The TwinPro Update Archive

We’re Hiring: We are looking for a powerhouse Salesperson. We’re open to commission-only or a base/draw structure. With no caps on commission and the equipment & team in place to support massive growth, the ceiling here is nonexistent. If you know a closer, send them my way.

Let’s Go Blue Jays
As promised last month we’ve got tickets to give away! But to win a pair you need to answer a three questions – and the questions are tricky!

The first three replies to this email with all three questions correct will win a pair of tickets to one of the games listed below. Along with your answer please give me your first and second picks for the games – that should ensure we don’t have any issues giving them out. Tickets are electronic and will be emailed to you. Here are the games available:

Wednesday, May 13 @ 7:07pm
Tuesday, May 26 @ 7:07pm
Wednesday, May 27 @ 1:07pm
Monday, August 10 @ 7:07pm
Wednesday, August 26 @ 7:07pm
Monday, September 14 @ 7:07pm
Wednesday, September 16 @ 03:07pm

Question 1: Which Blue Jay finished a season playing more games than there are in a season?
Question 2: Who is older – the Blue Jays or me (Chris)?
Questions 3: Name two teams in the Top 10 all time most hot dogs eaten during a single Major League Baseball game.

I know you can Google these but it’d be a whole lot cooler if you actually know the answers. Bonus point if you know who I am referencing in the previous sentence.

Staffing Update
We’ve hired a student from TMU as a Summer Intern. Woohoo.

TwinPro World HQ Updates
After more than a year of big and small moves we’re now settling in to the new layout. We’re going to live with it for a while before making any more adjustments. Things are definitely working as intended – phew! 

Are you tired? Because I’m tired. It’s been a strange few months, and I’m feeling a fatigue I can’t quite put my finger on.

Thankfully, the return of Daylight Savings (can we please just make this permanent?) and the recent burst of sunshine seems to be working some magic. To make the most of the longer days, I’m committing to a patio lunch at least once a week through the summer.

Want to join me—or join someone else on Team TwinPro? Reply to this email and let’s get a date on the calendar. Let’s get our social lives, and our bellies, filled up!

The Sporting Void (Leafs vs. Jays)
My beloved Maple Leafs seem to have given up. Again. (A seven-game skid in March? Really?)

Fortunately, the Toronto Blue Jays are ready to fill that void. The Home Opener is Friday, March 27, and the energy is high—it’s the 50th Anniversary season, and the boys are coming back as American League Champions. We’re season ticket holders, and while our team gets first dibs, we have a stack of unallocated tickets.

I’m currently drawing up a ticket giveaway contest for our partners. Stay tuned for the April Update for details on how to snag a a pair of tickets at the Rogers Centre on us.

TwinPro World HQ is Leveling Up
We spent the weekend playing a high-stakes game of Tetris at the warehouse. All the racks are now in their final positions, and they are fully stocked. This has opened up an incredible amount of floor space and completely changed the flow of the building.

To celebrate the new layout, we’re also opening up some previously covered over skylights throughout the facility. Natural light is a game-changer for morale, and we want this place to feel as bright as the work we’re putting out.

Growth & Opportunities
Two big pieces of news on the business front:
We’re Hiring: We are looking for a powerhouse Salesperson. We’re open to commission-only or a base/draw structure. With no caps on commission and the equipment/team in place to support massive growth, the ceiling here is nonexistent. If you know a closer, send them my way.

Acquisition News: We are in the early stages of acquiring another printing company. They’ll be moving into the TwinPro World HQ facility, bringing new capabilities and a fantastic roster of new clients.

Kon’nichiwa! (I figure that since I’ve been in Japan I might as well say something in Japanese!)

For the last two weeks I’ve been in Japan chasing my pro snowboarding dreams, and searching for the legendary Japow. And, as my latest OOO mentions, living 14 hours in the future. It was strangely not as different as I hoped it would be but perhaps 14 hours isn’t far enough into the future to have a meaningful impact? The trip was incredible in every sense of the word. Coming back to real life is going to hit hard. Here’s a photo of my atop Mount Asahi (Asahi-dake). It’s an active volcano and if you look closely at the image you can see two fumaroles spewing steam and sulphur-stinky gas just above my head.

Nikky returned from her adventures in Thailand looking refreshed and full of life. Take a moment and ask her about her travels – she had an incredible experience. To call it life-changing may seem like hyperbole but I think that’s the case.

The pace of change around the building has slowed a little as we settle into our new systems and layout. Things are working as we hoped across the board. And spurring new ideas.

TwinPro World HQ Happenings
For the first time in many months I have very little to report since our last TwinPro Update:
• Floor plan for the eastern warehouse space finalized. We’ll start this project in the next couple of months.
• Lighting throughout TwinPro offices replaced/upgraded to high-efficiency LEDs.

Plate Setter
The last two updates discussed our Epson proofer, and the Xerox machines in our prepress department. The main piece of equipment that actually lives up to the name “pre press” is our platesetter. This is the device that takes the digital file and converts it to an analog output on a metal plate using lasers. The plates are then mounted on the press and that’s how things get printed. We make a plate for each colour – usually just four for CMYK, but it PMS colours are needed there is a separate plate for each one.

I would post a video of the machine in action but there’s nothing to see at the magic happens inside. From the outside it just looks like a giant metal box. Boring but vital.

The plates are metal and coated with silver. Once we’ve printed a job we clean them up and collect them. Every month a silver reclamation company comes by and buys them from us. They then extract the silver and recycle the metal.

I’m not a resolution kinda guy, but I am a planner, and I use the holiday break to sketch out the year ahead. This year, my big theme is getting outside my comfort zone. To that end, I’ve planned a grand adventure for February that involves snowboarding in Japan.

As someone who learned to snowboard a scant four years ago, well into my 40s, this qualifies as either personal growth or a questionable life choice. I’ll be travelling with a good friend and a reputable tour company, so I’ve maintained a small illusion of control. Still, it’s a powder-chasing, mountain-focused trip into a world of snow I’ve never experienced. Yikes!

In the same spirit, Nikky is currently on a month-long sabbatical in Thailand. She’s soaking up night markets and bars in Bangkok, hiking around Chiang Mai, hunting for elephants and waterfalls, immersing herself in the culture, seeing what she’s made of, and eating all the noodles she can reasonably stomach. Possibly more.

From a planning standpoint, Vittoria is deep in the world of weddings. She’s getting married on August 29, followed by a honeymoon in Japan. Unlike me, she will not be snowboarding. A wise choice.

On the business side, we’re encouraging everyone here at TwinPro World HQ to get a little uncomfortable too. We’re examining what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, why. From there, we’re working backward to decide where to focus our energy and how to drive growth this year.

As I’ve mentioned in many editions of The TwinPro Update over the past year, we’ve been making steady changes around the building. Adding equipment, reorganizing, moving things, and generally trying to be smarter about how we operate. That master plan is starting to show real results. With our sights set on our best year ever, the stoke is high. And yes, I stole that line directly from every snowboarding email and social post I’ve seen lately. Apparently, I am very on brand now.TwinPro World HQ Happenings
It’s exciting to see things taking shape around the building. Since our last update here’s where we’re at:

• All of the MarketingMaterial.ca inventory moved to new location and new racks.
• Various mobile equipment that was scattered around the building moved to a single location
• Single-depth racking all disassembled and ready to be setup as new MarketingMaterial.ca overflow area.
• Western warehouse space racking setup and filled. This reorganization results in 81 storage slots with easier access than before.

Epson Proofer
Last month I shared some details of the hardware in our prepress department. In addition to the Xerox machines we’ve got an Epson SureColor P9000. It’s what we use to produce posters – if it’s a really short run – but mostly it’s for making proofs. Full size, and colour-accurate. These are for our review, client review, and reference on press. Over the years as the fidelity and accuracy of proofing improved the need for clients doing press approvals has been removed in most cases. The proof is now truly what the final print will look like. The next time we show you a printed proof it will likely be from this device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWNSHcIrWXc

Thanks for an incredible year and cheers to the new year!

