Poor Quality prints from large publishers (Carl Fischer in this case)

[miketeachesclass]

I bought a copy of Beautiful Colorado, which arrived today.

I have to say, the print quality of it is just atrocious - one example of that is attached.

I cannot understand how modern publishers can get away with print quality like this. It was obviously computer printed at one point, given the stepped chunks of hairpins throughout, but... somehow it looks like it was done on the world's most out of repair printing press.

I realize I'm ranting, but it just seems ridiculous to me!

[davewerden]

It bugs me, too. A couple things I bought lately have been obvious photo copies (or something similar) of older publications. The output is too "thick" and is hard to read. These seem to be made from older typeset originals.

In the case you mention, the stair-step look would seem to indicate it was from a computer at some point. Perhaps the original computer files are lost or simply not from a program that is still being supported. I'm not crazy about either of those theories, but I'm trying to find a logical reason for it!

[RickF]

That does look pretty bad. Unfortunately you can never return music but maybe if you complained to Carl Fischer they might send you a better copy. Might be worth a try.

[Snorlax]

As someone who is paid to typeset music using Finale (96%) and Sibelius (4%), I am constantly surprised by the low quality of published sheet music--egregious note errors, execrable note spacing, misspelled notes, incorrectly formed rhythms, colliding objects, etc.

Mike, it's not a rant--your beef is 100% legitimate!

The more typesetting I do, the more I realize how important a good presentation on the page is to a good musical performance, especially when there is limited (or no) rehearsal time.
It seems to me that the worst offenders come from the UK, but US houses turn out their share of dreck as well.

The problem in the photo seems to reflect a problem of multi-generations of xeroxing. I didn't see any hairpins, so can't comment on the jaggies. I have a 1970s version of BC; I'll trot it out to see what it looks like. A lot of music of that era was produced using Notaset, a set of transfer decals that the copyist would rub onto a page.

If youze ain't got nuttin' betta to do, have a look at www.musicprintinghistory.org and look at the Henle Verlag's YT video on plate engraving.

[DaveBj]

. . . The more typesetting I do, the more I realize how important a good presentation on the page is to a good musical performance, especially when there is limited (or no) rehearsal time. . . .

A fellow Southern Gospel composer/arranger, both of us Finale users, were discussing this one day, and he said that sometimes he feels more like a graphic designer. Truth.