The old Walt Disney song may say “It’s a small world after all,” but for a few Canadian printers, “the world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.”

When one thinks of big presses, one immediately thinks about the huge web presses used for newspapers, publications, books, magazines, catalogues or directories. These presses get bigger and bigger, with manroland and Goss both introducing at drupa 96-page presses with a 112-inch web width. The sheetfed world isn’t being left behind, however, as there is increasing interest in larger formats – defined as a press larger than a typical 40-inch configuration (102cm or 105cm) here as well.

With the current state of the economy being affected with flu-like symptoms, there are positive opportunities and ideas, which can be implemented to speed up the recovery process using process integration. The goal in any print media or bindery and finishing company is to maintain a full schedule of profitable work in every shift of operation.

Rush jobs are one of the major problems identified by participants in our time management seminars. The solutions to this problem will also help alleviate many other time issues. I’ve listed the suggestions in the form of an acronym that spells out the words RUSH JOBS.

Realize that you can’t do everything. No matter how many things people want, or when they want them, you can only do one thing at a time. You cannot control other people’s expectations, but you can control your own reaction to impossible demands. Don’t get upset or angry. Simply prioritize all the jobs to the best of your ability, provide realistic deadlines of your own and don’t put yourself on a guilt trip if those deadlines don’t match other people’s expectations.

Use outside resources. If your estimated completion dates are simply not acceptable, suggest outsourcing, sub-contracting or additional help. If you are in a position to delegate, do so. If technology will help reduce the process time, take advantage of it where possible.

Recognize that there are ways of getting the jobs done without actually doing them yourself.

Schedule time to work on the tasks. The most effective way of completing tasks is to schedule blocks of time in your planner to work on them. These are meetings with yourself. If you think it will take six hours to complete a task, schedule a total of about nine hours in your planner, allowing the extra time for interruptions, crises or unavoidable downtime. Taking into consideration the other jobs you are working on, this nine hours might take the form of six meetings of an hour-and-a-half each, over a two-week period. Scheduling the actual time will help you estimate realistic deadlines for other jobs that crop up.

Help others find alternative ways to get the jobs done. A few questions might reveal that the job is not as urgent as it first appeared. Understand the purpose behind the request. Offer suggestions and alternatives. Even referring a specific job to one of your competitors is better than losing the account all together by making promises you can’t keep. Whether the rush job emanates from an internal or external client, your job is to help solve the person’s problem. This does not mean you have to volunteer the impossible.

Join a support group. Networking provides emotional as well as practical help. Be actively involved in at least one other volunteer association relevant to your work. Cultivate relationships and ask for advice when you feel overwhelmed. Sometimes just talking it over will allow you to see the situation from a different perspective. Don’t live and work in isolation. Group contact can provide a release for stress as well as ideas for coping.

Organize your work area, your equipment and yourself. If you’re disorganized, any deadline can appear unrealistic. If you are prone to procrastination, perfectionism, clutter or other time wasters, such as self-interruptions, forgetfulness, misplaced material or inadequate planning, enroll in a time management program or invest in a good book or audio program on time management.

Be flexible. Don’t get yourself in a knot if your plans and scheduled tasks are disrupted. Priorities change and crises occur regardless of how well you plan and organize your work. If you schedule more time than you think a task will take, leave plenty of unscheduled time and view crises as your job calling, you will avoid excessive stress and maintain your effectiveness. If you feel yourself getting uptight, ask the question, “what will be the impact on my job and my life if this task doesn’t get done today?” You can likely live with the answer and learn not to sweat the small stuff.

Say no. If you are to maintain balance in your life, you sometimes must say no. Scheduling tasks in your planner will help you say no diplomatically. If some of the tasks in your planner originated from the person making yet another request, ask which task you should delay in order to make room for the new priority. You cannot be all things to all people nor do two things in the same time frame. Realize that when you say yes to anything, you are automatically saying no to something else. That something else may be time spent with your family, self-renewal or personal goals.

For more information, or to purchase time management products, visit: http://www.taylorintime.com/print

Attendance may have been down slightly from the previous show (about 3%), but the over 6,800 who attended the recent Montreal show, as well as many exhibitors, reported good results as they met with more decision-makers and key purchasers.

“We had an outstanding show with good traffic in all areas of our booth. We featured solutions showcasing how a commercial printer can play to their strengths in offset, digital and display graphic printing,” says Tony Karg, senior director of business development and marketing (Graphic Systems), Fujifilm Canada Inc. “The Acuity Advance wide format inkjet device had steady traffic, as did our Xerox 700 DCP digital press. (Xerox wasn’t at the show, so Fujifilm was representing the Xerox technology to the Quebec market). Our new XMF workflow was the real hit. Incorporating the latest version of the Adobe PDF Print Engine ripping technology, the Quebec market was very impressed by the range of functionality and features,” he says.

Epson and EFI joined forces at the show to create what both companies expect will be the most advanced and complete proofing solution on the market to date. The new Epson Stylus Pro 900 Series Proofing Editions combine the unique proofing advantages that come with the Epson Stylus Pro 7900 or 9900 wide-format ink jet printers, along with EFI’s most robust proofing RIP workflow to date, EFI Colorproof XF v4.0 for Epson. The end result is a unique and complete solution designed to redefine what’s possible for virtually all contract-proofing applications, say the companies.

EFI Colorproof XF v4.0 RIP for Epson takes advantage of the latest Adobe PostScript 3 and Adobe Print Engine 2.0 technologies and processes files to ensure consistent and accurate proofs for all types of color print work – commercial or flexographic. And with complete support of Epson’s optional SpectroProofer, virtually any colour management process is completely automated, reducing labour costs significantly.

