I currently work as head of a prepress and digital label printing department. Digital printing can be an expensive business, with some pretty hefty up front costs. However I have found over the last year that it is the printer consumables, such as toner cartridges that can really eat into the companies profits. The best way to keep this from happening is to shop around. MANY online companies today offer some amazing deals for everything from color printer ink to laser drum replacements.

Just be sure you take the time to research your printer and make sure the supplies you plan order work with your specific printer. As printer manufacturers push to be on the cutting edge they can change their machines ever so slightly causing the need for specific consumables. Just like printers themselves are willing to help out clients, so are ink and toner companies. They want to make sure you get the right consumable for your printer. If you aren’t sure what works, don’t be afraid to drop them an email or give them a call.

Consumable don’t have to be profit eaters!

Saratoga, New York - Prepressology has been approached by Shelters of Saratoga about someone providing pro bono design work for a charity event in August. The owner of Prepressology, Jake Van Ness is originally from Saratoga Springs, New York and was very happy to donate his time to such a worthy cause.

Shelters of Saratoga is the only homeless shelter in Saratoga, Washington, or Warren Counties and has been helping over 250 individuals a year with shelter, food, clothing, employment, transportation assistance and case management. SOS, as it is known, has been around for 16 years.

They are committed to offering continued services to help prevent the recurrence of homelessness. SOS has and continues to help low-income homeowners rehabilitate their areas of residence. There for helping with the beautification of historic Saratoga Springs.

SOS not only works with the homeless but also works with low-income senior citizen households with emergency, health and welfare repairs on their owner occupied homes. They receive funding for all these programs from the city of Saratoga, NY State and generous local citizens in the area.

Prepressology, with over seven years of print design experience, was tapped to lend design services for the upcoming charity event One Fine Day. Prepressology is a small design firm that works with small businesses and non-profit organizations in upstate New York. Shelters of Saratoga is working closely with Prepressology in order to develop postcard hand outs, advertiser posters, invitations to the event and the event program.

One Fine Day is sure to be a magnificent event during the exciting Travers week in Saratoga Springs. Taking place on “Dark Tuesday,” August 19, 2008. Union Gables Bed & Breakfast hosts the elegant garden party which includes an afternoon of relaxation and rejuvenation in its gorgeous Victorian garden. Bring your friends and dine on gourmet food and complimentary specialty wines. Pampering service providers will be on hand to give both body and soul a little summertime lift, then we’ll liven things up a with a bachelor auction. The event will be held from 1pm to 4pm. Tickets are $65 dollars per person and available if you call 518 587-1097 or email them at sosdevelopment@sheltersofsaratoga.org.

You can find out more about Prepressology and other design projects by visiting www.prepressology.com or contacting Jake at info@prepressology.com.

Brand recognition is a huge part of a companies identity. A lot of times we don’t even realize how strongly the brand is until we are put to the test to see if we actually recognize an image, sound or tag line.

Recently somebody posted a really good test on brand recognition over on the new Designer Today Forum. The test is found on the CramerSweeney website. According to the website…

“CramerSweeney is redefining “full service”, as the only company in the world comprised of an ad agency, an instructional design company, a public/media relations company, an interactive/multimedia firm, and a branding firm.”

The CramerSweeney Smart Marketing IQ Test consists of 20 questions from 4 brand intelligence areas. Icon identification, tagline memorization, mascot identifiation and audible recognition. The test is quick, fun and really well done.

I had a little trouble with the audible recognition part and I think that has something to do with the fact that I am a much more visual person. I think designers tend to be.

My score was 14 out of 20. Give the test a try and let me know how you did in the comments. Also let me know if you are in the design field or not. I am curious how much more brand sensitive designers are compared to non-designers. Good luck!

CramerSweeney Smart Marketing IQ Test