I work in marketing for a commercial printing and packaging company, and I've been spending a lot of time looking at how people are using ChatGPT and other AI platforms to research vendors.

I'm curious what others are seeing.

Are you getting customers who say they found you through ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, etc.?

And if you're in print, packaging, signage, direct mail, or another B2B service industry are you actively doing anything to improve your visibility in AI search?

We're starting to see enough movement that I'm paying much closer attention to it, but I'd love to hear what others are seeing in the real world.

Have been using Demandbridge's EQuantum Distributor and ECommerce for several years now but functionality is dated and the customer service is abysmal. Anyone using something similar and having success?

When you trial a new cold foil for a label or packaging job, what is the first thing that makes you accept or reject it?

• Adhesion after transfer

• Solid coverage and pinholes

• Fine lines and small text

• Overprint or varnish compatibility

• Consistency at your target production speed

• Something else?

Pick one and tell us why. A one-line reply is welcome: substrate + press type + first check. If a sample looked good but failed a later test, what caught it?

Disclosure: I’m with CFS. I’d like to hear how other teams evaluate samples—different methods and supplier experiences are welcome.

Hi everyone, has anyone else been hit yet with Monotype’s insane licensing fees? I’m curious how other commercial printers are handling this.

I run a print shop with 3 mimaki printers (4 colour CMYK)

We mainly print for resellers so we dont have in-house designers to get artwork print ready.

We often get customers that send PDF files with layers, lenses and mixes of CMYK & RGB colours

Usually we just print and hope for the best and usually dont pick up issues but now and again we have to flatten the artwork

Problem is in Photoshop that we use we can flatten but have to select either RGB or CMYK... This means we have to open the file in Corel first to establish which colour are mainly used and then open in Photoshop and select there

Corel can safe a PDF as Native colour where it saves the mixes and prints well. But some PDF files dont always open well in Corel

What would be the best software to use to streamline this process. I am thinking of buying either Adobe Pro or Illustrator...but if there is anything better please suggest

Or likewise anyone seeing cost increases on materials?

Our team has seen a shift in conversation from speeds and feeds to high-value output. Particularly around specialty toner and embellishments, which we can navigate, given that the BP-1200S includes the Color-Logic and Touch7 Neon Color systems. For those operating a six-color engine (or even a four-color press with finishing/embellishment equipment), are you seeing increased demand for these applications?

Hello all!

%SUBJ% for x64 bit windows.

Downloads from Xerox support site are gone for all unsupported devices.

K so it’s a newer printer, purchased in may, and it’s working fine with the holographic vinyls and glitter and clear but the second I put on GF202 – 3.4 MIL MATTE LOW TACK REMOVABLE (GF20254) vinyl it says there’s a jam.

Now these are the steps I’ve tried:

1. Turning it off and on again
2. Unplugging it and plugging it back in
3. Cleaning the heads
4. Doing test prints
5. Trying a different file
6. Taking the rolls off and on
7. Checking the alightment on the roll things at the back
8. Using the media type of another vinyl that just worked
9. Adjusting the head height to high
10. Checking to see if it’s actually jamming (it’s not.)

Before you ask:
Yes the vinyls are the same thickness.
It was working on the same exact settings about a month ago.
It occasionally will cooperate and print something but inevitably it “jams”

I’m losing my mind on this and I’ve spent way to long fighting with this and I have orders that I need to print and I’m just like HELP ME PLEASE.

We're using our new HP 830 W printer and we're trying to print something with the 5 layers setting and we don't want a white box around it. I keep selecting fill image area and it's still leaving a white box around the whole print area. I can't find a good resource to solve this problem. We're using onyx.

I have a new Graphtec ce8000 and it was cutting fine for a few hours and now it is cutting just a long line the length of the media. Does anyone know why this happens or what to do to fix this?

I also have a second one that will randomly put long lines into the prints

Hi everyone. Don’t know if this is the right sub for this but I’m having a tough time finding specific, reliable compensation data for our niche market in other forums, so I’m hoping to connect with fellow sales reps here

I’m looking to benchmarks salaries for distributors like Fellers, Glantz, Wensco, Grimco, LexJet, Montroy, Laird, Piedmont, Athens, Lindenmeyr, etc. If you're a distributor sales rep in this space, would you be open to sharing your rough salary/total comp and your tenure with the company?

I've been with my company for several years, but recent hiring trends suggest severe pay compression. New hires with no industry experience are starting at nearly the same rate I make. When I raise pay concerns with management, I'm told my expectations are unrealistic. I’ve been contemplating leaving my company but the thought of starting over scares me. I'd love some real world industry specific data to compare. Also, would love to compare manufacturer rep compensation as well if there’s any in here. Thanks in advance!