Tim Wakefield of Insource Corp. demonstrated specialized mailing technology from Kirk Rudy, Rena and KAS, including detailed video presentations on Buhrs and Norpak equipment.

“Our theme for the show was mail-related automation with full security, including camera-based verification, read and print, inkjet printing, personalized Post-it note application, card tipping, inserting and polywrapping,” he says. “We found the response to our booth quite favourable with significant interest in the closed-loop camera verification – that included options such as sheet feeder control, database activated selective inserting, personalized multiple pocket matching, read and print and reporting, all within one controller. The fact that this can be fitted on inserting, poly and bindery/stitching equipment was seen as a huge benefit,” he adds.

Andr' Simard of ICC Technologies found new leads and finalized two contracts during the show. “We got our return on invesment through our customers who use GraphICC management software,” he says.

GraphICC is a management solution software for print shops specializing in sheetfed, web, digital, large format and flexo. The company is the result of over 20 years of joint effort with professionals from the printing industry. The end product is a completely integrated and user-friendly printing management tool that includes orders and estimates, price confirmation, job dockets, inventory, production planning, job costing, shipping and delivery, as well as invoicing using a fully integrated accounting management system and powerful office automation tools.

“Friday was the best day of the show for us. Overall, the timing was ideal for our increased commitment to the bilingual markets of Quebec,” says Brian Armstrong, president of Printer Gateway. “We had a chance to meet with clients, prospects and get face-to-face with the people that matter most to us – our resellers. We plan to return to the next Quebec show.”

The fact that there were a number of companies that didn’t exhibit at the show only improved response, according to Armstrong. “There were still a large number of people, both exhibitors and visitors. The real test of these types of events is how you manage the business you generate. In the end, people are more impressed by how much you care and how committed you are to them as ‘trade only’ suppliers – rather than how much you know or your level of technical expertise,” he adds.

MD International featured the CP Bourg BSTD Plus Tower Collator/Feeder connected to the new CP Bourg BME Automated Booklet Maker. Steve Thistle was there from Robert E. Thistle Co. Ltd., and told us how the CP Bourg BSTD Plus Collators feed system uses true vacuum feed belts and air-sheet separation. “These towers have the capability,” says Thistle, “of multiple feeding out of any pockets or in combination with other pockets – allowing you to merge pre-collated sets from a digital device with uncollated sheets or colour output or simply use as a feeder.”

The new BME Automated Booklet Maker has many unique features, says Thistle, including total NC control (no knobs to turn or levers to move), totally visible paper path, the ability to control the accessory from a remote source, capability to handle the largest range of formats for any collator or online accessory, an input size up to 370×600 mm (will take iGen3 production), capability of handling landscape A4 brochures and a new soft-handling paper path designed for digital prints that can be marked or scratched easily.

Alain Proulx of Techno Gestass echoed many exhibitors’ feelings, saying that booth traffic was solid. “Attendance was better than expected, considering the current economy, and there was an excellent level of interest from buyers,” he says. “More importantly, the show definitely attracted the quality buyers.”

The company is the first Roland distributor in Canada and in 2003, expanded to offer a more complete line of equipment solutions for the sign industry, gradually adding CNC routers, laser engraving and cutting machines, direct-to-garment printers, laminators, substrate cutters, heat presses, a wide variety of media and other accessories. Techno Gestass also sells into many diverse industries such as woodworking, gifts and awards, orthotics, moldmaking and more.

KBR Canada, now the exclusive distributor for KBA products in Canada, with the exception of British Columbia, had excellent results at the show, according to KBR Canada’s Executive V.P. Karl Belafi Jr. “We showcased the latest technology in finishing automation at our booth and came away with several leads which resulted in actual sales only about 10 days after the show,” he said.

Leading press manufacturer Heidelberg (www.heidelberg.com) had “a fairly successful Montreal show even with lower attendance,” said Jean-Francois Colpron, V.P., product management and marketing, Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited. “Our sales were in the small-format CTP(s) Thermal and Polyester and in the Quickmaster 46 press line, with a few units of each sold.”

“Mediatech (www.mediatech.ca) was proud to launch its new GEO premium FSC-certified inkjet papers at the show,” said Alain Paradis.

“We were able to see the growing interest in FSC papers, including our new line that includes matt-coated, photo and proofing papers, all designed to work with water-based-ink printers.” The Quebec-based company supplies a wide variety of media for large-format inkjet printers – either water-based, eco-solvent, solvent-based or UV curable.

Gallery

In addition to the fact that print buyers can do press OKs from the comfort of their office or home, there are many other advantages to remote colour approvals.

Digital Imaging Association members and guests were on-hand at Apple Canada’s facility to learn more about LithoTel Software

Design’s new software – Remote Colour Approval.

When printers and advertisers are looking to save every penny possible, the concept of remote press approvals has great appeal. For the printer, it means faster colour OKs; for the client, it means no trips to the printers for press OKs.
What is Remote Colour Approval?

In essence, this is a method for remotely viewing the colour of the printer’s contract proof and the colour of a scanned press sheet on a single remote high-resolution colour monitor while the job is running on the press.

Remote colour press approval is a Web-enabled system that allows print buying customers anywhere in the world to compare the colour of the printed copy versus that of the approved proof. Remote colour press approval happens when the design is approved, the contract colour proof is approved, printing standards are in place, plates are on the press and the make-ready is done. It is live and in real-time.

Who developed Remote Colour Approval?

LithoTel Software Design Ltd. – www.lithotel.ca – is an industry leader in prepress to pressroom integration. Since 1989, this Ontario-based family business has embarked on numerous phases of development towards becoming a leader in the field of pressroom integration. They have provided consulting services to manroland, Sun Chemical, Gretag MacBeth, Flint Group and Mitsubishi

Lithographic Presses to name a few.

