http://www.a2a.com A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:24:44 +0000 http://www.a2a.com en http://www.a2a.com/Swissted-Shop http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Swissted-Shop Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:24:44 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 2809605 A to A is proud to announce its partnership with Swissted in launching the official Swissted Shop. Swissted is an ongoing project by graphic designer Mike Joyce, owner of Stereotype Design in New York City. Drawing from his love of punk rock and Swiss Modernism, Mike has redesigned vintage punk, hardcore, and indie rock show flyers into International Typographic Style posters. Each design is set in Berthold Akzidenz-Grotesk Medium, all lowercase. After receiving an overwhelming response from both fans of graphic design and music alike, we decided to create an official Swissted Shop. Over 200 posters sold here are of the finest museum quality Epson prints, on enhanced matte cover stock, and printed with archival inks. Each design comes in three sizes, and honestly, look way cooler in print than their online counterpart. Thanks so much for visiting the Swissted Shop! www.swisstedshop.com www.swissted.com http://www.a2a.com/Upload-a-File http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Upload-a-File Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:46:21 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 840532 All files sent via email should be sent to production@a2a.com The maximum attachment we can receive is 20MB. If your file is larger, please upload to our web file management system at wfm.a2a.com or our ftp server at ftp.a2a.com A to A features a secure site for all client transfers. Our ftp server is accessible with any FTP client software, such as Transmit, Fetch or Cyberduck. If you would like to set up an account, please email production@a2a.com to obtain a user id and password. http://www.a2a.com/Upcoming-Events http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Upcoming-Events Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:47:22 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 367556 APRIL 2012 Our Monthly Free / No-Charge-to-Attend Event Wednesday, April 4, 2012 6:00 pm Paul Sahre How to Make a Life-Size Paper Monster Truck Hearse Graphic designer, illustrator, lecturer, educator and author Paul Sahre established his New York studio in 1997. While consciously maintaining a small office, Sahre has nevertheless built a large presence in American graphic design. The balance he strikes between commercial and personal projects is evident in the physical layout of his workspace: part design studio, part silkscreen lab, part classroom. In one room he designs and prints posters (some of which are in the permanent collection at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum) for various off-off Broadway theaters, while in the other room he is busy designing book covers for authors such as Rick Moody, Chuck Klosterman, Ben Marcus and Ernest Hemingway. Sahre is also a frequent visual contributor to The New York Times. Paul is returning to the scene of one of his most monumental projects (especially if size does matter), The Monster Truck Hearse. Originally conceived as the cover art for They Might Be Giants' recent release, Join Us, Paul decided to take the cover art and make it actual size. Each copy of the album came with a download of the cover art with instructions and Paul came to A to A to actually make it full-size and used its construction and ultimate destruction for TMBG's music video When Will You Die? The Monster Truck Hearse was made entirely of Epson inkjet prints on matte paper adhered with wheat paste to e-flute corrugated cardboard. Axles were made from recycled FedEx tubes and the discarded Epson inkjet paper boxes. The pdf file was printed at 3400% to construct the Monster Truck Hearse at its true size. A to A will be supplying prints at 1/27 scale at the talk so you can make a manageable sized paper Monster Truck Hearse. The team that built the life-sized model will be on hand and will be available for construction tips. Location: A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd Cove House 47 Euclid Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 T 203.388.9050 Schedule: 6:00 - 7:00 Cocktails and Homemade Culinary Delights 7:00 - 8:30 Paul Sahre Program / Q & A 8:30 - 10:00 More Cocktails and Tasty Treats This event is part of the A to A Studio Solutions Seminar Series. Remember there is NO charge for this event. Seating is extremely limited . Make your reservation as soon as possible. To reserve your seat, email: allanw@a2a.com http://www.a2a.com/Digital-Color http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Digital-Color Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:00:33 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 292189 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292189/XRITE_EYEONEHAND_L.JPG" width="670" height="330" width_o="2048" height_o="1010" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292189/XRITE_EYEONEHAND_L_o.JPG" data-mid="1577862" border="0" align="left"/> Digital Color is becoming the defacto standard for the majority of work in the graphic arts community. Although we still make analog color proofs for color targets and color comps, our clients who need SWOP® approved color proofs with their PDFX-1a ad materials and budget-conscious projects have pursued the digital route. We constantly check calibration of our inkjet proofing devices, using hardware and software from X-Rite, an industry leader in color calibration hardware and software. All proofs are checked against color standards with our X-Rite