Kinkos tip

[Zakk]

A habit I've been in saved ---my bottom--- today (or saved some money out of the wallet near my...well anyway).  I always put a file on the rewritable cd of graphic files I want printed named "instruction.txt".  It has the exact final print size and the resolution of the print (eg: example.jpg -  24.5 X 23.5 inches @ 300dpi).  Today I showed up for a 28"X11" print and it was about 7 feet long!!!  They even tried to argue that even though I proofed it (proof was the right size), that "I must have ordered it that way".  If it had not been for that one little txt file, they would have tried to get me to pay about $230 for that laminated print!!!

Just a word of wisdom to anyone getting pricey artwork done.

[SirPeale]

Man!  You could have just refused to pay, if they had hedged the issue.  I mean, the difference between 28" and seven feet is more than just a little.  "Yeah, I ordered it six feet too big on purpose, you lout."

[Zakk]

Heh, they wouldn't have gotten $200 out of me for a mistake, unless that text file had said "seven feet by 3 feet".  

 After all that, I was still feeling a bit punchy, so I asked them to give it to me for free  I figured, what the hell are they going to use it for?  Oddly enough, they declined.  Too bad, it was my new "ultimate arcade" marquee, and at 7 feet by whatever, it looked killer!

[dmsuchy]

Man that would of been an awesome banner in your arcade room. I'd have a buddy stroll in and ask about it on the sly, maybe they would sell it to him for a couple of bucks. What the hell are they going to do with it? great website by the way.

[patrickl]

Wouldn't it be wiser just to stay clear from Kinko's? I see these weird sizing stories over and over again.

Is Kinko's cheaper than the more dedicated arcade art printers or something?

[Chris]

Wouldn't it be wiser just to stay clear from Kinko's? I see these weird sizing stories over and over again.

Is Kinko's cheaper than the more dedicated arcade art printers or something?

You can walk into a Kinko's... I think that has a lot of appeal.  They also have more options, some cheaper than others.

[Zakk]

Man that would of been an awesome banner in your arcade room. I'd have a buddy stroll in and ask about it on the sly, maybe they would sell it to him for a couple of bucks. What the hell are they going to do with it? great website by the way.

They said something about having to account for waste on a print that size, and I kinda believed him, makes sense, or employees could just give out free stuff to friends, I think the fast food places do that...(?)

 Glad you like the site btw!!!  Cheers!

[Zakk]

Wouldn't it be wiser just to stay clear from Kinko's? I see these weird sizing stories over and over again.

Is Kinko's cheaper than the more dedicated arcade art printers or something?

Well, although I like the results I see on people's cabs, I don't think I'd like to wait till I'd paid by visa and the 7 foot print arrived in the mail... at least I could refuse it before I paid, plus they'll have a replacement print for me tomorrow.  Not that I wish to defend Kinkos.  If one of those arcade printer guys was within 30 minutes of here I'd use them excusively.  As it is, the txt file -usually- works for me *patented rampy shrug*

[mahuti]

Kinkos tip: Don't use them.  

[TalkingOctopus]

Kinkos tip: Don't use them.  

Seriously.  I don't think they ever get the dimensions right.

[patrickl]

Wouldn't it be wiser just to stay clear from Kinko's? I see these weird sizing stories over and over again.

Is Kinko's cheaper than the more dedicated arcade art printers or something?

Well, although I like the results I see on people's cabs, I don't think I'd like to wait till I'd paid by visa and the 7 foot print arrived in the mail... at least I could refuse it before I paid, plus they'll have a replacement print for me tomorrow.  Not that I wish to defend Kinkos.  If one of those arcade printer guys was within 30 minutes of here I'd use them excusively.  As it is, the txt file -usually- works for me *patented rampy shrug*

But the thing is that sites like classicarcadegrafis and mamemarquees know what Arcade cab builders want, so they won't get it that wrong. Even if you're unhappy you get a new print for free.

[DrewKaree]

Zakk, what about instead of the text file on the disc, adding a 6-point sized instruction on the sides of your image?  6-point shouldn't increase your image size enough to make it more than a couple cents more expensive, and then, when they print a 7' banner, it'll say all over it that "DUMMY, I wasn't supposed to be THIS big!  Put your helmet on before you leave the house!"  Also, underline it so they'll act as proofing marks, unless you already added proofing marks.

Like so (and obviously, this ain't that size, but you'll get the general idea):                                                                               .                                                                .
             ^top line to bottom line should measure x"^  

                            "Image you want printed"

              top line to bottom line should measure x"

Obviously, I can't do the sides here, but in your image creation program you could....and you could put a border around the whole stinking lettering telling them don't make this border measure more than x" or it's your fault and I won't pay a friggen dime for it.

