Hi all! I've got a question for you all and am hoping for lots of answers. Sorry but the question needs to begin with a short explanation of my problem.
I'm a pressman and have been printing 6 color work for 14 years. I worked in a large no nonsense, no f**k ups allowed commercial print shop for 6 of those years. It became an RRDonnelly company in I think 2005. One thing I liked about it is absolutely nothing came to press without the prepress manager over looking every job before being plated and the secondary manager double checking plates before going to press. So, when I got my plates there was minimal double checking anything against the proof (but you always do) and my primary job was color. I could go on but that's the premise of what I need info.
Anywhoo, I've since moved on from the pressure of that large commercial print scene. I've taken a job in a small print shop which was primarily four color digital work and two color press work ie: business cards, forms etc. They just bought their first four color press and hired me to run it. The problem is the "prepress" department literally knows nothing about setting up four color jobs for the press. They are used to just seeing it on the computer screen and sending it to the digital printer. Now I come along and have all these demands of which they don't know how to do or don't know what I'm talking about.
They color separate what they have on their computer directly to my plate maker without taking into consideration that on the press things need to fit along with other basic lay out procedures to minimize press issues. They actually think it's just another color copier. Countless times I have to go in and ask them to 'spread this' or why is this the knocked out? And they look at me like 'how do I fix that?'. I brought out a flashy new term for them. I used the term half tone and the two looked at me like "what's that?". I was floored after that and began thinking I need to help these people make mine and their job easier. Not to mention save on plate remakes.
As I stated I've only run presses and have little knowledge of the prepress department. So as of right now I'm of little help to them.
Are there any resources out there, short of going back to school, that could help educate me and maybe pass on to them to maximize production and keep work flow moving smoothly?
Thank you to anyone who read that whole thing and Thank you for any suggestions
I'm a pressman and have been printing 6 color work for 14 years. I worked in a large no nonsense, no f**k ups allowed commercial print shop for 6 of those years. It became an RRDonnelly company in I think 2005. One thing I liked about it is absolutely nothing came to press without the prepress manager over looking every job before being plated and the secondary manager double checking plates before going to press. So, when I got my plates there was minimal double checking anything against the proof (but you always do) and my primary job was color. I could go on but that's the premise of what I need info.
Anywhoo, I've since moved on from the pressure of that large commercial print scene. I've taken a job in a small print shop which was primarily four color digital work and two color press work ie: business cards, forms etc. They just bought their first four color press and hired me to run it. The problem is the "prepress" department literally knows nothing about setting up four color jobs for the press. They are used to just seeing it on the computer screen and sending it to the digital printer. Now I come along and have all these demands of which they don't know how to do or don't know what I'm talking about.
They color separate what they have on their computer directly to my plate maker without taking into consideration that on the press things need to fit along with other basic lay out procedures to minimize press issues. They actually think it's just another color copier. Countless times I have to go in and ask them to 'spread this' or why is this the knocked out? And they look at me like 'how do I fix that?'. I brought out a flashy new term for them. I used the term half tone and the two looked at me like "what's that?". I was floored after that and began thinking I need to help these people make mine and their job easier. Not to mention save on plate remakes.
As I stated I've only run presses and have little knowledge of the prepress department. So as of right now I'm of little help to them.
Are there any resources out there, short of going back to school, that could help educate me and maybe pass on to them to maximize production and keep work flow moving smoothly?
Thank you to anyone who read that whole thing and Thank you for any suggestions