As the calendar pages thin out and this year starts packing its bags, we want to pause, look around, and say a very sincere thank you.

Whether you’re a client, supplier, collaborator, cheerleader, or all of the above, 2025 was a great year for TwinPro because of you. Your trust, your ideas, your feedback, and your belief in what we do continue to shape our work and push us to be better. We don’t take that lightly. Not for a second.

We’re heading into the holidays with full hearts, slightly overstuffed inboxes, and a deep appreciation for the relationships we’ve built this year. We hope you’re able to unplug, recharge, and enjoy a break that includes good food, good company, and at least one moment where time slows down just enough to notice it. (That last point is one of my goals and resolutions for 2026 – Chris)

As we look toward 2026, we’re genuinely excited about what’s ahead. New ideas are already scribbled down. Improvements are in motion. And there’s a strong sense that the best work is still in front of us. We’re committed to continuing to show up with clarity, creativity, and care, and to finding smarter, more efficient ways to support the people we work with.

Which brings us to a simple question. Are there things we aren’t currently doing for you that would make your life easier? A service you wish existed. A process that could be smoother. A small tweak that would save time, reduce friction, or spark better results. We’d love to hear it. Sometimes the best ideas come straight from the people in the arena with us.

We’re also happy to share that The TwinPro Update for 2026 is already shaping up to be even better than it was in 2025. More useful insights. More humour that doesn’t need explaining. More value you can actually put to work. We’re looking forward to rolling it out and continuing the conversation in the year ahead.

Thank you again for being part of our world this year. Enjoy the holidays, take good care, and we’ll see you refreshed and ready in 2026.

Warm regards,

The TwinPro Team

If you cast your mind back to the March 2025 TwinPro Update I detailed the tale of a cookbook project that took more than three years. Well just this month we started a new cookbook project. But this one is should be finished before Christmas. It’s a really cool book, put together by a talented young woman based on the recipes she created with whatever she happened to have in the kitchen. It’s called “The Something From Nothing Cookbook” and it’s terrific.

Some words from the author:
This isn’t a chef’s bible, and it’s not full of complicated techniques or expensive ingredients. It’s a collection of recipes I’ve cooked with or for friends and loved ones—meals that prove you can pull something comforting, flavorful, and even a little impressive out of whatever you’ve got in your pantry, fridge, or freezer.

Every recipe here is flexible: swap, skip, or stretch the ingredients, and it will still work (I swear). The goal isn’t perfection— it’s simplicity. Hopefully, these dishes help you live to eat a little more than just eat to live. My first “secret”? Almost everything fresh —ginger, garlic, onions, fresh herbs—can be diced, chopped, or poured into a container and frozen. Cooking gets so much easier when your future self already did the prep. 

When friends ask me, “Wow, how did you make that?” my answer is always the same: I promise anyone can. If you’re already a great chef, this might not be your book. But if you’ve ever stared into your cupboards wondering what on earth you could make tonight, then you’re in the right place. I just hope this inspires you to cook a little something for or with your friends and loved ones too.

Here are some teaser images I created:

Mockups & Renders
The power of PhotoShop is incredible. The images above are fake. I took the print-PDF, extracted the pages I wanted as JPGs, and then applied them to the book images. Quick and easy and ready weeks before the finished books. Mockups like this also gave the client a way to see it “for real” versus just imagining it. And it’s not just for books; we create renders like this of all sorts of packaging. Let us know if you’ve got something needing a render – we’re ready.

TwinPro World HQ Happenings
Thankfully the big projects around the building are all complete. Now we’re into Phase 2 of our Master Plan, which is all about reorganizing the layout of the production area. Here’s what Phase 2 entails:

• Map out a new layout for all racking.
• Move more than 100 skids of material currently on our racks to the floor, move the racks, and then put everything back on the racks.
• Count everything while it’s off the racks.
• Consolidate all of our raw materials, and finished goods, into a single cohesive warehouse space and free up room for production.
• Institute a new materials management program – from the moment an item enters our facility till it is used or shipped we’ll have a unified way to digitally track it. Currently we rely on multiple systems and manual inputs.
• Clear space for a new press.

Xerox Iridesse
In our digital production department we’ve got three different Xerox machines but the star of the show is the Iridesse. This monster is what we print the majority of our digital jobs on. It has terrific colour, prints a range of sheet sizes and thicknesses, and is quite speedy. As well it can print some special “colours” – gold, silver, clear and fluorescent pink! It also has some web-connected abilities that we are just starting to explore which will hopefully allow us to offer some online ordering of items that can go direct from web-to-print. Things like business cards, postcards, flyers, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PO5k5SBsRw

For most of 2025, I’ve used this email to share updates about what’s happening at TwinPro, highlight important dates, and introduce the members of Team TwinPro. It’s been fun — but now that you’ve met the team, I need something new to share each month.

If there’s anything print- or graphics-related that you’d like to learn more about, just hit reply and let me know! I’ll feature your question in a future newsletter.

In the meantime, I’m going to start introducing you to the equipment we use and how it helps us work our magic and get things done.

TwinPro World HQ Happenings
It’s been a busy few months inside (and outside!) the building — but thankfully, many of these projects are wrapping up. Phew!

• Nikky & Vittoria moved into their new office
• The new warehouse racking for our web ordering business is finished
• Our prepress department has new desks and a fresh coat of paint
• The women’s change room and washrooms got an upgrade
• The pressroom has a new washroom
• The parking lot was almost completely repaved — goodbye potholes!
• New cabinets, countertops, and sinks are being installed in both kitchens next week

It’s exciting to see things coming together. The construction on the road out front is still stalled (and will be until next spring), but with the indoor work done, we’re feeling great. Come by and check it out while it still has that “new smell”!

The Road Ahead
If you’ve been following along with our updates, you’ve seen how we’re investing in both our team and our space. Along with that, I’ve been refining roles, formalizing our operational hierarchy, and getting our processes clearly documented.

All of this is part of our ongoing push to make TwinPro more effective, efficient, and —  most importantly — a fun place to work. Kaizen, a.k.a. “The TwinPro Way,” is what we’re all about.

Diecut vs iCut
The technological advances in our industry are often out of sight and hard to explain. Until recently, the only way to cut shapes into paper was by creating a physical die — time-consuming and costly, especially for small runs.

Now, digital cutters can cut, crease, and perforate without a die. Earlier this year we added a Morgana SC7000T — officially an “Automatic Tangential Creasing Digital Die-Cutter,” but around here we just call it an iCutter. (Just… don’t tell Apple.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqbr4Wr1JCM

“Questions are free, mistakes are costly.” That’s a phrase I have said 1000s of times, and it’s one that guides us. We are inquisitive, and ask lots of questions. Sometimes it might seem like we ask too many questions but it allows us to make sure everything is done right, the first time.

TwinPro World HQ Happenings
If you come to HQ you’ll be faced with lots of construction. The parking lot is being repaved, and we are getting 14 new parking spots along the street. At least that is/was the plan. It seems that there’s a disconnect between City departments, the construction company, and our landlord so now we’re stuck on hold.

In a situation more ironic than anything Alanis dreamt up, the reason that things are on hold is that a worker from the City of Toronto was sent out to take photos and measurements of the ditches on our street so they could start the process of covering them over and putting in a paved shoulder. Essentially doing just what our landlord is doing. He got here and was confused as to why the work he was supposed to be planning was already almost complete!

According to the City our project is now on hold until Spring 2026 at the earliest. That means we’re without our new parking spots and have an open construction site out front of our offices. Ugh.

Lamination vs Synthetic
Very often folks ask for jobs to be laminated to protect it. While this is mostly true it does not protect the piece against liquids. A quick spill on the surface and you can usually wipe it off without issue; but if the liquid infiltrates the sides – where the paper is exposed – that’s the beginning of the end for your piece. If you know that your piece is likely to be exposed to lots of liquids perhaps chosing a synthetic sheet is the answer. Synthetics are essentially liquid proof. You can submerge them and they come up just like new! Using them in a kitchen for instructions and spilled some pasta sauce on it? Rinse the sheet off under the tap and you’re good to go! Additionally they are essentially tear proof.

