[CR]Sympathy for Michael at Velographics.

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

From: "Greg S" <gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 15:27:01 +1000
Subject: [CR]Sympathy for Michael at Velographics.

I know exactly what Mike has been going through with commercial printers with their 'commercial' attitudes. I recently made the plunge and aquired the whole printing set-up to do decals myself as a result of poor service and broken promises by printers. As you are all probably aware, I have been infesting ebay for the lasr 12 months with Reynolds, Campy and Columbus decals and have relied upon outsourcing my graphic artwork and printing. My graphic artist has been brilliant, his equipment absolutely suitable for decals and his prices sky high. When his service ground to a halt around Xmas last, I started looking for the right set-up to 'do-it-myself'. The only commercial style printer that can do the job, ie, print true golds, silvers, spot whites and colors over a thin clear vinyl is a Gerber. ( Have tried all the other printing options but a 2nd rate product is the result) A primer can also be placed beneath the top colours as well to eliminate translucency with process colors). Heat foil transfer system is the only way to go (unless you can do a bulk run with pressure type decals - and I have no idea of who can do these anywhere) The reason my printer's services stopped was that the accuracy of decals had to be so precise - you might as well be forging bank notes. The amount of editing, re-runs, trips to see him (600miles round trip) etc made it all too hard for him (my time was inconsequential). Easy money for him just doing signs, banners and bill-boards instead. So I took the plunge. Sank $10,000 into a used machine with software. These machines run at $30,000 new. Software didnt like my main computer so purchased 'state of the art' software that likes XP - cost $2500. This state of the art software doesnt like my 2nd computer at home - so purchased a lap-top with XP. The gerber only uses a sprocket drive plotter (cutter) - had a cheapy, but didnt like my new software (only likes ME and earlier Windows - $8000 later a new plotter. Gets thinking - 'how many Confentes could I have bought instead?' Fortunately I can offset the expenses through the businesses I run. Then the fun starts - getting to know the software - many an experienced printer has thrown their Gerber into a pit as the software is like an alien language. If you think you are pretty smooth with Adobe Photoshop / Illustrater - you will hit a brick wall with Omega (Gerber software). Okay, lets waste a heap of vinyl and foils just to reassure ourselves that we dont know what we are doing. Trying to understand why the screen says yellow, the directory says yellow, the Help file,the manual and your training all indicates that you have done everything to the book - but it prints red. Aaargghhh!!!! Knowing that the foils are worth $100 a roll and you need a library of 30 colors to be equipped properly. Hell - I should have picked up my daughters from school and I've been agonising over this printer! Do I buy that $500 roll of gold metalic for some Mavic rim decals? Never underestimate the amount of time it takes to digitalise a set of decals and how quickly you can pick up any minor faults in the finished product. Anyway - I'm over the rise and I'm printing some new designs and it seems to work. My significant other feels the pressure decreasing. I even had time to get in some Salsa dancing this week. Life is good - but may I never be in the position of Michael, like I was last year, where your best intentions and efforts are totally thwarted by third parties. Please give him some slack - I havent spoken to him but from all accounts seems a genuine and great guy. Just to let you know, this is NOT an advertisement for special orders. I will slowly get a library of sorts together of decals, - I will be starting by extending the range of Ozzie ones first (can I hear a massed groan?) get stuff done for my own projects, help out a couple of friends
and see how it goes.
Greg Softley
Coffs Harbour
Oztralia