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ryanarts · 14-07-2006, 10:09

Was wondering if anyone could help...

I want to start printing my work, for myself, or even if someone requests one. The problem is, if I go to a printer then I'll need to purchase a large quantity of prints, and not just one or two. Some people have recomended putting a deviantart shop on my account but then that create's the trouble of people having to register with deviantart in order to purchase any of my work online. I've had a look at cafepress, but I'm not sure if they're products are any good, and there is the small fact that you can't use more than one of the same product on one shop, which sucks.

Any opinions/advice?

Ta

stylin328 · 14-07-2006, 10:24

Cafepress is OK. I had tee shirts and mugs done but its deffinetly not good to use them to print your portflio stuff. My whole branding was off in the color. Not way off but off.

ryanarts · 14-07-2006, 10:38

Won't be using cafepress then

Not sure what to do now, there must be some way of getting stuff printed.
I also wanted to give people the option of buying my stuff online.

OriginalDisco · 14-07-2006, 11:50

As far as getting stuff printed goes, you could do what I've done - made a deal with a local printers, trading design for print. He gets his literature, I get well-printed portfolio pieces.

Everyone's a winner.

Dusteh · 14-07-2006, 12:04

Most small scale printers are moving over to digital print, because the margins in litho are becoming too tight compared to the big boys.

That means your local printer will have no problem printing 10 copies of something rather than 100-10000 - because digital does not rely on setup and run-on costs - just pay-per-copy.

I get one off A3 laser prints made all the time, costs a quid a sheet.

Colour matching isn't great on lasers, nor are gradients/large block colours but hey, you can't have everything. If the printer you visit has a couple of different digital machines, get a copy done on each one because the difference between makes is quite large. Likewise for the paper you use... glossy photographic paper obviously produces the best results for colour - but I've found after a few months the colours can begin to bleed despite HP's claim that they are colourfast for 40 years.

ryanarts · 14-07-2006, 12:25

Thanks for the info

I'd be after high quality prints, with good colour quality that you could put on display, or on a wall that would last. I quite like canvas prints. I really just want some things printed in very high quality, it's not really for my portfolio it's for display and walls etc.

pedge · 14-07-2006, 12:35

That's what we do (canvas & digital printing); quantities are really low (no need for 1000's) and colour accuracy is pretty good but don't expect an exact pantone match.

We use Canon kit rather than hp, lexmark, konica etc and it produces really good canvases - make sure you have them printed with pigmented inks as they're more uv stable and water resistant than dye inks.

14-07-2006, 10:09	#1 (permalink)
ryanarts ...the one & only Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 277	printing Was wondering if anyone could help... I want to start printing my work, for myself, or even if someone requests one. The problem is, if I go to a printer then I'll need to purchase a large quantity of prints, and not just one or two. Some people have recomended putting a deviantart shop on my account but then that create's the trouble of people having to register with deviantart in order to purchase any of my work online. I've had a look at cafepress, but I'm not sure if they're products are any good, and there is the small fact that you can't use more than one of the same product on one shop, which sucks. Any opinions/advice? Ta

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14-07-2006, 10:24	#2 (permalink)
stylin328 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 332	Cafepress is OK. I had tee shirts and mugs done but its deffinetly not good to use them to print your portflio stuff. My whole branding was off in the color. Not way off but off.

14-07-2006, 10:38	#3 (permalink)
ryanarts ...the one & only Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 277	Won't be using cafepress then Not sure what to do now, there must be some way of getting stuff printed. I also wanted to give people the option of buying my stuff online.

14-07-2006, 11:50	#4 (permalink)
OriginalDisco The Fusion Minstrel Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: York Posts: 402	As far as getting stuff printed goes, you could do what I've done - made a deal with a local printers, trading design for print. He gets his literature, I get well-printed portfolio pieces. Everyone's a winner.

14-07-2006, 12:04	#5 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,815	Most small scale printers are moving over to digital print, because the margins in litho are becoming too tight compared to the big boys. That means your local printer will have no problem printing 10 copies of something rather than 100-10000 - because digital does not rely on setup and run-on costs - just pay-per-copy. I get one off A3 laser prints made all the time, costs a quid a sheet. Colour matching isn't great on lasers, nor are gradients/large block colours but hey, you can't have everything. If the printer you visit has a couple of different digital machines, get a copy done on each one because the difference between makes is quite large. Likewise for the paper you use... glossy photographic paper obviously produces the best results for colour - but I've found after a few months the colours can begin to bleed despite HP's claim that they are colourfast for 40 years.

14-07-2006, 12:25	#6 (permalink)
ryanarts ...the one & only Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 277	Thanks for the info I'd be after high quality prints, with good colour quality that you could put on display, or on a wall that would last. I quite like canvas prints. I really just want some things printed in very high quality, it's not really for my portfolio it's for display and walls etc.

14-07-2006, 12:35	#7 (permalink)
pedge Crazy diamond... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Liverpool (UK) Posts: 745	That's what we do (canvas & digital printing); quantities are really low (no need for 1000's) and colour accuracy is pretty good but don't expect an exact pantone match. We use Canon kit rather than hp, lexmark, konica etc and it produces really good canvases - make sure you have them printed with pigmented inks as they're more uv stable and water resistant than dye inks.

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