We can print synthetics digitally or conventionally on press. Get in touch if you’ve got a project that might be made better with a synthetic stock!

TwinPro Who’s Who
In her own words, meet Vittoria:

Hello world, my name is Vittoria!

I’m a Graphic Communications Management grad from Toronto Metropolitan University. Here at TwinPro, I handle graphic design and customer relations. I am also the occasional emotional support human and jester for Nikky.

One of my proudest achievements was in my final year at TMU. I received the Student AmeriStar Packaging Award for the most innovative packaging in the electronics category. This earned me a spot at PackExpo 2023 in Chicago, where I got to learn more about the industry, promote the TMU program I graduated from, and attend the award ceremony! 

Outside of work, I’m a cat parent to four (Oliver, Freddie, Theo, and Evie), an anime fan (DanDaDan is the current fave), and a competitive One Piece TCG player – I recently placed 10th out of 150 players! (TCG = Trading Card Game – Similar to Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Yugioh, and Lorcana. Essentially, you build a deck, enter into tournaments, and if you’re good, win prizes).

I like karaoke (Coppacabana is my go-to song), stand-up comedy, and travelling (mostly to Japan but occasionally I do visit other countries).

Oh – and I’m getting married next year to my high school sweetheart, a pro chef and content creator (@feedjeffrey). Yes, his food is as good as it looks.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! 

As some of you may have noticed, my recent “Out of Office” email was supposed to last one week while I soaked up sunshine, pastries, and perhaps the occasional glass of vinho verde in Lisbon. What actually happened was that my trip got extended by a week… thanks to Air Canada’s perfectly timed strike. So instead of gracefully returning home, I found myself contemplating when I’d have to start paying Portuguese taxes!

The silver lining? I’ve now sampled every pastel de nata within city limits, learned how to complain about airline rebooking policies in two languages, and even discovered that wandering aimlessly in Alfama is a valid lifestyle choice.

But now that I’m finally back at World HQ (where the coffee is somehow not better than in Lisbon), there are a few exciting updates to share:

1. Upgrades Around HQ – You’ll notice some big changes out front. We’re adding a dozen or so new parking spots to make visits smoother and less of a competitive sport.
2. Hiring Alert – We’re on the lookout for a Production Assistant to join our team full-time, right here in the office. This superstar will be the first friendly voice on the phone, open dockets, process shipments, and keep our day-to-day running as smoothly as a Lisbon tram (when it’s not on strike). If you or someone you know is ready to roll up your sleeves and get started immediately, we’d love to hear from you.

So yes, while Air Canada kept me grounded in Portugal, we’re now taking off here with fresh upgrades, new opportunities, and the same commitment to keeping things fun (with fewer airline-related delays and puns).

Thanks for your patience while I was stuck learning Portuguese phrases I’ll probably never use again. It’s good to be back.

TwinPro Who’s Who
In her own words, meet Vanessa:

I first started in the printing industry back in high school as a summer job working with my dad and swore I’d never get into the “family business”. I set my sights on a career as an architect. A visit to the Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson) Architectural program changed that after I saw architorture written on one of the buildings and graduated from the Print Management program from the same university instead. Speaking of the family business, you all know my brother-in-law Chris but what you may not know is along with my dad my uncles also had careers in this industry.

I am a member of the Beeton and District Agricultural Society volunteering for the annual fall fair. One of the oldest agricultural fall fairs in Canada, this September we are celebrating 169 years.

I am also a proud member of the Beeton Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies Auxiliary (LA). Acting as sport chair for the branch and treasurer for the LA. It’s my involvement with the legion that I fell in love with playing darts. I have hit a 180 (highest score) in competition but by no means am I a pro. Next up a 170 or “reeling in the big fish” which is the highest finish achievable. If you want to see one of the pros do it check out the phenom Luke “The Nuke” Littler hit one of his many by clicking the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mN55H8e0l0U

My happy place is being outside. Be it cycling, golfing, gardening, cutting the grass or simply walking my two Australian Shepherds Taggart and Arlo.

I love my niece and nephew to the moon and back. So here’s a rare picture of Ewan and I. Rare because I am not a fan of being in front of a camera and what 16 year old wants a picture with their aunt. Thankfully he humours me.

I’m just back from an amazing family vacation where we cruised to see the fjords and wilds of Norway & Iceland. If you get the chance to go to Iceland, do it. It’s a country unlike any other that I’ve been to with incredible natural beauty and things burbling from the depths of the earth all over the place. Just wild! But be sitting down whenever you do the conversion from Icelandic Króna to Canadian dollars – yikes!

TwinPro World HQ Happenings

• Construction is nearing completion. Like many projects we hit a few bumps and are behind our planned timeline a little but we’ll have it all done in August for sure. Nikky & Vittoria are already getting excited about moving into their new space.
• Warehousing, kit assembly, and website order pick-and-pack is a growing part of our business and as such we are doing a complete warehouse reorganization; adding new racks, implementing a better layout, and creating some more kit assembly space.

Boring Stuff
In most newsletters I talk about Neat Stuff that we’re doing. This month it’s a bit of Boring Stuff; our new folder is up and running like a dream. And an unexpected bonus is that the folded material that it produces it flatter than that off of our previous folder. This means that projects that need to be stitched run faster, and the finished products lay flatter. Wins all around!

It’s Smells Like Ink!
When folks walk into our building, or most printing companies, they often say that it smells like ink. Fun fact is that the ink is almost odourless, so it doesn’t smell like ink. The smell is Fountain Solution. Want to get really into the nerdery of printing? Come on over and I’ll show you how the process works. (And after a few weeks of working in a printing company you become nose-blind to the smell however if I go to another printer that users a different type of fountain solution I notice the smell instantly!)

TwinPro Who’s Who
In her own words, meet Nikky:

Hi! I’m Nikky!

I’ve been working at TwinPro for almost six years now, and I do… stuff?

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what my official title is—but who even cares! Titles are overrated. I like it here, and that’s what matters.

I am TwinPro’s very own office princess – ask anyone one from our team if you don’t believe me. 

I absolutely adore animals. They bring me so much joy. Scales, feathers, fur—you name it, I’ll probably love it (except bugs. Sorry, bug people. You’re brave). I share my home with two senior cats, a COVID-era dog, and one human I lovingly refer to as my husband.

I’ve always been a creative person. I love drawing and creating original characters. If you think that sounds dorky, you’re absolutely right. Growing up, I dreamed of becoming a Disney animator. But turns out, animation school is ROUGH and contract work wasn’t for me. I admire and respect my peers in the animation, gaming, and film industries. I ended up graduating from Seneca’s Illustration program instead. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of my “Out Of Office” drawings, the next time I go on vacation.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, board games, and binge-watching shows—especially animated ones. That’s right people, I’m talking about Anime. Don’t worry millennials, its cool now and i want to know my people. Got recommendations for shows, movies or games? Tell me! I’m all ears.

Fun fact: I once wore a cloak and had an interviewee roll a D20 (Editors Note: A D20 is 20 sided die) before they could enter the building. Yes, this happened at TwinPro. Yes, Chris witnessed the whole thing. No, I have no regrets. 

A wise man once told me that life shouldn’t be taken too seriously and that I should embrace who I am. So here I am: princess, artist, anime nerd, and D20-wielding chaos gremlin.

Did I pass the vibe check? Let’s hope so. 

It’s hot. Really hot. And that sucks for printing and paper. With hotter days year after year we are adding a plenum and venting so we can exhaust the heat from the press out of the building in the summer, and capture it for heating the building in the winter. It’s a big project that will completely change the vibe in our production area, and I can’t wait to see it come to life. At the same time two new HVAC units are being added to the rooftop that will help with managing the temperature and humidity in the building. Once complete we’re hoping we’ll be able to maintain a lovely 21º Celsius with perfect humidity all year round, while reducing our carbon footprint, and saving some money on our utility bills. I like Win-Win situations but this one could be a Win-Win-Win!

