I offer a unique service to the graphic’s industry as a Freelance PackEdge (Barco/Esko) Operator. I have worked in the packaging prepress industry for over 15 years, serving first as a Lead Barco Operator and then as a Project Manager and Customer Service Representative. The experience prepared me for my current role as a freelance operator and project manager, a position I have held for the last five years.
There are three scenarios in which I can support prepress companies, printers and converters in any location, all at a significantly reduced rate due to low overhead. To fully-operational prepress houses, I offer a freelance stripping service on an as-needed, contract basis. Like most businesses, you’re likely to go through a slow cycle now and then, which makes it particularly hard to justify hiring an additional employee. Given your company’s workflow and printer specifications, peak production cycles can be handled seamlessly over the Internet. PackEdge has various output capabilities, therefore files (Artpro or other) can be exported to meet your platform requirements.
Another possible profit-generating option would be to establish a presence in Charlotte — by utilizing my satellite office (HP plotter/printer, Packedge and a Mac with all related graphics software) and skills to service your customers with personal visits, quoting and art/prepress production. I can then transfer the files to your facility via FTP or email for film or plate production.
The last scenario is set up for printing/converting companies that do not have the capacity to output film and/or plates, prepress stripping, or for color separation/correction and proofs (for flexo-standards process work). Over the past five years, I have served a number of converters by partnering with a third-party, full-service prepress shop (ISO 9000 certified, in business since 1961) to successfully implement the following process:
• Art files are provided by your client and transferred to me via the Internet.
• I handle die preparation/placement, stripping/trapping/stepping of files to your specifications.
• A PDF and/or HP print is output for approval, then sent directly to you or your client.
• Simultaneously, the process color corrections are being made to meet your press specifications and a color proof is sent for approval.
• Upon final customer approval, the stripped files are output as film and/or plates and overnighted to your facility.
If this process doesn’t meet your operational needs, EPS can tailor a solution that will.
Given the critical importance of meeting production schedules, there’s great power in having a back-up resource like EPS. Our low overhead guarantees extremely competitive pricing, and I don’t believe you’ll find better turnaround from any other prepress shops. You can also count on us to provide the same level of respect, attention and service to your customers as you would.
I look forward to discussing how EPS can fit into your production workflow.
Sincerely,
Brent Smith
Bsmith6356@adelphia.net
Charlotte, NC
Electronic Prepress Solutions, Inc. (EPS) serves its clients as a trusted ally in the prepress industry,
providing the loyalty of a business partner and the economic advantage of a freelancer.
Principal’s Education and Industry Experience
Associate’s Degree in Printing Technology from Chowan College
Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Communications from Clemson University
10 years of prepress at Banta Digital Group as a lead operator on Scitex, Contex and Barco
Expertise in stripping, color correction/retouching, training, system troubleshooting/
maintenance, and workflow improvement
Experience covers offset, wide web, narrow web and corrugated prepress
Three years of Project Management and Customer Service experience
Active participant with Contex and Barco Users Group Association;
conference speaker on “User Tips and Techniques”
Working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Photoshop and Acrobat
Equipment: Esko (Barco) Packedge workstation, Mac and related graphic’s software,
36” HP Design Jet Printer
Worked with Misomex, Esko and Creo platesetters
Linear Mode
