Everything is Timing | Timing is Everything

The Shop Stuff

Much of the timing spent on a job is done in the shop. Each of these items takes time to complete and should be considered when you are choosing your next rush job.

Some inks need to dry.

At least on offset jobs. Larger runs that are offset printed tend to be a little less expensive than digital printing. However, the inks used in this process take about 24-hours to properly dry before being finished. This could be problematic if your deadline does not allow adequate drying time, which could be 24 hours or more. The technology has improved so much so that the quality difference between offset and digital is a moot point. You may pay more for digital but you will have a faster turnaround on your product.

Converting. 

This involves getting something printed but then converting it to something that you or your customer deems useful. An example of this would be making a sleeve for a whiskey bottle. The printer can design and print the job but then that paper needs to be converted to a sleeve by way of handwork, physically putting each sleeve together. This is just one example but other jobs like this include pocket folders, variable direct mail jobs, and custom boxes.

Run size. 

Obviously the size of your print run will very much determine the time needed to complete it. Larger runs take more time and smaller runs take less. Duh. The shop demand plays a role in this too though. If they have 5 big jobs and you are number 6, well… you get the idea. Better to get things done early than later.

The Office Stuff

The timing issue here is mostly due to communication so keep that thought in mind as you read through these gems.

Artwork prep before it gets to the shop. 

This is by far the biggest issue in the industry. You may know how to use design programs such as Indesign and Illustrator but knowing how to set-up your files to be print ready is another skill needed to smooth out the process. Dimension of your artwork and your final size are one issue. Another issue is the customer might be using Word or Powerpoint to create and image or text. Our version may differ from yours in which case, the font you spent time on selecting won’t translate across to platforms. Export or save the file in PDF format and send that to your print shop. If you’re unsure about print formatting or designing, an in-house design team can make all the difference. Cost may go up as you will pay for their time but it is well worth knowing your product will look the way the proof looks.

Proof Approval. 

Just as it is written above, you will get a proof from a print vendor. You will then need to approve this before the job can move forward. If you are close with your customer service representative from your print shop, you may trust them to make choices for you based on past orders. This is where the relationship becomes serious, almost like a significant other picking the place to eat. If you want to make sure every part of the job is perfect before it goes through, check your email constantly. Active communication can keep latency to a minimum so be sure to acknowledge with your vendor as soon as possible.

What next?

Having this knowledge base will do wonders for your relationships with your print providers. These insights are those learned from our experience here at the Voom Group. We strive to better educate our customers and the entire industry on being more efficient while also setting the high-quality bar. If there are ever any questions, come visit us and let us show you how we can help you Voom.