I'm looking to get back into T&I after discovering what I believe is a Niche in the market and want some software that I can print the 1 5x7, 1 6x4, 4x wallets type thing on one sheet that is quick and easy to use.
I don't want anything with accounting or order tracking or anything like that. I did design the package thing is Photoshop when I was doing this before but found what it showed and what it printed was very different and it took a looong while to get it right.
That was a few years ago and I'm wondering if anything else has come along that is simpler and doesn't require as much "Programing" .
I did a few searches and came up with nothing so if this has been discussed before, a link would also be appreciated.
glort....you may want to look into the many labs that specialize in this. I use Marco Photo www.marcophotoservice.com/
I have pre pay order forms and I hand these out about a week before the shoot to the league or team contact. On picture day my assistant will collect these and after the shoot, I send these forms in with the CD of the respective files and an instruction sheet and about a week later they are delivered packaged in individual envelopes with what the customer ordered. There are hundreds of these labs out there and many folks here use various ones but the concept in generally the same. If you seek information with this particular one, my contact is Nichole Casey and they will send you samples with either their pictures or yours. I elected to go with the "EDGE" line which is printed all on metallic paper and it is quite nice. Since I have been using this lab, my customers have been raving about the quality.
Hope this helps and if you need additional info...let me know.
Frank Lauri
Paul...speaking specifically T&I, they ship it all back to me. Their charge is $7.75 per day S&H. So if I send in 2 leagues, on my instruction sheet I send in I would indicate to ship both leagues together.
Frank-- weren't you using www.midwestsportslab.com before?
I have been using them, and lately, have been getting ALOT of typos on the orders! I'm looking for someone different now, and will check out your link above ^
Scott exactly why I'm not using them anymore. And I can understand one every now and the b/c no one is perfect. But the straw that broke the camels back is they find it totally acceptable to have that margin of error into their process. So I said ADIOS to them.
flauri wrote:
Scott exactly why I'm not using them anymore. And I can understand one every now and the b/c no one is perfect. But the straw that broke the camels back is they find it totally acceptable to have that margin of error into their process. So I said ADIOS to them.
So far I am 100% satisfied with Marco.
Frank
Thanks Frank! I had submitted a re-order for 2 misprints, and the re-order came back spelled correct, but on the WRONG photos!! I have to use them for this week again, but then I'll be switching. Thanks for the link!
Because the T&I market here has become totally price oriented ATM, I want to push delivery speed and therefore print onsite.
I believe I can push the package cost using the delivery incentive enough to make a lot more profit and generate more bookings than going head to head on price.
I figure myself an above average salesman but without doing something different, Price, and an unprofitable one, is always going to be what the clubs look at.
I have looked at all the pros' and cons and read a lot here, but for MY market, I believe on site printing is going to give me the best leverage and more importantly, Profit.
I have been doing on site event printing so all I need is some software to do the Picture package layouts. I revisited PS last night and after I loaded the picture package software which Cs4 now lacks and got it working, I was reminded of the nightmare I had setting it up last time and getting it to run in batch mode on a folder of pics. Probably easier for those with more upstairs than I, but for me is was a very frustrating exercise indeed.
I searched again last night and still can't find any software that will do the multi picture/size setup so recommendations for software rather than Labs would be greatly appreciated as would a plug-in type setup for PS anyone may have already created for an A4 size print.
I can't speak to the Aussie market, but in my experience I can get prints from a lab cheaper than I can print on location using a dye sub printer.
The one thing about the volume market is little differences in cost can in the end make a big difference in the profitability of the job.
I am paying currently 92 cents per unit for my volume work. Last time I checked a dye sub 8x10 is in the $1.25 or $1.50 range.
Even a small T&I job is going to generate a couple hundred units....
Those small differences in cost per unit start to add up quickly when you start multiplying them by 100 or 500 or 2500...
I normally shoot my T&I stuff by myself. To print on site I'd also have to bring staff to do that...more overhead. And a decent dyesub to print up to 8x10 is likely to run at least a $1000 each.....I would think to keep up you'd need at least 2 printers, plus a backup.....more overhead
Im not trying to say don't do this...Im just saying do the math and make sure you really understand the costs.
BTW software such as express digital will do what you want....but its not cheap either.
Scott424 wrote:
Frank-- weren't you using www.midwestsportslab.com before?
I have been using them, and lately, have been getting ALOT of typos on the orders! I'm looking for someone different now, and will check out your link above ^
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAIL BAIL BAIL run from them and don't look back hahahahaha
They tried telling me that they server professional shooters and blah blah blah but they couldn't spell names right for my few packages. The last time I used them the hair was underexposed and ..............................just run from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They place the blame on YOU.
John P Mulgrew wrote:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAIL BAIL BAIL run from them and don't look back hahahahaha
They tried telling me that they server professional shooters and blah blah blah but they couldn't spell names right for my few packages. The last time I used them the hair was underexposed and ..............................just run from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They place the blame on YOU.
....Actually they took FULL Responsibilty for the faults, but i'm just sick of the hassle of re-ordering and having parents waiting for their products! I sent in all my info to the place Frank linked to above, but.... I have Hockey T&I this week and will have to chance it with them again, but I will be making a phone call to Robert FIRST!!!
I know this borderlines on hijacking a thread but for the CONUS guys responding here, I use Bay Photo. Awsome, Awesome work..... Fast ,excellent communication, fast turnaround and great prices. I've tried Marco & April imaging and Bay is head and shoulders above both of them. Go to their Website and send Patrick an email. Don't be afraid to say I referred you (no, I don't get a kick back)
I've used H&H for T&I with their eZevent software. Very nice software, with the ability to greatly streamline things if you go with the barcode scanner option (which I haven't tried yet).
Thanks for the suggestions but I have considered the costs and I can still print cheaper that a lab.
The main thing is not my printing cost, its the marketing advantage I'd have over my competitors here. Turn around time is a problem with many T&I shooters and the leverage I can generate by making myself different to everyone else by offering same day prints would more than offset any extra production costs.
I have been searching the web for the last 2 days and still haven't found anything suitable. I'm wondering if searching for terms like print package software is right or there is another name I should be looking for?
I have express Digital but as far as I can tell the biggest sheet size it will accommodate is 8x10 and I'd like to fill a full A4.
From what I can see the ezevent is just a lab ordering system, not for DIY printing r have I missed something there?
I would really appreciate any help with PRINTING SOFTWARE suggestions as this is proving to be a sticking point with this concept and I'm Sure there must be something out there.
I use ED core edition and print packages on my 8x10/8x12 shinko. I rarely print over an 8x10 size and the printer paid for itself in one weekend. it has really opened up a lot of other events outside of T&I because i can print on site
What exactly is Photoshop not doing or doing that makes it so difficult?
I know there is software out there for what you are asking, I saw it last year but can't seem to find it. However, I use Photoshop for what you are asking for.
P Alesse wrote:
I know CS4 did away with Picture Package, but can't you just create an action for it from scratch?
Paul
Im 99% sure its still in CS4 you just have to do a separate install of it. Its on the CD in the Goodies folder I believe.
I do think you could relatively easily create an action to do this though.
The one thing about actions in PS is that sometimes you have to think it thru when it comes to writing the action. Just because if you were sitting in front of your computer clicking away with your mouse or whatever creating this layout....doesn't mean thats how to make it an action.
....Actually they took FULL Responsibilty for the faults, but i'm just sick of the hassle of re-ordering and having parents waiting for their products! I sent in all my info to the place Frank linked to above, but.... I have Hockey T&I this week and will have to chance it with them again, but I will be making a phone call to Robert FIRST!!!