BTW, what would 6-point type look like @ 7'?  LOL  

[Zakk]

I like that type on the border idea... It seems they're open Sundays, because they just called to say my new print is ready, but they had to "put a white line down top and bottom to make it fit 28 inches wide".  OF COURSE this new person didn't read the txt file either, and when I had been in there complaining about the 7 footer, I said "it's supposed to be like 28 inches or something", which he wrote on the order sheet (right under where it said to read the &!@*&# txt file).  It's supposed to be 28.28 inches, which means there will be a gap on either side of the marquee.  So I said "NO, I said to your guy that it was like 28 inches or something, like on the txt file, why on earth would I want it only 28 inches with a white line now?"  I mean, he had to resize it, since the file is done TO SIZE.  He even tried to convince me that it would look just fine with the white line and the gap!!!! Argh, maybe the best tip really is NOT to use them.  

 And don't get me started on the whining he did when he agreed to print it again...AND he told me to keep my voice down!!!!!!!  

[allroy1975]

man..I must be the luckiest guy in the world.

The first time I went to the Kinko's I ALWAYS use, I went at like 2 AM on a Saturday night.  I was talking to the guy who worked there and he was totally cool.  I was printing a marquee and I was going to do it on regular paper, but we talked about what it would be for and he said they have some "backlit" paper for just that purpose.  I asked about the price difference and it was like an extra $25 or something.  I declined, and he said...let me check and see if we have any of that paper and if we do, I'll do it for the same price.  They did, and he did it for me.  The marquee cost me like $15.

They also have a GIANT scanner that I asked about using for scanning a monitor bezel.  he said it was no problem.  but it was, again, outragously expensive to use.  He said something to the effect of "I'm up here every Saturday night and no one ever comes in....I could let you use it for *I don't remember the price but it was a LOT less*.  I call it the Saturday night discount"  So now, every time I print something there I just go at like 1 AM or 2 AM on Saturday night and he just prints it right then and there for me.

oh, and am I the only person who measures my stuff and creates files that size?  like my monitor bezel, the PhotoShop file was 25.x" x 32.x" or something like that.  I didn't have to give them a size.  All they had to do was go File/Print.  Is there a reason not to do that?

My tip is, go in late and be friendly.  I talk a lot and this guy liked my project and presumably liked me and so I got taken care of.

Allroy

[DrewKaree]

Coupla front/backs oughta fix 'em!  

For the record, what is the format you gave to 'em?  My small print instruction border may need to be modified to 72-point text!  LOL

[mahuti]

I've visited TONS of Kinko's in my time. As a designer & previously a design student, & previously a high-schooler that constantly needed color scanning & printing for his drawings, I have found that they are extremely hit & miss. If you know somebody that works there, hey, that's cool. If not, man.... you better be awefully lucky before you go in there ready to spend money. The thing is, the equipment kinko's has, is usually very nice equipment. Much better than most small printers have. Some printers can do some amazing stuff with the same equipment. Much like McDonalds, versus a family owned restaurant, the staff of Kinko's is somewhat prone to replacement. The people don't get trained well enough, and don't have enough time to experiment on their own. It's a crap job that requires a ton of know-how and patience, and unfortunately, most of the people that work their have neither. Again... you might get lucky and find the "cool" kinko's employee, but the culture of the company is far from that. They just want company business... internal publications & stuff, that print thousands of docs. Joe Schmoes like you and me are hardly worth their time... unless, that is... we are being used as training dummys. I expect that is the case. They might hack off a 35$ / yr. customer, but they're getting good experience for those $35,000 / yr. jobs that Lame-O, Inc. provides them.  

[SpamMe]

Yep, seems to be the case, but it's just a matter of knowing what you're up against. I've had a lot of stuff printed at Kinkos, but I have yet to pay for any of their mistakes (at least with my wallet).
The next thing I need to get printed will be my control panel overlay on vinyl. The cheapest I've found for the job locally is still more than twice what Kinkos will be charging. I don't need the absolute best quality, and so what Kinkos can be expected to provide will suffice.
Generally, they can't be trusted to get it right the first time (and as such, on time).

Always get a proof (same machine/materials/etc. as the final job if possible). If you get an experienced employee, this can help them get it right the first time (or at least before you see it). If you get an 'other' employee, though, it's a nice thing to be able to show them and say "This is how it was supposed to look." Always provide written documentation regarding final print size for the same reason. Always bring a tape measure. :/

[fredster]

What kind of file format do you guys bring Kinkos?

Adobe photoshop files or jpgs or what?

