Steve Asfall's ePortfolio

The Web to Print Digital storefront seems to be very similar to the Red tie digital storefront. Minuteman uses a flexible eCommerce solution that offers the customer the option to set up their own design. The site is branded with the Minuteman logo and colors to personalize the user experience for the user. The user has the ability to choose from several templates customized with different fonts and color. The shopping cart feature allows the user to choose the quantity and the pickup location, in addition, to checking out and shipping options.

http://www.shop.minutemanpress.com/print-shop/ny/elmsford/designer.php?cid=17S.S2JZ.IJJ&product=glossy-business-cards&fileID=46506&source=2

The offset printing process at minuteman is a very interesting. Offset lithography operates on a simple principle: ink and water don’t mix. Image information (art and text) is printed on plates which are dampened by water and ink by rollers on the press. The oil-based ink adheres to the image area, the water to the non-image area. The inked area is then transferred to a rubber cylinder or “blanket” and then onto the paper as it passes around the blanket. The process is called “offset” since the image doesn’t go directly from the plates to the paper, but is offset or transferred to another surface as an intermediary.

What’s involved in setting up an offset printing run?

To start a press run, the imaged plates are clamped onto the plate cylinders and the ink settings are adjusted for the density of ink needed for the particular run. The press operator then runs a batch of initial sheets through the press at low speed and carefully checks registration (alignment) of the colors and the ink/water balance to ensure full and steady ink flow for accurate color reproduction. The operator can adjust the plate positions and ink density while the press is running at low speed. This set up process is called a “make ready,” where highly-skilled operators prepare the press for perfect offset printing.

My Internship started at Minuteman Press started in January 2017. It has been nothing but interesting over the last several months. I have learned a lot about the digital process and the working with customers.

I’ve been working on that family tree for that one customer, this time she made more changes to it and did not want it the one way we had done it so it could be read easily and it looked aesthetically pleasing. Is Customer is always right? Well as I learned here that even though it may look tacky, boring or over the top  terrible that what the customer says goes because as designers we know what looks well and what doesn’t. People are not going to pay a few extra bucks for their business card to look attractive and get your attention, most just want a 4/4 UV coated business card which is the quickest and cheapest you can get a business card. If you’re a business you want to be set aside from everyone else, a few more dollars spent on business cards may seem silly but you never know when that one person see that interesting business card and take that double take and you hooked them.

James Levin, Talent Acquisition Specialist, and Career Coach hosted and conducted and workshop forlast week’s internship class. It was very insightful. James gave us practical advice to me and fellow classmates on ways to approach our job search in our respective fields after college. He explained career sequencing – the process of getting a job and how we brand and present ourselves for the right opportunity.

When James mentioned the importance of branding that got me thinking about my brand and how I want to tailor that to the position that I’m seeking for each individual job I’m applying to. In addition, an important phase in the job search process that I got from his presentation was research phase, and how essential a role it plays in allowing me to stand out from others during an interview. James recommended that we learn all we can about the company and the clients they serve. Learning how to speak their language of that company in an interview will not only separate me from others seeking the same position, it will leave a lasting impression.

James recommended that One of the things I should do when rebuilding my resume is to extract industry keywords from the job description to alter the language so that my resume not only get’s picked up by software but it will match what a company is looking for.