ps: they don't ship plates. they ship transparencies or they ship separations the printer makes his own plates
pps: they most likely send transparencies and the printer makes separations from those, from which he makes the plates
Well what I am reading is that NSS bought a printing company and started printing their own materials. Actually put one of the major litho companies out of business. The article from LAMP (and quote above) says Cleveland would ship the "plates" to the regional printers... I'll have to ask Ed if his article is wrong.
The article from LAMP (and quote above) says Cleveland would ship the "plates" to the regional printers...
they wouldn't ship plates such a task would require all printers to use the same type of press they ship seps or transparencies
every time someone says "the Star Wars hairy belt is from the same plates" they are wrong. They had the films (separations).
but this is sideways to your belief that one specifically is first and another is second. You have no information one way or the other and I very much doubt that anyone ever will.
Fine. I've brought up the issue, let's see if it ever goes any farther. At this time, as I have been agreeing with you, we can't be 100% certain either way. So neither printing should be suspect at this time.
Oh and if you or anyone sees the text over run version at cinevent or anywhere else, snap a pic of the verso so I can mark that off the 'to do' list...
I will get with Ed on the plate shipping discussion. I know you are very knowledgable Rich but Ed seems to be on top of his game regarding NSS stuff... fair enough? I'll see what he has to say.
OK so a bit of news from my further studies. The variations are perfectly plausible due to contract requirements of placements of certain items at the base of the posters such as copyrights, NSS data, NSS statements etc. However it is believed that lighter aluminum plates were made in Cleveland and then shipped to the regional print shops (6 print shops is believed to be the number). These plates however were usually only of the studio artwork (with credits), the NSS printers would then add the small bits if not included in the original negative to make the black plate. This explains the artwork being exactly the same with color variations.
My guess (not that it will ever be proven or is prove-able) is that there were two plates sent to printers were the small information had been added at the bottom - by hand (the handwriting actually differs). Either all the BAT posters were printed in these locations (or other variation exist but not seen) or these plates were then circulated to the other 4 printers for regional distribution.
To touch on the argument about different presses needing plates to be made locally is invalid. As the NSS ran their own printing presses and there were not many presses that could handle the 41" format and presumably of the same type or perhaps two types (with the two sets of plates). By the time BAT was made there were really only the NSS and Morgan Lithos which later went out of business. There were local printers but they could not handle the 41" format as a much more robust and expensive press was required. Another theory on the two sets of plates is the 'over load' theory where when the NSS got over loaded they would subcontract to one of the remaining large printers to make a print run. Benton Card co was known to do over load projects for the NSS.
I think the other thing that needs to be cleared up is the definition of plates. Aluminum plates (that were rolled around a cylinder for pressing) for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow were all made from color separated film negatives. So when I say 'hand wrote' I mean to the black color separation negative used for exposure to make the plate. The plates are no thicker than say card stock.
Comments
the printer makes his own plates
pps: they most likely send transparencies and the printer makes separations from those, from which he makes the plates
I think you spoke too soon.
I think were gonna need boxing golves
such a task would require all printers to use the same type of press
they ship seps or transparencies
every time someone says "the Star Wars hairy belt is from the same plates" they are wrong. They had the films (separations).
but this is sideways to your belief that one specifically is first and another is second. You have no information one way or the other and I very much doubt that anyone ever will.
Until I know more...
I will get with Ed on the plate shipping discussion. I know you are very knowledgable Rich but Ed seems to be on top of his game regarding NSS stuff... fair enough? I'll see what he has to say.
My guess (not that it will ever be proven or is prove-able) is that there were two plates sent to printers were the small information had been added at the bottom - by hand (the handwriting actually differs). Either all the BAT posters were printed in these locations (or other variation exist but not seen) or these plates were then circulated to the other 4 printers for regional distribution.
I think the other thing that needs to be cleared up is the definition of plates. Aluminum plates (that were rolled around a cylinder for pressing) for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow were all made from color separated film negatives. So when I say 'hand wrote' I mean to the black color separation negative used for exposure to make the plate. The plates are no thicker than say card stock.