TwinPro World HQ Happenings

• Construction is in full swing on new offices, updates to washrooms, and a new women’s change room along with some additional storage space. Aiming to have everything complete in July.
• It’s vacation season and we’ve got lots of folks away over the next few months, but as always we’ve got coverage in place and any TwinPro Team Member will be able to assist you should the need arise.

Neat Stuff
I find it interesting how projects sometimes come in waves. We’ll go long periods without making any trophies or awards and then have two orders arrive on the same day! That’s what happened recently where we produced 40 custom trophies for award winners and then an award for a retirement celebration the same week. These trophies are made of clear acrylic and can be personalized with logos and text. Got something in mind, let us know. From one to one thousand and one we’ve got you covered!

TwinPro Who’s Who
In his own words, meet Jeff:

Like so many here at TwinPro, I am a Ryerson Grad (but from an earlier time in the earth’s history). And also like many of us here at TwinPro, I worked at McLaren Morris & Todd for the better part of 30 years, but this is where I belong.

Brantford born and raised, I came to this place called Toronto way back in 1973. I never wanted to stay yet here I am fifty years later having grown up, worked, played and married having had more than my fair share of kids. For 30 years I lived in the great suburban expanse of Newmarket where I enjoyed all the trappings of family life. Spent much of my spare time, mountain biking, cottaging, boating not to mention playing lots of baseball & golf and became a Club Swimmer.  

I have had the good fortune of going around for a second turn at life with my wife Irene and our daughter Emma who just graduated from Grade 8. Where does the time go!? I also never miss a chance to spend time with my three older boys and two beautiful granddaughters. 

Growing up:

• My heritage is Irish.
• I have 4 siblings (although I’ve lost a couple) and was the middle child. A good old fashion Irish Catholic family.
• My mother was a Pilot and a Champion Marksman.
• My dad was an accomplished Businessman and Community Leader
• I learned to fly and obtained my pilot’s license as a teenager having been encouraged to do so by my mother.
• Other careers as a kid: pin boy at a bowling alley (yet I lived to tell the tale), lifeguard, window washer, cab driver. This all set me up well for the printing business 🙂

In late May 2020 I was at the local park, socially distanced from our friends, when one of them asked why I was wearing pants. I said it was proper etiquette to wear pants when out in public but what he meant was why was I in pants instead of shorts. “There’s a rule that states that from Victoria Day to Labour Day you can only wear shorts.” This was news to me but from that day forward I have worn shorts every day from Victoria Day to Labour Day – rain or shine, cold or hot, it doesn’t matter. The rule must be followed. Do you have any silly rules like this in your life? Please reply and let us know – we’ll share some of the best, and perhaps adopt them ourselves!

TwinPro World HQ Happenings

• The digital diecutter was ordered and is just sitting in a warehouse waiting on ESA approval. That should come through next week and then it will be delivered. Woo!
• The new desks for prepress are all assembled and in use. It totally changed the look of the department. Next up is a fresh coat of paint and patching the hundreds of holes from various pins and posters that have been on the walls over the last 25 years or so. Time flies! 
• Tarrifs are not really having an impact on our business directly – we source our raw materials from Canada or overseas. Our American suppliers all seem to have non-US locations so for now it’s a non-issue. Indirectly we are seeing lots of changes in with the businesses of our clients and that impacts us with changes in work volume.

Doors Open
This weekend is Doors Open TO – for those in Toronto it’s your chance to check out the insides of some buildings that are otherwise closed to the public. When I first moved to Toronto and learned of this program it was a highlight of the year for me as I love seeing inside places, and getting a sense of their history and what life was like, and is like, for the folks working there. This weekend I am really looking forward to checking out a building in my neighbourhood, and Billy Bishop Airport.

Unlike the buildings that have their Doors Open tomorrow, our doors are always open. If you want to come over and see what we do, how we do it, check out the new equipment I’ve been touting in these emails, reply to this email and we’ll set up a time.

TwinPro Who’s Who
In his own words, meet Drew:

• I’m a graphic Designer at TwinPro Graphics and I live in Oakville with my wife and two 20-something year old kids (who won’t leave…).
• I was previously employed with Ontario Place Corporation, Dynamic Paints, and worked as a creative services director with an international HR company in Toronto’s financial district for almost two decades.
• I’ve been involved with sports my whole life: Playing youth soccer/hockey; high school wrestling team; and varsity rowing at Brock University, while completing my Business Marketing degree. I competed at the national level in kayaking, canoeing and dragon boating with the Mississauga Canoe Club. Later, I transitioned to snowboarding and wakeboarding where I rode in Canada’s first Wakefest in Bala.
• After blowing out my knees in my 40’s – 50’s via playing adult hockey and volunteer coaching, I’ve raised the white flag and have dialled things back: During the week I walk, swim and lift weights at my gym. On weekends I head up north to cottage country with my wife for hiking and kayaking adventures when the weather is warm and winter trail skating when it gets cold.
• I am a certified Scuba diver which fits in nicely, as my wife is slowly bankrupting me with her Caribbean travel/cruising addiction.
• When my kids tell me I’m not cool anymore, I head downstairs to my rock’n roll hall of fame man cave and play heavy metal on my guitars – that’ll teach them!
• My future goals include becoming a better guitar player than Dominic.

If you haven’t done it yet, go vote. It’s Election Day in Canada. Doesn’t quite have the ring of Hockey Night In Canada but it’s way more important.

Speaking of HNIC, the Leafs are in the playoffs! Woohoo. Now as much as I love the Leafs it’s tough to get excited knowing how many times they’ve let me down before but I am firmly still on the bandwagon. And this year it feels different, like things are going to go our way for once!

TwinPro World HQ Happenings

• Guess what? We’re expanding! Sort of. This week, we had a meeting with the contractors, and we laid out the plans for creating some new office space, a cozy kitchenette, and two washrooms out of some underused warehouse space at the east end of our building. The “office ” that Nikky and Vittoria occupy is actually a boardroom, so we’re turning it back to a boardroom and giving them their own proper space.

• Production has been humming! Our new folder is running nicely, and we figured out how to use the Palamides stacker/bander without bands. That might not make much sense to you, but it’s a big deal to me.

• Our new folder delivery is on a truck and will arrive next week. We’ve had a loaner for a long time but we’re finally getting our own.

• A new digital diecutter is in the works, to replace one of our 100+ year old diepresses. We’re just waiting on some final details from the distributor before we sign the deal – but if all goes to plan it’ll arrive in the next couple of weeks. Thankfully this piece of equipment is in stock at a warehouse in Toronto!

• Our prepress is getting upgraded! New desks are delivering this week. I might open up a betting line on how long we think it will take the guys to put them together. My gut says three days.

• Hats, scarves, bags, pens, leatherette notebooks, travel mugs, stress balls, and more – we’ve seen a lot of interesting non-print projects come through in the last while, but one of my favourites was custom-wrapped stainless steel garbage pails. Got a funky idea and don’t know how to make it come to life? Let us know.

Whisky?
So we “invested” in a whisky company. It’s a three-year plan where we bought a barrel of whisky while it ages, betting that it will be worth more aged than it is today. Mark your calendars for three years from now to see if our bet pays off. This is part of our push to Buy Canadian and support Canadian Small Businesses. And it’s fun!

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – The Canadian Federal Election is today – April 28.

TwinPro Who’s Who
In his own words, meet Dominic:

Hey I’m Dominic Hardenne. Here’s some things to know about me.

• I am one of the many talented Graphic Designers here at TwinPro. I have been on the team since 2022.

• I am very passionate about music. I will listen to anything and I love going to concerts! In my free time I like to play guitar and write my own songs.

• Skiing is my favourite sport. In the winter I spend weekends at the family cottage. Or occasionally visiting friends out west to ski in the mountains!

• I enjoy playing chess and any kind of game that involves strategy. Accolades yet to come.Some fun facts that didn’t make it onto my resume; I am allergic to sesame, one of my uncles is a chocolatier and another is a winemaker, I won Longo’s watermelon eating competition in 2006.

