Visit to a printers house...

[monq]

Hello,

on Monday I will spend the whole morning overseeing a local printer dealing with a test job I am running. This test job includes dozens of small "mini-tests" with seven Pantone colours that I have chosen for our future guidelines. I can wait for the experience: the guys I have talked to seem extremely down to earth, experienced people -and I know I will learn shedloads!

I want the output to be extremely vibrant because is my prove to the business that my concept works. I have done everything I think relevant and important to achieve this. I also know that the printers people will have all the relevant experience to make this stand out.

My question is: do you think I should give extra info as to this "vibrancy" of output, anything extra that comes to your mind that might help the final output? OR do you think that I should simply shut up, watch and learn? (after all - they are the pros!)

Thanks all!

[easiprint]

Don't tell them how to do their job, but do tell them what you want to achieve.

In other words, make sure they understand what you are looking for, then shut up and let them do their job!

[WiseGuy]

What the other guy said! :-)

Also, given you're concerned about "vibrancy" take examples of what you mean. Everyone has their own version of what is "vibrant" and instead of explaining it with colorful words, plan to have printed examples to show. They will be able to see better what you want. Printers are visual people. But for the most part, let them do their magic.

[richie4400]

Paper will be of upmost importance when it comes to achieving vibrancy
so why not trial different paper types. A high grade paper will give better results.
You could also consider a varnish overall or just on a area you wish to emphasise.

[Cornishpastythighs]

Ask them for 'Luscious'
Off Register: Luscious - YouTube

[Lukas Engqvist]

Lol I my first reaction too.

Yes…*remember colours change when they dry, and depending on how big area of colour and what light and...

Let them print it according to standard and, be humble enough to admit that maybe you need to adjust your world view. I assume you want to know what the colours will look like when printed under standard conditions, so that you can get the similar results again and again?

Oh btw what process are we talking about? The aspect of standard printing conditions is not the same in flexo as in offsett, my statement assumes offset, in Flexo the colours are sometimes tweaked so that they hit Lab targets.

[monq]

Hi guys - thanks for your feedback. When it comes to printing - I am the humblest of guys since I know less than nothing (other than what I am learning in these very forums and through these printers I am talking about).

Cornishpasty - that video is a real eye opener. "It's like a nuclear accident... but there's no problem with it"... I HEREBY DECLARE NEVER TO USE THE WORD VIBRANT EVER AGAIN! (will stick to Pantone enumerations)...

Lukas, you assume right - I want to know the best possible of offset printing for 7 colours, how screening would affect certain areas (by multitplying colours, by adding white transparencies on top etc) - and essentially, I'd love this to prove a concept that I want to sell to my superiors: that we can get better and cheaper artwork with 4 colours that using 7 colours.

SO: I will go there, explain what I am after (excluding vibrant, nuclear explosions and luscious!) - and humbly wait in the back seat while I get enlightened.

Thanks a lot all

[J]

Of course "press check" has a different meaning in the US. Here's how to conduct a press check in America: Press Check do's and don'ts - YouTube

J

[monq]

I think I will definitely not ask for a press check in the US!!! (and very specially, I will not ask for a Luscious Press Check! :P