T206 production/printing questions/comments

toppcat · #1 03-09-2010, 07:23 AM

Paging Leon Luckey, paging Leon Luckey....

Leon · #2 03-09-2010, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toppcat

Paging Leon Luckey, paging Leon Luckey....

Hey Dave
I appreciate the call but this is an endeavor for Teddy Z. Ted has studied this quite a bit. Also, a couple other T206 guys could chime in, Brian W., Art M, Joe D (on the printing side)........we are chalk full of guys that take the physical printing to another level. Now, if there is an obscure card or back, then I would be happy to jump in and see if I can add anyything to the discussion. I guess, since we do have quite a few new guys, I can at least show a real T206 proof. I don't think we consider the regular blank backs proofs for obvious reasons....best regards

bijoem · #3 03-09-2010, 07:31 AM

Robert -

without specifically knowing.....

I would believe the fronts were printed first most often.... but not necessarily all of the time.

If a press is running and the pressman has backed up all of the 'printed front' sheets it has on hand.... I could easily see the shop putting in virgin stock and continuing the run by printing additional backs. If there is a reasonable expectation that additional cards will be printed - in this instance, it wouldn't make sense to change the press setup to put on fronts. They would just keep running backs.

Its also possible that the printer looked to keep a 'backs' inventory (sheets printed with just the backs) - to help if they needed to get out a batch of cards quickly.

Printing the fronts first makes the most sense to me, and I would guess it was done most often - but I wouldn't be surprised (especially considering this must have been a huge print project) - if, from time to time the backs were printed first.

quinnsryche · #4 03-09-2010, 08:03 AM

Has anyone ever seen a "blank front" T card with just the back printed to back up the back printed 1st theory?

bijoem · #5 03-09-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

Has anyone ever seen a "blank front" T card with just the back printed to back up the back printed 1st theory?

I could be mistaken.....
but a while back - I think someone showed an uncut sheet of just 'piedmont' backs. no fronts.

just going by memory though - I could have it wrong.

Abravefan11 · #6 03-09-2010, 08:23 AM

Wouldn't the wet sheet transfers and other oddities we see be a good indicator that the front and backs were printed in the same place?

Leon's "Warhol" being a great example.

cfc1909 · #7 03-09-2010, 08:28 AM

Wiltse.jpg

Abravefan11 · #8 03-09-2010, 08:37 AM

Most wet sheet transfers are front images with a wet back transfer. This doesn't prove they were printed in the same place as it could have happened to a preprinted front at location #2.

Leon's card however has a front image mixed in to the reverse with brands distributed by several different factory numbers leading one to conclude all of the printing was done in one place. IMO

tedzan · #9 03-09-2010, 08:34 AM

This is true, a partial uncut sheet of PIEDMONT backs was found some years ago. And, I base my contention that the
backs were printed first on that find.

But, you're our resident printer, isn't it common sense that the ONE color process that T206 backs are was printed first ?

Then, the more complex 6-color process in printing the fronts followed....on the pre-printed sheets (with backs) ? ?

TED Z

bijoem · #10 03-09-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedzan

But, you're our resident printer, isn't it common sense that the ONE color process that T206 backs are was printed first ?

Then, the more complex 6-color process in printing the fronts followed....on the pre-printed sheets (with backs) ? ?

TED Z

Ted....

looking at the overall product - (the cards).......
I would say no.

Since the Fronts are common (to a variety of backs) -
I would think it more logical to print the fronts...... and then as you need certain quantities for certain backs, you back up those sheets with the backs.

As far as what is the more difficult part - yes.... the fronts had to be more difficult / but they still had to get done - so I don't see the difficulty as a determining factor as to what went first.

But.... if the pressman had the press setup and running for 'backs' and ran out of front sheets to back up.... precisely because of potential difficulty - I could see the pressman continue to run backs on virgin stock (especially knowing the size of the overall order / more cards would be needed).

Also....
No doubt these cards were printed over multiple press runs, spanning days, weeks, or months, and you could very easily have had it run on many presses at one time (meaning different pressman / different machinery / all in the same shop).

To a point made earlier:
As far as why you may find more cards that have a blank back (as opposed to those that have a blank front).....

In general, I think it more unlikely that a cutter would cut down a sheet of just backs. Realize after the press run - there are other processes - and other eyes and hands that go over the product. I could see someone cutting down sheets of just fronts (for themselves or others) - but I have no idea why sheets of backs would be cut down and saved.

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