Client wants thermography

Sometimes we do work that includes different processes used together. I have a client that wants thermography included in the design, and you know the drill, the customer is always right. They want clear or white thermography, and the design is a trap. My normal thermo guy refused the job becuase it was too technical for him, so I’m looking for a thermographer that has the ability to do fine work. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Bill

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Bill, not sure if you ever found someone, but try contacting Maggie Black at mPress in NYC @ 212-398-1500. They’re top notch.

j

Bill…. you know when it comes to printing, style and good taste, the customer is not always right. In fact, some customers are just downright stupid.

If the customer wants something that is beyond your techincal ability, or your equipment….. then tell them so, and / or decline the job. In my many years doing printing, vitually all of my customer woes have been due to trying to accomodate some customer’s wacko desires. Life is too short for that.

Nowadays, i do what I do….. and charge what I charge. If a customer wants something that I don’t do, or want it cheaper, then they can look elsewhere. I’m not rude about it, or anything….. but I don’t accept the job.

Besides, thermography is so fake looking. It’s an attempt to create an engraved look with an offset or small letterpress. Why would anybody want such a thing when they can have real letterpressed or engraved work? (unless they are cheapos and don’t want to pay for real stuff…. in which case, I wouldn’t want to deal with them anyway.)

WCP, I don’t like the thermography. But I have seen it used tactfully as a design element to add depth or interest to a piece, just as letterpress is used sometimes. This particular job requires clear thermography trapped in a logo. I do offer thermo as a service to those looking for it, and am always clear with the client when I have to send something out because I don’t have the equipment. The problem with this one, is that this project is too technical for the thermographers.

I try really hard to offer our clients solutions, no matter what they are. The printing business in this economy can be a hostile place and you have to do your best to be a go-to resource. Our business has been built on that service.

But occasionally you do have to turn people away. I’m usually forced do that because of turnaound times, not abilities.

I’m glad you are in a position to decline work base on the clients taste, because they are cheapo’s, or because life is too short, but we have too many mouths to feed here. Maybe some day.

Jon, thanks for the referral.
Bill

thermography definately has its place in this world, thus, it’s popularity. it is best used in the business card world, when embossing is out of a customer’s price range. ie, you hand a card to a potential and instead of just being printed, they have a second sensation of the raised thermo. it gives an added punch to your card. from a stricly visual perspective, well, crazy people (designers) want what they want. i do agree with some of the above statements though. it is better to not do a job than to do it poorly. the thermo powder needs ink or something to stick to and if the design is so fine, then the granules of the powder are bigger than the ink area, it make not work real well. most machines use a recovery vaccum and if there is not enough “tack” surface it might suck the powder off the desired area. this prob doesn’t help you much but thought i would chime in.