[pct-l] Printing maps in color

Thu Jan 7 16:47:25 CST 2010

$ per page at Kinko's?

Wow.

I printed my family Christmas calendars at Staples (0.39 per color page) and a local USPS store ($0.29 per color page, with coupon).

Something to think about. The money you save could buy a lot of Raman noodles.

Ernie Castillo
erniec01 at hotmail.com
248 884 5201

> From: erik at eriktheblack.com
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:06:48 -0800
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Printing maps in color
> 
> Printing maps in color is expensive any way you look at it. 
> 
> In 2007 I printed maps for the whole PCT using inkjet paper and it sucked.
> That is the main reason I decided to offer the PCT Atlas as a real book
> instead of a digital download.
> 
> The problem with inkjet printers is that in order to avoid spending an arm
> and a leg on ink cartridges you have to print at the "economy" or "fast"
> setting which produces really faded, poor quality prints (which almost
> defeats the purpose since you can barely see the contours and details).
> 
> If you bump it up to the regular quality setting full-color, full-coverage
> maps starts to eat through ink like crazy and the price per page goes up
> close to the cost of professional color laser printing.
> 
> The worst thing about inkjet prints is they tend to smudge and smear a lot
> from moisture (like from fingerprints, raindrops, spilled cocoa, sweat,
> etc.) and for some unexplained reason that always happens right in the spot
> you need to see.
> 
> Color laser printing is a much better option. You don't have to print on any
> special laminated or waterproof paper, because the way the toner works it is
> pretty much waterproof even on regular paper. You can set a color laser
> printed sheet in a sink and the ink won't smear... the paper will get
> soaked, but it will dry off and everything will be fine. 
> 
> I believe you can get 8.5x11 color laser prints at Kinkos for $1 apiece. But
> that would still be $442 to print Halfmile's maps (yikes!)
> 
> If you have a use for a color laser printer outside of hiking you might
> consider buying one, but if not that is probably not a good idea. Color
> laser printers (especially the cheap ones) are kind of junk. They are big
> and bulky compared to an inkjet, loud, waste energy and the toner cartridges
> are very expensive (although you do get a lot of prints out of it, so if you
> do a lot of color printing in your regular life it might be a good
> investment). If you really need a color laser printer for something other
> than printing PCT maps go for one in the $350 - $600 range.
> 
> Although I am completely biased (since I'm the author) I still think the
> Pacific Crest Trail Atlas represents the best deal you can get for full
> color maps for the entire PCT. It comes with full-color annotated topos,
> elevation profiles, data book, town maps, overview maps, resupply and
> maildrop information, brief route descriptions and hiker hotspots all in one
> package for $199 (for the Complete 5-Volume Set). 
> 
> http://www.blackwoodspress.com/pct/atlas/
> 
> Still expensive... but you don't have to deal with all the hassles of trying
> to print it yourself (plus combining with pages from all the other guides).
> 
> If I had to choose a next best option, I guess I would just print Halfmile's
> maps on inkjet paper (and try to take really good care of them on the trail)
> and combine it with Yogi's Book and the Data Book. You might be able to do
> that for around $125 if you buy the cheap ink cartridges online.
> 
> 
> Happy trails,
> Erik the Black
> 
> Maps & Ultralight Trail Guides - By Blackwoods Press
> ----------------------------------------------------
> * Pacific Crest Trail Atlas 2nd Edition
> http://www.blackwoodspress.com/pct/atlas/
> 
> * NEW! Pacific Crest Trail Wall Map
> http://www.blackwoodspress.com/pct/map/
> 
> * John Muir Trail Atlas (Coming Spring '10)
> http://www.blackwoodspress.com/jmt/atlas/
> 
> * FREE Ultralight Gear Planner Tool
> http://www.blackwoodspress.com/bonuses/gearplanner.htm
> 
> 
> .
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 00:17:38 -0800
> From: Eugene <atetuna at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Printing Halfmile maps in color
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <BAY124-W2027CF7581B8E1CA1608D0B1710 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> 
> Okay, this was bothering me. I want color maps, but every way I've looked
> up is prohibitively expensive. I've been trying to find cheaper way to
> print maps. Buying is cheap laser printer is $250, or $400, or $550, etc,
> depending on how long toner lasts. Inkjets get pricey too, even if you
> refill your own cartridges. Even online printing like Kinko's is still a
> couple hundred. Still, I think I found a solution.
> Publishing a book.
> I'm trying www.lulu.com and it's saying it can do all 442 pages in a coil
> bound paperback (easy for page flipping) for less than $100. Another
> advantage to coil bound is that get more coils and to make smaller section
> books. A hardcover is about $10 more, but formatting the page size may be a
> nightmare.
> I'm working on mine right now, but it's a real hassle. First you have to
> make sure fonts are embedded, then rotate all pages the same way, then
> somehow convince Lulu that your pages are 8.5x11, not 11x8.5. The last step
> is what's killing me. I have a single page, and no matter which way I
> rotate it, Lulu says I have it wrong.
> Anyway, let me know if this is something you guys are interested in, and
> I'll share more details, or even share the final product that you can buy
> off of Lulu.
> - Eugene
> 
> From: atetuna at hotmail.com
> To: evan.silverberg at lfg.com
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Digital maps
> Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 15:20:29 -0800
> 
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