The mainstay of their services provides technical support and press fingerprinting services to hundreds of printers worldwide. And along the way, LithoTel has contributed extensively to the understanding and development of practical density controls and has pioneered methods to effectively use these controls in a production – and productive – environment. LithoTel’s products are registered and in use on five continents.

How does it work?

During an actual press run, a composite proof is transferred to a remote customer site where it is viewed on a gray balanced monitor. A second image is displayed immediately below the proof and represents the colour on the press sheet. The composite proof is created by combining the workflow colour profile data from the printer’s contract proof system. The press sheet colour is created using ink key specific spectrophotometric readings from the press colour bar.

If the customer sees a visual difference between the two images he/she can put a cursor over any part of the proof image, view the spectral values, then move the cursor to the same spot on the press sheet image and compare the numbers. Both images display percentage coverage values, LAB values and Delta E values.

There are additional options to enhance the experience: both images can be viewed on the monitor as colour progressives; both images can be enlarged for better visual assessment. A Web-enabled or telephone discussion follows, adjustments are made on press and a new image transfer follows – all in real time. And, as occurs press-side, the process continues until customer sign-off is achieved. Just as with conventional workflow, press sheet readings are taken throughout the run. LithoTel’s system electronically tabulates the readings, compares them to the approved values and enables live reporting during the press run, thus facilitating productivity. Printers can elect to provide press run reports to their customers to validate acceptable consistency throughout the run.

Why consider Remote Colour Approval?

It’s a natural progression for conventional print into today’s digital environment, and it is designed to fit with existing equipment and workflows. As an accurate and repeatable process, it delivers cost reductions, improved efficiency, as well as enhanced communications between brand owner, design team and printer.

While any visual differences between the proof and the press sheet are real, unless they are viewed on an ICC profiled monitor, they do not represent absolute colour fidelity. The Remote Colour Approval system can be trusted because it can be measured. To quote LithoTel President Art Rosbottom, “as a science, colours make the numbers and the numbers make the colours.” Remote Colour Approval transmits the data, not the images. So, the system may not work for all projects. Visual colour is the complexity of a subject, a light source and a viewer. There will still be some image-critical projects where viewer perception defines acceptable colour.

The demo

Following an insightful overview of the product’s attributes, attendees at the DIA presentation were able to experience a project demo. A lively question and answer session followed, which continued after the formal conclusion of the presentation.

LithoTel contributed a draw prize – a colour viewer. Peter Gilmour from PI Media was the lucky winner – and he expected to put his prize to immediate and frequent use.

So, you’ve researched the latest technology in pressroom or prepress equipment, determined your needs, considered the environmental aspects and decided on your purchase.

The immediate impacts of your decision on your business would require careful planning for the installation. Think of how to reduce the disturbance to current workflow as much as possible. Then, there are the extra costs involved, like electrical, water or compressed-air hook up, delivery, installation and staff training. Unless you have negotiated these or some of them into the initial price, they can add up.

Be aware of the warranty conditions, limitations and effective period; why not ask for more? They can only say no. Is there a performance guarantee? Does the stated criteria meet your real world expectations?

You want as seamless a transition into your new (or new to you) piece of equipment as fast as possible, but don’t forget one important and sometimes neglected legal requirement. Under Ontario Regulation 851 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (and other provincial equivalents), a pre-start health and safety review has to be conducted.

Check out section seven in your “little green book” that has to be available and posted in any industrial establishment for full details. Failure to do this before the apparatus is in operation contravenes this regulation. Should it not be done and an accident occurs, subsequently requiring an MOL inspection, it will have serious consequences. Your due diligence defense as an owner, employer or supervisor will be negated no matter how diligent you have been otherwise.

The regulation has a table under section seven that lists all the criteria covering the requirement for conducting and documenting this review. It covers just about all the prepress, pressroom and bindery equipment I can think of, plus lifting devices (eg: cranes, tow motors and fork lift trucks), flammable liquids dispensing and dust collectors that may be added to bindery equipment. As such, a pre-start health and safety review has to be conducted by a professional engineer. So, try to offset this cost during your negotiations with the supplier. They probably have access to professional engineer services that can be included in the deal, though they are not required to do so. If not, it is far better to have it done during the installation as part of your own agenda than that of a Ministry of Labour inspector who will require the device to be shut down while the review is arranged and conducted. If you do need help I can arrange for a review quickly and at a competitive cost.

Back to environmental issues; be wary of “green washing,” if the claims of the supplier include such terms as “environmentally friendly.” What does this mean? Unless it is solar or wind powered and has zero waste or emissions, there will be a negative impact on the environment. For example, it could be a claim such as eco-friendly “waterless printing,” but such a unit can use more energy than a traditional equivalent, creating more green house gas emissions, and just how much water are we saving for the additional costs?
If the new piece of equipment, such as a plate or CTP processor or press dampening system, is to be hooked up to a drain, and only a sanitary sewer drain is permissible, then determine if there is some form of treatment device included. This should not include any device that uses municipal supplied water for dilution purposes. Dilution is not the solution and is stated as a no-no in sewer bylaws.

They vary from municipality to municipality, but they all have limitations and bans on listed pollutants, dyes and pH levels amongst other criteria. Under no circumstances should you hook it up to a storm sewer, as this will probably contravene both municipal bylaws, provincial water resources acts and the federal Fisheries Act – and you do not want to go there. Your choices will be to either collect the effluent for pickup by a licensed waste hauler or investigate the various on site treatment systems on the market.

