Sister Company Spotlight: Maryland Composition

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Metropolitan’s sister company, Maryland Composition, can translate to/from over 130 languages! With only 10 employees, Maryland Composition still finds ways to expand their business to benefit their customers. In the future, they hope to continue expanding in the translations department.
Maryland Comp considers themselves a “content solutions provider.” For the past 30 years, the company has been providing these solutions mainly for “educational, financial, and legal publishers, as well as legal firms and corporate institutions.” They have many “unique services that no other CGX company can offer, such as: full service/composition, editorial services, CD/DVD programming and development, translations, database programming, and eBooks.”
Although Maryland Composition is technically part of AGS (also located in Maryland), the company continues to work with large companies such as Thieme, the International Monetary Fund, and John Snow, Inc. So if you need any of your future jobs translated, you know where to go!

Employee Spotlight: Ryan Provines

Anyone who has ever worked with Ryan can attest to his infectious positive attitude. Ryan sincerely cares about his coworkers and his customers. It’s this kind of attitude that has led to Ryan’s success as a Sales Representative.
The 3 years that Ryan has spent working at Metropolitan have taught him a thing or two. One of the biggest lessons he’s learned has been that “every job, regardless of dollar amount or complexity, demands the same level of care and commitment.”
If you need to know anything about Bloomington, Ryan probably has the answer considering he’s lived here his whole life. (He was even born in Bloomington Hospital!) He now resides in the Bloomington area with his wife (Becky), 3 kids, and a cat. You might be surprised to find out that the head of the household is actually the cat, according to Ryan.
Metropolitan considers Ryan one of the office jokesters. If a plastic snake “accidentally” happens to be in your desk drawer, the chances of Ryan having something to do with the prank are pretty high. Ryan not only knows how important it is to work hard, but also to have a good time. “…We have a TON of fun around here…Yes; we work our tails off but manage to squeeze in a few laughs along the way.”
Ryan finds that the best part of being a Sales Representative is the fact that he has been able to build withstanding relationships. “It is very rewarding for me to have clients think of me as a trusted member of their team and not just another ‘order taker.’”
With people like Ryan at Metro, it’s no wonder we get stellar customer reviews like the one in this newsletter.

Okay, so now you’re ready to print a job. What to do next?

1.  Give your job information to your Sales Representative or to a Customer Service Representative.
a.  Include:
i.  Title of the job
ii.  Job quantity
iii.  Delivery date
iv.  Colors included in the job
v.  If the job bleeds or not
vi.  Final size of the job
1.  Flat size AND folded size if applicable
vii.  Paper stock (weight, brand, finish)
viii.  Number of pages, if applicable
ix.  How you want the job packaged, boxed, etc.
x.  Where your file is located (ftp, etc.)
xi.  Name of your file
xii.  What kind of proof you’d like to see
xiii.  Any specialty services included in the job
1.  Die cutting, special binding, embossing, etc.
xiv.  How many samples you would like, if any
xv.  Where you would like the samples sent
xvi.  Any specialty finishing included in the job
1.  Shrink wrapping, stitching, etc.
xvii.  Where you want the job shipped to
2.  Package your InDesign files. This ensures that all of your fonts and images are provided for us.  (File > Package)
3.  Zip/Compress all your files. (Right click on the file > Zip/Compress)
4.  Send in your files.
a.  HOSTNAME: ftp.metropolitanprinting.com
b.  USERNAME: metro      PASSWORD: metro
5.  Email the file name to your Customer Service Representative.
a.  Danielle Riendeau – driendeau@metropolitanprinting.com
b.  Stephanie Young – syoung@metropolitanprinting.com
c.  Debbie Purcell – dpurcell@metropolitanprinting.com

 

PROOF IT (A Guide to Proofing Types)

Laser: a helpful piece for you to send us; even something as simple as this laser-printed piece can help us ensure that the layout and typesetting is correct.
Dylux: a folded-up proof to show page positioning; not color accurate.
PDF: another helpful piece for you to send to us to check the layout; this file format allows you to send us a digital version of your piece.
Matchprint: a color-accurate proof; represents the true colors of what your piece will look like on press.

Good Resources for Creating Print-Ready Files

Go to these sites and “Search” for the program that you’re using for expert help:

•  Adobe.com
•  Lynda.com
•  http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/

Some of our sister companies have good resources on their websites as well

•  Rush Press (CA):
http://www.rushpress.com/pdfs/rp_digital_requirements.pdf

•  StorterChilds Printing (FL):
http://www.storterchilds.com/resources.php

•  John C. Otto Company, Inc. (MA):
http://www.jco.com/novices/tips.html
or:  http://www.jco.com/downloads/JCO_DigPrePressGuide.pdf

•  McKay Press (MI):
http://www.mckaypress.com/mckay_assets/pdf_files/Tips_and_Tricks.pdf

