DSF

bms;35383 wrote:I don't disagree with you Ian as I can see the benefit of doing this, but I personally don't see the need for it all the time - that' all

Do you do much sublimation at your place Martin?

I only ask as I would presume that you and the guys would only do the odd bit of stuff (when required) and then test the new items when they come into stock - that being said I'd guess that you'd have ample stock to try again if something didn't work?

I don't mean to offend by saying this - I just mean that as I'm someone that 'makes a living' from printing the items and not selling the blanks I need to get it right first time to keep maximum profit so the extra couple of minutes getting an exact template means the difference to me. I remember being gutted when the slates I had didn't print right (this wasn't a couple of quid wasted for the slate - it was much more wasted as the item could have sold if printed right).

Again, this is my personal view - I may be in the minority but I can't really afford to just print an image and see what it looks like on a product.

Agree with you buddy. I remember to watching some videos from co.de and see they dont bother with templates much

they jut allign ish the image and off they go. But you could not do thqt when runing with order of 40 of this sameblank.

AdamB;35392 wrote:Do you do much sublimation at your place Martin?

I only ask as I would presume that you and the guys would only do the odd bit of stuff (when required) and then test the new items when they come into stock - that being said I'd guess that you'd have ample stock to try again if something didn't work?

I don't mean to offend by saying this - I just mean that as I'm someone that 'makes a living' from printing the items and not selling the blanks I need to get it right first time to keep maximum profit so the extra couple of minutes getting an exact template means the difference to me. I remember being gutted when the slates I had didn't print right (this wasn't a couple of quid wasted for the slate - it was much more wasted as the item could have sold if printed right).

Again, this is my personal view - I may be in the minority but I can't really afford to just print an image and see what it looks like on a product.

No, we don't do a huge amount of printing, but have printed coasters (square/ round), jigsaws, mousemats, fine china mugs, european mugs, photo slates, photo frames, ladies bags, iPhone4 covers and dog (animal type) tags this week and haven't used a formal template - just measure the overall size, add a bit and then print (these are a starightforward shape though). These were mostly for the paying public so even we don't want to mess up a blank! I can see the benefit of the template especially for things that are an odd shape but I don't think they are essential if you can visualise the image on the product and how it's going to fit.

Where I really see the benefit of a template is where you are layering in photoshop, for example the mug templates that Paul does with themed outlines or if you are bringing a photo into a pre-made custom design. Here the template is essential, but I don't, personally see the need if it is just fitting a photo to a rectangular/ square/ round shape. Only my two penneth worth!

bms;35399 wrote:......... haven't used a formal template - just measure the overall size, add a bit and then print (these are a starightforward shape though).

That would be a template then Martin

However you call it, if you just measure the item and create a blank sheet to those dimensions plus a couple of mm for bleed - it's still a template as you know what is going where.

By creating a 'template' for an item this avoids having to measure the item over and over again as it's just that .................... a template.

Or have I misunderstood the whole 'template' conversation requirement here?

sorry guys - I thought I replied to to this last night. I must have forgotten to hit "post".
I wanted a close as possible picture of a face and just by measuring the shape I kept ending up either loosing the top of the head or it being too short on one side. And while no - it aint rocket science; I was cautiously optimistic (to use another of the world's most annoying phrases) somebody here might have had one to hand.
But thanks for the advice - I will make my own template - I broke one of the plug pins off the scanner plug and the extension lead is now powering the Christmas tree lights with the pin inside and I was just resisting the need to shift everything around by asking if anyone had one.

Did you get it sorted in the end?

sore point ... finally got a pic that was useable and then used the advised time on the xpres site and well, made a hames of it to say the least. Christmas ... bah humbug ....

ahhhhhh

Still, it is Christmas ............................ if I had a quid for everyone that had said that to me this week, I'd have £14 together with a grove on my bottom lip where I've been biting it to hold back from shouting obscenities at them!

The one that gets me and I've been asked for at least a month is - are you set for the Christmas?
Next year I am just going to say No to everyone who asks and not qualify any more information. Or I I might just go the obscenity route for a change MErry f***in Christmas ya Tw*t.

lol .............