InkBlots

And the Chicken Winner is...

"...to get a cheap cocktail, a healthy dose of second-hand smoke, and a righteous ass-chewing from Schwartz."

By Mr. Scott Mortimore. Congratulations Scott - and no - I won't allow you to pay your tab with the proceeds (printing my friend, printing).

Break out the Grill!

Sweet - looks like Tom and Mike are grillin' burgers on Friday...gotta love it! Don't forget to get outside and enjoy the sunshine (when it is here). Bring a few friends and cocktails along. Never a mistake to take a break and enjoy your staff, clients and friends!

But it doesn't match?

I am still amazed at how often we hear this in printing. Clients holding samples from several years ago, produced on different paper, often even from a different state (or country?), different inks, presses, and operators - concerned that the newest printing (produced from a different file at a higher resolution) doesn't precisely match the 8 year old piece.

The truth is - printing isn't an exact science. We printers use a lot of technology to adhere to industry wide standards as closely as we can. There are many variables that can affect the outcome of your printed project - far too many to cover here. Indeed - you can help your projects be more consistent by using the same printer, specifying the same exact stock, and making sure you haven't changed important items - like the Pantone color or process build. Commodity grade sheets (most coated and uncoated house sheets) are purchased by printers based on price and availability. Registered Ink also selects their house sheets based on printability and quality. The fact is, though, that the *house sheet* changes over time. Even the manufacturing location and process often changes - without the printer's knowledge. Therefore - brightness and color reproduction are altered.

The one single most important step in matching your previously printed piece is to supply a sample (or better yet, a few) to your printer at time of estimate and prior printing, preferably the former. This helps us to better understand the project, including items like line screen, poor (or superior) quality printing that we're trying to *match*, as well as attempting to find whatever paper was selected before.

The key - overall - is developing a close working relationship with us so that we can help you make the project successful. That's why we're here (all printers - or at least all printers that still utilize people in the equation) and we're always happy to help make the project great from the start. However, it is very difficult to *make the project great* after improper specifications and selections have been made and the project is complete.

Fact is - nobody sets out to produce a job the client is unhappy with - ever. Communication is key and requires the cooperation of all parties for success. Great printing is ONLY the result of excellent planning and proper communication.

Happy summer...

The Ry Turns 5

That's right - Melissa and I helped our youngest celebrate his 5th birthday yesterday. Very hard to believe that 5 years have passed already - and boy are we ever blessed with our sons. Even big brother Spencer is an incredible kid.

But this quick post is about Riley, or the Ry. His dream is to be a rock-star - and yesterday he received Guitar Hero for the Wii. What a blast - and a new addiction for the family. Very fun to watch the kids (or adults) do their best to hit the notes on this very basic plastic guitar...life is wonderful.

There are two things all people love: 

A good joke and free shwag. 

We at Registered Ink are combining them and giving away $500 in printing to the person who has the best answer to the age-old question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” We have seen thousands of answers, so use your creativity and be original. And remember, we love a third thing—printing. 

So tie that in to your answer and really make us proud!

Miracle Summer? Are the hairbands really on tour?

I heard today that DefLeppard and Poison will be touring together this summer. Ahhh, take me back to my youth. I've also heard of many other 80's and 90's bands on tour and/or big name reunion bashes. Guess it is time to take my young sons to learn the true art of head-banging, explaining that mysterious smell, suggesting that yes - indeeed - this is music, and yeah - making sure they learn to NEVER dress like that...yes, things are looking up!

A BBQ?

Well this is quite the winter we're having, isn't it? Looks like the RegInk crew has decided this on again off again warm and cold is enough - bailing for lunch tomorrow to have a quick BBQ. Grilling burgers and beer on the 6th of March - Now if that doesn't bring a smile to your face - what will?

(BTW - Thank you Tom and Janine for cooking - and thank you all for the great food. A few clients read between the lines and stopped in - always extra at RegInk - including drinks!)

Enough already

The negativity is contagious. Terribly. Surely we can at least focus on the positive as we grind through this dark spot in our nation's history (in the making)?

It really is tough, though, isn't it? Try this - look at those around you. See the glint of a smile. Tell them not to smile. Insist they do not smile, loudly, sarcastically, humorously, however you can. Soon (within seconds) they will smile. They have to. It is like yawning - and when they smile, so will you. Remind them how contagious it is - and how terrible it is - to smile. Nobody wants to see them happy. Don't smile whatever you do.

This is my favorite trick with my kids, staff and friends. Try it. Silly? Sure is. Removes a fraction or more of the burden on your shoulders? I promise.

The Rumor Mill

Reno is a small town, still. Sure - we've added a hundred thousand people (or more) the the area since I first moved here to attend UNR in 1988, but the small town mentality still lives on. With that, comes the rumor mill. Sometimes as humorous as the telephone game we play as kids. You know the one, where you whisper to the person next to you a sentence, and they do so to the person next to them, and so on. Before you know it, I saw mommy pay the milkman today becomes something entirely different.

