*** From the Archives ***
This article is from October 15, 2006, and is no longer current.
How to Find a Good Printer
In an earlier post, I wrote about free training for printers. But, what if you’re having a hard time finding a good printer?
Doug in the Adobe User to User Forums complains:
“I recently moved from the East Coast US to the West. My print houses in Washington, DC and NYC were very happy with PDFs (press quality of X1-a, depending on their particular setups). Here, the few I’ve worked with want native files…. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a list of printers who do support PDF?”
I suggest that if you’re in this situation, you check out the Adobe Partner Finder website. Adobe provides this website for designers like you who want to find good printers who can handle Adobe products?InDesign files, PDF files, and so on. Printers who are part of the ASN Print Service Provider program can register to be listed in the database. You can search the website by application (InDesign, Acrobat) and by your location, to find printers within your area who can handle your files.
What’s the ASN Print Service Provider program? Adobe is interested in providing tools to make sure that print service providers are capable of handling Adobe products efficiently and effectively. It offers three levels of support. The Basic membership is free, but provides technical bulletins and newsletters, as well as the online training that I wrote about earlier. The Adobe Premium and Authorized Service Programs charge a modest fee but offers complimentary copies of the software, unlimited support calls, and many other benefits.
A printer who wants to become part of the program can learn more about it and become a member on the ASN Print Service Provider website.
Does this guarantee a good printer? Much like finding a new dentist or doctor, you’ll still need to check them out to see if there’s a good fit, but this should give you a starting place.
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Very good article. Concise but very helpful…oh, and yes…”Much like finding a new dentist or doctor, you?ll still need to check them out to see if there?s a good fit…” I agree wholeheartedly (as a dentist). Many times people go see a professional and then don’t fully use their services because they just don’t quite “click.” If that’s the case, whether it be dentist, doctor or printer, then spend the time to find someone you are comfortable with.
Again, good article on ASN.
I have been in printing from 1968 till now. I have worked with graphic artise that come from collage and they scare me.. They teach the HOW but not the HOW MUCH. Some people send PDF files and forget that the font they used in not on every computer. So Vector Art locks all images or you should attach the suitcace. I have had customers set up art in Office and when opened in another application the bulletts turn into hands or arrows. I have a person that uses Window Vista for everything…any comments on that???