Texas 4000 Atlas Ride

Even though the temperatures are just heating up in Austin, TX, the mornings are still nice enough to get a good workout. 

If you are looking for a great way to spend your time next Saturday (June 2, 2012)... consider participating in the 8th annual Texas 4000 Atlas organized bicycle ride. The 50 or 70 mile ride starts in Cedar Park and ends in at the beautiful Pillar Bluff winery in Lampasas. Another option is to ride 25 miles, starting and ending at the Lampasas winery. 

What is cool about this event is the opportunity to meet ~40 of the most impressive college students (in my humble opinion) that are participating in the world's longest charity bicycle ride known as LIVESTRONG Texas 4000. The Atlas ride is day 1 of their 70 day ride.

During spring, these select students get ready for finals, raise funds (each has to raise at least $4500) for a cancer research, and train for the biggest cycling adventure of their lives... 

From Austin to Anchorage.  The students split into two groups, one group goes to west to California and then up the west coast; the other group goes through the Rockies. The two groups meet up in Canada and then ride together to Anchorage. Along the way they rely on the kindness of strangers and make scheduled stops to raise cancer awareness. 

If you hadn't heard about this before, it is possible to still register on site.  The registration fee goes towards the fundraising efforts.    The students are approachable and are happy to share their stories.  Most have never seriously ridden a bicycle but because the cause is such a worthwhile event, they apply to be part of the LIVESTRONG Texas 4000 team.  They are riding because either someone close to them and/or they themselves have been affected by cancer.

If you are unable to make the Atlas ride and are interested in learning more, would be interested in following their progress, or would like to contribute to this great cause, check out their website.

Our Austinprint shop is proud to be a supporter of LIVESTRONG Texas 4000. If you go, you might see us on the 25 mile route.

How to select an "environmentally responsible" paper for your printing needs

These days more and more business and consumers are wanting to minimize the impact of their activities on the environment.

Studies still show that printed marketing materials, like posters, brochures and business cards, are still the most effective way to get the word out about products, services and events.

It should be reassuring that nearly every major paper used by commercial printers and local print shops today is certified to come from sustainable, well managed forests that operate in an environmental and socioeconomic responsible manner.

In late 1990's, the Forest Stewardship Council established a rigorous certification process for forests and paper mills with paper that can be tracked back to a certified forest being designated in one of two ways:

• "FSC Mix" if the paper contains any virgin pulp or
• "FSC Recycled" if the paper is made from 100% recycle content.

To learn more visit fscus.orgfscus.org.

In addition to FSC certification, there are four additional ways to designate paper has come form a sustainable forest: American Tree Farm System, the Canadian Standards Association, the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) or Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

To learn more visit GreenBlue Stop by or call your local print shop to learn more about what paper options are available and which paper would be the best choice to meet your needs.

How to shorten the printing time

Seems that every year gets shorter and the" to do" list keeps growing with deadlines that keep getting shorter.  

Here are some tips and insider info on how to compress the printing time when you needed your business cards yesterday!

• Double check accuracy of content (especially phone numbers, addresses, and dates). This will prevent re-work. 
• Provide pdf files plus the original design files (e.g. Adobe in-design). In addition, attach any non "true type" fonts. 
• Have the files set up as a 1-up (this will save production set up time) . 
• Review and approve proofs as quickly as possible. 
• Request a deadline on a Mon-Thurs (Fridays are the busiest and require at least 3 days advance orders).
• Be willing to pay a rush charge.
• Be willing to be flexible on paper -- being able to use a comparable in stock paper versus a custom paper can save time. 
• Be willing to be flexible on color matching (a specific spot color could take longer).

Stop by or call our Austin printing company to learn more about time saving how to's.