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Subject:Re: Print services recommendations? From:Robert Smith <robert -at- smith -dot- bc -dot- ca> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 23 Oct 2000 15:52:12 -0700
At 04:12 PM 10/23/00 -0400, Geoff Hart wrote:
Offset printing uses a photographic image of the
>document, created either by a film camera or by direct output on film using
>a Linotronic or similar typesetting machine.
Geoff's advice seems right on the money. I'd just add that it often pays to
look for an offset printer who uses DTP (direct-to-plate) technology.
DTP platemaking machines produce printing plates direct from (usually)
PDFs, without the need for film as an intermediate step. Film costs,
especially for a publication with many pages, can be significant.
>
>"Hart's law of gravitation: Deadlines are the documentation equivalent of
>black holes... <snip>
In the context of Hart's law, it's worth remembering another rule
especially pertinent to printing; that is, you can choose any two of the
following, but not all three:
speed
quality
price
Ask any printer. If you want it cheap and fast, the quality will suck. If
you want good quality and you want it fast, it'll cost a lot... etc.
Robert Smith -- Freelance Writer
www.smith.bc.ca
"Live to ride -- write to live"
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