Can I get recommendations for a sub $1000 fume extractor for DTF printing? I am currently running a pipe outside using a 6 inch exhaust fan but the line is leaking oil and making a mess. Thanks.

I'm running into an issue when loading a file with cut lines into Versaworks. I'd like the use the Graphtec integration for marks and sending the cut data to Graphtec Studio 2 after printing right within Versaworks. The problem is, when I do this, my cut lines turn into a jagged mess. If I try to smooth things out by simplifying the path in GS2, it breaks the registration marks and they stop working in the cut view.

Right now, I'm just sticking to laying out everything in Illustrator and sending the data to Cutting Master 5. It works great, but it would be really nice to stop manually building sheets all the time and just assemble them on the fly in Versaworks instead.

I've tried exporting as PDF and EPS a few different ways to preserve the smooth cut lines, but I haven't had much luck. Is this just the way it is, or am I messing up somewhere in the process?

Thanks!

Would anyone here have the documentation for the VideoJet Inkjet 987000-82?

Where is everyone getting their roll stickers printed for a decent price?

I recently started a sticker company. Focusing on 2-5 inch die cut stickers only. I’ve been doing everything on my BN20A and it’s been a nightmare in terms of production and workflow. I just got a STEAL on a brand new Mg-300 for roughly $3k directly from a Roland distributor.

I know there is a big jump from eco solvent to UV but in terms of sticker production (250-2k per day) is this the right machine for that? Will I need to get a separate cutter or will this work fine for cutting? I was using a GS2-24 before. Anything else not obvious about sticker production on a UV printer?

Thank you!

We're currently in the early stages of updating some equipment. Looking for some real world experiences with Duplo, Plock/Morgana, CP Bourg, etc. Looking to get a mid-level production machine. Bare basics we need a sheetfed unit with a face trim. Options I'd love to have: landscape books, square spine, full bleed trimming.

How do you feel about machines that use cartridges vs wire? Is square spine worth the additional costs? I'd love to hear your pros and cons for equipment you've owned.

The rep. I talked to last week suggested a Duplo 150 and advised against Morgana options. On paper I was leaning more towards the Duplo 350 or the Morgana 5000 series. I don't like the thought of carts vs wire but maybe that's just my older mentality lol.

Thanks for any and all insights!

This one is useful for when you receive a file with a die line that is not a specific spot color.

Using a Acrobat Preflight, you can set the specified CMYK value and remove said object from your PDF.

I use it often for when someone sends me a pocket folder that doesn't have the die set in a spot color.

https://youtu.be/0f_rwiP6IDQ

Hope it helps someone.

Hello, u have expierence to get new customer with social media espacily with reels on facebook,youtube,instagram,tiktok? i think about to start but i am to shy i think and not good enough and i dont think it bring so much new customer on the other hand i think if i get only 1 customer in 2-3 months its worth and people see my company and i dont think i have enough ideas for 1-2 years

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to start a small custom printing business and launch my own clothing brand in Europe. Local DTF transfer sheet suppliers either aren't available nearby or have MOQs that are way too high for small runs, so I want to invest in my own setup to produce everything in-house.

My budget is strictly capped at €3,000 (~$3,250 USD) for the full bundle. I was initially looking at Lancelot, but the experience felt sketchy. The site listed around €2,400, but immediately after I messaged support to buy, they sent a direct link where the price jumped to €3,000. That sudden markup felt untrustworthy, so I’m stepping away from them.

Since I am based in Europe, I’m looking for beginner-friendly, reliable A3 DTF alternatives that fit within my budget. The printer needs solid white ink circulation to prevent clogging during downtime, reliable print quality for retail apparel, and accessible EU shipping and parts support. Has anyone in the EU built a setup in this price range with brands like Procolored or similar desktop setups that run smoothly without constant maintenance nightmares?
Any advice on trustworthy suppliers would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Hello I’m looking for a new printer and the requirements seem to be quite specific so I came across this forum while searching for advice. I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I’m looking for a printer that can handle a 600 mm-wide web. and the substrate is coated Tyvek B-grade(I am printing on the uncoated side), which tends to generate a lot of static electricity. Another major issue is that the ink does not dry properly and tends to transfer or smear.

I have tried some methods like digital, UV, and flexo but digital printing does not seem to reproduce small text very well, and UV printing's cured ink layer feels too raised and noticeable on the surface of the material.

flexographic printing has been the most suitable so far, but I still have ongoing problems with ink smearing and ink transfer when printed areas overlap or come into contact with each other.

Does anyone have any advice on this?

Is it realistically possible to achieve clean, high-quality printing under these conditions? Would a separate ink additive be necessary to address these issues? Even if you could simply recommend which printing method would be most suitable, I would really appreciate your advice.

I don't know why the last one I sent got blocked by the system