Starter Pack

[bms]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've decided to go with Xpres, they're a bit more money but they're only down the road, which has swung it for me.
Although things are totting up - I was just informed this evening that I need Corel Draw (preferable) or Photoshop elements - I thought I would've been OK with MS Publisher or Adobe InDesign.
I guess it's best to go with the software they recommend, that way if I run into problems they'll be able to help more - just gotta sell more mugs!

BTW, I suppose I should've asked this first - do mugs sell well?
I picked mugs as a starter as I think they'd be good to push my other business, but I'd like to sell a few as well.

If you have the Ricoh SG3110 then you can print from MS Publisher or whatever else as you will be printing via PowerDriver. If you get 'persuaded' to have the more expensive Epson printer then this won't be possible and you'll have to use the ICC profile. Check to make sure the Epson is still a current model as we have stopped selling this due to restricted supply (good old Epson changing models again).

[Justin]

For me CorelDraw is a must and if you're using Xpres it would be useful as they can help support it. Not very expensive if you get an older version, X4 for example. I also use Adobe CS but wherever possible Coraldraw is favoured

[Markus_Mleko]

For me CorelDraw is a must and if you're using Xpres it would be useful as they can help support it. Not very expensive if you get an older version, X4 for example. I also use Adobe CS but wherever possible Coraldraw is favoured

Sorry to drag up an old post. Can I ask why CorelDraw is a must? Also, is this peculiar to Xpres or would it apply to an SG3110 bought from any of the suppliers? I'm currently working out what hardware to go with and have decided on the Ricoh printer, which I will most likely buy from wherever I get the press. No real issue with CorelDraw other than I'm loathed to add more software to our workflows (Adobe CC/Mac).

[JMugs]

Most suppliers work with Coreldraw, therefore if you have a problem they can check it out for you.
I had an image to print and the colours were just wrong. I do my own profiling so i knew my set up was right. I spoke to xpres (my printer supplier) and they said send it over. It turned out that the client file was some strange variation of bitmap, convert to bitmap (a 1 second job) and all was hunky dory.

All my commercial clients use Coreldraw or photoshop so I run both. So it can depend on your customer base.

Janners

[Markus_Mleko]

Ah,

Thanks Janners, that makes perfect sense. Then I may give it a go with Adobe to start with and see how it works out. We will only be printing designs that are produced in house (a large team of me and my wife). I setup all the document presets in PS/AI, so we *shouldn't* have the sort of issues that can arise with wacky client deliverd files.