As an architect, you are using newer technologies and staying in front of innovations in CAD.  But how are your plans and renderings translating in black and white? 

Picture this:  through one drawing mechanical, electrical, and architectural are all represented in one concise drawing.  Contractors can tell how the spatial arrangement is supposed to go while having the whole picture in mind, not just their one partial piece.  How much rework would this save?  

Save Money with Clear Communciation 

In a 3D drawing, all spatial relationships can be seen.  How often do contractors misread a drawing, causing multiple "rework" scenarios, delaying projects, and, eventually, casting a ray of doubt from the client on the whole group trying to complete a project?  Much of skillful construction and good project management is actually communication and clarity in that communication.  

It used to be that color drawings were much more expensive to print than black and white prints. However, printing costs have come down to where it becomes an attractive option.  Consider that you would be able to combine 3 or 4 drawings onto a single sheet and still communicate that effectively.  Now consider that the sheets can be printed for about 4 times the price of a typical black and white print.

Printing speed, which used to be an issue when printing in color (considering that most work was done by ink jet), has now come up to the level where it can be used even for large jobs.  Ogden Blue can print construction plans (blueprints), engineering drawings, and other CAD type drawings at a full 4 pages per minute (4 ppm).  Consider that an ink jet printer prints at 1/5 ppm, and you will quickly see how much different this technology is.   

Save Time

By keeping the file in a 3D CAD environment, it helps architects and engineers clearly see what the other is doing.  As each iteration comes through from each professional, each of his or her colleagues can clearly see what the intent and spatial arrangement of the previous creator was.  This saves tremendous time in translation from one to the next.  Continuing in this same arrangement, the contractor is pulled in as a partner in that communication loop.  Through clear communication and by every subcontractor seeing exactly the same drawing, the communication time is greatly decreased.  The subcontractor sees exactly the same drawing the architect shared with the engineer.  

This clear path of communication, without a need to "translate" from 3D to 2D with all the communication errors this can produce, leads directly to reduced job rework and slip in the job schedule.

Summary

As competition for work and dollars has been fierce, so has the need to reduce job cost and decrease the costly rework required in a job.  By increasing the effectiveness of communication, the architect, general contractor, and engineer work together to reduce the amount of error and increase the efficiency of the whole team.  Stay 3D in color... better customer service, better communication, happier teams, and reduced scheduling adjustments.  What could be better?  Contact us today to learn more by calling or clicking on the contact button.  We hope to show you how color helps transform and streamline today's already efficient construction. 

What if you could have tear-resistant, waterproof construction plans in the job trailer?  Think about all the conditions that you encounter everyday on the construction job site.  How cool would it be to have the same redline drawings from job beginning to job end?

Ogden Blue offers printing on Tyvek, the same 3M material used to wrap buildings.  This highly durable material is perfect for those drawings that get dragged around from plumbing to HVAC to electrical.  Don't worry about it anymore, and get Tyvek plans.

We have technology that puts a waterproof, durable "surface" print on Tyvek.  This new technology is perfect for CAD in both color and black & white.  Our large construction customers who have used these unique plans are coming back for more.  Why?  Because in all the rugged environments of a construction site, the old style plans on 20# bond will deteriorate over time as the general or sub-contractors make changes to the documents, note discrepancies, and perform field engineering.  Change documents are sometimes slow in coming, and torn, ripped paper is not going to communicate these changes well.   

While it would be cost-prohibitive to print all the sets of drawings on Tyvek, what we are finding is that two sets in the job trailer provide a great control set for the entire site.  While the material is waterproof, it can still be written on and maintains permanent inks in the face of water... or coffee spills, whichever one comes first.  The plans can also be wash gently with soap and water to clear up areas that may have gotten muddy or dragged through a not-quite-completed plumbing area.  Watch our video on this site under Commercial Services | Tyvek.  This will show the amazing durabililty of Tyvek in comparison to typical 20# bond prints.

We can do Tyvek prints up to 36" wide and any length.  Since you can also have it printed in color, the use of 3D CAD on Tyvek can make your plans clear, concise, and minimize job mistakes, rework, and increase customer satisfaction.  By making your blueprints as clear as possible, we hope to save you time, money, and hassle now and into the future.  Of course, we always have the 20# bond prints at great prices as well.  Let us know what we can do to help! 

WHy the new web site?

For anyone who saw the old web site, I think you will understand why we really wanted to update this site!  When I came to the company two and a half years ago, there were a lot of pressing issues that needed to be taken care of, and the web site just seemed to drop by the wayside.  We really concentrated on becoming a top-notch printing firm during that period of time, and we have done an outstanding job on offering unique services, stellar customer service, and a fast, easy printing experience.  The web site is more about customer service to me.  Is there a way that we can help you get stuff done faster, easier, with less hassle?  I hope that is what the new web site will be all about.

This site now gives us the ability to change the information here ourselves.  We get to blog and converse with you through it.  It links to our social media, so we can let you know about all the great services and specials you can find at Ogden Blue.  In other words, it helps us continue the conversation with you, and helps us deliver a higher level of service than we could before. 

New Features

We have a lot of new features and a new look.  Our new look, which some of you have seen, reflects a bit better the new Ogden Blue.  We have had blueprinting services for a long time, but a lot of people didn't know that we also do color printing which is reflected in the new logos.  We have some amazing digital presses that give incredible quality... right here in Ogden so you can keep your business local.  Our six color bars reflect the six ways that we can serve you, and each one represents an area in which we can help you express yourself as you want in print, art, and design.

So... we have added a File Upload area, where you can send your print files to us.  You can also contact us directly or learn about the different kinds of services we offer.  We have an Art Knowledge base coming soon, where you can learn a little about the different types of products and how they are used.  You can join a newsletter that can help you track when art classes are, what specials we are offering, and hear about great new products that we are bringing on-line or into the store.  There will be specials that you can only view on-line, and we will have contests that will run.  For instance, right now, you can win an iPad by just printing with us or by joining our newsletter forum!

 We are happy that you decided to check out our new web site, and I hope you find it enjoyable, informative, and easy-to-use.  I also hope it saves you time, helps you learn, and helps you save.