Re: Printing music parts and scores

[Jeremiah Reilly]

On Thursday, January 3, 2008, at 09:10  AM, Kieren MacMillan wrote:

> > What have you used to print your music for parts and scores?
>
> Years ago, I purchased a laser printer which would handle full-bleed, 11x17, heavy stock...

This is a great suggestion. I cannot avail myself now, but I can see how hi-res large format printer would solve most of my short run printing problems down the road.

> For bigger jobs, I simply package the PDF along with an instruction page, and email it to a "printer" (e.g., Kinko's). ...   ...I'm sure your "local" (i.e., nearest) Kinko's or equivalent (Mr Speedy? PrintHouse? etc.) would be happy to courier the job to you (or whomever) upon completion.

I live in Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, 8,000 residents. And this is one of the 5 largest cities in Vermont. Kinkos? Are you kidding? *Almost* everything in Vermont is *homegrown.* ;-)

> "Fast-food" print shops (like Kinko's) will definitely be easier to find, quicker, and cheaper. But the output will never match a *real* (offset/litho) print run. If you're *serious* about the job, contact a *real* print house, get a plate made from the camera-ready PDF, and then have a large (e.g., 1000+ copies) run done -- it will be pricier (at least twice the Kinko's option), but will look *much* better.

Yes, *real* printing would produce the finest manuscript, but at the highest price.

Once again, your comments have helped me clarify my problem. I know realize that I have three problems
(1) hi-res output. I can do 1200 dpi at home but only on 8.5x11. I can enlarge my output.
(2) Reproduction: The local copy center (Capital Copy for the Capital of Vermont) can do the enlargement.

Which leaves, Problem #3:

(3) PAPER? What do you do for paper? Specifically: do you print onto heavy 9x12 (9.5x12; 10X13) paper for orchestral parts? (Or, 18X12 inch paper for two page folded orchestral parts?) Photocopy paper and 8.5x11 sizes doesn't cut it. Maybe big city Kinko's stock speciality paper, but I am going to have to order paper cut to my specifications. What about full size conductor's scores? Do you print onto 11x17 heavy weight paper? Do you spiral bind the score?

I have a big project which requires 6 copies of the score and a complete set of orchestral parts (49 parts). This is my biggest project to date and I am finding that the *quality* is in the details (which is why I am engraving in Lilypond!). So any help with details is much appreciated!

cheers,

Jeremiah