Cannot find a local commercial printer

I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some marketing
materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool to
find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up. In
fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city (San
Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book and
calling them one at a time?

The useless search tool:
http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx

Thanks,
Nick

Use the phone. My printer isn't listed in that list and yet he can and does
accept Publisher files. He's about 3000 miles too far for your purposes tho.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]




"NickNeedsHelp" wrote in message
...
I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some
marketing
materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool
to
find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up.
In
fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city
(San
Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book
and
calling them one at a time?

The useless search tool:
http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx

Thanks,
Nick

Why worry about them accepting pub files unless you want them to do layouts
for you...just output to a PDF and give them that.


"NickNeedsHelp" wrote in message
...
| I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some
marketing
| materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool
to
| find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up.
In
| fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city
(San
| Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
| just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
| another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book
and
| calling them one at a time?
|
| The useless search tool:
| http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx
|
| Thanks,
| Nick

Use a print broker like me. I work with printers nationally and trade
printers so I can get very competitive quotes including transcontinental
shipping. Whether they take Publisher or not doesn't matter once you have a
usable PDF. And I can help you with that too in order to help drive down
costs.

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 3:11 PM, in article
, "NickNeedsHelp"
wrote:

I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some marketing
materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool to
find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up. In
fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city (San
Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book and
calling them one at a time?

The useless search tool:
http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx

Thanks,
Nick

If it were only so easy. Just because it's a PDF doesn't mean it is any
easier to deal with than a Publisher file. If you make a bad PDF and send
that off to a printer you have no idea the things a printer might try to get
it to "work". Even if that means ruining certain aspects of the art or
color.

I find it very funny that so many people here think PDF is some sort of
panacea. It's not. It is a means to an end to deliver digital content (art
in our instance). It is no magic bullet, never has been, never will. PDF
based workflows are the basis of my business. Printers are often as
loathsome to take PDFs as they are with Publisher files because it is so
easy to make a bad one and not all of them have the tools to "fix" them.

Next time someone tells you to "just make a PDF", ask them if they
themselves can do it "right" and how to do it "right".

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 5:56 PM, in article , "Rob
Giordano (Crash)" wrote:

Why worry about them accepting pub files unless you want them to do layouts
for you...just output to a PDF and give them that.


"NickNeedsHelp" wrote in message
...
| I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some
marketing
| materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool
to
| find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up.
In
| fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city
(San
| Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
| just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
| another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book
and
| calling them one at a time?
|
| The useless search tool:
| http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx
|
| Thanks,
| Nick

Matt,

I beg to differ. If a user can output a PDF/X1-a file it will conform to
specs and only an idiot printer won't be able to get it right.

Mike

Matt Beals wrote:
If it were only so easy. Just because it's a PDF doesn't mean it is any
easier to deal with than a Publisher file. If you make a bad PDF and send
that off to a printer you have no idea the things a printer might try to get
it to "work". Even if that means ruining certain aspects of the art or
color.

I find it very funny that so many people here think PDF is some sort of
panacea. It's not. It is a means to an end to deliver digital content (art
in our instance). It is no magic bullet, never has been, never will. PDF
based workflows are the basis of my business. Printers are often as
loathsome to take PDFs as they are with Publisher files because it is so
easy to make a bad one and not all of them have the tools to "fix" them.

Next time someone tells you to "just make a PDF", ask them if they
themselves can do it "right" and how to do it "right".

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 5:56 PM, in article , "Rob
Giordano (Crash)" wrote:


Why worry about them accepting pub files unless you want them to do layouts
for you...just output to a PDF and give them that.


