Prepressforums.com

Lammy · #11 (**permalink**) 08-15-2003, 11:19 AM

BWAA HAAA HAAA HA!!!! yeah those were rough. I applied for a job at a place that had a high end kodak. they asked me what I thought of it. apparently they just got it and were really proud. i was like. . ummm i'd rather use a mac. I also enlightened them to the fact it had just been listed as discontinued. . . . i don't think they were happy.

Mjetz · #12 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 05:09 AM

The the last prepress shop I was in had just bought a Scitex Prisma Workstation and Raystar. A very good system, the problem they had was they bought it about 6 months before the Mac and Imagesetters took off. Within a year of buying it the Little Agfaset 1000 and Star400 Rip was doing all the work. The Boss kept insisting we do all the color corrections on it. That only added about 2 hours to each job, passing the jobs back and forth over a Scitex BridgeBoard in a Quadra 650 to Whisper Box to the Prisma and back.

As for knowing about printing, I've met very few designers who know anything about printing. Last week I was working a project with one of our Packaging desginers (she's been here 15 years). She had a five color package, but wanted a lighter tint of the 5/c in an area. I said what percent screen. Her response was no It can't be screened it has to be a lighter tint, just don't put down as much ink or mix some white in it to make it lighter, in just this one spot. The 5/c has to be the dark in the other spots. And so it goes.

JimG · #13 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 06:48 AM

I think a ton of owners and upper management got sucked into those "high end" systems, they know better of course (LOL) then the people who need to work with the stuff everyday. I agree with the previous posts-- they are now boat anchors and paper weights.

I remember having a conversation with a Scitex Assembler "operator" about 6 years ago, he told me "If you want to do high end work and make big money--you need to learn this, these Macs are toys"

he is now an EMT.

Bart · #14 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 06:54 AM

Quote:

he is now an EMT

What's an EMT?

Seth · #15 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 12:06 PM

Ya Know, I've always wondered how many of those boat anchor systems led to financial burdens, that contributed to downsized shops. i I know the note on our Crosfield was not paid off, by the time the unit was unplugged.

Bart -- In some circles EMT, is Emergency Medical Technician -- A job very much like Prepress Tech.

Not as bloody, but just as truamatic

-Seth

Mjetz · #16 (**permalink**) 08-19-2003, 07:39 AM

The Scitex Prisma and 2 Crosfield Drums killed my last company, well helped. Our biggest clients went to Kodak Approvals and all the money was tied up in the Scitex and Crosfields. We couldn't afford to purchase a Kodak so, we died a slow death.

Lammy · #17 (**permalink**) 08-19-2003, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

Not as bloody, but just as truamatic

-Seth

Oh so so true!

bitdepth · #18 (**permalink**) 08-20-2003, 04:02 AM

yeah i agree, "back in the day" everything was better, i bet that old typesetter that worked in lead griped too! but everything comes back into style once the fads are over. all this consumer level garbage that is being produced will fade and craft will always be recognized and respected.
one thing for sure, hardware is cheaper so if anyone of you wanted to go out into the big world one day and create whatever business he or she wanted; it is now easier. how much was ram 6 years ago? how much time did it take to print and the cost for a canon bubble jet poster?
for about 2k you get a g5, my 7600 80mb was about 4k in '97 and that
rig worked hard for it too! now 2k buys you the epson 7600, print to yours hearts delight! $200 for a 200mb sysquest tape?

Bart · #19 (**permalink**) 08-20-2003, 04:51 AM

I was at the barber the other day and Alf, the barber who is well past retirement age, was moaning with one of his cronies about how 'it's not like it was in our day..........' blah blah.

His mate then pipes up, 'And another thing, those computer things, they'll never last you know, I'll bet my life on it'.

I could swear I saw the Grim Reaper stick his head round the door and smile!!!

richsweeney · #20 (**permalink**) 08-23-2003, 07:33 AM

For the last 3 years I have been going back and forth between getting a better proofing system. We have been using colors keys and a HP1220 with press ready.
The issue is more and more of my clients don't have time to even come and look at a hard copy. They wind up telling me over the phone, that the pdf looks great and to print it! I just had a client this week sign off that way on a 4 color 11x17 40k run.