Simple question, but baffles me....

Yeah I should probably get to work. I wasnt sure who your response was directed at. I havent run into any printers that were condescending to me. And I havent worked in a print house either.... Most of the people I have worked with have been more than helpful. Problem is for me I got this extra task a while ago to take over the graphic design at work and had a lot of reading and leg work to do to catch up. I didnt have the oppurtunity to take some classes on print work or graphics design. But I really enjoy doing it as long as the customer isn't a pain in the arse. But I don't want to be ignorant either. I would like to be educated enough on the subject to know what I am talking about. Utopian seems to be the one on this forum that knows the most about print work and that has proven helpful.

I agree, Utopian is damn good. I wasn't aiming the article at him, or anyone, really. I just wanted to express my opinion about it, I suppose.

Unfortunately, I've spread my talents a little thin at times. I've been a web graphic designer, a digital studio photographer, a lenticular Flip/3D artist, a film photographer, a layout production person for a catalog and a newspaper, and a billboard & print designer. I think it would be safe to say I'm better than average at all of it, but by no means am I calling myself an expert.

I admire your desire to educate yourself. But, be aware that there are creeps in this industry. I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later.

cheers!

I am an audio engineer (graphics is more recent) and have run across a fair amount of creeps!
One guy recently seemed really cool. Came from NY (or so he said) we worked out a deal with him so he would get some discount studio time. To make a long story short, one of his band mates called and was asking if we'd seen him. He split and took his bands gear with him! And the music shop he worked at pressed charges because he took a few vintage guitars with him.
Laters.

The trick is to realise that in this business, NOBODY is ever caught up, or knows it all. If you like what you do, and are sufficiently motivated, learning as much as you can, whenever you have the opportunity, through whichever medium, by whatever means,..it shouldn't feel like a chore, and can only be beneficial.

Unless, of course, you've bitten off more than you can comfortably chew on with your present level of knowledge. I don't know anyone who hasn't had to do some fancy scrambling in order to manifest something they claimed they could do. Heh..I do it all the time...but I am confident in the knowledge that I have a better basic understanding of more concepts than the clients I make the promises to, and I know how to go about finding out what I need to know.

Learning how to efficiently mine info, then weed out the chaff, is a king among skills.

I am a king skilled guy among skilled blings! I know less than I pretend to, and more than I think I do! And all of us, whilest we may not be caught up, still apparently have too much time on our hands!!!!