I'm ready to publish!! Need print quotes.

[BG]

Hi All:

I just used my Publisher to lay out a 23 page color catalog for a client.
This is a big accomplishment for me because I have never attempted a catalog
before. I've been doing web pages for about eight years so I know how to do
that type of layout, but Publisher was very helpful to get things laid out
for print. Now I need to get several quotes for having the print work done
and I will need to find a good print house to will work with the Publisher
files. I'm open to any suggestions. We will probably need a quote for 10k
of them. Thanks!

Bob Green

 

[BG]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message


23-page newsletter? Is this 23 sheets, 23 sides, or 23 pages?
Pages should be in multiples of 4, and printed sides should be in multiples
of two. Otherwise, it causes problems when it comes to laying out pages in
the printed publication.
Have you checked out "Finding a Printing Service near you" at
http://microsoft.com/office/publisher/using/printers.asp and the online
printing services at http://www.printingforless.com/?

--
Ed Bennett - MVP Microsoft Publisher
http://www.mvps.org/the_nerd/
Before reading this message, view the disclaimer:
http://mvps.org/the_nerd/disclaim.htm

Hi Ed:

Thanks for your response. It will be a catalog of 23 total pages including
the cover and page size will be 8-1/2" x 11". It will be 4 color and it
will be a print spread ( I think that's what it means to have four pages on
one sheet of paper ). It will be stapled. Cover needs to be 100 weight
gloss and the inside needs to be 70 weight gloss. We will be needing quote
on 1k, 3k, and 5k as opposed to the 10k mentioned earlier. I will check out
the references you mentioned. Thanks again.

Bob

 

[Mike Koewler]

BG,

It's too late for you, but maybe others reading this thread will head
some sage advice.

You went about this completely backward. The FIRST thing you do is find
a printer and determine 'how' your publication will be printed - what
kind of printing process, what kind of paper, etc. You don't say what
version of Pub you are using, but what are you going to do if all the
printers whose price you can afford want CMYK pdf files. What if their
dot gain is 10 percent or 20 percent, depending on the press and paper?
Are you prepared to change every image to compensate for this? What if
the printer can offer huge savings if your pages are 7.5 X 10" instead
of standard letter size?

Hopefully, you'll get lucky and find a printer who can output your files
as they are perfectly. But it will be luck.

Mike

 

[BG]

Hi Mike:

I am using the latest Publisher. Actually, I did luck out. I got really
great prices and a promise from the printer that they can accommodate any
Pub file that I throw at them. That was the one Ed provided a link for
above. Most print shops I have contacted in my area have Macintosh tamped
up their butts and they only accept stuff like Quark files. I figured if
any newsgroup around could point me quickly in the right direction for a PC
and Publisher friendly print house, it would be this one.

That being said, you do make some good points. Possibly something will
reach out and bite me as this process moves along, but at the moment it
seems to be smooth sailing. Thanks for your comments!

Bob

 

[Mike Koewler]

Bob,
Pub file that I throw at them

I hope your wishes are fulfilled. FWIW, I don't know of a printer on
this earth that can "accommodate any ... file" You've either found that
magical printer or a person who is out to bleed your wallet.

Tread lightly here, Bob. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is.

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

Actually, I did luck out. I got
really great prices

That's
a) Because they're an internet-based printer (fewer overheads)
and b) Because they're a very large business (can run more efficiently and
so lower prices)

and a promise from the printer that they can
accommodate any Pub file that I throw at them.

And that is why Microsoft link to them from
http://www.microsoft.com/publisher/

Most print shops I have contacted in my
area have Macintosh tamped up their butts and they only accept stuff
like Quark files.

Lots of printers are like that - but most will accept PDF files.

 

[BG]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

That's
a) Because they're an internet-based printer (fewer overheads)
and b) Because they're a very large business (can run more efficiently and
so lower prices)

And that is why Microsoft link to them from
http://www.microsoft.com/publisher/

Lots of printers are like that - but most will accept PDF files.

Is it possible to create a print ready pdf file that actually keeps the high
resolution graphics? I have Acrobat 4.0 and the best it can produce is
certainly nothing that I would send to a printer.

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

Is it possible to create a print ready pdf file that actually keeps
the high resolution graphics? I have Acrobat 4.0 and the best it can
produce is certainly nothing that I would send to a printer.

Yes - this is one of Acrobat's good features compared to other image
formats.
You need to set the Job Options to the "Press" option, and avoid JPEG
compression

 

[Mike Koewler]

Frank,

If you produce PDFs for your printer and you have 4-colour
pctures:
1) You must have scanned the pics in CMYK and not RGB (at
300dpi if possible) and

Not true. I use an RGB workflow and convert the PDF to CMYK using QBOT.

Mike

 

[Scott]

Better yet - get the your printers "joboptions" file and use it to create
your pdf.
As far as printers "having mac stuffed up their butts" - or whatever the
phrase - that's because for years, mac was the best option. Now both
platforms give fine output, but, like many shops, we have a large investment
in mac software, which about 80% of our customers use. We now support both
platforms, but mainly mac becasue that's where most of the work is.

 

[°°°M°S°°Publisher°°°]

You do not need CMYK pictures and actually if you do they will cause
problems with QABOT and Pitstop in an RGB document.

You do not need to have Publisher 2003 as the majority of printers now have
the ability with QABOT or Pitstop and other programs to convert the RGB to
CMYK.

--