Cy Stapleton' HOTLINE Newsletter # I
Copyright January 8, 1996
The purpose of this newsletter is to expand on some of the
unusual requests that I receive and hopefully get some input from
subscribers. These are the types of things that are too lengthy
to respond to in a Hotline column. There will be no schedule as
such. As I come across something I think is interesting or if one
of you come up with something you would like to share or have
addressed, I will do another newsletter. It's free.
To subscribe send a email message to HOTLINE with the subject line
Subscribe. Anytime you wish to be dropped from the list simply
send me an Email message with only the words Unsubscribe to Hotline.
At the end of the year I will combine all of these files
into an electronic book that can be downloaded from PrinterNet's
free access area.
First of all, I would like to explain just how Hotline
works. I will receive as many as 100 inquiries each day from
printers across the country. It is impossible for me to do all of
the legwork on each of these inquiries. Right? Wrong! Except for
the truly obscure inquiries I simply go through the Hotline
database (BFP) and searc out prospective vendors that have either
noted in their Vendor Data Form that they produce a certain
product or service, or those that most probably have the
capability. If not, they may well be able to point the reader to
someone else.
As the inquiries come in they are placed in a basket to be
worked. When I start working the inquiries I take all of the
faxes out of the basket and turn them face down on my desk so
that the first one in is on top. I then search the database for a
likely vendor, do a screen dump from the database to a pre-
printed form and fax that information to the reader. On ones that
I cannot locate in the database I place in another basket. After
working the day's inquiries I go to those few I were unable to
find in the database and start searching through other resources
for potential vendors. As soon as I find one or two I enter them
in the database, do the screen dump and fax the response.
Unfortunately between 10 and 15% of all of the inquiries I
receive are either illegible, the fax cover sheet has no area
code, the phone numbers are too small to read, etc. There are
also inquiries that are written on color paper and faxed, written
on letterheads where the return information is too small to read,
etc. Those inquiries are put in a stack and are periodically
responded to through either Quick Printing or Southern Graphics
magazines. Of the over 2,000 inquiries I receive each month only
about 25 to 30 responses appear in print. On the ones that appear
in print I attempt to take one or two of the obscure inquiries
and the remainder are questions that are asked over and over
again.
Some times an the response to an interesting inquiry would
be far too long to include in a column so I am using this
newsletter to pass those on to whomever is interested. As I will
note several times, I am always interested in input from you on
your ideas as to how to handle the question or even ask questions
that relate to putting together difficult or unusual jobs. The
bottom line is that this is a newsletter for the readers to share
their knowledge or interests. I don't plan a format, so the sky's
the limit.
Let's start with this one. In the below inquiry my first
suggestion was Thomas Diecutters because they sell diecutting
equipment, do trade diecutting, and have a diecutting school.
That would be a good starting point for the following reader. The
alternative solution was just what I hope is reasonable logic. I
broke the job down into its various components and tried to come
up with an idea of what type of company might produce that
product.
Puzzles:
I had a most interesting inquiry from a Hotline reader
recently. He had a requirement for 1,000 4-color puzzles that are
4' x 6' and cut into between 90 and 100 pieces. It had to be
laminated before it was diecut. The reader was looking for a
source.
I searched the Hotline database and no one showed that they
were able to diecut anything that large.
How would you handle such an inquiry? My response was as
follows:
First of all I would contact Thomas Diecutters at 616-243-
0100. They appear to be on the leading edge of that industry.
If I was unable to get any satisfaction there (or even if I
were I would check alternatives) I would contact a company that
specializes in making cartons or diecutting gaskets for the
diecutting part of the job. They have very large diecutting
equipment. A carton company would probably be the most economical
because their diecutting doesn't have to be as critical as does
that of a gasket company. Both would have the capability of
producing relatively inexpensive steel rule dies.
Getting the 4' x 6' pieces printed would not be a big problem
- expensive, but not impossible. I have several printers in the
Hotline database who have 77 or larger presses and this type of
a job could even be printed in 2 sections on a smaller press. The
4-color printed pieces could be glued to the backing board by any
large bindery that has a 48 or larger gluing capacity, then
laminated by anyone who was capable of laminating one side -
probably a cold laminating using something on the order of GBC's
60 Rotobond.
Does this seem like a reasonable approach? How about your
ideas?
Economical Color separations:
Another question that comes up on a regular basis is where
to get really economical color separations. There are lots of
places to get them but there are also some creative ways of
purchasing them. Let's say you have a brochure with a half dozen
2 x 3 color photos on it and your customer gives you either the
negatives or prints. You take the negatives or prints to a top
quality local photofinishing house and have them make prints for
you that are scaled so that they will all scale at the same
percentage when reduced. Let's say you will need each photo shot
at 33%. Cut a piece of Index stock to whatever size is required
and place your six photos on the index stock about 1 apart. Then
get a sheet of Format clipart that is filled with registration
marks and put one of those registration marks on the index stock
at each of the 4 corners of each photo. Then send the index stock
to someone like Photoengraving (813-253-3427) and tell them you
want one 8.5x11 color sep with color key. Shoot your copy at 33%
(or whatever) Your cost for the sep and key will be $39.95. When
it comes back, simply cut the six photos apart and you will have
six color separations with registration marks that cost you less
than 6.75 each.
Unconventional? You bet it is, but I have been
using this process on certain jobs for many years. The last one
was for a brochure for one of my renaissance festival customers.
It had about 12 color photos on it. The printer I jobbed it out
to gave me a special price of $45 per separation plus stripping
and color key. I told him I would furnish the seps and color key
but he could do the stripping. My cost - about $5 per sep and
color key.
If anyone has any other really unusual jobs they have put
together in the past or are working on at this time, let's see if
between us we can come up with a creative way of handling it.
Til next time, God bless you and yours...
Cy
Upcoming Hotline Seminars
For Information, Contact
The House of Gutenberg
Box 151107
Lufkin, Texas 75915
(409) 637-7475
Fax (409) 637-1480
Email - hotlinecy@aol.com
Houston - February 22
Atlanta, GA - March 10
Dallas, TX - July 10
Anaheim, CA - To be announced
New York City, NY - To be announced
Central Florida - To be announced
If you would like a brochure describing how you can have the
Helene's Hotline database on your own computer, Email me at
hotlinecy@aol.com and give leave your fax number. The Hotline
databases, BFP and Ad Specialty BFP give you the ability to
easily shop numerous vendors for your outsourcing requirements.
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Date inserted: Monday, February 19, 1996 4:58:04