Proof This!

[Raiderfrog]

i have a rant. i am currently working for a large web printing company. I am having a difficult time adjusting. The quality they let slip though is incredible. Low-res, bad color. Nothing matters to them its on newsprint. My background is in offset sheet-fed 6 color. I ran the DTP department for a medium sized printer, out-of-the-blue I was laid off after 8 years. Back to my rant, besides the lack of craftsmanship my current job requires, the real problem is they dont give the customer proofs. nothing! We get publisher, PDF's, native, mostly from customers that are prepress challenged. I am not only expect to make this crap print, but i am expeded to be the QC guy, proofing everything because the customer doesn't see it. This is a blast because we mostly print 24-128 page/same day turn. Its like we are friggen kinko's. I have only been here two weeks but i suggested we at least send a soft-proof via FTP or email. There response was the clients don't generally have high speed Int. Whatever I quit!

P.S. the last person was fired for missing a couple mistakes, and the job was printed.

[jimking]

That's why I never wanted to work for a newspaper. Hang and bang, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year garbage.

[rtwdwk]

Some of us make our living in the newspaper industry.
Either you like that kind of pace, or you dont.
You dont seem to be able to adjust, so you should leave now, otherwise you will just end up being very bitter. And not all newspaper printers operate like that, I for one work for a large company that investes heavy in good technology and good customer service. We take pride in what we print.

Just my 2 cents.

[Raiderfrog]

I think you got me all wrong. I have work for web printers before. Its not the newsprint I hate its this company. The proofing gets me.

[preppy]

is the day of the professional gone?

I work for a sheetfed offset printer, and I have to pass things that are way below my standard. I love/hate this industry.

[prepress_brillance_43]

I get s**t from top level quite often about " why am I such an ass about the quality of some of the s**t I turn away"...

my only response and it usually shuts them up pretty quick is>

that I care about what goes out of my prepress department and Im not letting horrid looking s**t get out to the press. Too many times in the past I've had customers reject a job because it didnt look good enough, but they signed off the proof. So I said f**k it, I'll just be considered an ass but it AINT GOING THROUGH. Sorry. ops: that's just my stance on it.

now as far as the customer not seeing a proof?... they cannot and will not reject or refuse a job IF they did not see/sign a proof. If it is upper levels fault for saying "don't send a proof", and it's their pocket that the job is coming out of, well all I can say is cash your checks as soon as you get them and look for another job because they aint gon' be around long, reruns are TOO costly to play that s**t.

[Raiderfrog]

They do rerun them, and prepress takes the fall.

[seetomtype]

Originally Posted by Raiderfrog

They do rerun them, and prepress takes the fall.

If this is the case, then you are in a situation where you can't win. Eventually you'll
get fired just like the operator before you, it's only a matter of time. I know Spokane
isn't the biggest market place, but IMO you should put feelers out there for any
other jobs in the industry. May as well start planning ahead... :?

[JoePixel]

I would suggest setting up some type of workflow that allows you to check your work. If you get PDF files, then make sure the sales person signs them off as "Final Copy" or the production manager or someone.

Then you pull a quick laser or something to check it to.

If that doesn't work, then ask your boss how you can make sure that your work is accurate. Come up with some way to cover your rear.

Nobody should be forced to do production without having a checking system in place. If you can't get one implemented, then figure out something. There has to be a way you can get work done and then feel confident when you do it.

At my company, when a mistake is made we talk about it. We talk about how it could be prevented from happening again. We then make a new procedure and since I've been here in the past two years, we haven't had the same mistake happen twice.

Working without a net can sometimes be hazardous to your health.
If none of this can be helped, then get out of the relationship and move on.

You don't want to be bitter at work, trust me, it's much better to be happy at work. You go home and don't even think about work and the problems when all is going well.

[preppy]

Good advice joe. I agree, figure a system out to cover your ass. Document as much as possible too!