spectrophotometer, confirming the color accuracy and integrity of our proofs before they leave our studio. We use EPSON inkjet printers, which produce continuous tone proofs using the latest inkjet technologies. Combining Epson’s inks with a variable droplet size ink delivery system, an accurate and stable proof is generated. This allows our clients to save time and money by utilizing an alternative approach to color proofing by taking advantage of the lower cost of inkjet materials. With a maximum size of 44” x 100”+, this system fills the quality and price gap between a low quality color proof and the exceptionally high quality of A to A’s direct image proofs. A to A constantly experiments with different substrates, including polybag, shrink films and adhesive backed vinyl, precoatings and hybrid methods of proofing and comping. The marriage of inkjet printing with our analog proofing gives clients a cost effective solution when specialty colors such as foils, metallics, fluorescents and varnishes are required. http://www.a2a.com/Rubdown-Transfers http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Rubdown-Transfers Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:54:56 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 292164 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292164/loadImageAccordingToBrowseMode-3.jpeg" width="670" height="448" width_o="866" height_o="580" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292164/loadImageAccordingToBrowseMode-3_o.jpeg" data-mid="11799782" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292164/loadImageAccordingToBrowseMode-4.jpeg" width="670" height="448" width_o="866" height_o="580" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/292164/loadImageAccordingToBrowseMode-4_o.jpeg" data-mid="11799784" border="0" align="left"/> Rubdowns, transfers or INTs whatever you choose to call them, we make them every day for clients all over the world. All of our transfers are done using a registered adhesive method of production. What does this mean? It means that the glue is imaged just like any other ink and remains only on the image. There is no need for a thinner like Bestine to clean up excess residue. Our transfers are completely residue-free. We begin with the clear, semi-rigid carrier film which holds the transfer prior to application. This determines the finish of our transfers. Most people do not know that transfers can be semi-gloss (our default transfer), glossy or matte. Next is the ink layer or layers. Lastly, the ink image is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The ink can be in virtually any color of your choice as an ink or as a foil. It can be translucent or opaque and we regularly make single-sheet transfers of multiple colors in register. These are silver rubdown transfers being applied to red pleather for The Four Seasons Restaurant wine menu prototype. After client approval, we completed 30 custom wine menus The thumbnail for this page was done as a single-sheet 15-color transfer with the glue on the front. The left-image is what shows through the door at the Stella McCartney store in New York's Meatpacking District when you enter and the right image is what you see when you are leaving. The transfer was done in order as KCMY, White (2 hits), Silver (reflected the light back and made transfer completely opaque), White (2 hits), YMCK, clear ink (creates a membrane to hold the 150 line screen dots of the 4-color process) and finally glue on top so it will apply to the inside of the door right reading and be completely opaque and residue-free. Two images in one transfer! And it is still on the door five years after its initial application. http://www.a2a.com/Packaging http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Packaging Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:15:11 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 291968 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-13.jpg" width="670" height="447" width_o="840" height_o="561" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-13_o.jpg" data-mid="8986887" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-15.jpg" width="670" height="447" width_o="840" height_o="561" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-15_o.jpg" data-mid="8986888" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-16.jpg" width="670" height="447" width_o="840" height_o="561" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/microsoft-16_o.jpg" data-mid="8986889" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Canton for web.jpg" width="270" height="360" width_o="270" height_o="360" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Canton for web_o.jpg" data-mid="5538234" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/957_michael-collins_for web.jpg" width="257" height="360" width_o="257" height_o="360" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/957_michael-collins_for web_o.jpg" data-mid="5538074" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Red Stag_lightened type.jpg" width="271" height="360" width_o="271" height_o="360" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Red Stag_lightened type_o.jpg" data-mid="10634674" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Resized Soda Cans.jpg" width="670" height="458" width_o="876" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Resized Soda Cans_o.jpg" data-mid="1578742" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Sec Noir Darling.jpg" width="670" height="458" width_o="876" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Sec Noir Darling_o.jpg" data-mid="1578716" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Sec Pink.jpg" width="670" height="458" width_o="876" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Sec