CD Duplication Artwork errors

[Kroy]

I recently had 200 CDs of my new album duplicated with a UK company and the majority of these have the album title and artist name (along the spine) mis-aligned, off-centre. The company have already confirmed that this is a calibration error at their end and that my artwork is properly positioned.

I'm looking at asking for replacement CDs or a refund. Has anyone had a similar experience and do I have a fair case to ask for this?
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http://www.timyork.co.uk/
http://soundcloud.com/tim-york

[Snarl 12/8]

I'd ask the company that. And/or check their web site for whatever their contract is when you hire them. Do they have a "satisfaction guaranteed" type approach or a "best effort." I bet it's spelled out somewhere.
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Carl Keil

[joelpatterson]

The way I work things is to send a single "production sample" for approval-- and then once it's approved, I crank out all the copies exactly the same.

There's just too much mystery 'twixt the cup and the lip to say "yeah, the look that we talked about, that'll be fine."

If indeed the final product doesn't match what you agreed to, then yeah, they need to keep on cranking them out until they get it right.
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Mountaintop Studios
~The Peak of Perfection~
Petersburgh NY 12138

mountaintop@taconic.net

[kslight]

I work in the printing industry (not CD printing...but) and the general practice would be to fix it (at their expense( if the product produced did not closely resemble the customer's artwork (with some variation tolerable). If they want the product that you've already received back they should pay for return shipping as well. A hard copy proof is also something you usually want if for no other reason than the differences in technology for color reproduction between your monitor and their printer, but also so you two both are on the same page as to what is acceptable. But I'm guessing they did not provide you with a proof based on what you said.

[fossiltooth]

In my experience, the standard procedure would be to fix it at their expense -- assuming this is outside of their stated tolerances for error (sounds like it is). A discount might be offered as a more cost-effective alternative for both parties. If that discount isn't agreeable to you, then ask for the replacement instead. Be nice, and stand your ground if this is was an error on their part and a problem for you. I think it'll turn out fine in the end.
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Justin Colletti
Audio Engineer, Journalist

Read "Trust Me, I'm A Scientist". It's good.

Also: sign up to win free audio gear @ SonicScoop

[Nick Sevilla]

Their error, their fix, at their cost.

Why is this even a question?
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The Song. Nothing else really matters.

[flapmaggot]

I feel your pain - I recieved my official one off reference CD from Kunaki. Perfect. Ordered and recieved the shipment of 50 - the light blue green cover turned dark blue. There is no customer service with Kunaki, just robots. No returned e-mails. I'm simply fucked. At least you can deal with humans!

Good Luck!

C
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http://www.droolbrothers.com
http://momsimaginaryaquabus.bandcamp.com
http://droolbrothers.bandcamp.com

[Smitty]

When we had our label, the CDs of one of our first "major" releases arrived in the mail the morning of the release date/release party show.... with some other bands' disc artwork screen printed on every disc. Fortunately it was just an image, and didn't have the band's name on it or anything.

Called the company and they admitted the error, and offered to replace the discs, but they wouldn't start the new run until they received the old run back in the mail, and we were way out of time.

So, it could be worse?
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"I try to hate all my gear equally at all times to keep the balance of power in my favor." - Brad Sucks

*Recording pursuits on impulse power whilst I bust my ass building up a small organic farm in beautiful rural Ohio.

[Marc Alan Goodman]

Every time I've ever tried to press CDs I've had similar issues. Some companies are happy to fix it, some a giant pains in the ass, but if it's definitely their fault than it's worth letting them know they owe you. And if they try to blow you off, yell. A lot. Prematurely the yell is just a shitty move, but properly timed there's nothing quite like it.
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-marc alan goodman

http://StrangeWeatherBrooklyn.com

[jgimbel]

A good bit of the graphic design work I do is album artwork. If the company's design specs were followed (important pieces are properly within the safety margin, things bleed how the company wants them) but things are still really off then it's on the company. I've worked with a lot of companies, and I've never worked with a company who hasn't offered to fix it at their cost when the issue is brought to their attention, which is needed because a lot of places print and ship without inspecting well, sometimes necessary in order for them to be able to get their projects done on time but sometimes unfortunate. There is always going to be variation because of calibration, it's normal for things to be SLIGHTLY off and this is just the nature of this kind of thing, but if you put text within a safety line and it's still cut off, which happened on a business card design once, then it's on them.
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Currently looking for mixing/mastering work - http://jessegimbel.com/studio

Free download of my last album "City Shade/Country Sun" - http://jessegimbel.bandcamp.com

[Gregg Juke]

An aquaintance of mine often points to the importance of using local (to you) duplicators and graphic designers, noting that "keeping them within strangling distance" is a positive feature set.

I don't know how that's going to work when we get our first vinyl pressed, but on the CD end, it is a maxim that has proven true...

GJ

[Smitty]