Communicate with your printer!

This is one of several blogs that I would like to write, not only to teach but to guide my current clients and hopefully future clients about how important it is to communicate with your printer! As many of you know, Alpha has been around for more than 40 years in Baltimore and in those 40 years we’ve helped many of you in the wee hours of the night (or morning)  finish printing your book, mock up or final thesis that you need for an early morning meeting, to hand in to a professor or to even graduate (yes, you know who you are).  However, when we get your files, they are not always ready to print. Clarification in either the content, fonts, photo’s, or links must be obtained prior to printing. This is where communication with your printer, like a priest, can make you or break you.  So, to be short and sweet you need to discuss paper, images, links, fonts, output, time schedule and color requirements way before the job even begins. Paper…coated or uncoated? Why is this important?  In order to know how to print your piece, you need to know your audience for the printed piece.  I’ll tell you why.  Coated stock,  less ink soaks into the stock resulting in the image and type to be much sharper. The natural gloss sheen is also a benefit in using coated stock. However, if used for writing,  it usually requires a ball point pen.  Uncoated stock on the other hand is usually classified as bond, cardstock, or newsprint.  The porosity of the surface requires much larger amounts of ink. It tends to dry faster, are easier to write on and sometimes are less expensive than coated stocks.  Do you know what your printed piece will be used for? Is there a reply required by the end user or is this just a show of your products or services? Knowing all the uses for your printed piece will help you and your printer determine the best type of paper for fantastic results.