Pink_o.jpg" data-mid="1578720" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Secret_dot box.jpg" width="670" height="458" width_o="876" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291968/Vic Secret_dot box_o.jpg" data-mid="1578723" border="0" align="left"/> Effective package design looks attractive, impresses with its creativity and is just nice to have on the shelf. Packaging is one of the most common example of graphic design. Apart from displaying the important information, the packaging has become an important sales tool. For this purpose, package designs can not simply inform the customers, but also provoke feelings and communicate emotions. With the use of illustration, color, typography and even various packaging materials, a beautiful and attractive packaging stands out from the rack of competitors. A to A provides complete product fabrication of the final piece for a book cover, beverage, package, or other 3-dimensional prototype for print, TV, film, or the web. Combining a myriad of substrates and inks with such services as shrink-wrap, embossing, debossing, foil stamping, die-cutting, scoring and assembly, we ensure that the project exceeds your highest expectations. We work together with package designers from the initial briefing and first output of package design, through to the delivery of production-ready spot color files with custom color target proofs. Most importanty, we provide these color targets on the actual printing substrate (if available), ensuring the most accurate pre-production color proof in the market. . We provide custom-made presentation kits and binders featuring a wide variety of fabrics, finishes and bindings. We will consult with our clients, source out materials and build a unique piece to meet their stringent demands. http://www.a2a.com/Who-is-A-to-A http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Who-is-A-to-A Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:17:04 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 291599 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Production_3.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Production_3_o.JPG" data-mid="1258652" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Firepit Detail.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Firepit Detail_o.JPG" data-mid="1258629" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Stairway to Bridge.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/Stairway to Bridge_o.JPG" data-mid="1258656" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/View from Bridge_2.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/View from Bridge_2_o.JPG" data-mid="1258657" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/IMG_3777.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/IMG_3777_o.JPG" data-mid="1577819" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/IMG_3773.JPG" width="640" height="480" width_o="640" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291599/IMG_3773_o.JPG" data-mid="1577820" border="0" align="left"/> A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. is a full-service graphic production studio providing unique and innovative custom-color proofs, comps and prototypes for casino cards, bank, gift, and credit cards; book covers and packaging; to corporations, the publishing, graphic design, retail, entertainment, and gaming industries. Located in the historic Cove section of Stamford, Connecticut; A to A brings a unique working environment to our clients. Many of our clients actually bring projects and become house guests during the process. Our accessibility gives the morning person and the late sleeper equal opportunity to set their schedules. We have created a creative environment, where clients can work undisturbed, utilizing our vast research and paper sample library, and have a full production staff at their disposal. We can aid in the design and future enhancements of your projects, provide training seminars on the most current graphics applications being used, and provide on-site assistance to your staff’s use of production software. We offer clients a creative environment where experimentation without intimidation is the rule. A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd Cove House 47 Euclid Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 T 203.388.9050 E production@a2a.com http://www.a2a.com/Financial-Services http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Financial-Services Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:05:28 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 291493 }<img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/ING for website.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="1500" height_o="1200" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/ING for website_o.jpg" data-mid="9441329" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/B of A for website.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="1500" height_o="1200" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/B of A for website_o.jpg" data-mid="1578110" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/Amex Plat for website.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="1500" height_o="1200" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/Amex Plat for website_o.jpg" data-mid="1578112" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/Deutschland Card_MC1.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="1500" height_o="1200" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/Deutschland Card_MC1_o.jpg" data-mid="1578113" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/MSSB Business Platinum for web.