"NickNeedsHelp" wrote in message
...
| I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some
marketing
| materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search tool
to
| find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming up.
In
| fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my city
(San
| Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this site
| just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone know
| another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone book
and
| calling them one at a time?
|
| The useless search tool:
| http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx
|
| Thanks,
| Nick

PDF/X-1a:200x is no panacea. Just because it is an X-1a or X-3 doesn't mean
it is usable as art. PDF/X-1a:200x specifically prohibits tri-stimulus color
spaces such as RGB and LAB. Even if those spaces are tagged with an ICC
profile. It says nothing about the construction of the document or image
resolution. Which are critical to the quality of the job. Blindly converting
everything to CMYK as PDF/X-1a:200x does in Distiller will convert all the
RGB blacks and grays to CMYK black (rich) and 3 color grays. In most
manufacturing environments this is hugely problematic. It doesn't make
digital printing any easier either because you still have the problem of
rich blacks counting incorrectly on the CMYK click charge vs. the black and
white click.

There are a multitude of issues that surround converting Office documents to
PDF. I shouldn't just isolate Office products but they are the most
prevalent and pertinent to this discussion. I will say that any document
that ends up as a PDF that passes through Windows GDI is going to exhibit
the same set of issues regardless of the quality of the art. This whole
explanation also goes beyond the issues here but more to the rest of the
industry at large. There is much to consider when moving to a PDF based
workflow or supplying to your print service provider with a PDF.

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 7:20 PM, in article , "Mike
Koewler" wrote:

Matt,

I beg to differ. If a user can output a PDF/X1-a file it will conform to
specs and only an idiot printer won't be able to get it right.

Mike

Matt Beals wrote:
If it were only so easy. Just because it's a PDF doesn't mean it is any
easier to deal with than a Publisher file. If you make a bad PDF and send
that off to a printer you have no idea the things a printer might try to get
it to "work". Even if that means ruining certain aspects of the art or
color.

I find it very funny that so many people here think PDF is some sort of
panacea. It's not. It is a means to an end to deliver digital content (art
in our instance). It is no magic bullet, never has been, never will. PDF
based workflows are the basis of my business. Printers are often as
loathsome to take PDFs as they are with Publisher files because it is so
easy to make a bad one and not all of them have the tools to "fix" them.

Next time someone tells you to "just make a PDF", ask them if they
themselves can do it "right" and how to do it "right".

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails

I've not had a problem with PDFs. I usually go and sit down the the printer
before it goes to print to make sure...or my brother comes over and tells me
if I've screwed it up or not. He's never asked me to re-do anything or told
me he's had to mess with the files.


"Matt Beals" wrote in message
...
| If it were only so easy. Just because it's a PDF doesn't mean it is any
| easier to deal with than a Publisher file. If you make a bad PDF and send
| that off to a printer you have no idea the things a printer might try to
get
| it to "work". Even if that means ruining certain aspects of the art or
| color.
|
| I find it very funny that so many people here think PDF is some sort of
| panacea. It's not. It is a means to an end to deliver digital content (art
| in our instance). It is no magic bullet, never has been, never will. PDF
| based workflows are the basis of my business. Printers are often as
| loathsome to take PDFs as they are with Publisher files because it is so
| easy to make a bad one and not all of them have the tools to "fix" them.
|
| Next time someone tells you to "just make a PDF", ask them if they
| themselves can do it "right" and how to do it "right".
|
| Matt Beals
| Consultant
| Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
| (206) 618-2537 - cell
| (720) 367-3869 - fax
|
|
| Come visit me at:
| http://www.mattbeals.com
| http://www.actionlistexchange.net
| http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/
|
| Friends don't let friends write HTML emails
|
|
| On 8/27/06 5:56 PM, in article , "Rob
| Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
|
| Why worry about them accepting pub files unless you want them to do
layouts
| for you...just output to a PDF and give them that.
|
|
| "NickNeedsHelp" wrote in
message
| ...
| | I'm considering using Publisher for the first time to design some
| marketing
| | materials for my business. I tried to use Microsoft's online search
tool
| to
| | find a local printer that will accept Publisher, but none are coming
up.
| In
| | fact, I can't find any listings whatsoever on that site, none in my
city
| (San
| | Francisco), none in my state, none even nationally web-only. Is this
site
| | just broken, or is it true that nobody accepts these files? Anyone
know
| | another way to quickly search for printers, short of using the phone
book
| and
| | calling them one at a time?
| |
| | The useless search tool:
| | http://mspublisher.saltmine.com/printerSearch.aspx
| |
| | Thanks,
| | Nick
|

