The I-Image experience begins!!!!

[tonypep]

Totally got ya Tony! Hey, there are still guys out there, one that I know of for sure, 24 employee shop, who still film outputs with an HP laser printer on 11x17 architect vellum and still to this day tiles almost all of his jobs, he couldn't see that inkjet was better for him, but with that said, he still puts out a sweet product, makes a huge profit margin, employs quite a few families in his small town and has a 48 hour standard turn around. Imagine what he could do if he got rid of a few of those manuals, added another auto and some other up to date pieces of gear, but he is comfy where he is and I can't hate on him for that, he taught me and gave me my start and thinks we were nuts when we bought a 6 head Tajima, and an auto, but everyone is in their own boat, so to say. I know we made the right move, my wife and I both feel that way. She is normally the one to say, dude, NO!! If she didn't we'd probably be out already cause I would have added another auto pre-maturlly, but she would watch me babysit film, grid them, you know the process. Then she really researched this for us as well and said do it. Plus, ha, she got me out of her way and in my own private office with it now, that's just a bonus 

Just goes to show how different we all are even though we are in the same business!

[inkman996]

Totally got ya Tony! Hey, there are still guys out there, one that I know of for sure, 24 employee shop, who still film outputs with an HP laser printer on 11x17 architect vellum and still to this day tiles almost all of his jobs, he couldn't see that inkjet was better for him, but with that said, he still puts out a sweet product, makes a huge profit margin, employs quite a few families in his small town and has a 48 hour standard turn around. Imagine what he could do if he got rid of a few of those manuals, added another auto and some other up to date pieces of gear, but he is comfy where he is and I can't hate on him for that, he taught me and gave me my start and thinks we were nuts when we bought a 6 head Tajima, and an auto, but everyone is in their own boat, so to say. I know we made the right move, my wife and I both feel that way. She is normally the one to say, dude, NO!! If she didn't we'd probably be out already cause I would have added another auto pre-maturlly, but she would watch me babysit film, grid them, you know the process. Then she really researched this for us as well and said do it. Plus, ha, she got me out of her way and in my own private office with it now, that's just a bonus 

I,e told this before, there is a large print shop in the New Haven area that still to this day buys strictly wooden pre-meshed screens, uses them once and tosses them. His product is perfect and the owner is pretty much rich. His reasoning is sound as hell if one can open their mind enough to accept it. He has no chemistry period, his employees spends zero time cleaning and reclaiming, and his work is strictly university athletics, all low color count but large large runs. The cost of a pre-meshed wood screen is pennies compared to time/labor/chemistry that goes in to maintaining screens. Like Tony has been stating every shops business model is different and as long as everyone is making the money and quaility of work environment is good then its really no ones place to question their procedures.

[tonypep]

Starter Sportswear?

[Socalfmf]

Mike

I met a guy at the cape like that...his screen charges are $25.00 screen and the sells them when done for 8 bucks and he does not clean them, does not do anything but coat them, burn them, uses them and sells them...still with ink in them....

not a bad business model in some respects..

sam

[inkman996]

Starter Sportswear?

Starter no way, they burned down or something. We used to do some of their printing ages ago. I forget the name of this dudes place, his shop is very incognito no public retail etc. straight up athletic printing only.

[GraphicDisorder]

I don't really know if one should outweigh the other,

I think it has to in some shop's.  By that I mean it could be either way depending on the context of the shop.  Some shops its about every dime the leaves the building being amazing on it's return as a quarter or something.  For others its about having free time back, which you will gladly pay for.  I think each shop has to look at it differently in context of the situation.  My whole point is basically everyone should be considering both, even a mix of both.  There are arguments both ways, but the reality is while most shops here all do the same thing at the end of the day, we all do it much differently and while one way may be better for one, doesn't mean it isn't for another.

In my itty bitty shop, a CTS isn't that expensive in context.  It's a lot cheaper than most employees.  So much like my choice to buy a auto before most of you would have and it worked out great by increasing out put.  I think a CTS could work the same here. 

Over all I am saying it seemed like some only want to do the math on it, I think that is important, but it's not the only factor.  You have to also consider if it makes your job easier, life easier, and product better. 

[GraphicDisorder]

Actually I didn't forget that factor at all (with utmost respect) My point is there are quite a lot of you who will reap benefits from this as the technology stands right now. I'm just hearing a little bit of "If it works for me then surely it must for you"
Not always sage advice

I agree with you.  Doesn't plug in the same at all shop's!

[screenprintguy]

Sam, printing, burning and washing out some sim process screens today, capturing 1% dots. Pretty pretty friggin awesome!!!!!!