Joe knows how to make a happy press. He is printing the second color on a set of business cards. Text printed in taupe ink paired with a vivid blue logo makes a fun combination.
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Category Archives: Ephemera
Revamped Building Exterior
Hey, look at it! Our building, the Delevan Center near Armory Square, received a new look thanks to the Connective Corridor project that connects cultural venues throughout the city. The “use” of Syracuse has been appearing on billboards in the area as part of a wider campaign to make these places known. There is a free Connective Corridor bus, bright red signs and flags, and now our building proclaims the theme proudly. For more information about the Connective Corridor & all these topnotch venues creating a vibrant art scene with so much to offer, go to: http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/
Say hi to some of our pressmen!
It’s Tim, the back of Lou & peeping Dave – all letterpress printers here at Boxcar Press!
More than a passing resemblance?
Here is a bracket on the wall. Here is Bella Figura’s design Peacock Full. I think these birdies were separated at birth and have now been reunited.
Happy November Birthdays
Today we celebrate our November born people with this amazing, delicious chocolate mousse cake! Happy, Happy Birthday!
Busting out Bellybands
Jake is setting up the Vandercook to do some bellybands in lovely & large pewter polkadots.
Learn to Love Color Separations – A Boxcar Press Checklist
To guarantee a happy, press-ready Boxcar plate, follow our Top 10 checklist before finalizing and clicking UPLOAD to your job ticket. These handy steps will go a long way towards a smooth, quick platemaking turnaround. If you are having files created for you – pass these on to your graphic designer so they too can follow this Boxcar Checklist.
1 ) Are the file dimensions 17″ x 22″ or smaller? Is the file size less than 26 MB? (Our maximum plate size that we can proof at this time is 17″ x 22″ – if you need larger, please call.)
2 ) If my plate type is the KF95, Jet 94FL or 94SB, are my lines 0.25 pt or thicker? Are my dots 1 to 1.25pt thick? Dots (in a dotted line or by themselves) need a greater minimum thickness so they can hold on the plate by themselves.
3 ) If my plate type is KF152, 152SB, 145HSB, or 148SHSB, are my lines 0.35 pt or thicker? Are my dots 1.25pt thick?
4 ) If I created the art in Illustrator or InDesign, is the artwork in 100% CMYK Black (as in 0% Cyan, 0% Magenta, 0% Yellow, and 100% Black)?
5 ) If I’m doing color separations, are they assigned to a spot color or a Pantone Swatch Color?
6 ) Is my text outlined into vector shapes if I’m using InDesign or Illustrator for the text? (You can convert them to shapes by selecting the text and going to Type>Create Outlines in either Illustrator or InDesign.)
7 ) Have I indicated what linescreen (LPI) I’d like in the comments section of my ticket if my image is in greyscale or halftone and I want to keep the tonal qualities of the image? (We like 100 lpi for all plate types)
8 ) Is my image converted into bitmap mode of tif if I’m using only Photoshop (and not choosing a linescreen) ?
How to easily create an image in bitmap mode of tif:
- • Opening your image in Photoshop and selecting Image > Mode > Grayscale*.
- • Select Yes if a window asks about discarding color.
- • Then Select Image > Mode > Bitmap. A window will pop up looking for info – use a resolution of 600-1200 dpi and an output method of 50% threshold.
- • Save your file as a tif (with LZW Compression) and either send us the tif or place your tif into illustrator or indesign.
- *Images in higher resolution (600-1200 dpi) will give better, finer results than images in lower resolutions (72-300 dpi). If your images lose a lot of detail, you can either re-scan or adjust your levels of black (Image> Adjustments> Levels or Brightness Contrast). For info on this, please call 315-579-3366 for instructions.
9 ) If I have added crop marks to my file, do they meet the minimum line thicknesses? Are they in registration black if I have more than one color?
10 ) We don’t need a faxed hard copy of the file, simply a PDF and the original file. Are these both uploaded? (e.g, an .EPS and PDF of the same file.)
Stay tuned for more in-depth blogging on file prep when we amaze you with “Did You Know That…”!
Lou is mixing ink
See the fists of fury fly as he speedily mixes red, yellow & black inks into a smooth, delicious burgundy for a thank you card.
Look out!
Boy, you print one critter and don’t ya know, they start multiplying!
Panoramic Bella Figura
Yes, as a matter of fact, we DO have Bella Figura samples available for you, a veritable plethora as far as the eye can see. Check out the exquisite and vast collection of Bella Figura design we have assembled for your fine stationery needs.