That is to say you haven't had any problems on your end. That has nothing to
do with the print provider. If you are going down to the printer to check it
before it goes then you are in essence doing a press check. And that is a
waste of time for most print jobs. Some jobs it is a necessity for a
multitude of reasons. But the vast majority of the time it is an exercise in
vanity (not saying it is for you, but I've worked with those kinds of
designers) or because there is a lack of confidence in the whole process. If
your brother is coming over to look things over with Publisher files, how is
he examining them? Is he using FlightCheck or PitStop Pro or some other
means of examining the document? Just because someone on your end tells you
that you're fine doesn't mean that somewhere else down the line someone else
needs to as I said previously.

Getting in done and getting it done right are two different things. If you
are working on materials for marketing your business it helps to have things
done right. That's because it is the part of the identity of your
organization. It is what the customer sees. There are a couple of things to
keep in mind here. The general public does not know good color, they know
bad color. The general public also does not know good design, they know bad
design. Well designed materials printed poorly do not look well designed.
They look poorly printed. If you ever look at a invoice and see extra
charges or what seem to be over inflated prices, chances are your printer is
burying a cost. Like fixing a PDF to prepare it for production.

Just a few words of wisdom from a print professional.

Matt Beals
Consultant
Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
(206) 618-2537 - cell
(720) 367-3869 - fax


Come visit me at:
http://www.mattbeals.com
http://www.actionlistexchange.net
http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/

Friends don't let friends write HTML emails


On 8/27/06 8:47 PM, in article , "Rob
Giordano (Crash)" wrote:

I've not had a problem with PDFs. I usually go and sit down the the printer
before it goes to print to make sure...or my brother comes over and tells me
if I've screwed it up or not. He's never asked me to re-do anything or told
me he's had to mess with the files.

I'm not sure what he does, or uses, when he checks my work. He's been in
printing (all capacities) since 74, including being a broker. I've even
worked in his shop from time to time...just as an extra hand, nothing
technical - I'm primarily a designer.





"Matt Beals" wrote in message
...
| That is to say you haven't had any problems on your end. That has nothing
to
| do with the print provider. If you are going down to the printer to check
it
| before it goes then you are in essence doing a press check. And that is a
| waste of time for most print jobs. Some jobs it is a necessity for a
| multitude of reasons. But the vast majority of the time it is an exercise
in
| vanity (not saying it is for you, but I've worked with those kinds of
| designers) or because there is a lack of confidence in the whole process.
If
| your brother is coming over to look things over with Publisher files, how
is
| he examining them? Is he using FlightCheck or PitStop Pro or some other
| means of examining the document? Just because someone on your end tells
you
| that you're fine doesn't mean that somewhere else down the line someone
else
| needs to as I said previously.
|
| Getting in done and getting it done right are two different things. If you
| are working on materials for marketing your business it helps to have
things
| done right. That's because it is the part of the identity of your
| organization. It is what the customer sees. There are a couple of things
to
| keep in mind here. The general public does not know good color, they know
| bad color. The general public also does not know good design, they know
bad
| design. Well designed materials printed poorly do not look well designed.
| They look poorly printed. If you ever look at a invoice and see extra
| charges or what seem to be over inflated prices, chances are your printer
is
| burying a cost. Like fixing a PDF to prepare it for production.
|
| Just a few words of wisdom from a print professional.
|
| Matt Beals
| Consultant
| Enfocus Certified Trainer, Markzware Recognized Trainer
| (206) 618-2537 - cell
| (720) 367-3869 - fax
|
|
| Come visit me at:
| http://www.mattbeals.com
| http://www.actionlistexchange.net
| http://www.mattbeals.com/blog/
|
| Friends don't let friends write HTML emails
|
|
| On 8/27/06 8:47 PM, in article , "Rob
| Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
|
| I've not had a problem with PDFs. I usually go and sit down the the
printer
| before it goes to print to make sure...or my brother comes over and
tells me
| if I've screwed it up or not. He's never asked me to re-do anything or
told
| me he's had to mess with the files.
|