Looking for a low cost printer that does spot colors

[misterpatrick]

Hello all,

I am doing some design work for a club I belong to. Obviously they have no money and we need to get business/info cards printed up. Now there are plenty of low-cost full-color printers out there, but I haven't been able to find an inexpensive printer that does spot colors. Anyone know of a resource?

And when I say inexpensive, I mean cheap. We just had to get some banners printed up and the $300 we dropped on those pretty much took all our cash so I'm thinking in the $100 to $150 range for 500-1000.

I realize that setup for full-color is a lot easier for a low-cost printer which is why I'm seeing so many of those. So in the likely event I need to go with one of these printers like 4and6 overnightprints.com, how is the quality of the full-color when used to recreate PMS colors? Basically a full bleed blue with knocked-out white for type and orange logo highlights. Thanks!

[Drorain]

I handled a few quotes a couple weeks ago from local printers and for 1 card up to 1000 pieces was a minimum of 120 bucks I think, the setup kills you, then after that they'll print more cards for dirt cheap. sorry, but I don't think you'll find a printer even to consider the job on such a low budget. In the end you'll have to go four color i think

if the blue is near the purple gamut...it'll shift more to purple, the orange and blue might also 'vibrate' with each other. the quality of online printers...well it depends who prepares the file, either way expect color shift.

[PrintDriver]

I'm thinking you need to make a choice. Quality or cost.

If your budget does not allow perfect matches of PMS colors then that's the way it is.

Ganged runs like those overnight printers don't allow for perfect color matches.
They'll be close (depending on the print vendor) but not perfect. Get samples before ordering if possible.

Individually set up spot color runs are going to be more expensive.

[Drorain]

some things to consider when printing with an online printer...

http://www.grivakisgraphics.com/tapp-d/2005_12_01_archive.html

Check out the post "What's with those online printers anyway"
I used to work at one and shared a few things to consider in setting up a file with them.

[prepress_goddess]

what part of the country are you in - we do spot color all the time, and i could give you a quote

[DesignerScott]

I'll bite at a quote, PMed you!
Edit---> (PMed the Goddess)

[misterpatrick]

Thanks for all the replies. I figured that the setup would kill me. Feel free to PM a quote, but you've seen my budget. Seriously, that's the budget. Like $100-$150. One card, two-sided, two color, rounded corners. Fun stuff.

[PrintDriver]

Do you really need the rounded corners? Die-cutting is extra too.

[Drorain]

ouch your killing yourself with all these extras...rounded corners? not many online printers will do that either


2 sided ups the setup costs as well

[jimking]

How about a little foil stamping with that. :D

[Drorain]

all out of foil, but for a limited time, mushroom stamping is free

[Bob_Katz]

I tried a printer a little while back that did spot color. They did a nice job. It would of been perfect if my graphic designer did't screw up the job. I had it done at bargainprinting.com.

Good Luck,

Bob

[jimking]

Welcome Bob, tell us how the graphic designer screwed up your job.

[PrintDriver]

It's really kind of tough to 'screw up' a one color job...
If the designer was a real designer...

[misterpatrick]

Hey, I'm a designer, it's all about the extras! yeah, I could probably live without the corners. and it's not like I'm looking for embossing. ;-)

[PrintDriver]

edited

[Bob_Katz]

Thanks for the welcome.
She is an intern, and our regular designer was out. We needed to change the cover graphic and have it resized, a fairly easy job or at least I thought. She resized it and made it 72 dpi and if that wasn't bad enough she realized it but just changed it to 300 dpi. In other words it was still a 72 dpi image but it said it was 300 dpi.

[Bob_Katz]

It was actually a 3 color job. Looked great except for the graphic. And FYI, I didn't get a proof because I was in a RUSH. Not to bright.

[carter the artist]

Okay, here's a bit of advice all designers know:

The client (in this case is you) always wants three things:
1. Free, or cheap
2. Quality, or perfection
and 3. Quick, or yesterday in hand.

The truth is that you will never have all three, and two out of three is the best you'll find, but we can guarantee one at the cost of the other two.

Sorry, but that's the reality of the situation.

[jimking]

Thanks for the welcome.
She is an intern, and our regular designer was out. We needed to change the cover graphic and have it resized, a fairly easy job or at least I thought. She resized it and made it 72 dpi and if that wasn't bad enough she realized it but just changed it to 300 dpi. In other words it was still a 72 dpi image but it said it was 300 dpi.

Hehe. I just love those high resolution lores graphics! Happens all the time. I just love it when you call the client and say the graphic still looks lores and they respond in a angry voice "Well I made it 300dpi" Then I ask "did you rescan it?" NO and why? :eek:

[PrintDriver]

Let me guess. She changed it to 72 and overwrote the original so she couldn't revert.

Gotta love the 'Why?", Jim.

Carter, you can get two out of three, not just one.
Quick and cheap = not quality
Quick and Quality = NOT cheap
Quality and Cheap = not Quick. You get it on my schedule.

[Bob_Katz]

Actually I'm not looking for the impossible. I realize the limitations of what can be achieved by sending your files and crossing your fingers. I'm not looking for the cheapest or the quickest printer in town. Just reliable. As for the intern well what can I say?