In this industry, I am always learning new things. The most simple of tasks can always seem to turn into a mess. Let me elaborate. today I visited my local printer to get some business cards printed for a client. Simple right? Create file, check, burn to CD, check, drive to printer, check. I managed to forget a few very important things and make a very significant, amateur mistake. Allow me to elaborate…

I have had a few very tight deadlines for two clients, not so tight deadlines for 3 more. Needless to say, I am not without things to do. In the rush of trying to get these priority deadlines met, I had an unexpected visit from a client, the next thing I know we were talking business, design needs, and color and 2 hours later I had designed his business cards and was way behind on my other work. Stu[id me, I had also opened my mouth and told the client that the designer should always handle the printing aspect so that there are no muddied waters in the communication with the printer. This ensures the print job will be satisfactory for the client and prevents unnecessary mistakes.

I had also failed to notice that when we started I was working on a web document and had my document settings to 72 dpi, print resolution is at least 260 dpi. Oh, and the major kicker was that I didn’t have the color setting switched to CMYK.

 If you are unfamiliar with these terms, they can take up a whole other blog. Short explanation. C=Cyan, M=Magenta, Y=Yellow, and B=Black, the percentage in these color values make up the colors that printers print from. I was able to fix both problems, well sort of…I drove to the printer first thing in the morning and found out that they changed their hours. They didn’t open for another hour, so I drove home and waited.

I drove back to the printer, explained the problem, and great news, they can get the color a really close match to the RGB values in the color mode that we choose (before I realized the mistake), that we cannot print from. The client then calls and asks if we can put a rush on the job, he needs them Tuesday. The printer requires 50 percent down to start the job and now I can’t get a hold of him.

On to the next problem. The printer loads my disk and asks me what software version I am using. Turns out, I am using a newer version of software that they do not have and I need to go back home and create the files in a different way and come back to drop off the disk. I have to be back by four, with the necessary changes and have the money from the client to pay the dp.

I make the changes, get a hold of the client, he drops off the money, I drop off the files, you guessed it, another problem. They don’t have the font I used on their computer so I have to drive home and get it. This time; however my very tired, sleep and food deprived brain kicks in and realizes that there is this modern invention called email that I could have been using all along…I am now more behind than I was before. UGH!

 Even computers need to shut down for updates!

…3 trips to the printer-A waste of time but free-

…4 gallons of gas in my tank of an SUV -13.90-

…Designing business cards $150 -overworked and underpaid, today very!-

The value of an amateur mistake teaching me I am still human and need to slow down, sleep, really need an occasional break, food, and more time in the day…PRICELESS!