Another option is to install a closed loop-recycling unit to reduce chemical costs, usage and waste. This can be combined with a treatment system or licensed disposal of the residue. I recommend having your facility effluent tested on an annual basis to see if they meet your local sewer bylaw requirements. This offers both due diligence and peace of mind.

For waste chemical containers or ink/toner cartridges does the supplier or OEM take them back? They should acknowledge their cradle to grave responsibility for them. This will and is starting to become a regulatory requirement. Enjoy your new equipment; I hope it makes a bundle for you.

The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people” —Theodore Roosevelt

Think about the people you feel comfortable with. It could be your spouse, other members of your family, colleagues, business associates, customers, and even the mail carrier. What is it about these people that makes you feel comfortable? Where does this comfort come from?

It may have been a common experience you had with a particular person — a movie you both appreciated, mutual friends and acquaintances or a similar outlook on life. If you have the same experiences with the people you do business with, the results can be similar. The people we like to do business with are people we like, respect and trust – people we feel comfortable with. But, where does this comfort come from?

In the 1960s, psychologist Albert Mehrabrian conducted a groundbreaking experiment. He found that people judge other people based on three observable clues: words, the para-verbal and the nonverbal.

Words

Think about someone you met for the first time. You may have thought to yourself, “What an interesting person. I really liked the way he or she answered that question. That is exactly what I would have said.” Or you may have thought, “This person is a real jerk. I never would have said that.” Either reaction would have been based on what the person said, but words are only one part of the equation.

Para-verbal

Para-verbal is not what you say, but how you say it. It is the tone, pace, tempo, speed or volume of your voice. We all listen to people and create impressions of them based on how they use their voices. This is the second part of the equation.

Nonverbal

Yes, we do judge a book by its cover. We are all guilty of judging people by how they present themselves. We might say, “There is a successful person — she has that look of confidence in her eyes” or “He’s a loser — look at the way he is dressed.”

What do para-verbal and nonverbal clues have to do with face-to-face marketing? Everything.

Mehrabrian discovered that the relative importance of each in the equation is as follows:

Words: 7%
Para-verbal: 38%
Nonverbal: 55%

These numbers tell us that 93% of a person’s impressions of another is not directly related to what they say, but how they say it; an important lesson for anyone in business. Customers do not just look for the best price; they also need a comfort level with the people they plan to do business with and they can only achieve this goal through a face-to-face marketing experience. Rapport will develop faster and last longer if you show your customer how much their business means to you rather than tell them. Build rapport with actions rather than words.

Rapport during the ice breaker

When you greet someone for the first time, it’s difficult to know how this person will react. If the person is timid and you greet them with a loud and boisterous “hello!” there is a good chance this person will quickly move on.

The best way to approach and begin to make someone feel comfortable is in a manner that is most compatible with the way they normally act. Rapport building starts the minute the conversation begins. Listen and watch how this person answers questions. Don’t just listen to the words; also study the para-verbal and nonverbal.

Para-verbal clues will reveal that some people speak loudly and others are soft-spoken; some will talk fast and others slowly; some have lots of inflection in their voice and others are monotone.

Nonverbal clues reveal that some people are demonstrative and others are standoffish; some will stand tall with perfect posture and others will slouch; some will come inside your personal space and others will keep their distance.

While many of the differences may be cultural, they all give strong clues on how you should proceed. By reading the clues properly, you are taking the first important step toward building rapport.

Let’s assume you’re asked a question by a potential soft-spoken customer. If you normally speak in a loud voice and don’t adjust the volume, this person will feel alienated and uncomfortable and a wall of indifference will develop. When you lower your voice to match theirs, the chance of creating comfort is greatly enhanced. There are many clues to look for, such as posture, gestures, personal space, personal greetings, speed, pace and tone of voice, to name a few.

By matching the para-verbal and nonverbal, you two now have something in common. As you proceed, look for additional clues that tell you how to act.

One word of clarification: even though para-verbal and non-verbal are adjusted to match the person you are with, you never change your level of enthusiasm for your product or service. If a prospect approaches and the person’s body language says he or she is tired and irritable, you adjust your para-verbal and nonverbal to closely reflect theirs, but on the inside you always remain as passionate and enthusiastic as ever.

The 2009 Canadian Marketing Association National Convention and Showcase Forum April 27-29 brought marketing professionals from across North America to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to learn and discover cost-saving solutions and leading-edge ideas from some of the best marketing experts in the industry. There was a lot of praise from both visitors and exhibitors.

“The CMA show and seminars were an invaluable development resource for the marketing professional,” says Tony Karg, senior director of business development and marketing (Graphic Systems), Fujifilm Canada Inc. (www.fujigraphics.com). “This year’s emphasis on social media provided an excellent foundation of understanding on how it could be applied to B2B business segments.”

Peter Reinhardt of snapNwin (www.snapnwin.com) was part of the impressive line-up of guest speakers. Where most major marketing proposals today incorporate some form of “street marketing” tactic outside of the conventional print and media buys, his presentation, “Connecting the Dots,” spoke to bottom-line returns from successful street marketing, tradeshows, direct-mail initiatives and event-sponsorship venues.

“The snapNwin product has been an answer to many of the frustrations and shortcomings of past, traditional street-marketing tools,” Reinhardt says. “Having collectible value, or ‘stickiness’ combined with people’s desire for a chance to win, are the key reasons why snapNwin programs work. In a tough economy, marketers are looking for better ways to connect and bring their message to the consumer. SnapNwin has the ability to bring people from the real world to the cyber world where cost effective viral campaigns can begin.”

John McTrusty of Questback (www.questback.com) felt the conference was the ideal place for his company to be. “We attended and exhibited in order to increase our knowledge and to introduce people to our unique way of improving their brand, customer and other key business relationships.”

