10 January 2009 PRINTING AND GRAPHICS REVIEW www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Technological advances have changed print industry
By Andrew Hoshkiw
Constantly changing, the
printing and design industry
in Muskoka is thriving with
new innovations and is striv-
ing to be better for the envi-
ronment than it ever has been
before.
Advancements in digital
and Internet technologies
have been a leading force for
change, says Robert Donald
of Interlink, a design studio in
Port Carling.
“Before you had to be close
to your clients and the sup-
port, like the typesetter and
film separators,” he says.
“Now it’s all done by me.”
With a streamlined produc-
tion process also came an
increase in quality.
“The big improvement is
good quality colour work
available for shorter print
runs, which is what a lot of
customers like and want, and
can fit into their budgets and
COOL WRAP: Sublime Graphics does vehicle
needs.”
Dan Blix, who offers serv-
wraps, a new technology that’s quite popular.
ices that combines design,
marketing and media selec-
tion out of his studio in
Gravenhurst, has seen much
change in the industry over
the last 30 years.
CLEAN CUT: A press operator at Watts Printing trims custom forms.
“It’s now all done electron-
ically,” says Blix. “I have a changed. Drew McLaren of McLaren tronically where people send
client in Maine I’ve never “I had a camera at one time Press in Bracebridge echoes their newspapers to us digital-
met. You’re in touch by e- that took up half a room and these sentiments of digital ly and we produce printing
mail. He’ll forward text and had a separate dark room, and improvements. plates from that.”
a78 Custom Clothing a78 Graphic Art
photographs and I’ll put a copysetting type unit which “The real change has come McLaren Press doesn’t
a78 Team Wear / Gifts a78 Digitizing
together an ad and send it took up just as much space. in the prepress end of it, even accept work in the old,
back.” When computers came in where, with the advent of hard copy format any more.
a78 Embroidery a78 Screen Printing
Coming from a long back- those became trash. I couldn’t desktop publishing, the com- “Ten or 15 years ago we’d
Tel: 705-646-2750 Toll Free: 1-800-844-2415
ground in the industry, Blix give them away, and I’m talk- puter has allowed us to take have to send someone out to
440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge
says the influx of digital has ing $100,000 worth of equip- what was once a film environ- pick up artwork from our pub-
meant the whole world has ment.” ment to digital,” he says. lisher. It’d then be a three-
“The process which was hour drive back, then produce
very labour intensive, where film, and that whole process
Dan Blix Advertising Services
we probably had 15 employ- may take up to nine hours,”
ees doing the film and plate says McLaren. “Now what
• Creative Design
making, has all become digital happens, as files are ready,
and works seamlessly,” he they can be sent page by page
• Marketing Strategy
adds. “We bring files in elec- throughout the day until
• Media Selection
Call for a Free Phone Consultation
705 687-4555
Samples & Testimonials Forwarded on Request
email: dblix@sympatico.ca
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