What Are Offset Printers?

Johann Gutenberg is credited with the first printing press using carved wood letters.

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Offset printers are in common use today, with origins in Gutenburg's original printing press. Magazines and newspapers employ a version of the offset press using a web attachment that holds rolls of paper for printing the individual pages, later cut or bound together. Standard offset presses use a single sheet feeding process. Both offset press types can print colors. An offset press gets its name from how it produces the finished image. A metal plate transfers or “offsets” the inked image to a rubber roller that imprints the image on the page.

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A graphic designer or other creative person generates a positive image by hand or by using a computer. The image may only be text or may be image and text together. A special camera takes a picture of this image producing a negative used to make the printing plates. For items that contain multiple colors, several plates are made for each color, up to six, depending upon the capability of the individual printer.

Sheet-Fed Offset Presses

You’ll find these types of presses in shops that produce business cards, brochures and other printed materials based upon customer needs. Each press has a series of rollers through which the blank material feeds to get the image on the page. The image plate attaches to a roller next to the inking station or roller. Once inked, the image transfers to a rubber “blanket” roller, which presses the image on the page. The image offsets from the original plate to the roller before printing. The page fits between the image roller and the impression roller, which helps to press the image up against the roller containing the image.

Multiple Runs

The size of the press will determine how many times the printed page goes through the printer when printing multiple colors. Sometimes the offset press can only handle one color at a time. In these cases, the printer operator must clean the press between colors and use the plate for the specific color when printing.

Large Offset Printers

Larger offset printers house multiple stations for each color so the paper goes through the complex process only one time. For plates with multiple colors, four little registration marks, often a circle with a cross through it, appear on all four corners outside of the area printed, but on the page. These registration marks allow the printer to adjust the printed material to line up the colors appropriately.

ReferencesPSPrint: Introduction to the Offset Printing ProcessLytePrint: Offset PrintingPhoto Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Computer Lithium Batteries: 9 Cell Vs. 6 Cell

Print this articleLithium batteries, such as Li-Ion and Li-Poly batteries, are essentially battery packs containing a number of individual battery cells. They also contain a smart controller that prevents complete discharge of these cells, which could permanently harm the battery. Most laptops accept several configurations of Lithium batteries, such as 6-cell and 9-cell variants. Which variant is right for you depends on your usage and preference.

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Each cell in a Lithium battery holds a similar charge, so a 9-cell battery offers at least 50 percent longer life than a 6-cell battery before needing to be recharged. The actual battery life depends on the power requirements of your laptop and how intensively you use the computer. Watching DVDs while powering peripheral devices would run the battery out much quicker than simply writing a text document or playing FreeCell.

Size

The battery size of a 9-cell battery is usually larger than that of a 6-cell battery, because it needs to house a higher volume of cells. If you travel extensively, you need to decide if the increased battery life is worth the extra bulk. However, not all 9-cell batteries are larger in size; some 9-cell batteries are visually indistinguishable in size from 6-cell batteries.

Weight

Although 9-cell batteries aren't always larger than 6-cell types, they will be heavier, because more chemicals are inside the battery to maintain its charge. If you carry your laptop everywhere you go, yet don't run it for long periods of time before recharging, the weight gain may be unacceptable. In such cases, a 6-cell battery might be just what you need.

Battery Longevity

Lithium batteries cannot be fully discharged through normal use, because the internal smart controller prevents complete discharge. However, the smart controller itself uses a small amount of charge to monitor the battery. When sitting for long periods of time, this protective feature will eventually kill the battery. The amount of reserve power maintained by the smart controller is larger in 9-cell batteries than in 6-cell batteries, so it takes longer for this protective feature to completely discharge and damage the battery. If your laptop sits unused for extended periods of time, the 9-cell battery offers a greater safety margin against full discharge of the Lithium battery.

ReferencesRoughly Drafted; Exploding Battery Panic; Daniel Eran; Aug 26, 2006Geek: Laptop BatteryBest Rated Laptops Guide: Types of Laptop Batteries RevealedDirect Laptops Guide: So What Kind of Dell Laptop Battery Do I Get?Read Next:

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Problems With Resetting the iPad

IPads freeze for a wide range of reasons.

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A frozen iPad can be indicative of a problem with your device, but more often it is the result of too many apps running at once or an application glitch. Resetting your iPad will shut it down and reboot the hard drive. If the problem is too severe, a reset may not work, in which case restore is your only remaining option.

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Resetting an iPad is akin to doing a forced shut down on a regular computer. When you reset the iPad, you are forcing it to turn off immediately without completing the regular safe shut down procedure. Resetting is accomplished by pressing the "Sleep/Wake" button at the top of the device while also holding down the "Home" button. When both are held down for about 10 seconds, the iPad should close down.