I’m going to change things up a little with this Update. I’ve got a couple of interesting projects to share, a couple of job postings, and we’ll introduce a member of the team. There is still a lot going on at TwinPro World HQ but I’ll save those details for next month. We’re Hiring! Know anyone looking for a fun job? We’re on the hunt for a full time estimator and costing analyst. And we’re also looking for a production coordinator; someone to shepherd projects through production. And we’re always on the hunt for sales people. But right now we have a serious need for an estimator and a coordinator. If you’ve got someone in mind have them get in touch. W.A.R. & P.e.a.s Back in 2015 I received a call from a gentleman looking to produce a custom cookbook. It was a neat project, and the author/chef had done all of the layout and design himself. It was an amazing undertaking and the finished book came out really great. Fast forward to February 2022 and again I got a note from the author/chef indicating he was ready to release the second cookbook in the series. So the process began again. There were many ups and downs between then and now, but it’s really quite the project – so much so that it was only this week that we actually shipped the second edition of the book. Three years and 29 days of effort resulted in 36 beautiful cookbooks making their way to the author/chef at his home in Ottawa. Sidesewn, casebound with a golden-brown satin stitched in bookmark, and a high gloss dust jacket. Woo! All this to say, we love funky projects. Office Signage Speaking of funky projects – check out this awesome interior multi-piece dimensional sign that we just completed! It measures 56” x 58” and is made up of nine separate pieces. Using painted 0.5″ aluminum to match the client PMS colours. Woo!

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – Graphics Canada is April 9 – 11 – Good Friday is April 18

 I hope you’re having a great day!

Life at TwinPro World HQ has been very busy for the last while, and it looks primed to stay that way. We’re finishing a few major projects around the building and just getting ready to start a couple of new ones. And we had a wild batch of days printing material for the upcoming provincial election.

Ordering Online
Our first project that I want to complete is the launching of our online storefront. This storefront will allow folks to upload or design various products, order and pay for them, with the files essentially going right into production. There are a lot of projects that can be done this way – business cards, flyers, postcards, and more. Projects that are simple, and do not need any consultation or advice. Automating this process will free up time for our team so that they can be there for the projects that need to be discussed, the projects that benefit from their expertise, and the projects that don’t know what they are quite yet!

We have the site built on the staging server, the core products have been added to it, now all that is left to do is stylize it, add in the payment gateway, and then set it live! We’ll be sure to share the news when it launches.

Avanti
The second task is to update one of our Management Information Systems from the current server- and terminal-based system to a cloud-based system. This is a huge undertaking as it involves moving over every docket file for every job, and mapping all of the data fields to the new fields. Also then manually checking that each field format works in the new system. Yikes! It’s going to be a major task but once complete our ability to work from anywhere will be complete. Right now we are quite limited in our remote capabilities when it comes to this system. 

Meet The Team
Starting with the March edition of The TwinPro Update we will include a little ‘get to know ya’ feature on a member of our team. I might even recruit a team member or two to write the whole thing!

Wodapalooza
In late January my family travelled to South Beach Miami where my son competed in Wodapalooza. It was an amazing experience! His top placing was second in an event called “Two Rounds Too Many”.

Here is what he had to do:
40 Calories on an Echo Bike
1000 meter run on the beach
100 Box Step Overs 20″
and then do it all again
40 Calories on an Echo Bike
1000 meter run on the beach
100 Box Step Overs 20″

I was tired just watching it!

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – The Ontario election is on February 27 – March Break is March 9 – 14

Proofs We make a proof on every project. At a minimum we make a PDF proof, but sometimes we’ll make a Xerox or ann Espon printed proof. Why do we do this? What’s the point? The two reasons we make proofs are:To ensure that the file is the one you want us to print. If you send in a file and we just print it, there’s a chance you sent the wrong file; and we don’t want that. So we can check that nothing changed from the input file to the output file. It’s rare these days but sometimes a font can default, an image won’t link to the high res version, or some other error can occur and the output file does not match the input. We will also often make hard proofs for projects that have multiple pages, custom diecuts, complicated folds, etc. We use these proofs for the various steps in the production process to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal. The proofing stage should not be used as a stage to check spelling, change the design, fix a line, etc. That should be done before submitting the files for print. Reviewing printer proofs should be a quick process where you compare our file to yours and as long as they match we’re good to go. If you submit a new file we after proofing we have to process it and make another proof – doubling our time and cost for this part of the project. This is why we ask for “print ready” files. That means they have been reviewed and all changes made, and are ready for print. I’m not sure what we’ll review next month but if you have a question or idea please reply and let us know.

First off, Happy New Year! What’s the limit on how late into the year you can say that?Secondly, welcome to the new recipients this month. We added a number of new clients in the last little while and they’ve all been added to our mailing list as we kick off The TwinPro Update for 2025. Hardware Folding Machine The new folding machine is setup, tested and ready for action. The training crew is scheduled and will get our team fully up to speed on it soon. Want to see what it looks like in action? Here’s a video of the same machine except this one has a slightly different delivery unit than ours; we have the 502, and this video shows the 703. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5kDdxTaZFo Xerox Iridesse While the Iridesse has been up and running for a while now it was just this week that we received a long-awaited software update. This update gives us additional capabilities in terms of colours and the ability to score sheets in line. Despite it being 2025 this update was delivered via courier on DVD, and then we had to have a technician come in and install it!! Neat Projects We’ve had a bunch of really neat projects lately: • A hanging sign for an agency on 1” Smooth PVC. • Lapel pinsAdidas hoodies with corporate logo • Twenty-foot wide trade show backdrops – including setup and teardown • A kids learn-to-print workbook complete with in-house created cartoon characters. • A new logo and package design for protein bars • Custom jackets for a national sales meeting • A corrugate counter display • Animated social media clips showcasing products Although we certainly like to print ink on paper, we love doing other things that make your life easier., so if you’ve got a project needing a solution please get in touch. Wodapalooza In previous emails I’ve mentioned that my son Ewan is a competitive CrossFit athlete. From January 23 – 27 I’ll be down in Miami supporting him as he competes on the world stage at Wodapalooza! If you want to keep up with the latest give him a follow on Instagram @ewankirkpatrick_

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – Chris turns 48 on February 2. – Family Day is February 17

Preflight When files are provided we put them through a number of processes before they make it to print. The first of which is preflighting. This process involves a few steps:A manual review of the files to verify that they are the files for the job – docket says coupon but files are for a book.A manual check that the specs of the files match the specs on the docket – docket says 8.5″ x 11″ but files are 4″ x 6″.Analysis of the files to ensure that all images are of suitable resolution for the output method.Automatic review of the files against a standard that we use for the chosen output.All projects go through the first three steps. The fourth step is rarely required but always there in case we need it, and for projects that require it in their specs. It’s rare but we’re ready for if and when it is needed. You may notice that the first three steps are all quite basic and easy to do; and that’s the point. These steps can be done by most of the folks on our front office team, not just the prepress team. This allows us to catch issues early, and help keep projects moving along. Next month, proofs – what are they for, why do we do it.

Whoa! It’s been a whirlwind few weeks here at TwinPro World HQ. The Xerox Iridesse arrived, was installed, and has been cranking out awesome work daily. And just this past Monday our new folder arrived. It’s HUGE, like really huge. Way bigger than we thought it would be despite having measured it out on the floor. We’ve been playing an oversized game of Tetris with equipment and materials while we set it up. If all goes to plan we’ll have it running by the end of the week, and I can’t hardly wait.

Jingle Bell Jog
Earlier this month we held the inaugural Jingle Bell Jog. It’s a a charity running event that I founded which supports The Dorothy Ley Hospice. In our first year we raised just over $1000. In 2025 we’re aiming for $25,000! 

Christmas Donation
This year instead of making a single donation to a charity at Christmas we opted to become a monthly recurring donor to Sick Kids. And we’re committed to keeping this going for 2025 and beyond.

Preflight
I had grand plans to share some info about preflighting – what is it and how do we do it – but we’re going to push it to the January update. It’s the holidays, let’s all take a break and enjoy friends, family and some downtime.

Thank You
From the entire team here at TwinPro we want to THANK YOU for a wonderful year! We’ve had all kinds of fun working with each and every one of you on projects big and small, simple and not-so-simple, stressful and stress-free, and every one in between.