Laura Cook, account manager for Coverbind Canada (www.coverbind.ca), was featuring an in-house, short-run perfect binding solution – the Coverbind 5000 that can bind 10 books in one minute, or up to 300 books an hour. It also allows the user to edit 10 books in one minute.

The show was also successful for YesText Mobile Marketing (www.yestext.com). “We connected with a number of marketers trying to develop and integrate marketing to cellphones into their existing business models,” says Ross Gordon, marketing director. “We found the show’s format, built around education seminars, attracted marketers seeking new ways of thinking and put them in a positive mindset to slow down and absorb technology-related ideas. Given the detailed advertising performance metrics that we provide, we found a strong interest by marketers in improving measurement of their advertising’s effectiveness,” he adds.

“I found this year’s CMA show agenda brought Web marketing to the forefront of critical tools a marketer should have in his or her arsenal,” says Al Pickard, president/solutions consultant, Intuitive Solutions Group Inc. (www.intuitivesg.com). “As a digital asset management vendor, we believe in simultaneous print and Web marketing with similar, yet unique, messages and methods. They got it!”
Though there were dozens of great booths at the show featuring some cutting-edge marketing solutions, the one that caught our eye – literally – was the 3M exhibit (www.3mgraphics.com) that featured Vikuiti rear projection film that has the ability to transform any transparent surface, such as a window, into a projection screen. Their model at the show, about the size of an 8.5” x 11” page, had a visual impact that was both dominant and spectacular, to say the least.

In print, the Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com) booth featured a wonderfully nostalgic catalogue with dramatic colour photos spanning world news and personalities from decades gone by. A sales and marketing tool to be sure, this edition could also double as a treasured collector’s item.

When JDF was originally rolled out in 1993 by Heidelberg, it was received much the same way most things are in the print industry – with optimistic caution. It sounds wonderful, it’s a brilliant concept, and it will change how we do business, but when?

True to the status quo of the industry 16 years later, JDF is still not all we were led to believe. I’m not here to bash JDF though. In fact, I am more a believer now then I have ever been in the concept and true functionality of JDF.

Like most things in life, JDF isn’t perfect; it has taken time to grow, mature and improve. Sixteen years is a lot of time, but we have seen monumental improvement. And it seems 2010 will be the decade for JDF. I truly believe that companies that take full advantage of hardware, software and MIS that are JDF compliant will excel in the uncertain printing world of tomorrow.

The one thing that always kills printers is errors. Whether human, mechanical, acts of “you know who,” or otherwise, any instance where parts of a job must be processed multiple times is a waste of resources. The resource can be something as small as five minutes of time, or as expensive as three days on press. These loses always add up, and the more steps taken to ensure they don’t occur, the better.

I will admit that I have made a few mistakes in my printing business lifetime that have ended up costing the company money. Every person, every out-of-date system, every flawed process, every under-cared-for machine is a potential loss waiting to happen. Some of these we can’t control, or can’t change, but we can always try to limit the amount of interaction with these things to keep the potential issues to a minimum. That’s really all JDF is – a minimizer.

The concept of JDF is greater than the tool itself, and if you’re not onboard, you’re going to have a hard time keeping your financial head above water.

The basic concept of JDF is to minimize the amount of physical document handling necessary to produce any given job by increasing the amount of digital information transferred to various components of the entire print shop. When I say “physical handling,” I am not just referring to someone picking up the docket from his/her desk and carrying it to prepress or the bindery; I am also talking about the amount of information that has to be manually transposed by individuals from the docket to their station, or from one resource to another. This functionality of the software not only saves time by minimizing the amount of time needed for physical information transfer, it also reduces the total amount of time needed by each person when handling the job. Without going into too much more detail, it’s plain to see that devices and software that save you time will end up saving you money in the long run.

Alright, for the flip side of the coin: what are the downsides? Well, for starters, you have to integrate the software into your current shop. That means investments in upgrades to existing machines and software to JDF compliant versions, or investing in new software or hardware that is JDF compliant. Then, you’ll need to invest in changing your process to take advantage of the full power of the resource.
I am in sheer awe of places that have invested thousands of dollars on software or hardware and don’t at least try to take advantage of all the wonders that they have to offer.

Finally, because all the data does carry through so well, there is now a huge burden put on entering the information right the first time. Not that there isn’t in a normal workflow, but in a JDF workflow, getting it right the first time is especially important.

With all those cons in mind, I still think the benefits far outweigh the costs, especially when you consider that the costs are often one-time heavy expenditures, but the savings are present from then on.

Many companies that sell JDF related products report that their products can pay for themselves in anywhere from two years to six months. Taking all that into consideration, I’d say that the concept and the notion is nothing less than JDF’ing great!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me johnathonanderson@graphicartsmag.com

Fonts are one of the biggest hurdles facing successful automation of print-ready files. Automation success relies on offloading time consuming repetitive work to a server leaving operator workstations free for creative and design work. The other bonus of automating the creation of print-ready files is that it forces this file creation to follow a standard across an entire workgroup.

Without an intuitive font management system or a very strict set of rules applied to the use of fonts, the attempt at automating a workflow will often fail. The raw automation of programs like Quark, Indesign and Illustrator rely on the applications to pick the fonts to use. Since they use very limited information when choosing fonts, errors can occur. An automated workflow will require better font information stored in the document to ensure the file is opened with the right fonts each time.

There is an intuitive font management system available from Extensis that takes over this responsibility and actually improves the information that is stored in the document. The Universal Type Server adds control to font libraries with the addition of a technology that “fingerprints” fonts used in a document.

