Printing job

[Carrie]

Nothing to do with this group, but today someone sent me 40 large index
cards and sayings she'd like printed on them (in large, black type- which is
good because the red doesn't work on my color cartridge (LOL) She enclosed a
check for $20. (She is a friend, I would have done it for her anyway, and
called it "practice")

I figure I will use publisher to set it up, I'm pretty sure they have
cards (postcard size). And I can cut paper to practice on first.

I'm just psyched to get something I can do (and a check with it) and
wanted to share this. I have put pictures up on websites for people
(friends) and they have paid me for it. But, this is the first "job" I can
relate to Publisher and maybe DTP

Not a big deal, but everyone has to start somewhere

Can others here remember their first paying "job"?

~ Carrie

 

[Mary Sauer]

There is a large postcard size in the page setup. Remember to setup the printer
first. The regular postcard setup is for four to a page, letter paper size. To print
one card you have to tell your printer.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I'm working on getting my first. Film at 11..................

 

[Mike Koewler]

It was in 1992. I was needing some extra money and had learned how to
use Word to do a newsletter. A doctor in Florida asked me to do a three
panel brochure for him. Got paid $100 plus the costs of printing and
mailing.

Mike

 

[Carrie]

There is a large postcard size in the page setup. Remember to setup the printer
first. The regular postcard setup is for four to a page, letter paper size. To print
one card you have to tell your printer.

Took me awhile but I figured it out (using practice paper). Then I wanted
to do it all at once- leaving the setup and changing the words on it for
each one, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it again.

I found the postcard (blank) though it seemed a little short, width
wise. It looked like 5 1/2 inches going by the ruler on the screen.

I noticed when I first tried it, it wanted to print 4 of each and wasn't
coming out right on the paper.

I set the printer CUSTOM size, 6"X4".

My previous printer, I would just put the paper in and it printed whatever
I had set up.

This is what I did: (notes from my files)

PUBLISHER

Post card

PRINTER
Custom size

Properties paper set up- custom size 4.0 X 6.0

Landscape

Cards in narrow side down

The only mistakes I made were trying to put the words too close to the
edge (guidelines)- thinking where it said 5 1/2 and I had 6 it would fit,
and it cut off the endges on one word. (note: always test on ONE card and
not set it to print all until you find out- in this case it was 5 of each,
but I had extras)

And, on one, a word hyphonated, and I know it shouldn't have. If I had
noticed I'd have pushed it over onto the next line. I think there's a way to
turn off the auto hyphon?

This is for a friend, who knows I am learning, and looking for something to
practice on. She wanted the big index cards printed to take to a group
(meeting) she goes to. She said as large as possible to fit on them.

I think they came out good.

Another thing I noticed, if I am going to do this with "clients", she was
kind of vague in what she wanted, and how much of the quotes (which were in
a book I have as a file) she wanted included. I did what I thought was best,
keeping it large size (22-28 font New Times Roman. Depending on how many
lines) and some I put in Italics for emphasis.

She doesn't have a computer (but used to have a typewriter) and the idea of
printing out all sizes and fonts like this is magic to her.

I have to admit I'm hooked on the idea of doing something I love doing,
and feel is creative, and actually getting paid for it. Only $20 (she sent
when she asked me said "to pay for the ink"- since she knows I would do it
for her free, and for the practice) but, if I had known how to set it up, it
would have taken under an hour. I had to find and copy/paste the quotes into
Word first.

I did feel kind of nervous about doing this (not sure of what I was
doing, and if I could get it right), but, as I said this is a friend, who
isn't picky, and I think will be thrilled with how they came out.

You said set up the printer first. I hadn't been doing it that way, it
might solve some of my set up problems. I'm sure it's easier than it seems,
once I get to know it better.

But, I could get used to getting paid for doing what I love!

~ Carrie

 

[Ed Bennett]

Can others here remember their first paying "job"?

Yep - a couple of years back I started doing freelance coding of Publisher
add-ins, at the request of some users of this and the .programming
newsgroups.

(That's also the only job I've had, apart from playing second trombone in a
production of Faust 18 months ago)

 

[Carrie]

It was in 1992. I was needing some extra money and had learned how to
use Word to do a newsletter. A doctor in Florida asked me to do a three
panel brochure for him. Got paid $100 plus the costs of printing and
mailing.

Mike

How wonderful.

I guess all the time I spend on this, and letting the dishes sit in the
sink, is worth it?

I'd love to do newsletters and brochures. I always figure someone with
their own company (young people with college degrees and MAC computers (LOL)
are doing this stuff. But... maybe they charge more than small businesses or
someone just starting out (and needing brochures, or a logo or something)
can pay?

There's also the idea of setting up files for commercial printer, from
what I've read about this (books on Desktop Publishing) it seems like more
than I'd ever know. Like using different fonts, etc. Isn't there a way of
setting up a booklet or something in Publisher, saving it, like to a CD or
floppy and taking it to a printer to be printed? If someone wanted a large
amount, that is?

Of course there is the BIG way (own company, know all about it, etc) and
the "at home, online- do it for small companies and people who can't afford
to pay big companies" niche?

Gives me courage to go on.

Maybe I'll try another newsletter. The previous ones (just using
anything, copy/paste from a file- put in pictures, etc. just for practice)
haven't come out right. I get confused with paper size and getting the pages
printed in the right order and correct sides of the paper.

But, I can learn.

~ Carrie

 

[Mike Koewler]

Carrie,

Do yourself a BIG favor - if you decide to have something commercially
printed, talk to whatever printers you are considering using BEFORE you
start on the project.

Mike

 

[Carrie]

Carrie,

Do yourself a BIG favor - if you decide to have something commercially
printed, talk to whatever printers you are considering using BEFORE you
start on the project.

Mike

I'll remember that.

I live in a rural area and there is a small printer in the area, so
probably easier to work with than a huge (big city) kind.

Also, I have a cd from Kinkos that has software for setting up printing
jobs that they can do. Never looked at it, I sent for it once when I was
looking into getting cards printed this way. I decided it was too expensive
(at least to start) and you have to have one design and a minimum done.

I was thinking about the idea of setting something up (like for someone,
as a job) and giving the file TO the printer to do the rest.

Haven't gotten to that point yet. I once bought some books like "How to
start a desktop publishing business" that were discouraging (for me) because
it seemed to require so much, and so much more knowledge or print programs,
fonts, etc.

Someday it will all seem simple to me (LOL)

~ Carrie

 

[Carrie]

The Red not working:

Try cleaning the electrical contacts with alcohol on a Kleenex.

I've tried that. The Lexmark booklet says if a color/colors don't work
and it has ink to dampen a cloth and put it against the contacts for a few
seconds. Someone else told me to sit it in a dish of alcohol.

I wrote about it on an injet refilling board (which I found due to other
printing problems) and someone said it sounds like the contacts are burned
out for the red. And Lexmark cartridges aren't that good.

The red is coming out of the jets on it and it has ink. If I set it on a
paper, I can see marks from all 3 colors.

If and when I ever learn all there is to know about this stuff (like
printing) I'll be too old to care anymore (LOL)

~ Carrie