And a special thank you for reading these emails all the way to the last line. I hope you find them fun and informative.

We hope your holidays are filled with joy and wonder!

I’ve been holding off on writing the Update for November in hopes that our new folder, and new Xerox Iridesse would be up and running. But as the saying goes, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry*.” And that’s what’s happened for us. The port strike in Montreal meant that the container ship carrying our folder was held up and sat for some time in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence waiting for the port to reopen. Once it reopened there was another delay as the port had to process the backlog. And then once unloaded there was another delay as the rail yard had to process their backlog. So we’re still waiting. The folder is in Canada, in a rail yard in Montreal waiting to be loaded onto a train.

And our new Xerox Iridesse was also delayed, this time because of Canada Customs. We needed one special part and without it we could not proceed. That part, for some reason, was held by Canada Customs for more than a week! It finally arrived and on Thursday the installation process began. As of today – November 27 – we are able to print sheets again, and are nearly ready to go live with our first job! Super exciting times.

Although it’s great to have the machine up and running we’re still waiting on a few more pieces, a software update, and the fluorescent pink module before we’re able to realize the benefit of getting this new machine. All of that will come in the next two weeks and then we’ll really be cookin’!

The folder could show up on Monday, or be a few more weeks. We are unable to get any sort of timeline on it from the shipping company.

Wodapalooza
In previous emails I’ve mentioned that my son Ewan is a competitive CrossFit athlete. In January we are heading to Wodapalooza in Miami where he will compete on the world stage. His training routine has really amped up and he’s expecting to do well. I’ll be sure to keel everyone updated on his results.

* The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns:

“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
          Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
          For promis’d joy!”

** COURIER DATES ** December 16th – Last day to ship by Ground for delivery to US & Extended Areas. December 16th – Last day to ship by Ground for delivery across Canada (domestic). December 20th – Last day to ship by Air for International delivery. December 23rd – Last day to ship by Air for delivery across Canada and the US.** The earlier you can ship the better – a refund on your shipping doesn’t matter if it doesn’t arrive before Christmas **

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – Our offices and production will be closing on December 24 by noon, and reopening on January 2.- The Canada Post strike is ongoing. No end in sight but we anticipate the government stepping in as the financial implications to the Canadian economy are too great to ignore.

Crop Marks & Page Sizes We get an awful lot of files provided as “print-ready” but they really aren’t. They look good, and provide the functionality that the artist needed or wanted, but they are lacking when it comes to the technical details that we need. And this almost always means we have to rebuild the file. When building a file in any of the current Adobe Creative Cloud apps it’s important that you build the page size to the actual size of the page you want produced. Building the art on an artboard that matches the page size of your desktop proofing device may make it easy for you to print it, but it doesn’t work at our end. In these situations you should build the artwork to the correct size, and then add a second overlapping artboard at your printer page size, or just become a master and manipulating the print dialog window! The proper page size and bleed settings are important for us as our imposition software reads this data and builds the layout from that. If your piece is 5″ x 7″ but you’ve placed it on an artboard that is 11″ x 17″, and then just drawn in a rectangle as the cut line, or drawn in your own crop marks, none of that data is embedded in the file. The only data is that it’s an 11″ x 17″, and that’s just wrong. In these cases we have to open the source files, create a new artboard or page to the correct size, ensure that your art is placed onto this new page correctly, and then process the files again. This adds time, cost, and introduces risk that the file changed from what you sent to what we process. If you need space for your slug, or other page information, you can add that in the page setup for the document you’re building. Or as noted above build a second, overlapping artboard at your printer page size and choose that when exporting/printing at your end. Delete it, or leave it, in the file you send to us. We’ll know what’s what when we preflight the files. Next month, preflight – what is it and how do we do it.

Looking out from the 12th floor of the Xerox offices at Yonge & Shepherd the sun and sky make me think it’s mid-summer. But the glorious colours of the changing leaves assures me that it is late October. Mother Nature is really putting on a great show of colours – I hope you’re getting out there to experience it.

If you’re wondering why I am talking about the view from the Xerox offices you’re probably not alone. But no need to guess – I’m happy to explain. Last month I joked that I never thought I’d get excited about buying a machine that folds paper. This month I’m struggling with my excitement about a new digital press that we’re adding. It’s a giant upgrade over what we currently have – allowing for faster printing, larger sheets up to 47″ x 13″, the ability to duplex 28″ x 13″, and it has new special colour units so we can print fluorescent pink, silver, gold, and white, along with a couple of clear coatings. The fluorescent pink is really a game-changer when it comes to printing a wider array of special colours; it’s not really about the fluorescent pink itself, it’s what can be achieved using the pink PLUS CMYK. Vibrant reds and oranges are the easy ones – like the colours of the leaves these days – but it really works with a ton of colours. If you’ve got a designer or two who would like to learn more about this, and specifically how to design to take advantage of these new abilities our partners at Xerox offer an absolutely FREE instructional course. Reply to this message if you want more info and I will get you all set up.

It’s quite a monstrous piece of equipment coming in at just over 20 feet long! I am hoping it’s up and running within the next few weeks. As soon as it is we’ll be happy to come over and detail all the great things this new machine can do for you and your projects.

Along with the new machine we’re looking at getting some online automation software that will allow us to go direct from print-ready PDFs to the new press – skipping a number of currently required manual steps The software does the preflighting, prep, imposition and setup automagically. It’s really mind-blowing to see how well, and how fast it does it. 

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – November 11 is Remembrance Day. We are open. – Start planning timelines for projects that need to deliver in December and early January. Get ahead of the chaos of Christmas shipping! – Couriers and Canada Post will announce their Christmas delivery cut-off dates in late November. Once we have them we will pass them along.

Raster vs Vector
Last month we chatted about PDF proofs and the different kinds that we usually come across. In the conversation the terms raster and vector used so this month we’re going to explore them in more detail.

Raster
Simply put raster means that all of the elements in the file are made up of dots. If you zoom in you’ll see the dots or pixels. Zoom in on the vector file and it stays sharp and crisp no matter the size. With raster you are also very limited in what edits you can make, and those edits will primarily need to be made in a photo editor like PhotoShop. Adobe is making huge strides in providing tools to enable changes to be made to raster images, and change the size and resolution with much more ease, but it always comes with limitations and caveats.

Vector
Vector is often interchanged with “working file” or “editable” but that is not 100% accurate. Really what it means is that the file can be scaled to absolutely any size you want without any degradation in the quality. This is because a vector file is just a set of instructions for how the lines are drawn. To the viewer you see the lines and shapes, but to the software it’s just instructions. And the instructions are only committed when you output the file.

—-

Using a page layout program like InDesign your file is likely to be a combination of vector and raster graphics. All of the text you set in InDesign is vector, all of the JPGs, TIFFs, PNGs, etc that you place are raster.

Raster images need to be at least 300 dpi at their final output size to print sharp on press. With digital printing we can sometimes get by with lower resolution but 300 is still best. For large format we can go as low as 100dpi in most cases without any visual degradation, but just like with litho it your files are at 300dpi they will print sharp and look great.

If you were to send a file with 600dpi you could assume that it would print even better than 300dpi but you’d be wrong. For almost every thing printed there’s not need for more than 300dpi at output size.

On the next proof we send you, or even just on your PDFs, zoom in and try to identify the vector and raster elements.

A nice rule of thumb with PDFs on screen, and determining if it will print sharp, is to zoom to 400%. If your images look good at 400% in all likelihood they will look good when printed regardless of whether it is raster or vector.

Hello Chris!

Although summer is starting to fade into autumn, we’re hoping that the great fun and successes of our clients, suppliers and staff this summer can keep on rolling. If time flies when you’re having fun, we’ve been having A LOT of fun this year. And that’s awesome.

Now that the excitement around the business purchase has sort of settled down we can get to the tasks of hiring staff, and updating equipment. First up on the equipment list is a new folding machine. It’s coming to us from Ireland on a freighter – so we’ve got at least a month to rearrange our space and make room for it. We saw a video of the folder in action this week and it’s awesome. Little did young Chris know that in his forties he’d be excited about a new machine that folds paper!