QuarkXPress, InDesign, PageMaker, Illustrator, Photoshop and all other applications embed into their documents only the basic information about the fonts used: the font name. Desktop font managers that are in use today have to match fonts by name and this can cause substitution of font types and tracking problems.

This “fingerprinting” is branded Font Sense and ensures success in an automation strategy. The technology uniquely identifies a complete font specification. This identification also includes a checksum value made of information about the font’s outlines, width tables and kerning tables. Font Sense will write this information into the document created in Quark, Indesign or Illustrator using plug-ins and clients for Windows and Mac that come with the server. When the document is opened on another machine or on an automation server, the same plug-in ensures that the correct font is activated.

The Universal Type Server also has other added benefits and features. There is a web-based user group and server administration and IT managers can use existing Active Directory user information to setup the server. Corrupt fonts, when detected by the server upon loading, can be repaired before entering the workflow. It even manages font licensing. It also gives operators the ability to work offline by downloading fonts that are in use from the server onto a laptop or remote connection.

Universal Type Server is a giant leap for automated workflows, workgroups and font clean up. Automation success with Indesign, Quark and Illustrator applications is proven with real world testing and the mature technology of Font Sense. This tool will enable studios, workgroups, service providers and other print publishers the added power needed to successfully automate print production.

You can try the Universal Type Server for 30 days. The product is available in a lite version and a professional scalable version. Visit www.extensis.com to download and get more information.

Q. We would like to use Time Capsule for backup, but we may also need to store the backup off site. We have about 100GBs of data we don’t want to lose. Can we also backup the Time Capsule and keep it off site?

A. Discussions around backup and archiving can be confusing and people often say “backup” when they mean to say “archive.” Backing up data is done to prevent loss of information currently stored on your computer. We backup our computer’s data in case of disasters, such as fire, flood, theft and mechanical failures. We are most concerned with backing up the information that we need for day-to-day operations.

Archiving, on the otherhand, is meant for storing information offline for a long-term – even permanently – and stored on inexpensive media that is designed to last. A DVD is better than a hard drive or tape over the long haul because the information is burned on with a laser or permanently stamped on with commercial DVDs. All new Mac systems have dual layer DVD drives capable of writing 8GBs of data to DVDR - for long time storage and archiving. Hard drives and magnetic tapes are susceptible to magnetic corruption. DVDs can be corrupted by light and heat. Environmental conditions must be thought about when considering how “archive media” is stored. I recommend that you make two copies of anything you seriously value – and store one copy offsite.

The Time Machine runs once every hour on your Mac using a service or daemon called ”/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.” Daemons are background services that run processes independently of the users. The Time Machine software can use a second hard drive, removable drive or a Network Area Storage called Time Capsule as the destination.

Apple’s Time Capsule runs a specialized service and is the only network device that Time Machine will backup to on a network. The Mac has to be “awake” in order for the backup to run properly – and Time Machine comes with and only runs on Mac OS X 10.5 (aka Leopard).

CrashPlan Pro is also software that is installed on the Mac itself, and like the Time Machine software, runs in the background and backs up over the local network or encrypted over the Internet to a remote location. CrashPlan Pro client software is installed and runs as a daemon on the Macs. There is a software interface where you can select which files and folders are to be backed up. You can also setup the schedule, which governs when items get backed up. It can backup to another machine on the network, which must be running the CrashPlan server software.

Companies such as IronGate in Ottawa and iT Guy Technologies offer a third option of running CrashPlan Pro – that of setting the destination of the CrashPlan Pro backup to a remote CrashPlan Pro Hosted Service. Then, you can rest assured that the data won’t be lost in the case of theft, fire or flood. You also save the expense of setting up and managing a data centre.

CrashPlan clients can also run on Mac OS X 10.4 (tiger), Windows XP and Vista, linux and Sun clients. Apple introduced Time Machine because the majority of users never backup their data. By making Time Machine as simple as “set it and forget it,” the hope is that average consumers will not lose their data through inaction. Companies with mission critical data often spend thousands in hardware, software and labour to backup their systems – the budget is based on the time and cost required to recover from loss. Backup of live data is expensive and usually has a cutoff timeframe because of the expense.

Information should be taken “offline” and archived if it is not required for day-to-day operations because of the relative expense of “online” and “nearline” storage. Time Capsule and CrashPlan are “nearline” solutions. Time Machine is by its nature an active process so it cannot be backed up. Rather, you could install CrashPlan Pro and backup in parallel. Then, you would have two sources to recover from and eliminate another point of failure.

Search Engine Optimization – Three words that could mean success or failure in 2009

Sheetal Pinto is a professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate communications and online brand consulting. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, she is the founder and president of MintCopy Inc., a leading Internet marketing and copywriting firm serving clients across the globe. And, she has dubbed today’s website advertising as the “Amazing Race in Cyberspace.” The “racetrack” in this case, is a search engine.

“As runners (voluntarily or not), we are all racing along tracks like Google, Yahoo!, MSN/Live, ASK, AOL and others. This race is the opposite of ‘Hide-and-Go-Seek’ – it’s more like ‘Run-to-be-found FIRST.’”

“Search” is a numbers game

A “search” is a common activity for billions of Internet users looking to find something they need. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a website from search engines via “natural” (organic or algorithmic) search results.

In a highly competitive and crowded space such as the printing industry, you’ve got to make every effort to win this race and be found before your competition. The good thing is, there’s room at the top for more than one printer.

“A search engine listing for a particular search term can show at least 10 front-runners (organic listings) and an additional five or more sideline heroes (the ones that pay to be listed). Even as you’re reading this, the number of people searching for ‘key words’ relevant to your industry is mind-boggling,” Pinto adds.

