doing some electronic prints directly on the plastic, that migh be cool, and the folks you use today might be able to do it for you. Getting things die-cut with strange cutouts or shapes might be a cool thing too, plus the same process could do those embossed thingies. Too many possibilities, limited only by your clients pockets, heh.

Your pal, -doc-

Doc, yer one crazy mofo! I laughed my ass off reading that post!

Have you looked into some of the short run, direct to plate or toner based presses, like Indigo? I think the industry buzz word is "print-on-demand" or some such thing. Comparable quality to offset, maybe priced right for short runs? Lightjet (and Durst's Lambda) makes a sensational print, but obviously you're limited in terms of substrate. Maybe an indigo-type press would offer more variety for paper stock? Don't know about dye cutting - I expect every step beyond pigment on paper adds $$s, but might be worth asking.

Steve....that was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. Thanks!