Along with the new folder we need to add three key people to join our team: an experienced printing plant general manager, an experienced print sales person, and a print estimator. If you know anyone who could be a good fit please have them get in touch.

PDF proofs
We rely heavily on PDFs for proofing but did you know that there are different “kinds” of PDF proofs? If your project is going on press we will send you a rasterized PDF proof. This means that we’ve processed the file and converted it all to dots (aka rasterized it). The PDF we send you is a reduced resolution version of the file we use to make the plates that are used for printing your project. We reduce the resolution to make the file small enough to email – but other than the reduced resolution it is the file we’re printing.

When projects are being printed digitally we often send back a non-rasterized PDF. The content of the PDF is often a combination of raster images and vector text and illustrations. This is because these files do not go through the same RIP (raster image processor), and do not get plated.

With both options you are seeing a representation of what we are going to print. If changes are needed now is the time to do it. If not simply let us know that it is APPROVED and we’re on our way. But keep in mind that once you say approved there’s a chance that we could start making plates, or printing digital copies within moments. That’s because we complete all of the pre-press work on your file before sending you the proof. This way as soon as a proof is approved we can start production right away. Our production machines are hungry beasts and need to stay fed a steady stream of projects.

Next month we’ll review raster vs vector in more detail.

Last month we mentioned that we had some big news. Here it is: TwinPro bought another company. So what does this mean to you? It confirms that we’re here for the long haul, and are working behind the scenes to grow our team and add new and awesome products and services for you. In the coming months we expect to have updates on new equipment, fun ideas, and more. But for now – that’s it!

While the paragraph above it quite short it covers an awful lot, and as such we/I don’t have much else to say this month. 🙂

Artboard Size
In the Adobe Illustrator, and other Adobe CC programs, you can set your artboard to whatever size you want. Often we receive files where the artboard has been set to the size of the paper that a desktop printer uses, or some other size, but not the size of the actual piece. And then the crop marks or dielines are drawn in. This looks fine on screen but causes extra work at the output side of things, and opens the door to errors.

The prepress and imposition software uses data embedded in the file to determine page sizes, bleed, and more. It is not a visual thing. What this means is that we have to rebuild your files to the actual artboard size that the piece is being produced at. And this extra step can introduce errors. It also means you need to pay extra attention at the proofing stage since we’ve edited your supplied file.

If you need extra space around your artwork for your artwork information panel, or other content, set the artboard to the correct size and then adjust your output settings, or use the Slug setting to add the space you need. This will save time, remove an opportunity for errors, and make projects flow smoother through production.

こんにちは Chris!

私は2週間の休暇で日本に来ていますが、時間を見つけてこのメールを書き上げて送信しました。

I’m in Japan right now and figured this email needed to have something Japanese. Our first stop on the tour was to check out Mt. Fuji, and the photo at the left was the best photo I could get of it. (Taken from the beach at Miho no Matsubara.) According to the tour guide less than 20% of the tours they lead get a clear shot of Mt. Fuji in the summer so we should consider ourselves lucky! Noted.

If you’ve been following along with each TwinPro Update you may be piecing together that something larger is going on around our office, and with our business. Next month we’ll make the news official but it’s all very positive for everyone who in any way is a part of the TwinPro family – clients, suppliers and all our amazing staff. Our plan was to have everything official and sorted out before my family vacation but sometimes things like this don’t always happen to your desired timeline. 🙂

PMS conversion to Process
Last month we talked about RGB vs CMYK. This month it’s PMS vs CMYK. Much like with RGB, there was a time where you really had to go with PMS when you wanted a specific colour because the Process converted colour just didn’t match. Nowadays I’d say that the majority of PMS colours can be very accurately reproduced out of the four process colours. But thee are still many colours that absolutely need to be run as PMS, and there are also some times where using a PMS colour, although it will increase the cost, it is needed to achieve the printed result you want.

So what is PMS?
PMS is an acronym for Pantone Matching System, a system of specific ink colours created a company named Pantone. The system includes books of colour swatches and then instructions for how to mix that custom colour. In theory this would allow you to ensure that everything printed in that PMS colour will be your exact specific colour. I say “in theory” because just like when printing in Process the final colour relies on a skilled Ink Technician to mix the ink, quality base ink ingredients, and a press operator with a well-maintained press. We regularly see projects printed as a PMS that absolutely do not match the PMS colour they are supposed to be.

Should you go with PMS or Process?
Without seeing your complete artwork we cannot say if one will be better than the other but it is becoming a rare occasion that we run a project with PMS inks. Improved prepress colour conversions, better press technology, and the change of PMS to a subscription service and being removed from the Adobe CC Suite all contributed to this reduction. The great thing is that you can build your project with the PMS colours you want, send us the file for review and if we suggest running it as Process we can very easily manage that conversion in our prepress system meaning you do not need to send a new file. 

Making proofs of projects that include PMS colours
All of the proofs that we make are considered to be out of Process. In reality they are made with four, six or up to 13 ink colours all to replicate the specific colours in your project. And the really great thing about these proofs is that they are fingerprinted against our presses meaning that if it can be achieved in our proof it can be achieved on press when printed!

This month we opened “GymPro” – our on-site fitness facility. We’ve got an Echo Bike, a RowErg, free weights, and Olympic barbells and a squat rack with pull up bar. Everything we need to get into great shape!

As the construction on GymPro winds down our next project is the staff lunch room (LunchPro??). Improving creature comforts is a big goal for 2024 and opening the gym is a big step towards it. Updating the staff kitchen lunchroom is next on that list. 

Upgrades in production are also in the works but it will be a few months until we have a meaningful update to share on that front.

RGB vs CMYK. Additive vs Subtractive. On screen vs on paper.
Historically making sure that you converted all of your files to CMYK before printing was crucial to the finished product looking like it should. With advances in software and output technology it’s less of a concern today. But that does not mean you can ignore it completely. The gamut for RGB is greater than for CMYK which means that sometimes you will have noticeable shifts in the colour of your images when converted. And many special PMS colours, or really vibrant colours, do not convert accurately.

So what can be done to prevent this from being an issue?
If you know that the project is going to be printed conventionally (ink on paper lithography) convert all your files to CMYK. The Adobe CC suite of programs are very good at conversions – and if there’s going to be a colour shift you will see it on screen allowing you to make adjustments before sending your files for output.

If a project is going to be printed digitally you can still convert it to CMYK but it’s really not as important as it once was, nor as important as it is for litho. New digital machines are able to create a much wider range of colours, and many are printing with more than just the standard CMYK colours, allowing them to replicate RGB more closely.

Regardless of what you do to your files before sending them to us, at our end we scan all files with software to see if images are RGB or CMYK. And then our prepress operators review any images that were flagged, will convert them manually if needed, and notify the account rep if there is a concern. At that point we usually output a hard proof and would ask you to review it.

Throughout the history of TwinPro finding solutions to challenges has been one of our greatest joys. We love when clients come to us with “outside the box” requests. In 2024 we’ve had a bunch of really unique challenges that stray far outside the realm of putting ink on paper!

It’s becoming less and less common that we haven’t seen what you’re looking for, but this year we were almost stumped when the request for ceremonial shovels branded with a corporate logo came across my desk. In the end we found the shovels and applied a plotted vinyl logo to the blade. It looked really cool!

Some other neat projects this year include 1000s of balloons, t-shirts, and stress “balls”! Got a funky idea? Let us know.

CrossFit Update
In our February Update we told you about the CrossFit Open. In March we mentioned the CrossFit Quarterfinals. This month Ewan competed in the Semifinals. This is one step below the CrossFit Games (akin to the World Championships for CrossFit). After the final four gruelling workouts he landed in 84th place worldwide! Woohoo.

** IMPORTANT INFO ** – Victoria Day is Monday, May 20. Our office and production will be closed, and we are closing at noon on Friday, May 17.