The table below from Google Canada illustrates this. The global figures would be even higher:
Search Term/Keyword/Key Phrase No. of Searches (monthly average)
Print shop    53,400,000
Printers    72,100,000
Graphic printing    47,100,000
Graphic print design    9,340,000
Graphic arts    16,800,000

“Having a great looking website isn’t enough,” Pinto says. “Your site must show up high in search-engine rankings for the key words that matter. The secret to success is optimizing your content to ensure that customers find you when they are looking for your products and services.”

For example, let’s say you run a print shop in Markham specializing in short-run digital. The trick is to re-write your website promotional text into SEO (Search Engine Optimized) text. This involves putting key words and phrases up front – in your headline, in the first sentence, and throughout the body of your text – and repeating them as often as possible, without your text sounding too contrived. However, remember that you’re still writing for human readers, not only for the search engine “spiders.”

You should also add the same key words and short descriptive text in the back end – these are called meta tags, which the search engines match to the actual content on your site. Never stuff key words into the meta tags without them appearing in a relevant manner in the actual copy that users can see.

In this example, key phrases would be “Markham, Ontario,” “digital,” “short-run” as well as the usual “low-cost,” “rush orders,” “weekend service,” “free estimates” or anything else you want to promote. The various search engines will then identify these phrases and list your site in the top several links that appear on the screen when a potential customer conducts a search.

“Search” is also a usability game

While SEO has evolved from a trend into a necessity, many SEO service providers are thriving on your lack of knowledge, insists Pinto.

“A SEO specialist may promise that your site will be in the top 10 searches on Google within three months for a particular search term. Have no doubts, you may actually see these astounding results. But, what happens next? Do your website visitors actually take the next step and buy?”

Common “conversion” actions to spur buying, according to Pinto, are subscribing to a newsletter, downloading a free trial product or video, clicking on a discount coupon and so on. Therefore, SEO is only one critical step in the broader concept of Search Engine Marketing (SEM), she says.

“Always remember, the higher your ranking, the more customers you’re likely to convert. This is the much-sought-after trophy in the ‘Amazing Race in Cyberspace.’ Good luck and may success be yours online.”

For more information visit www.mintcopy.com, or you can email sheetal@mintcopy.com or phone 1-888-MINT-003.

Our lead stories this month contain two of my favourite topics: management and big machines. I grew up with a dad who works in construction and a bunch of best friends who built cars for fun. Big machines are pretty much second nature to me, as I recall checking out my dad’s brand new diamond blade saw (a girl’s best friend) or getting coolant all over my friend Lee’s shoes as he taught me to replace the radiator on my mom’s car. More importantly, I vividly remember the first time I saw a 10-colour Heidelberg run at a tradeshow. Anything involving earplugs and tools is my kind of fun.

You can imagine my excitement that our first lead story this month is called “Big Boy Offset.” John Zarwan gives you the scoop on what’s hot and available in the wide format offset market. The article takes you through various presses available in the market and their unique advantages and capabilities. John also talks to printers who use the equipment. They tell us what some of the benefits are of investing in this market. I, for one, would just like to stand next to one of these, let alone run one!

Our second lead article is from Chris Kular. Many of you may know Chris through his work at Ryerson and the Heidelberg Print Media Academy. Having grown up in the trade, Chris has taught generations of people about the printing industry.

In his article, “Process integration for the graphic arts workflow,” Chris takes you back to the fundamentals of running an efficient print operation. Given the rate at which we implement new technologies, combined with the amazing capabilities of presses today, it is easy to let these basics go by the wayside. The way in which we record and pass on information, job specifications, for example, can account for a majority of the mistakes made during a print run. Looking at workflow through the eyes of a manager can lead to wonderful opportunities. When a company works as a team, opportunities don’t slip by nearly as often, because so many sets of eyes have an understanding of the business.

Interestingly, I had an experience this month that resonated with workflow. I’ve recently noticed that very often I am faced with filling out forms. This is likely because of the size of the institution I work for. A couple of days ago, I went to the bank. I had to fill out a form. I happened to ask where the form goes. The banker explained to me that the form goes off to a central location, where the information is digitized, and the original is stored. He can then request the form back, and it is mailed. This to me seems exceptionally inefficient from a workflow perspective. As I begin to think about it, there are several value added hard copy print solutions I can think of that work far better. Unless you have people thinking about your process, however, it rarely improves. I hope this issue will leave you full of ideas on management and technology, because as Chris points out, two ideas are better than one

We were exhibiting at the Grafik’Art Show in Montreal in late April. All in all, the crowds were good and it’s always exciting to meet readers and advertisers face-to-face in conversation. See our show report on page 30.

Congratulations to Karl Belafi and Karl Belafi Jr. from KBR Graphique Ltd. for acquiring the distribution rights for KBA products for all of Canada (except British Columbia).

Nearly $1.5 million has been secured from the federal government for the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC). The money will be used to address skills development issues within the printing industry. CPISC has developed national standards that are being used to guide print education and in-house training programs across Canada. Half of the employees in the Canadian printing industry are over the age of 45 and companies need to replace retirees with skilled employees. Please also note that CPISC’s 2009 forum is upon us and will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Vancouver on Friday June 12 from 8 am to 3 pm. Jeff Taylor, CEO of Hemlock Printing, along with several other key speakers, will be presenting. For more information go to www.cpisc-csic.ca or call 1-888-688-0293.

With all the doom and gloom in the media lately, it’s great to see that Transcontinental’s Marketing Communications has signed a number of high-profile new clients totaling over $ 2.5 million in new business. Way to go!

Please take note of the Chicago Show in September. Print 09 is running September 11 – 16 at McCormack Place. For more information visit www.print09.com.

