A Shop Wrapped in Creativity
The Tour: Every Surface Tells a Story
Jim and Shelby kicked off their “All Things Print Podcast” tour at CL Visual’s Long Island, New York facility. The vibe? Immersive. “Everything’s wrapped—even the bathroom,” Jim noted, pointing to the Mad Hatter-themed front office. As Chris guided them through design stations and production floors, one thing was clear: this was a shop living its craft.
Tech, Tools, and Tireless Output
The production area buzzed with activity:
- A retired flatbed printer (now a parts donor).
- Two high-mileage ColorPainter printers.
- A brand-new Mimaki
- A GTI light booth for color-critical checks.
- Worktables overflowed with projects. “Lots of wrap,” Shelby observed—a testament to CL Visual’s national client reach. For a 7-year-old shop, the investment was striking. Chris’ philosophy? “Right tech is the lifeblood. It’s how we differentiate.”
Certifications & Culture: The CL Visual Edge
Chris didn’t just collect hardware—he invested in expertise. As an MPS-certified shop (3M’s Matching Program System), he championed credentials: “I’m a certification guy. It takes guts to put in the work.” This aligned with Jim and Shelby’s core ethos at ColorCasters. But beyond paper? Empowerment. Chris trained his team with blunt encouragement: “You’ll mess up. We’ll reprint. Eventually, you’ll just know how.” His rationale? “If you’re never allowed to fail, you’ll never climb higher.”
The Color Nerd’s Journey
Chris’ obsession started in offset printing—where color tolerance is non-negotiable. Now, clients like Kick Charge Creative (branding experts for home-service giants) demanded that same rigor. CL Visual already used X-Rite i1 tools pre-Caster Color’s visit, but sought deeper solutions for challenges like:
- File-type inconsistencies.
- Printer drift (even matching models age differently).
- Post-profiling, Chris focused on sustainability. “How do we verify color weekly? Tools like SpeckChecks or Nix Sensors? Data—not guesses—will drive recalibration.”
Purple Reigns Supreme
One quirk stole the show: Chris’ purple Sharpie. He tagged samples, emails, and tools exclusively in violet. Why? “No idea—but I love purple. My bedroom’s lavender. My daughters love pink; I claim purple.” His team knew the rule: If it’s purple, it’s Chris’. The marker symbolized ownership—and a boss who embraced quirks while chasing perfection.
