Industrial Brand » Printing

Hemlock Printers: Canada’s most eco-friendly printer

Mark Busse — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:33:07 +0000

Here’s an article about Hemlock Printers on BC Hydro’s website about their hard work to protect our environment. Good work guys! Now, can I UV coat, laminate, foil stamp, hot glue and add thermography to that booklet project? Awww, why not? Poo.

Penguin Classics

Mathilde Salvert — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:00:09 +0000

I love books — beautiful books not the ones with shabby covers. I must admit that sometimes I buy a book for its cover rather than for its content. I don’t lend my books easily, they look too cool on my shelves. And I love Penguin books. Coralie Bickford-Smith, a designer working for Penguin, has designed these hardcover classics and they’re just gorgeous. Sadly, they’re sold exclusively in the UK…Me want one!!!

I love printing

Mark Busse — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:25:53 +0000

Here’s a funny little promo for a print shop in Montreal that is using YouTube as a marketing channel. A little angry perhaps, but so are most printers. I know, I used to be one.

Ten Things Print Designers Need To Know

Mark Busse — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 02:40:30 +0000

Here’s a professional development workshop all print designers in Vancouver shouldn’t miss: Ten Things Print Designers Need to Know hosted by GDC and Hemlock Printers. From prepress tips & tricks, to variable digital printing, to environmental considerations, the evening will cover a broad spectrum of useful topics for you as a designer. Regardless of your experience, you will not want to miss this unique opportunity to learn from the best. Best to hurry though, as seating is limited and spots are in high demand.

PaperSpecs Online Paper Swatchbook

Mark Busse — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:00:00 +0000

For those of you that buy print and spec paper on a regular basis, it can be a daunting tasks to determine what grades are available for your project. And waiting for the paper spec rep to show up or return your call isn’t much help. Enter PaperSpecs.com, your one stop source of news, updates, insights and tips on paper and related issues.

Founded by paper specialist Sabine Lenz six years ago, Paper Specs was the first independent online paper database formed as a response to the frustration caused by searching for hours through swatchbooks for the perfect paper coating, colour, texture, weight or finish only to be told by the mill or distributor that it was no longer available.

The site offers a free weekly e-newsletter and varying levels of paid monthly members for full access to the online database and services (the first 30 days are free). [kudos Nancy Wu for the link]

Eagle Eye Keeps Watch…On Your Press Sheets!

Mark Busse — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:20:40 +0000

Vancouver lithographer Metropolitan Fine Printers has a new toy – and I like it.

Imagine being able to pick out bad sheets as they are printed and guarantee that your customers only ever receive the highest quality product? asks Man Roland’s website.

Well, Met’s new toy does just that.

This new optical technology called “Eagle Eye” – originally developed for military purposes – is essentially a computer controlled digital camera with a super fast processor that keeps watch on every single press sheet passing under it’s gaze from its perch above the press, analyzing and comparing it to an image of the reference sheet approved by the client.

Sometimes sheets travel as fast as four sheets per second, so this is one friggin’ fast camera! If an error such as mis-registration, a hickey, or broken type occur, the device sets off an audible alarm, marks the sheet and records the exact sheet so the pressman can check the problem and make any required adjustments.

Jeez, back when I ran a printing press we had to use our own eyes for stuff like this (and we missed a lot of stuff) and picked hickies with our thumbs and some spit. Ahh, the good old days.

Here’s some reading on this technology for all you print nerds.

Ever Seen A $4M Press Installed?

Mark Busse — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:54:23 +0000

Our friends over at Generation Printing have been buying news toys lately as they expand their high tech pressroom in Vancouver, BC. Check out this time-lapse video which compresses the 26 day installation of a six colour Heidelberg press into 3 minutes. Rumour has it another brand new press is due for installation in a couple months. [video by Todd Smith]

Hemlock e-Inklings launched

Mark Busse — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:02:09 +0000

With a long history of innovation and leadership in the commercial printing industry, Hemlock Printers has just launched an online version of their popular newsletter, Inklings. With news and updates from their plant floor, e-Inklings newsletter is filled with industry news, tips and tricks and upcoming events for print designers and print buyers alike. Sign up for the newsletter here for the email version, or view online here.

Scented Varnish!!

Mark Busse — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:28:21 +0000

It was only a matter of time I suppose, but this is very cool for an old print designer like me. New Hampshire commercial printer, Concordia Litho has announced new microencapsulated scented varnishes available in 1000 fragrances. Unlike scratch-n-sniff, these scents remain dormant until rubbed, (allowing it to pass more postal regs) and can be reactivated over and over. I wonder if they have new car smell?