Recently, Roy Ackland and David Weatherly from Roy’s Folks at WGHP FOX8 in the Piedmont-Triad honored us with a visit. We had sent out a press release on our book Family Photos- Eli Hamilton Halsey and Lillian Blanche Smith and they were looking for a day trip to escape the hot weather, so they came to Sparta.

Kingsport Press

We were able to talk about the book, and our history in the printing industry. My dad told about his career in printing- in Roanoke, Bristol and in the photographic department at Kingsport Press. He eventually went to work for Opti-Copy, Inc. in Kansas City, traveling all over the world installing equipment and working with dealers. I went to work with Opti after school and traveled extensively in installation and service of the step-and-repeat cameras we built.

Opti-Copy, Inc. in Lenexa, Kansas in the eighties.

When the Japanese company, Polychrome, bought the company, Dad and I  moved to Greensboro where he co-founded Imaging Specialists, Inc. with partner, Gerry Foss. ISI was a prepress trade shop supplying printers with one piece, plate-ready film. We produced film for books, publications, ads, and labels and worked with offset, roto-gravure, flexo and even silk screeners.

Since we had contacts at printing companies across the country, we were well positioned for farm-out and overflow work. My brother, Alan, (also an ex Opti-Copy employee) and I redesigned the drive systems on our cameras and successfully marketed that idea and imposition software to other Opti owners. Eventually, we were able to buy out Mr. Foss’ half of the business and the company was truly then a “Mom & Pop” organization. My mother, Eloise, had been working with us since we started in Greensboro and my wife, Sharon, had joined us in 1994.

Ron Halsey with one-piece, plate-ready, final film, Imaging Specialists' main output for years.

Desktop publishing and the digital revolution finally killed our part of the prepress work flow and Dad decided to retire in 2000. We knew we had to reinvent ourselves, so Sharon and I also moved the business to the mountains in 2003.

Our experience in graphics and printing has helped us in the digital age. We run Adobe Creative Suite on Mac and PC platforms. We have expanded into the internet and now build and host websites. Our daughter, Claire, has joined us, now, and handles the web work.

We think our prepress experience coupled with on-demand printing makes a perfect fit. We offer services that include page layout and design, photo optimization, illustration, and e-commerce and marketing websites.

These turn-key book assembly services we perform are much like the days when we would accept a stack of pages (literally, a basket-case) correct and assemble them into what the printer needed to produce a book. And with on-demand, self-publishing is very reasonable. Contact us if you have an idea or a book that you want to discuss.

And check out our story on television, next week. Thanks Roy and David. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up Dad’s birthday present.

Recently, we’ve been working on a (surprise) family history book for my dad, Ron Halsey, for his birthday in August.

We compiled a photographic family history of Eli Hamilton Halsey and Lillian Blanche Smith, Dad’s grandparents. It is 102 pages hardcover, 8.25″ x 10.75″ and can be ordered print-on-demand. It takes about two weeks for delivery.

We think this will be a great, affordable service we can offer writers for small runs or print-on-demand type books (like family histories!)

Using family photographs, tintypes, genealogies, stories, and some recent images, we have made a chronological photo history of the lives of our Alleghany ancestors.

We also drew a map of the northwest section Alleghany County where Eli & Lillian lived and marked important family homes, churches, and schools.

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Promote your big summer event!

Churches, Corporations, Civic Groups! Get beautiful, reusable weather-proof vinyl banners at Imaging Specialists. Great graphics and tons of fonts available! Bring your idea and we’ll design your one-of-a-kind banner.

14 oz. vinyl banner material. Double metal grommets every 2 feet. Cut vinyl installed on white, black, red, blue, yellow, or green banner. 22″, 34″ or 46″ high by whatever length you need!

Contact us for pricing or call 336-372-3002.

Also ask about our rates for corrugated plastic yard signs.

Alleghany 4-H Sponsor Signs

We’ve gone cowboy around here this week! Alleghany 4-H asked us to design and print sponsor signage for new panels that replaced their old wooden show ring.

We printed weather-proof, FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) signs with an old-timey embossed leather look. The design features pastel colors that give the leather a stamped and painted look. If cowboys didn’t have gear that looked this cool, they sure should have!

We’re really proud to be able to support the Open Horse Show this weekend co-sponsored by Alleghany County 4-H, Young Riders 4-H Club and Horse Whispers 4-H Club. Gates open Saturday at Alleghany Fairgrounds 7:30 am, registration begins at 8:00 am and the show starts at 9:00 am. For a copy of the program and class list, click here.

Get more information on Alleghany 4-H here.

Get more info on area activities from the Alleghany News, here.

Imaging Specialists can make your event look great with signage, posters, flyers- whatever graphics you need! Give us a call today at 336-372-3002.

Alleghany Historical Museum Logo

As you know Imaging Specialists can help with your logo but you might not know we can help with your entire corporate identity.

Businesses and organizations alike benefit from a consistent, standard image, defined by a comprehensive style guide. A style guide contains regulations for everything from color usage to correct logo versions to letterhead layout that you set. It guides designers and printers in the proper way to graphically represent your company.

A style guide protects your company or organization’s brand- an essential element in marketing. It assures a proper, professional look, in print, signage, online or any other medium you need for your business.

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