Issues With Reset

Most frozen iPads can be resolved by performing a reset. In some cases, however, the frozen iPad application or process will not allow the device to reset. If your iPad is still powered on and frozen after a reset, or if it will not turn back on after a reset, the device needs to be restored using iTunes on a computer.

iPad Restore

Restoring your iPad will return it to factory settings. Any apps that you have added to the device will need to be downloaded again, but you are never asked to pay for any application twice from the same Apple ID, so you can download them again for free. Restore your iPad by connecting it to your computer and opening iTunes. When the device shows up in the iTunes source list, click it and then choose "Restore."

Updated iOS

Keeping your iPad up to date with the latest iOS will reduce the likelihood of resetting problems. IOS updates are always free, and often include patches for known glitches. If you have iOS 5 on your iPad, updates to the iPad iOS can be made wirelessly right from your device by going to the "Settings" menu. Likewise, check the App Store often for updates to your specific applications, which often include fixes to reported problems.

ReferencesApple: iOS--Not Responding or Does Not Turn OnPhoto Credit Mario Tama/Getty Images News/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Make the Trigger Buttons Stiffer on a PlayStation 3

Household items can repair your PS3's trigger buttons.

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Regular use of your PlayStation 3 controller may cause the trigger buttons to loosen over time. In many cases, the reason for loose trigger buttons is a distorted or broken spring. Replacing this spring and coating the trigger button lightly with clear nail polish can stiffen your loose PS3 trigger buttons.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need2 floppy discs (3.5 inches)Clear nail polishPrecision screwdriverSuggest Edits1

Disassemble the floppy discs and save the internal springs. Discard the discs and set the springs aside.

2

Unscrew the back of your PS3 controller with the precision screwdriver and carefully lift up the back of the controller.

3

Remove the lithium-ion battery from the controller by gently pulling the wire from the circuit board of the controller.

4

Remove the trigger buttons and apply one light coat of clear nail polish to each trigger button. Allow the nail polish to dry completely before reassembly.

5

Press the ends of the metal bar inside of each trigger button to remove the bar and the current spring.

6

Coil the new spring around the metal bar with the ends of the spring facing away from the trigger button. Carefully replace the trigger button back into the PS3 controller.

7

Reconnect the battery to the circuit board and carefully close the controller case. Screw the case closed and test the functionality of the new trigger springs.

Tips & Warnings

Disassembling your PS3 controller may damage it beyond repair and void your replacement warranty.

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ReferencesLVL Select: How to Fix a PS3 TriggerJulia Heng: How to Tighten Loose Joints in Action Figures and ToysReader's Digest: New and Improved Uses for Nail PolishMmmonkey: PS3 Dual Shock 3 Sixaxis Joystick SwapPhoto Credit Junko Kimura/Getty Images News/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Get Better Attributes on "Road to Glory" for "NCAA Football 10" on the PlayStation 3

FoodHomeStyleMoneyFamilyHealthShiftMore This SeasonSimplify the SeasonFriendsgivingTailgating HomeElectronicsPersonal ElectronicsPlaystation 3How to Get Better Attributes on "Road to Glory" for "NCAA Football 10" on the PlayStation 3How to Get Better Attributes on "Road to Glory" for "NCAA Football 10" on the PlayStation 3Print this articleIn the PlayStation 3 game "NCAA Football 10," the "Road to Glory" mode lets you take control of a college football player's career. You play games from that player's perspective in an attempt to become a college football legend. How well you do in the game partially depends on the attributes of your player, so you want to have the best attributes you can get.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions 1

Play in the state high school football playoffs. When you first create your player, the game puts you in the high school playoffs. If you want, you can skip through games to go straight to college. The better you play in the playoffs, the higher your player's starting attributes will be. If you aren't satisfied with your starting attributes after the playoffs, restart. The more you play, the better you will get at your position.

2

Go through the practice events during the season. During practice, you play in position-specific drills and scrimmages. The better you do in practice, the higher your attributes get. Once you become a starter for the team, practice no longer raises your player's attributes.

3

Pick your school wisely, according to how you want your player to develop. If you go to a big conference school, you will not get as much playing time as you would at a smaller school. If you choose a school that is deep at your position, you will have more competition for playing time.

4

Play every play during the game that you can. If the coach puts you in the game, you control your player. If you don't like the play, or just don't want to play right then, you can press the "Triangle" button to skip the play. Playing every down allows you to get better at the game and have the chance to raise your player's stats. After every season, the game raises your attributes based on the stats that you accumulate during the season.

