Another Graphics Blunder

Back in the days when I when I was a production manager in the printing business, I worked on a series of high-end jewelry catalogs. The project went on for months, partly because it was a big project with many subsets of catalogs but also because it seemed like virtually every dot in every photograph was vetted and proofed by numerous people both in NY and somewhere in Italy.

I remember agonizing on press with the company’s representative on  a certain sheen each diamond had to have, the precise shade of gold required. We performed all kinds of printing magic, changing plate curves, line screens, screen angles, doctoring inks, making “touch” plates. What I’m saying is: a lot of attention was paid.

I don’t have very good memories of those days—the pressure was unrelenting and it seemed like I was living in the pressroom. When the last catalog was printed, bound, and delivered, my relief was almost palpable.

Today I picked up this Bulgari catalog that Shari has had around the house for the last few days (I hope she’s not hinting), and the first thing I noticed on the cover was that the model (Julianne Moore, she informs me) had little teeth showing in her open mouth. “Well that can’t be right,” I thought, so I looked closer. 

Nope, not press imperfections. The little white spots are in the photo—they are tiny rays from a spotlight which is mostly, but not totally blocked by her head. Just enough of the light diffuses to give her that ever so stylish vampire look.

And schadenfreude surged through me. How could this get overlooked?! I can imagine what I would feel if I saw this on press—panic, despair, visions of thousands of dollars burning up or flushing down a toilet. Because no matter how much it cost (new separations, new plates, press downtime), I would have had it fixed (it would probably take 30 seconds in Photoshop).

Happy, happy is the man who doesn’t have to worry about this crap anymore.