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="1500" height_o="1200" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/MSSB Business Platinum for web_o.jpg" data-mid="1578114" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/koreanAir_for web.jpg" width="670" height="536" width_o="670" height_o="536" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/291493/koreanAir_for web_o.jpg" data-mid="9221633" border="0" align="left"/> A to A Studio Solutions has made a commitment to clients that allows them to expand the parameters of projects and products they could handle. One of the areas in which clients will benefit is that of plastic card design, production and consultation. We work with clients to develop a card that will achieve top-of-the-wallet position. Many of our clients are issuing banks who have been asked for RFP’s. We provide prototypes printed on plastic, that are so accurate, we have been requested not to emboss account numbers or names on our cards, lest they be mistaken for the real cards. The cards are created for various banks, such as ING DIrect, Bank of America, Citibank and Barclays; and for all the major associations: American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover. These prototypes are printed on transparent, translucent, or opaque PVC, front and back, in as many as colors per side as required, and also include a realistic holographic security inset. Focus groups have accepted our models as actual cards, not merely prototypes. When final production is required, we work directly with plastics manufacturers to create custom colored PVC cores where required, magnetic stripe vendors to create unique multi-colored and holographic stripes and card printers to produce multi-core plastics that set our clients apart in the card marketplace. Additionally, we provide clients and their printers a complete set of printer’s notes with our supplied files to be used as a guide in the printing process, thus assuring additional color accuracy. On-Press supervision and consulting is another service offered by A to A. When critical color decisions are necessary to maintain the integrity of the approved designs, A to A can come in and help you work on press with card manufacturers and has the experience to achieve your desired results. } http://www.a2a.com/Publishing http://www.a2a.com/following/a2a.com/Publishing Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:40:53 +0000 A to A Studio Solutions, Ltd. 290046 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Lost_Symbol.jpg" width="329" height="509" width_o="329" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Lost_Symbol_o.jpg" data-mid="1577951" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/TheGirlWho.jpg" width="310" height="494" width_o="310" height_o="494" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/TheGirlWho_o.jpg" data-mid="1577915" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/SNUFF.jpg" width="339" height="528" width_o="339" height_o="528" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/SNUFF_o.jpg" data-mid="1577928" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/PYGMY.jpg" width="336" height="509" width_o="336" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/PYGMY_o.jpg" data-mid="1577942" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/coney island.jpg" width="328" height="512" width_o="328" height_o="512" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/coney island_o.jpg" data-mid="9221789" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Jay-Z_Decoded.jpg" width="450" height="450" width_o="450" height_o="450" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Jay-Z_Decoded_o.jpg" data-mid="8633023" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/fear index_reduced.jpg" width="400" height="400" width_o="400" height_o="400" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/fear index_reduced_o.jpg" data-mid="13759377" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Family_Corleone.jpg" width="314" height="475" width_o="314" height_o="475" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/0/25272/290046/Family_Corleone_o.jpg" data-mid="17580952" border="0" align="left"/> Successful jacket meetings are what all designers hope for. Accurate color proofing, foils, embossing and varnish effects are important to the production and eventual marketing of books today. Designers need a vehicle for communicating their visual ideas to an author. This is where A to A steps in and works with the designer to bring the vision from screen to paper, and in most cases, overnight as well. Jackets can combine 4-color process with spot colors, including custom inks such as liquid foils, fluorescents, metallics, night glow, pearlescents, thermochromic, and photochromic inks. A to A has created a library of foils for the publishing industry. In the rare instance we do not have the foil you require, we can either offer a substitute, or have it delivered to our office, usually the next day. We can simulate both gloss and matte spot varnishes on your proofs, if required, again affording the client a unique opportunity. Our relationships with various paper manufacturers give us access to virtually any paper specified. For those clients who prefer overlays of their spot colors and varnish plates, we can produce acetate overlays of each plate registered to your proofs, giving you additional latitude in the development of various backgrounds. Embossing and debossing are done in-house. Our book jackets can be embossed or debossed, die-cut, scored, wrapped and folded. We create each project using inks, applied in the same rotation as the actual printing, the same line screen, and in most cases, on the same substrate as the final product. Our primary goal is accurate color.