Online Forms
If you’re making a PDF to send as an invitation we can add a link to it so that your recipients can complete an online form. This can be used for simple things like registering for an event, or more complex tasks like booking appointments from a preset schedule. And the form can generate confirmation emails, notifications to the planners, a spreadsheet of the responses and more.

Twenty Years
Can you believe that April 2024 marks my TWENTIETH anniversary at TwinPro? Wow! I can’t hardly believe I’m old enough to have done anything for 20 years but it’s true. And what a fun twenty years it’s been. Special thanks to all of the amazing clients, suppliers and Team TwinPro members who’ve made this a most excellent adventure.

Now in many companies these days sticking around for 20 years is an impressive feat – but here at TwinPro World HQ we’ve got lots of long-termers; on the employee and the client side we have multiple examples of 15+, 20+, 25+ and 30+ year relationships. And that’s likely the stat that I’m the most proud of! 🙂

Hunting Season
We mentioned last month that we’re looking for a new General Manager and a Sales Person. We’re also on the hunt for a new printing press. It’s time to retire our old “Red Press” as replacement parts are hard to find, and it just cannot keep up with the demands of our business. If all goes to plan before the end of the year we’ll have a shiny new 6-colour Komori cranking out sheets. We’ll post lots of progress photos and stories as it happens. It’s quite the process to see one of these machines get torn down, trucked away, and then a new one built. And if you want to come see the Red Press, or any of our equipment, reply to this email and we’ll arrange a tour.

Referrals
We’re always looking for new business. if you know someone who could use our help please pass along our details. We’ve got operators standing by to take their call!

Did you know that we also do basic video editing and motion graphics? Neither did we until we did it! 🙂 If you’ve got a video that needs adjustments, perhaps adding closed-captioning for a second language, swapping the VoiceOver, adding some graphical content, etc., please get in touch. We’re definitely not a full-blown production house but for basic, and some intermediate services, we’re ready, willing and able to make it happen for you.

The results of my out of office email survey are in; adults need a March Break. Last week my kids were off school and they are back at it now, fully gassed up and ready to go. In the weeks leading in to the break it was clear they were running on fumes, and I think that’s true of the broader community. For my kids it’s like school was just put on pause for a week – nothing piled up while they were off, it just stopped and waited for their return. That sounds glorious.

Near Total Eclipse
In Toronto on Monday, April 8 it is expected to be a near-total solar eclipse between 2:04 p.m. and 4:31 p.m., with the peak happening at 3:19 p.m. That’s when most of the Sun’s light will be covered by the Moon. And Toronto District schools are closed for a PD Day that day.

We’re Hiring!
We’re on the hunt for a new General Manager of Printing Operations, and an experienced Sales Professional. If you know someone who’d be a great addition to our wicked team please have them get in touch by sending an email to IWantToWork@TwinPro.ca. Our current GM is going to be retiring in the next year or two so we want to get someone new in now to learn and hit the ground running when the time comes.

And we’re actually always on the hunt for a new Sales Pro. But right now we’re doubling our efforts as we’ve got plans for some new equipment and having additional sales to support it would speed along the process. 🙂

CrossFit Update
In our February Update we told you about the CrossFit Open and that Ewan was gunning for a top spot. Well after three weeks of challenging workouts Ewan has landed in 91st Worldwide and 3rd in Canada. The next round of competition for him runs April 17 – 22. Follow his progress on Instagram.

Of all the files that we work with I think that the PDF is the most misunderstood and misused. We’re fans of PDFs when they are prepared correctly. We hate PDFs when they are made without the correct parameters. PDF is an incredibly powerful file format with 100s of options and internal formats. The kind of PDF we want for print is much different than what is needed for interactive online use, or from a fillable form with a submit button, and so on. To aid in the creation of perfect PDFs for print we have an Adobe .joboptions file that you can add to your Adobe programs. Once added you’ll have TwinPro as an output option directly under the File menu. Click this link to download the file to your computer. Unzip it and then open InDesign, go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > Define and then choose Load… Select this file. It will then create a new “TwinPro” option in your PDF output list. Voila! If you hit any bumps along the way give us a call and we’ll talk you through it. Keep in mind that sending print-ready PDFs limits our ability to make changes to your files. We ALWAYS prefer to get packaged source files but if you want to send a PDF please use our settings you’ll get the best looking output.

It’s February! The shortest month but also the month with the most birthdays for team members – Chris on February 2, Vanessa and Frank on February 15, and Jeff on February 18. In addition to being a busy birthday month it’s also a busy month in the world of National Meetings! This year we produced lots of standard sales collateral like sell sheets, leave behinds lanyards and card, directional signage, and other mock-ups but we also provided some neat speciality items like branded t-shirts, iPad sleeves, balloons, leather-bound notebooks, pens, lanyards, fabric bags, jumbo character standees, and more. We love it when folks come to us with wild and fun ideas!

February is also the start of the CrossFit Open. It’s a three-week long, worldwide fitness competition that kicks off on February 29. Chris’s 14-year old son Ewan has been training hard all year long and looks poised to make it to the National level. Follow his progress online via Instagram or the official CrossFit Open leaderboard.

** IMPORTANT INFO **– Our offices and production will be closed for Family Day on February 19.- Clocks spring ahead on Sunday, March 10 – that’s only a few weeks away!

Want to ensure you send us everything we need for your project? Use the Package feature within all of the Adobe programs! By using this you can be sure that all of the image, fonts and other elements used in your design get collected, placed into a proper folder structure, and then are ready to transfer to us for output. If you’re not familiar with this process here’s a quick rundown:

1. Create your files as always. Once your design is complete and the file has been saved go to the File menu and select “Package…”
2. In the next pop-up check that it is free of errors. If there are errors go back and correct them, save and start again. Once you are error free click “Package…”
3. The final pop-up window is how you choose where to save the Package, and what to include. Make sure you “Copy Fonts”, “Copy Linked Graphics”, “Update Graphic Links In Package”. We suggest that you also “Include IDML” and “Include PDF (Print)” and select the appropriate PDF format. Next month we’ll share details about a PDF Preset you can install that will build the ideal PDF for printing at our end, but for now choose the PDF you want to include as it’s just for reference at our end. For now.
4. Once completed you will have a folder on your computer that contains all the files needed to output this project. Zip that file, upload it to our FTP, and leave the rest to us!

After an amazing holiday break we’re back and excited for 2024. This month around the plant we’re focusing on rearranging things to improve the flow of materials, and also to make room for a new kitchen/lunchroom and gym. Although our core business is printing we also do a lot of inventory storage, management and distribution.

From here on I ramble on about warehousing, inventory, and online portals. Interesting if you’re interested. If not – thanks for reading, get in touch for any upcoming projects, and we’ll be back in February with our next newsletter update.

As the space needed for storage has increased we’ve been steadily adding racking and moving things around but we’ve reached a point where we have to actually move some walls. It’s exciting and will result in smoother operations, the consolidation of the various kitchens/lunchrooms into one, and the addition of a gym complete with barbells, dumbbells, pull-up bars and more. Nikky and Vittoria have christened the new fitness space as “GymPro“. 🙂

To manage our inventory and fulfillment we utilize a number of web-based ordering portals. We’ve built these sites based on the specific needs of the client. Some are strictly an inventory-release system, others include the ability to download PDFs and other media, and one even allows for the ordering of custom-printed items! Right now are are building a new site that allows for the reserving and tracking of trade show booth material to be used by staff attending the shows along with the third-party company that stores and maintains the booth material – it will tie in to the users calendars, include images of the items being ordered, and assist in tracking overall utilization of the various elements.

Shifting thoughts to the racks themselves, as our business has grown we’ve often had to invest in racks based on what is available at the time we need it. Sadly this has resulted in a variety of sizes and colours for our racks, and as much as I’d like to see them all be a uniform size and colour that’s just not going to happen. But in spite of the various colours they mostly all work together in harmony. It is sometimes a bit of a puzzle to find the right piece at the right time but this overall re-arrangement should be it for a long while. We’ve also hopefully placed all the racks in positions that will not be impacted when we add another press in the coming year. More on that in a future newsletter.