Richard Kenward wrote:
How many of us have supplied photography for a few pieces of material like brochures and price lists for a pittance and then seen the designer charge �1,000s for a very modest amount of work and make 10% of the print bill on top?
Dear Jeff
Sorry to have to correct you just when you were in full flow<BG> but what you have attributed to me was actually penned by Bob Croxford!
However I agree with you that there is more to it than making a couple of phone calls and taking a 10% cut...Bob knows this of course! Photographers thinking of taking the responsibility of handling print jobs should be fully aware of the responsibilities and risks of doing this.
Even when you have got the design all sewn up and the client on board and are armed with good contract proofs (all signed off by your client) that are a proper simulation of the press/paper/ink combination, just ask yourself these questions. When you go to the print shop to pass the job on press, are you able to handle the situation if the press crew are not achieving the result you require? No good just saying it doesn't seem to really match the proofs or it doesn't look quite right!
Will you have sufficient knowledge to 'suggest' where the error lies and how to correct it? If not you may be in some difficulty, and remember your client is paying you to produce the goods! Will you know when to pull the job and ask them to re-plate? Keep in mind you will be stopping a machine costing upwards of 1million UKP and several operators, not to mention management counting the cost of your fussiness. Not just the cost of course because you will be putting back the jobs scheduled to follow yours! There are other stumbling blocks of course.
The real benefit comes from having the opportunity to control the quality of the printed piece in it's entirety, and this shows your work of to best advantage giving your photography added value, and further justification for your high fees<G>
Cheers
Richard -- Scanning?.....Forget it! For Quality Drum Scans for Professionals that are really right see Labs section at www.prodig.org (and email Richard for pdf)
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