Dispelling myths - yes, there are some printers going out of business in Reno. I'll leave it to them to make the announcements. We are not one of them. Some of you may have heard that we sold our 5 color SM52. That is, in fact, true. It will leave our premises the first week of March - 8 months sooner than planned. The intent was to trade it in towards the end of 2009. This is simply a better cash offer. What will replace it? Yes, the rumor mill...that is a secret we'll keep as long as we can. The truth is, we have been researching that answer since our trip to Germany a few years ago. There are many options - some simple - and some not so much so. But you know us - would we take the simple path? Watch these pages for more information in the coming months.

In the meantime - we're leaner and meaner. None of our capability goes away. Our overhead drops - and yes - our prices stay competitive without losing even a fraction of our outstanding quality or excellent service. Good news for you, our customers.

And what will the rumor mill report? I never know. Last I heard was all of our machines were leaving on a truck a couple of years ago - alas - trucks were there, and we were installing two more. We're here to serve you, today, tomorrow, and for many years to come. No need to waste worry here.

Hang in there Reno - and to my competitors that aren't going to make it - I feel for you. These times aren't easy. There are no simple answers. We can each only do our best to survive. Are you one of their outstanding employees? If so - you know where we are.

WW

Printer or businessman first?

I find it an interesting question. Not may shop owners in this industry are printers first, business owners second. Sounds silly - but I'm a printer first. Why? Simple answer is I care about my competitors and how they fare in this world. 20 years ago when I first entered this industry, in this town, if you ran out of ink or supplies - call the shop across town - they'll help you out. Maybe it is a difference between ma and pa style operations and cut throat commercial shops? I miss that unity.

Me? I still help - if I can - when i get the phone call. Always will. Your processor is down and you have plates to process - come on over. Your press is down and need us to turn and burn some stock for you- we'll make room. You sent the job to my competitor and they botched it and won't reprint it for (fast/cheap/free/etc)? If I can help - I will.

I'm a pretty talented mechanic too. Yesterday a competitor called with a small press like our smallest press that was down. I had a good idea what the problem was and they were on my way home so I dropped by (much to the owners shock, I believe). 30 minutes later, with some assistance from Heidelberg tech support we had diagnosed and fixed the problem (thanks Bill and Jim). Result - job that the operator was staying late to finish will deliver to their client on time - hooray!

Now I've been told by some of my peers that this is foolish when I *bailout* competitive shops (I've also been told by clients that you're only as good as your last free/donated job, but that's another post). One of my best friends in the industry insists that whenever you try to help it will only cause trouble. Quite frankly, the help he is referring to, he is usually correct about.

This industry was at one time a much closer brotherhood than it is today. In fact, this country was! It is a shame that has left us. Are we too entrenched in our own survival to realize that we too will need *help* or a *bailout*? Not government, mind you, but by a peer or friend who can lend you a hand. I'm not. Sure, the *businessman* might out earn me over my life time. On the other hand - rich or poor - profitable or not - I sleep well each night. We're not here to destroy each other, we're here to succeed. I suppose it is just a difference of how we measure success...how do you?

Take a chance. If one of your competitors calls and needs your help and you can help, do it. You might just be very pleased at what the job pays!

Don't forget the little things...

I know, I know - we've all heard it before. Sometimes life just reminds us what really matters. Is it the crooked label on the outgoing box, the slightly misplaced score, or the line of type we overlooked kerning? Is it the 3 points our team lost by, the fumbled ball or the golf putt we didn't make? Nope. It is the little things that matter.

Surely those are little things, right? Not really - those are minute things that actually don't matter. Then what are the little things that matter? For me, today, it is tickling my boys with both hands and all fingers, and picking up and holding my youngest. Or giving a real hug to my wife, shaking hands with a colleague, and simply typing this post. You see, these are little things I've not been able to do for several weeks - only the last couple. Today they chop my arm open to reconnect a silly ruptured tendon, hopefully giving me full use of my hand again. Of course that means 3-12 weeks of casting and 4-16 weeks of physical therapy afterwards. I'm not whining, I'm grateful this can even be achieved. I am even more thankful that I have a staff that has and continues to cover my ass through all of this. (Of course, I'm still a better press operator than most, even with one hand tied behind my back!)

Those are the types of things that matter. Sure, clients become enraged over missed deadlines, raising prices, and the closing of their favorite Starbucks. I just have to wonder if they've ever had the gentle reminder by their kids to hug them? Surely they've been reminded by their parents - call them - let them know you're alright (hell, let them know *they're* alright). Tell your coworkers thanks. Remind your employer they matter. Yeah, you get it. Enough of my rambling. I'm off to visit the power of anesthesia and the magic of 8+ years college education in a man driven to care about the little things (bones, tendons and ligaments, that is).

Then why this post? Simple. I'm thankful to have been reminded by my son Riley last night about things that really matter. I had simply forgotten to glue the eye back on the lion he made. I just did it, Riley. It will be waiting for you when you wake up.