Pocket Protectors are Back on Track!

Just a small (and in many ways big) update about the local printing shop that temporarily closed down the entire month of December. I finally received an email reply from them today about my order! They are open for business after their son was in a, as they literally put it, "horrific car accident" and he was in the hospital for a month. They all finally came home last week and are getting back to work again. So after the Further Confusion event (Jan 12-14), I will resume working with them to take care of those original pre-orders. Thanks a million times over for your patience!

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For those of you unaware of the situation, I have been trying to get all the shirts from the original pre-order period fulfilled for... way too long. I've been to countless printers since June seeking out a company more cost-effective that can produce them up to my high quality standards that my previous company (Red Bubble) was unreliable at providing. Most of them failed the print tests due to the amount of transparency required to print the pocket illusion on colored shirts because white ink isn't opaque, and not all printers or software or pre-treatment methods are created equal and most couldn't produce the effect properly. My previous updates demonstrate my test progress.

Two companies stood out though: Neatoshop online fulfillment and a local shop Denver Custom Printing. Both produced very high quality prints and I ultimately chose the local Denver printer because they can offer a wider selection of T-Shirt colors (that match the ones my pre-orders were for) and their rates are slightly better because they charge based on the size and amount of ink.  So I was in the middle of placing my final tests at the beginning of December, aiming to surprise everyone with Xmas delivery... when I was the one who was surprised instead. After my order request went un-replied to for a week, I tried reaching out again and an automated response alerted me to the family emergency. It sounds like the whole ordeal was quite exhausting but it seems like their son has pulled through and if I learn anything more I'll be sure to share. 

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In the meantime, I got the test print batch rush ordered with my online backup company, Neatoshop, in anticipation that I may have to go through them to have any shirts to sell at Further Confusion. And glad I did! The new prints turned out great and I tested the full line of Pocket Protectors. I've posted an image of the spread above (not color corrected).

I picked my favorite/best selling designs on the shirt colors that did them the most justice, did one final pass of color correction, as well as focused while I was waiting on creating some new designs that not part of the Pocket Protector series I wouldn't have to worry about the transparency effect. Two new designs will debut at the convention (and if you're supporting me on Patreon you get a sneak peak and the ability to order in advance for a discount). Neatoshop also came through for me in a very big way, rushing my order to print and ship them in one day turnaround to make sure I would receive them in time for my convention. They went above and beyond in customer service and I can't thank them enough!

So expect to receive another update about the pre-orders in about two weeks time! Current projection for shipping out final product is the end of January. Thank you all!