An overview of fast, accurate large format scanners

Do you have clients who want copies of large format graphics immediately? Are you assigning an operator to patch together multiple scans done on a tabloid-size flatbed? Worse yet, are you farming out business to someone down the road? There are vendors with a solution for you – wide format scanners.

In this age of tumultuous change, too many people see work as a means to an end rather than as a means to personal greatness and self-actualization. We see work as a place we go to "put in the hours" and to generate income to pay the bills and deal with the responsibilities that life brings. However, there is a different way that we can see work: as a platform to discover who we truly are and to play our highest games as human beings.

How to Predict and Profit from Turning Points in the Economy

MAIN IDEA

In light of the longest bull run in history which lasted for most of the 1990s, many people now assume the business cycle has been mastered, and there is no need to worry about economic recessions or recoveries any more. This point-of-view, however, might be overly optimistic. The economy will continue to rise and fall in the future, and for those who accurately forecast the future, these future turning points will have the greatest opportunity to position themselves advantageously.

The global economy is in turmoil. The price of oil has reached an all-time high. The printing industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Economists balk at making any solid predictions of what may lie ahead. Is it any wonder that a sense of uncertainty abounds in our economy?

The death of a loved one places an emotional burden on family members. Without proper planning, the legal and financial issues in settling an estate can be an additional strain. One of the main purposes of an estate plan is to ensure your assets are distributed efficiently and according to your wishes. While estate matters are often difficult to discuss, it's absolutely vital to do so.

The quality of your sales presentation will often determine whether a prospect buys from you or your competitors. However, most presentations lack pizzazz and are seldom compelling enough to motivate a buying decision. Here are seven strategies to create a presentation that will differentiate you from your competition.

Cash. Most people want more. When running a small business it's particularly important to monitor how cash is coming in and how much cash is going out. Below are ten ways you can keep more cash in your business for a longer time.

Who makes up the largest slice of the consumer market? Women. Are you re-positioning your business to capture this market segment?

Women consumers are not a niche market or a trend; it's the future of business. And if you believe that capturing their attention means 'thinking pink', you're caught in the traditional attitude that views women as one large group that can be targeted with a pink version of the product. If you're not rethinking pink, you're missing out.

When the time comes for you to sell your business, will you get the best price possible? Many business owners usually don't ask themselves this question, until they begin thinking about selling. Over the past 30 years we have assisted many owners in the process of taking the steps to life after business and although each situation had unique considerations, some basic guidelines assisted each owner in getting the best price for their business.

In his article, Business Succession Strategies (Graphic Arts Magazine July-Aug '04), John Exler points out that the key to a successful transfer lies in recruiting skilled outside advisers to guide you through the financial and legal technicalities of passing on your business.  

Sometimes life has a way of presenting an almost inexplicable curve which seems so unfair. One such defining moment for me occurred during the 28th Olympic Games when Canadian Perdita Felicien's dream of a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles came crashing down on the first hurdle.

At a news conference 21 hours after her crash, Felicien admitted something was missing — perhaps the hunger that had motivated her to win both the world indoor and outdoor titles and gave her the top spot in her event heading into the Olympics. "There's a lesson to be learned," she said. "The hardest thing in the past year was to fight complacency. Before Paris (site of the 2003 world athletics championships) I wanted it so muchC9 But now I've got to think forward to Beijing in 2008."

Felicien's honesty and frankness is an inspiration for all of us to get up and go at it again when life deals us a bad hand.

Heidelberg Canada hosted a media event at their headquarters in Toronto where they demonstrated a wide range of their printing equipment. See page 43 for information on their upcoming open house.

We will be an exhibitor (Booth #2491) at the Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2004 in Chicago on October 10-13.   If you're at the show, make sure you stop by and say hello. We will be closing the October issue of Graphic Arts Magazine on September 23rd so hurry if you intend to place an insert into the October edition which will be distributed at the Expo in Chicago.

For those who will not be making the trip to Chicago, we hope to see you at Print Ontario in Toronto this November.

May your troubles be less,
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
As always, stay positive.

In today's digital environment, those responsible for digital capture are not as educated in the finer points of putting ink on paper as was the case a few years ago. So if you're responsible for submitting files to print, ask as many questions as needed to ensure your files reproduce correctly.

I'll never forget my first print job. I was learning desktop publishing at George Brown College and I was asked to put a brochure together. This was my first big break so I scanned the images, set the type and put it all into Quark. I created a Fuji ColourKey, decided on a recycled matted uncoated stock and took the job to the printer. I'll never forget how I felt after opening the box of brochures and looking at my images. I learned a tough lesson in dot gain that day!