N2-Graphics

N2 Graphics
1009 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-793-9844
store.n2graphics.net
[ map ]

Contact: Albert -- amg6446 (a) yahoo.com

Services include:
  • Color Laser Prints
  • Large Format Ink Jet Prints (Giclée)
  • Conversion of Vinil Records to Digital Formats
  • [ sample clients ]

    Poster Recomendations:
  • Do not use Microsoft's PowerPoint
  • If exporting from Microsoft's PowerPoint print as PDF, and then arrange resulting PDF pages using Adobe Illustrator. If file is unweildy, select all, and do a Release Masks (Microsoft's PowerPoint ads bounding box masks around every single text and image object. If fonts get lost or corrupt, attempt opening your Microsoft's PowerPoint in Apple's iWork Keynote, and then print the PDF.
  • Use images in RBG format (vs CMYK or RGBAlpha). If using Microsoft's PowerPoint, PGN will perserver your image quality best. If not using Microsoft's PowerPoint, then use TIFF (LZW compressed), 300 dpi.
  • For color prints, you may want to print on vinyl which is less glary than glossy. However it picks up finger prints easily, so if handling, use white cotton gloves. If lint is accumulated use a household dust feather brush.
  • Do not overuse shadows. It is a cheap trick, in the bad sense, and makes files harder to print. Try using color, contrast, and size to bring out important information.

    Giclée Recomendations:
  • Notice that if you print on canvas, the colors will look very dull. N2Graphics uses inks that preserve color well for a conciderable period of time. However if possible avoid exposure to sunlight.
  • If stretching onto a wooden frame, be sure to leave at least 1/2 inch of bleed on each side. If you are not going to put a frame around it, then you may want 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches of bleed to fully cover sides of the stretched canvas. Notice that the canvas will deform a bit, so expect minor cracking if not handled correctly. Also crop/fold marks may not correstpond perfectly to edges after stretching. El Molino Gallery on Green and Catalina do a great job of stretching canvas. Otherwise, for the top of the line canvas stretching (expensive) Lucius Hudson Company, in Los Angeles Area, is one of the top places in the country.

    Backlit film:
  • Backlit film is expensive, and its shape detiorates quickly, so it is seldom kept in stock. A better viable alternative is PolyBanner Gloss, which is a bit less translucent, so it captures color better, and will hold better with time. It is also translucent enough that it can be backlit quite succesfully. Either, can be printed up to 5 feet wide, and upwards of 9 feet long. The cost is per square foot, plus usually an extra charge for amount of ink used.




    • non-digital options

    For press printing, Castle Press in Pasadena offers great service on tight deadlines. Their price is reasonable (must be large amounts to justify printing press job) and they are very helpful on paper selection, and other needs.

    Art Center has a collection of more than 2400 cases of metal and wood type. The Archetype Press is run by Heidren Mumper-Drumm, who is a great instructor and very helpful. You must be a student to use it, but they do offer classes on press printing and book binding as part of their Art Center At Night program.

    N2 Graphis or N2Graphics, is not associated with the N2|Graphics Blog. N2Graphics however may be associated with N2Graphix. Connection has not been confirmed. But definetely nothing to do with the N2 Graphics workstations.