[Zakk]

Mahuti is very very right, it's hit and miss.  I've had a lot of -great- stuff from them, but every time I don't proof, they overexpose the pics.  So that's two trips downtown for every print (so I like to get several done at once, like this time)

I give them 300dpi photoshop .jps   and yes, they are all done "too size". Doesn't seem to make them not lie about it though.  After the silliness yesterday, the guy calls me back and says "because of the mixups the print will be free"  So I went in today and said "if you can show me, on this disk and on your computer that this print is 45 inches @ 300 dpi I'll pay for it" (he had told me I had incorrectly sized the photos which is why the prints got screwed up).  Bull.  Needless to say, I got my free print

[Wade]

I'll echo what a few others on here have said... you can avoid these problems entirely if you take them a file format like PHOTOSHOP that has the size stored in the file.

The reason people have so many problems with files like Jpegs is because they have no real size.  They have pixel dimensions, but those are arbitratily mapped to DPI.  If you take a file that is a JPEG and tell them to print it at 300 DPI or some other DPI, you haven't given them enough information to print it properly.  In other words, you might think you are right, but it's your own fault!  I'm sure this has happened to some people on here before.

Now, if you give them a Jpeg and tell them the exact outer dimensions in inches, they should be able to print it properly, assuming your aspect ratio and dimensions are correct in the first place.  But then you are probably leaving a little "too much" trust in the guys that work there.

The simple way to avoid all these problems is to size the file yourself in Photoshop and take a PSD file to them.  All they have to do is hit "File -> Print".

I have large stuff printed routinely, and I have *never* had a problem with the size.  My brother works at a print shop and prints the stuff for free.  Never has he done it wrong because I either give him a PSD or I tell him to make it 27x8" or whatever it needs to be.  Never a problem.

Wade

[TalkingOctopus]

I'll echo what a few others on here have said... you can avoid these problems entirely if you take them a file format like PHOTOSHOP that has the size stored in the file.

The reason people have so many problems with files like Jpegs is because they have no real size.  They have pixel dimensions, but those are arbitratily mapped to DPI.  If you take a file that is a JPEG and tell them to print it at 300 DPI or some other DPI, you haven't given them enough information to print it properly.  In other words, you might think you are right, but it's your own fault!  I'm sure this has happened to some people on here before.

Now, if you give them a Jpeg and tell them the exact outer dimensions in inches, they should be able to print it properly, assuming your aspect ratio and dimensions are correct in the first place.  But then you are probably leaving a little "too much" trust in the guys that work there.

The simple way to avoid all these problems is to size the file yourself in Photoshop and take a PSD file to them.  All they have to do is hit "File -> Print".

I have large stuff printed routinely, and I have *never* had a problem with the size.  My brother works at a print shop and prints the stuff for free.  Never has he done it wrong because I either give him a PSD or I tell him to make it 27x8" or whatever it needs to be.  Never a problem.

Wade

I gave Kinkos a PSD file on CD.  Kinko's printed it out the wrong size twice before finally being correct the third time.  The first print was off by an inch one way and a half inch the other.  In the second print, the width was off by 2 inches and the height was correct.  I don't know what they were doing wrong because I'll they did was hit File->Print .  I brought a tape measure with me each time and they were very reasonable about printing it again for free.

[Zakk]

Yeah, as a matter of fact I used to bring the prints in .psd format (to size) from photoshop, and .jpg (to size) from paint shop pro.  They said they prefer the jpg since the psd might have color issues with the way I have mine set up at home (CMYK conversions or something).  
 It's too bad too, they really -can- make a nice print to almost any size (when they get it right).

[Wade]

Well if they still screw up a PSD then I don't know what to tell ya!

Wade

[spacy guppy]

 
As a 3 year tenured kinko's production key-op  I've seen and heard all these horror stories.  The best advice one can give is to format your pics/designs into Encapsulated Post Script (EPS) format.  I typically print psd's and AI files, without incident but eps seems to be a reliable format to communicate with the print servers that all these honking huge printers are networked to.  
and remember, the stuff is crazy-overpriced.  We are under a similar business model as a 7-11.  you're paying more for convenience and a quicker turn around, that's all.  the "know how" angle is a poor argument.  There's 14 people in our branch and the expertise ranges from "you should get out more" to "i'm sorry i can't make change and answer the phone at the same time".
Your best bet is find the arcade geek that works there through a little polite conversation.  Trust me there's almost always one.  Whenever i help folks with their Mame or arcade projects it's always a pleasure and i enjoy doing it for them.  Someone concerned about the hobby will empathise with your concerns for quality and correct fit.  Prices are pretty subjective too, and can be manipulated to fit your character and attitude; trust me

[simplygriff]

And where are you located?

Anywhere near Greensboro, North Carolina?
-G

[DrewKaree]

And where are you located?

Anywhere near Greensboro, North Carolina?
-G

I used to live in Durham...care to take the small drive?  The Kinko's on Ninth St. near Duke is AWE-SUM if you stay away from the old codgers that may still work there.  

[simplygriff]

The small drive maybe worth it.  I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet but I'll keep it in mind!
-G