Local printing

[DanniSmithArt]

Good morning everyone! I'm looking into the benefits of getting things printed at a local (Brighton) shop. Does anyone have any experience or advice please? I'm also looking at different kinds of paper for prints at home. Does anyone use Archival paper, and any advice on brands etc?
Just getting back to this after having my babies (now 3.5, so that year of maternity I planned was a little optimistic!), so hopefully as they're now at nursery and soon school (eek!) I can come along to some meet ups and join in more.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Danni.

[LenaGoodisonArt]

Hi Danielle,

Nice to see you here;) I am quite new as well to printing. I am using Stampa in Brighton. Opposite The Dome. I think they are brilliant in there. Very friendly and accessible. If they do a mistake, they are very quick to rectify and if you have a deadline, they make sure to deliver in time. I am printing both my Giclee and cards with them. I was experimenting a lot with different papers in the beginning...it did cost me a bit....but you can order a sample pack from this place - https://www.on-linepaper.co.uk - I am sure you can find cheaper on Amazon as well, but this company has given me good customer service so am sticking with them.
I am using Hannemuhle white 305gms to print at home and Stampa using the same for their Giclee....so in that way, the papers match if I get a mixed order....I usually print all my A3 at Stampa and all A4 with loads of colour, as it eats up so much in my printer and works out quite economic to do it that way. It all depends of course what you will charge for your prints.

I hope this was a little bit of help! I know I struggled in the beginning and it costed me quite a lot of money to test print and learning the printer....but now I have kind of found a happy medium of printing at home and using Stampa.

Cheers, Lena

[ManicMinotaur]

Hi,

I'm not sure about the printers in Brighton as I do a lot of printing myself.

I have also been using On-line Paper for nigh on 3 years now. Personally I am a fan of the Somerset enhanced papers. I haven't seen cheaper elsewhere.

If I want something really fancy done I use Harwood King in Newhaven. They specialise in screenprints and high quality Giclee http://www.harwoodking.eu/find-us

Scott

[LenaGoodisonArt]

Oh that is interesting Scott, just had a read about that paper....might try it for certain projects!

Thanks;)

[DanniSmithArt]

Thank you both so much for replying! Really helpful advice. I've not heard of either of those printers. I'll definitely have a look at them both, and the paper recommendation too. There's so much choice it's hard to know where to start! Thanks again, so much. 🙂 xx

[LenaGoodisonArt]

No worries Danielle, and good luck! xx

[DanniSmithArt]

Thanks Lena! I'll let you know how I get on. 🙂 xx

[LynnWatt]

This is a good thread! I was going to ask the same thing about Brighton printers myself. I always see people stocking beautifully printed cards and wrapping paper but can never find somewhere that doesn't cost the earth or has ridiculous sized printruns. Also my husband is looking to print his artwork and wants me to find out, so thank you Lena and Scott for the inadvertent advice ; ) ... Lynn

[Former_Member]

I second Online Paper and the Somerset Range. I also use Brighton based One Digital, for various bits and pieces too, such as large runs of postcards, bespoke stationary etc 🙂

[ManicMinotaur]

For greeting cards I use London based The Imaging Centre.

http://www.theimagingcentre.co.uk/

They can print short runs with multiple designs. Minimum £40 order and minimum 4 or 5 cards per design.

I've been using them for nearly 3 years now. The cards are excellent quality.

I found it hard to find somewhere to do short runs of 5 x 7" cards. A lot of places do A6 & A5 but not 5 x 7.

I buy my envelopes and cello wraps from eBay.

Finding a wrapping paper producer that does low runs bewilders most people I speak to. I stopped bothering to search a couple of years ago.

[Former_Member]

Hello
Kind of on the same theme...I am looking for quality bank cotton / linen T-Towels and tote bags. I have found some - but they aren't that great quality - they are (especially the tote bags) a bit thin. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to buy them - I don't need to do huge runs.

THanks
Pip

[zoepower]

Really helpful thread - thanks everyone. I've recently bought a pigment based Epson printer so am looking for good quality matte papers so I can offer prints as well as digital downloads. I've used on-linepaper.co.uk before and have been really happy with them. Looks like I need to place another order!

Does anyone print their own greeting cards or postcards? I've been contemplating this as I worry about ordering in bulk and then being left with a stack of cards that don't sell.... Will definitely give theimagingcentre.co.uk a go though - £40 min order sounds very reasonable.

Thanks again x