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How to Make an iPad Sleeve With Interfacing

Print this articleUse an iPad sleeve to protect your iPad from those little bumps from everyday use. A sleeve will also protect your iPad from dust and dirt when you are not using it. Use heavy fabric to make a sturdier sleeve or you might want to try using quilted fabric and a second layer for the lining. Sandwiching a layer of interfacing, between two layers of cloth will also help the sleeve keep its shape. You can either sew the sleeve together or use a glue gun with glue sticks designed specifically for fabric.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedGlue gun with four fabric glue sticksSewing needle and color coordinated quilting threadTwo fabric pieces measuring 20 inches long by 8.5 inches wideTwo pieces of medium weight iron-on interfacing measuring 20 inches long by 8.5 inches wideOne, 1-inch buttonOne piece of fabric measuring 4 inches long by 1.5 inches wide (loop for the button)Fabric pencilIronIroning boardSuggest Edits1

Match up the corners of the interfacing and the fabric and iron the interfacing to the wrong side of each matching fabric section by following the manufacturer’s instructions located on the packaging of interfacing. Set aside to cool.

2

Take the 4-inch by 1.5-inch piece of fabric and fold it in half, and iron. Open the fold. Fold each side inward toward the initial fold and iron in place. Fold the fabric again so that you have a 4-inch long by three-fourths-inch wide fabric piece. This is the loop for your button. Set aside.

3

Insert a fabric glue stick into your glue gun and plug in the gun. This will be hot, so use caution and keep your fingers away from the hot glue.

4

Fold back the fabric for your button loop and gently drop several dots of glue inside, then fold back again and set aside to dry.

5

Glue all four sides of the two large sections of fabric together by gently lifting the edge of the top piece of fabric, placing a continuous line of glue and pressing down on the fabric piece below it until the entire section is glued together.

6

Make a one-half-inch fold on each end and glue down. Fold your button loop in half and glue the loop ends to one end of the sleeve, on top of the fold. You should now have a single piece of fabric 20 inches long by 8.5 inches wide with each end folded over and glued down. The button loop should be glued to one end.

7

Fold your fabric in half length-wise and iron. The button loop ends should be clearly visible on one end. You will be gluing the sleeve sides together and turning it inside out, so the button loop ends should be inside the sleeve when finished.

8

Glue the sides of the sleeve together, keeping the glue line within one-fourth inch from the edge of the fabric, pressing down firmly as you apply the glue. Wait 10 minutes then gently turn the sleeve inside out. Only the button loop, not the loop ends should be visible.

9

Place the sleeve on a flat surface. Fold over the loop and using the fabric pencil, place a small x where the button should be placed. Sew on the button.

10

Slide your iPad into the sleeve and place the loop over the button.

Tips & Warnings

Use a heavy weight fabric such as denim or duck cloth.

Glue guns get very hot, so use caution when gluing your fabric pieces together.

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How to Connect the HTC Hero With the iPad

Print this articleBy using your cellphone as a mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, you can provide Internet access to other devices, such as a laptop computer or your iPad. The HTC Hero S cellphone from U.S. Cellular allows this capability -- however, before using your HTC Hero as a Wi-Fi Hotspot, check with your mobile service provider to ensure that you have an appropriate data package or tethering plan. Otherwise, you may incur high fees and overages for using your device as a Hotspot.

Related Searches:Difficulty:EasyInstructions 1

Tap the “Applications” icon on your HTC Hero's home screen to reveal a list of installed applications. The Applications icon is located on the bottom left-hand side of your home screen.

2

Tap the “Settings” application. Select “Wireless & Networks.”

3

Tap the option labeled “Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot” to activate your phone as a mobile Hotspot. If you have never configured your HTC for Hotspot usage, a setup screen appears. The setup screen allows you to enter a name for your HTC Hero connection and a security password (WPA).

4

Tap “OK” to exit.

5

On your iPad, tap the “Settings” application. This application is located on your home screen, unless your applications are rearranged.

6

Tap “Wi-Fi Networks.”

7

Ensure that your Wi-Fi is set to “On.” If it is not, tap "Off" to change the status to "On."

8

Look under the “Choose A Network” section. Your HTC Hero connection should appear in this section. Tap the connection to activate it.

9

Type the WEP password for your HTC Hero connection into the designated field. Skip this step if your connection does not require a password.

10

Open the browser application on your iPad to begin browsing the Web.

ReferencesU.S. Cellular: HTC Hero S – Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (PDF)Apple: Join a NetworkHTC: Your HTC Hero S User Guide (PDF)Read Next:

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