Customer Corner

It’s always nice to hear when you have satisfied customers. It’s even nicer when they tell you what you’re doing right. One such customer, Deb Winter from Océ Business Services, Inc. for Carrier Corporation, brightened an employee’s day in March when she boasted about our services.
One would think that Deb would be complimenting the actual products that Metropolitan had produced for her company, but instead, she was complimenting our office staff, specifically our Accounts Receivable Specialist, Monica Nees.
This month marks Monica’s one year anniversary of working at Metropolitan, but she has already created a report for creating stellar invoicing. She is in charge of making daily collection calls, maintaining an accurate aging report, processing and mailing invoices, and other such tasks associated with billing.
Deb asserts that Monica is “…so very patient with [her] in getting all the proper information on Metro’s invoices.” Deb also notes that our A/R Specialist, “…has been very detail oriented!” Monica not only creates “…perfect invoice[s]…”, but she also has excellent customer service skills as well. Deb reinforces this fact saying that Monica is “…a happy voice on the phone, saying whatever you need Deb…”
Deb concluded her email by saying, “YOU ROCK MONICA!” And we couldn’t agree more!

The Prepress Checklist

Before you send in your files, make sure you go through this checklist!

• I have a folder with a descriptive title in which I will place all my files
• If my file has elements that touch the page edge, I have added 1/8” bleed
• All of my images have been converted from RGB/Lab/Index color to CMYK
• If I have any black text, it is solid black only, NOT process/CMYK/rich black
• I have included my fonts in the file folder
• I have included my images in the file folder
• All of my images are high resolution (at least 300 dpi)
• My file reflects the correct PMS colors that will be in my piece
• If my file is 4-color process, all PMS colors have been converted to CMYK
• My special process elements (Spot UV, Spot Varnish, Dieline, etc.) are indicated by a spot color
• All of my raster images are saved as .tif, .eps, or .psd (.jpg OK but not preferred)
• All of my vector artwork (logos, illustrations, etc.) is saved as .eps, .ai, or .pdf
• My document file size matches the final size I’d like my piece to be

“Where’s William?” Contest

We are starting a brand new social media contest!

It’s called “Where’s William?” and all you have to do is spot our magnificent driver, Sweet William, and the Metropolitan truck out and about on deliveries, snap a picture, then tweet it to us or upload to facebook and tag Metropolitan Printing Service in the photo.

If you are lucky enough to snap a photo of our beautiful truck, you will win a beautiful matching Metropolitan coffee mug!

Let’s get started! If you don’t know what our truck looks like, check out the photo below…keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready!

Metropolitan on Pinterest

Great news! We have joined a large majority of the online and creative community on Pinterest! We will be pinning about design and typography, paper, color, print, and fitness (for our Trimdown Challenge Participants). We will continue to share our favorite design and print things on Twitter and Facebook, but this is great as another outlet to show how much we really REALLY love print.

We would love to share inspiration with you! Join us!

Metropolitan Printing Service on Pinterest

Stock Made Simple

Type of Stock	Description	General Use of the Stock
Cover	Heavy in weight, rigid, and not easily folded	Publication covers, business cards, postcards
Text	Thin, lightweight	Publication interiors, sell sheets, letterheads
Uncoated	Dull, unreflective surface	variable data postcards, letterheads, envelopes, business cards, newsletters, garment tags
Bond	High-grade
Felt	Rich, velvety surface
Laid	Manufactured with textured lines
Linen	Fine, regular textured lines
Matte	Not supercalendered; high readability
Satin	Smooth surface
Smooth/Wove	Smooth, even surface
Uncoated	Rough surface
Vellum	All purpose, subtle roughness
Coated	Waxy finish on both sides	variable data postcards, calendars, greeting cards, brochures, catalogs, annual reports, promotional posters
Gloss	Shiny, reflective finish
Matte	Flat, not shiny finish
Silk	Low shine, texture between matteand gloss
C1S	Coated on on side, dull on the other
Specialty		fine art reproductions, awards & certificates, invtations & announcements, personalized greeting cards, point-of-purchase displays, folding cartons

Employee Spotlight: Tim Carter

               

                Although Tim has only worked at Metropolitan for about 2 and a half years, he is thriving in the Customer Service department. Recently, Tim received his Bachelor’s with a degree in Business Administration concentrating on Management. He says one of his key motivators was that he felt he needed to set an example for his kids.

                Tim thinks that the first job with a new customer is the most rewarding because he enjoys seeing the customer’s reaction when he exceeds their expectations. “I love to provide the WOW factor that really helps in getting our relationship with the customer started right.”

Tim and his wife, Jessica, have been married for 7 years.  He boasts that she is an awesome stay-at-home mom. They definitely have their hands full at home with 3 kids (Victoria-8, Mason-6, Brady-1) and 2 dogs (Sadie-a Yorkie, Bella-a Golden Retriever). As a family, they enjoy camping and frolicking around local parks. 

As you can tell from the photo, Tim cheers on the Patriots. This causes some controversy in an office filled with Colts fans. Tim’s cheer? “P-A-T-S. Pats, Pats, Pats!”