Discussion: Print maps

For quick-and-dirty jobs, I usually use Kinko's. The quality isn't as high as dedicated printers (Ed can recommend one), but it's fast and not unreasonably priced ($1 per color page).

I think the UPS store is slightly cheaper (I think), but not quite as convenient. Where will you be in Boston?

Note that paper quality varies. The cheapest stuff at fedex/kinko's is like tissue paper when it gets wet. See if you can get thicker/glossier paper (for 10 or 20 extra cents a page). Not that I know much about this.

Use map cases bro.

Also, if you want to try some higher quality stuff, contact Ed and get the contact data for his printer people. I think they need some advance notice (and a somewhat complex extraction of color data that Ed might be able to help you with), but the results are impressive.

Yeah, by tissue paper I mean one drop of water gets inside the map case and disaster ensues, bro'.

O I c. Yeah, paper upgrades are good. Alternatively, tape.

One dollar a page! I will try to make it back to new haven then I think!

Unfortunately, the easiest way for normal mortals to print is to export a PDF and take it to kinkos. My printing system still requires a good bit of manual intervention in the form of Illustrator work.
For paper, what you want is 80lb dull coated text stock. The coated means that it has a clay coating on the paper, like a magazine, that makes it much more robust, and it also takes ink more consistently. You really want a dull stock, not a glossy one, so that the map doesn't reflect back at you. Unfortunately, most people running print jobs want a brighter whiter shinier paper, so it can be difficult to always get a good paper stock at kinkos.
The ideal paper is GPrint from Arctic Paper, but its really hard to get in the US. I've managed to track down one skid of it in NJ, but they won't break the skid to sell me any, and the whole 16000 28x40in sheet skid is $1000 landed in Boston. Its rather tempting...

As to cost, I pay $1-$1.50 for 8.5x11 pages off the digital offset press, depending on volume.

What's the story with digital offset? Is it equivalent to old-school offset? Do you have to go somewhere special to get it? Why do you need to do manual intervention? If it's offset you export 5-colour or spot or whatever, nay?
And for volume, do you print the basic maps and overprint yourself, or do you do courses at the same time?

Feel free to answer after SML.

I'm also interested in hearing details about digital offset when you have time.