Non-conforming and sub-prime mortgages represent 5% – 6 % of mortgages in Canada compared to a huge 22% in the United States. Last month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told CNBC that Canada had avoided the sub-prime mortgage problem. Like other nations, Canada is coping with the global recession, but we are in a better position to weather the storm than other nations. Our conservatism has been our strong point.

I was at a meeting with Benjamin Tal, Chief Economist for CIBC, and he reported that while he was in New York and Washington last fall, he said the chance of the whole economic machine falling off a cliff was frighteningly real. He felt that Ben Bernankie’s ability to stay cool during the financial crisis and correct the situation, helped to ride out the economic storm – a storm that could have done far more damage than many experts will ever know. He insisted that we will come out of this painful recession by the end of the year. So the message is…hang in there until Christmas!

Until next month, enjoy our great spring and summer weather – and as always, stay positive and stay focused.

“What are the latest trends in coatings?”

When you walk into your local book store, what’s the first thing you see that will often influence your decision to pick up a book or not? The cover, of course! It often captures the theme of the book and provides an initial impression to the reader. With so many books to choose from, all of which are vying for your attention, it can become a sensory overload to take it all in.

So, how do publishers get you to look at their title instead of someone else’s? Often the coating, which is the final application to the cover and a chance for real impact, is how designers can differentiate their titles. Whether it’s a shiny patch of blood or raised water droplets, unique coating options can add real punch to an otherwise bland cover.

A coating is typically applied to a product for protection (due to handling and use), for aesthetic value (to enhance the look, feel and eye-popping graphics on a printed sheet) or both. The objective is to find the most suitable coating method for the end use, while enhancing the appearance of the printed sheet and staying on budget. Other factors may also be taken into consideration, such as the environmental impact of your coating decision, and these issues can seem overwhelming to someone unfamiliar with the coating options available.

To achieve a better understanding of the variety of coating choices and current trends in today’s marketplace, I had the opportunity to sit down with Carol Nicholl, operations manager at Coatings Canada.

Design Trends & Coating Considerations

The ability to apply a unique coating treatment is only beneficial after a designer first understands how to use coating options to their full potential. Nicholl sees a number of projects move through Coatings Canada that have spot UV applied only to the title and the author’s name on a book cover.

“It’s a missed opportunity. There is so much more that could be done to enhance the impact of a design. There is often unused potential with the coating aspect of a printed piece.”

In many cases, coating a project is about more than just protecting the ink. It’s ultimately about catching consumers’ attention and selling a product. Coatings Canada works with printers to pass on the word about unique coating options. The message is passed down to the printer’s clients and ultimately designers who can incorporate a number of unique applications in their designs.

Nicholl admits that designers are becoming more and more aware of the coating options available to them, which makes for designs that better incorporate the full potential of the coating process. Designers are incorporating spot UV, raised spot UV and glitter spot UV coating into their projects in unique and interesting ways. Coatings Canada is able to offer raised UV and glitter coating options to their customers because of their screen application process. Using a screen allows them to apply a thicker layer of UV coating (raised UV), giving products an appearance similar to embossing at a price closer to spot UV. This option offers visual punch, as well as a distinctive raised feel.

Glitter is also a unique coating option being used more and more. Any colour can be used and the amount of glitter applied to the product is completely up to the customer. Additionally, because the glitter is added directly into the liquid UV coating and cured instantly by a UV light, the glitter will not flake off. This method is being used in children’s products, such as book covers and CD sleeves.

Production Coating Trends

When asked about their most popular process, Nicholl noted that laminating, whether gloss or matte, proves to be their most common application. Lamination is generally more expensive than other coating options available; however it offers more protection and is designed to last longer than other coating methods. Many of the lamination jobs then go through a second spot or raised UV treatment.
“With regards to book covers, the trend is to use more dual processes like matte lamination plus spot UV. There are also a number of instances where customers use raised UV instead of embossing. The raised UV trend really began catching on last year.”

Nicholl has also seen spot UV on a number of brochures, such as pocket folders for gyms. “It’s about highlighting the product using a hit of spot UV.” With regards to overall UV coating, Nicholl has noticed a decrease over the last 5-10 years. She attributes this to some printers now being able to apply it inline.

Eco-Friendly Coating Options

The environment has become a more prominent issue in the printing industry and in the global marketplace as a whole. In light of recent developments, many organizations are looking for ways to not only print their product in an environmentally-sensitive way, but also to coat the project in an eco-friendly manner, all while maintaining budget, the overall appearance and the durability of the product.
“UV coating is the way to go”, explains Nicholl. “It’s recyclable, re-pulpable, there are no emissions in the coating process and its solvent free.”

There is a preconceived perception of the term “UV” and a misunderstanding that this coating process is unsafe, which could prevent non-savvy coatings customers from using it. UV coating is a clear liquid that is applied to the sheet and then passed under ultra violet light where it is instantly cured. Because this coating is cured under light and not by heat, there are no emissions released. UV coating can be applied as a flood coating across the entire sheet or as a spot to add “pop” to a printed piece. UV coating also proves to be a very durable and cost effective option.

Designers will continue to experiment with cover choices, and coatings suppliers will continue to offer unique, eye-catching coating choices. In the meantime, Nicholl boasts that “Yes! You can judge a book by its cover. If the coating treatment makes people pick up a product and turn its pages, that’s half the battle.”

Coatings Canada is a Toronto-based company founded in 1985 specializing in the coating of printed products. They apply coatings for projects that range from book covers to cosmetic packaging to labels, calendars and annual reports. For more information about Coatings Canada, please visit www.coatingscanada.com or contact them toll free at 1-877-282-7102.