Printing UGC covers at Staples

[Cloisonne]

After finding out that printing SNES covers drains out black ink cartridges like crazy, I've decided it would be easier to get them done at Staples. I've printed DS covers there before, the guy didn't question the copyrighted images.

How should I tell them to print it to make sure they all come out the correct size? I know there's a certain way to print them on Photoshop, I just don't want them coming out too big or too small.

[Maben]

Oh my God, my (annoying) experience yesterday should help you out.

I print my covers at Staples, yesterday was first time printing UGC ones (8.5x14).  Tell them you want the 8.5x14, unfortunately at least my location only has the basic quality of paper (20lb?).  When you bring your images on a flash drive, be sure they are all saved in .pdf format.

I brought my images in .jpg format, and she had to convert them to .pdf.  After asking 3 times if that would resize them (and her confirming that it would not), I got them printed out.  Got home and found them WAY too big for UGC covers.  Went back and they reprinted them using my saved PDFs.  It will save you a lot of time and hassle to bring PDFs and tell them to just print on 8.5x14, keep the original sizes.

[Moviefan2k4]

What about uncompressed TIFF files? Has anyone encountered sizing problems when printing them?

[wiggy]

That would probably freak the shit outta their crummy setup.  I can just see the file taking more than 5 seconds to open and them professing that they simply cannot open that file type.

[Maben]

Yeah, I should also mention that the JPG conversion took forever, and even when I supplied my own PDFs their computer was slow as shit.  Like literally I thought it should be "open files, print one of each".  It took about 15-20 minutes to print 11 images...

[Maben]

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (Fox screams as he dies escaping Venom)

I went again back to Staples today to print more covers.  I brought them all in PDF format.  The associate I dealt with the first time (who seems to be the head of copy & print), is the one that messed up all my sizes and the one I saw today.  Some other associate was the one that fixed her mistake when I went back after my first visit.

So I go in today and am fully prepared, I get 6 covers printed.  They are all way to big (basically look as if they have been set to "fit to page" or something, they cover the entire 8.5x14).  I brought a screen capture of my Print Preview screen at home to show her what they should look like but she insists that she is not resizing them.  She then prints a small version on a 8.5x11 for no reason and I tell her I don't want that obviously.  I tell her I want the pictures EXACTLY at the size I made them, down the pixel.  She continues to insist that she is simply printing them as they are, despite the fact that I know another employee printed them perfectly for me on the same computer and printer a few days ago.

SOOOO FRUSTRATING!

[AppleQueso]

This is why I just use kinko's self-service computer kiosk thingies.

[Maben]

This is why I just use kinko's self-service computer kiosk thingies.

So apparently there is one about 5 minutes from me...going to try there later.  I have to assume it will be better as long as the price is about the same (I think Staples is $.69 for a color print 8.5x14")

[AppleQueso]

No, it's definitely more expensive to use the self-service.

Their employees might be a little more competent printing your stuff though, and I'm pretty sure the price is pretty close to that if you have them do it.

[Maben]

So I went to the FedEx Office (Kinko's) today.  I will be going there from now on over Staples to print my covers.

* I explained my problem with Staples to the employee and he understood and seemed to want to work with me.
* Instead of hiding in their little print center, he turned his monitor and I could see exactly what was going on and confirm how I wanted them printed.
* Prints came out perfect, first time.  I also had 3 different choices of weight for paper (20, 24, and 32lb I think) unlike Staples that only had 1.  I think they were all the same price of $0.69
* I got charged for 8.5x11" prints instead of 8.5x14".  Not sure if this was an oversight or if the guy was just being nice to me.
* He even asked me casually if I was "selling games" and I told him that they were just for personal use.  He clearly had no issues with any possible copyright problems (he asked me after they were already printed).

Good experience overall, recommend them in the future.

[wiggy]

Out of curiosity, what software did he print from?

[ShaggyB]

So I went to the FedEx Office (Kinko's) today.  I will be going there from now on over Staples to print my covers.

* I explained my problem with Staples to the employee and he understood and seemed to want to work with me.
* Instead of hiding in their little print center, he turned his monitor and I could see exactly what was going on and confirm how I wanted them printed.
* Prints came out perfect, first time.  I also had 3 different choices of weight for paper (20, 24, and 32lb I think) unlike Staples that only had 1.  I think they were all the same price of $0.69
* I got charged for 8.5x11" prints instead of 8.5x14".  Not sure if this was an oversight or if the guy was just being nice to me.
* He even asked me casually if I was "selling games" and I told him that they were just for personal use.  He clearly had no issues with any possible copyright problems (he asked me after they were already printed).

Good experience overall, recommend them in the future.

lucky ive yet to get kinkos to do it for me... they always say no.

what about self service. The PDF thing, how do i set it up and does kinkos allow those to be printed on 8.5x14 legal paper?

[AppleQueso]

what about self service. The PDF thing, how do i set it up and does kinkos allow those to be printed on 8.5x14 legal paper?

Self service is just a PC set up, you print them the same way you would at home. Yes you can print on legal paper, though sometimes you'll have to actually load legal paper into the printer. It's more expensive because, aside form the prints costing more (99 cents for color prints where I go), you're charged for how long you use the computer.

[Moviefan2k4]

So I went to the FedEx Office (Kinko's) today.  I will be going there from now on over Staples to print my covers.

* I explained my problem with Staples to the employee and he understood and seemed to want to work with me.
* Instead of hiding in their little print center, he turned his monitor and I could see exactly what was going on and confirm how I wanted them printed.
* Prints came out perfect, first time.  I also had 3 different choices of weight for paper (20, 24, and 32lb I think) unlike Staples that only had 1.  I think they were all the same price of $0.69
* I got charged for 8.5x11" prints instead of 8.5x14".  Not sure if this was an oversight or if the guy was just being nice to me.
* He even asked me casually if I was "selling games" and I told him that they were just for personal use.  He clearly had no issues with any possible copyright problems (he asked me after they were already printed).

Good experience overall, recommend them in the future.

Sounds like you were blessed with a very cooperative person. I've had so much trouble with various places over the years (including FedEx), until one of the managers at a local store had me sign a copyright waiver. Now, I can go into that store at any point, and get my stuff printed without much of a hassle at all.

[Maben]

Out of curiosity, what software did he print from?

Don't recall exactly, though I remember looking.  It was definitely an Adobe program, but not Photoshop.  Could have been Acrobat Pro perhaps?

Edit: Oh and while I was out, I managed to pick up a copy of Resident Evil 2 for the GC from Gamestop for only $19.99.  And amazingly it was complete with manual and original box/art, seemingly near mint condition.  I was nothing short of shocked, I already had AppleQueso's cover on my flash drive to print out at the Kinko's lol.  This is going for upwards of $40 on Ebay and Amazon, just thought people might be interested to know.  The guy also said that now that they are no longer accepting Gamecube stuff that the prices may come down (maybe I can get a steal on Pikmin 2 in the future!)