Ok, now that you have entered your BHR into the excel sheet with your minimum setup time in minutes you are now ready to enter this data into PrintSmith. There are 2 methods that you can use to setup the charges, the Job Aware method and the Cutting Charge method. The results are identical, so it doesn’t matter which one you choose. Since a picture is worth a thousand words here is a link to a 3 Page PDF that shows how to setup your charges both ways.

Cutting By Lifts Screen Shots

For each charge you simply take the Setup Charge from the Excel sheet and enter it into the Setup field. Then take the rate per lift from the Excel sheet and enter it into the Rate field. Finally, enter the default number of sheets per lift into the “In Sets” field. If you would like this field to be adjustable, simply check the Adjustable Sets box. Make sure that you have selected the “Press” and the “x Signatures” radio buttons near the bottom and you are ready. Just repeat the process for each charge.

If you have any questions, the PDF should be able to give you answer. If not, send me an email.

PrintSmith is setup to calculate cutting by the number of cuts, but did know that you could also set it up to calculate cutting by the number of lifts? Why would you want to do that? For a very simple reason, the PrintSmith manual tells you up front that the number of cuts is only an estimate and that it may not be accurate.

So, with the help of fellow PrintSmith user Mitch Eaton I changed our cutting charges over to cutting by lift back in 2001. I reviewed those prices this past month and I created an excel spreadsheet to help me figure those prices. You can download the excel file by clicking on the link below. In my next post I will explain how to enter the data from the excel sheet into PrintSmith.
Simple Cutting By Lift

One of the quickest ways to speed up the estimating process is to create Job Templates. If you know how to create a job then you are 95% of the way there!! Simply create a job on estimate (or invoice) like you normally would for One job or One Multi-part job. When everything is perfect and just the way you want it you are ready to create a Job Template. Don’t forget to add a Product and try to make the template usable for any quantity or any paper.

To create a Job Template open the Job window. (If a multi-part job open the first job or what is called the “control job
for the entire thing.)

Now, go to the File menu.
Scroll to Save As.
This automatically opens your Template folder.
Simply give your job template a name, click save and you’re done!
you just created a JOB template, there are 2 kinds: Job and Invoice.

(I personally don’t like Invoice templates for reasons I’ll explain some other day.)
Now, test it out!
Create a new estimate.
Instead of double clicking to create a new job do this:
Go to File > Open Template
Find your template, click Open, and say yes to updating the prices.
There you have it!!

I would also save this in the estimate history for reference later on. I created an account called Templates strictly for this purpose. Why?

2 Reasons:

1. The estimate history is automatically updated when each new version is released. Templates in the Templates folder do not get updated, that is why there a Template Converter utility.

2. You have a backup template that is easily accessible in case your Template gets damaged, or lost.

How do I import my logo into PrintSmith?
That question gets asked so often that it amazes me!

In short, you must create a file that can be opened by 3rd party software and then “copied and pasted” into PrintSmith.
The Windows platform requires a JPG or a GIF, and the Mac platform requires a PICT. (Be sure that your logo looks good and is at least 300 dpi, do not import a 72 dpi image.)

On the Windows platform you need to use a 3rd party program like Imaging or Paint to open any JPG or GIF. (Go to Programs > Accessories > Imaging.) Then select the image and Copy it to the clipboard.

On the Mac platform most every program will put both a native & PICT format on the clipboard during a Copy and Paste operation.

On the PrintSmith MASTER, open the Document Preferences under Admin menu, select the Customize Form button, and then select the Images tab. The button next to the Logo ID icon (orange) will open the Image Viewer and that is where you Paste the image from the clipboard. (Do not do this on a workstation unless you plan on copying it to the Master.)

This process creates a file called PS Customizer – User.rsr file on the Master and it will need to be distributed to all the other workstations, the best way to do this is to place the file in the Prices folder on the Master, then perform a Pricing Update on all workstations.

You then may need to size it properly with the parameters using the Form Layout Tab and Logo Base fields.