Print Buyer Boot Camp Basics:
The Technical Curriculum

Selecting the best subjects for a Print Buyer Boot Camp™ curriculum is not easy, because, well, because there is SO much to learn. You can only cover so much in a few hours, which means we are very selective every time we run one of these. Each of our Boot Camps is different, so attendees always gain new knowledge if they register for more than one.

Our March 6th Boot Camp at the ON DEMAND Expo will cover one of the biggest concerns voiced by print customers today - understanding the differences between digital printing and offset printing. ON DEMAND is the biggest show for "all things digital," so naturally we wanted to color our Boot Camp curriculum with a digital flavor.

Steve Suffoletto is my co-presenter on March 6th. Steve's a Senior Training Specialist at RIT's Printing Application Laboratory. (RIT, for new subscribers who may not already know, is widely known as the leading educational institution for printing and print management anywhere. It's at www.rit.edu.)

Not only has he over 31 years of industry experience, but Steve qualifies for this field in a way that most printers still identify with: his dad was a printer, and two of his brothers are also in printing. (Printing: the ultimate family affair!)

I want to share with you the scope of Steve's four Boot Camp modules, which he'll present next month. They serve as a terrific guideline for subjects you should dig into, if you're new to the field.

1. Printing Process Overview

   A discussion of the various processes is the classic start to any print curriculum, and we always include this module in Boot Camp. Steve will review each printing process. He'll provide a global view of pre, press, and post-press stages; touch on print-and-deliver vs. deliver-and-print options, and even talk about the various types of process design components.

   Attendees will learn how to compare current printing processes (their similarities and differences plus their strengths and weaknesses). Finally, Steve is prepared to give us basic rules of thumb, such as why Process A is more appropriate than Process B.

2. Pros & Cons of Digital vs. Offset Printing

   Steve will help us understand the digital process, its capabilities and its limitations. He'll talk about finding and matching the best printing process for the needs of the product and customer.

   He'll provide a comparison table as well, giving important specs such as speed and turn-around time, colors (gamut, spots), quality (image resolution, and price (cross-over and break-even points). Of course, we'll also find out who the major digital press manufacturers are today, plus what the options are for digital paper.

3. What Every Print Buyer Should Know About Paper

   You can't work in printing without working with paper (and learning about it). Steve's module on paper will cover paper's role in printing, paper functionality vs. quality, common physical properties and their importance, and basic paper facts such as basis weight, caliper, bulk, grain direction, moisture content, and optical qualities. He'll cover whiteness, brightness, and gloss, a look at the various paper grades and finishes, recycled paper - even synthetic substrates.

4. How to Approve a Proof and Give Press Color OKs

   Of all the subjects Steve and I discussed for this Boot Camp, I asked him to deliver this module on proofing and press OKs, for I get a lot of queries about these from buyers.

   He'll start with a quick overview of the different types of proofs and move into what you should look for in the proof (Copy, Content, Position, and Color).

   When you go press-side for a press OK, you should know why you're there, if you are looking at the proof or press sheet under the proper lighting and viewing conditions, and how to determine "how close is close enough" for register and color.

   Steve will cover what can and can't be done on press - something every buyer and designer should learn. Finally, he'll give us advice for talking in the press operator's language (without swearing J). (Hint: just tell them what you see, not what to do.)

These four topics comprise our technical curriculum for the March 6th Print Buyer Boot Camp™. Alongside of these topics will be my own four modules on an overview of the industry, how to select printers, how to work with them, and what the best buyer resources are.

Visit www.bostonprintbuyers.com/bootcamp to register for this event. It takes place on March 6th at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from 10 am till 4 pm.

Comments? Talk to me at mdana@bostonprintbuyers.com.

©2008 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. You're free to forward this email to friends and colleagues: please do! However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.

Xerox Becomes a PBI Patron

At our 2007 Print Buyers Conference, Xerox stepped up and supported us in numerous ways. That they offered to continue this support year-round as a Print Buyers International Patron is a gesture that we sincerely appreciate. In the coming months, Xerox will provide educational content and other relevant information for print buyers through this newsletter as well as on our site. Xerox, thank you!

Xerox: A Leading Evangelist for Digital Printing

For Xerox, these initiatives include generating awareness, promoting digital advocacy and providing tools and resources.

Xerox generates awareness through media campaigns and participation in industry events and trade shows. Xerox is a long-time supporter of the leading North American print buyer organizations, often a top-line sponsor at their trade shows and an exhibitor with a strong presence that includes speakers in the seminar lineup.

Promoting digital advocacy is integrated into the awareness programs and is central to workshops Xerox stages on a regular basis for targeted audiences. Topics range from "How to" presentations by print buyers and creatives to educational sessions on the strategic deployment of digital printing in communications programs. A recent wrinkle: educational workshops on digital printing for leading print providers to invite their customers.

Xerox-developed resources include design guides, such as The Art & Science of Digital Printing: The Parsons Guide to Getting it Right, and educational tracts, such as A Formal Investigation into the Urban Legends of Digital Color Printing, some of the more than 70 business development resources in the Xerox ProfitAccelerator™ Digital Business Resources collection. An equally broad collection of resources is available in the knowledge base at www.xerox.com/creative.

In addition, Xerox helps print buyers connect with the industry's leading digital printers through its searchable directory of Xerox Graphic Arts Premier Partners, www.xerox.com/xpp, a global network of more than 670 vanguard digital print services providers.

Xerox also is a leader in optimizing the innate "green" qualities of digital printing to help print buyers and their companies contribute to a sustainable environment.

"The benefits of digital printing extend well beyond the print shop floor, so we, at Xerox have worked hard to partner with all who stand to benefit," said Bob Wagner, vice president, Xerox Creative Services Business and Premier Partners Program. "We view our role as helping print production pros do great work for their clients."

One measure of Xerox success: digital printing has seen tremendous growth and acceptance among print buyers and designers since Xerox formalized its education efforts in 1999, with the formation of a dedicated and focused Graphic Communications Industry Business Team.

Thursday, March 6th
10 am - 4 pm
ON DEMAND Conference & Expo
Boston Convention & Exposition Center

Boot Camp provides basic education to those new to buying or selling print and to those who need a basic refresher. Margie Dana and RIT's Steve Suffoletto will be the instructors.

10 am - 12 pm	Guided tour of the ON DEMAND exhibits with Margie
12 pm - 4 pm	Print Buyer Boot Camp!

Cost: $199 per person; $159 for members of Boston Print Buyers

You do NOT have to register for the ON DEMAND Conference to attend Boot Camp. In fact, by registering with Boot Camp, you get these bonuses:

• a FREE Expo Pass at the ON DEMAND show, giving you admission to

• the Keynote Speaker Series;

• Application Showcase Theater Presentations;

• Unlimited Access to Over 200 Exhibitors on the ON DEMAND floor;

• Access to the Co-Located XPLOR and AIIM Exposition Hall Floor.

For details and registration, visit www.bostonprintbuyers.com/bootcamp.

Free Webinar on Letterpress!

Tuesday, February 26th
2 - 3 pm ET

PaperSpecs is presenting "Impressed with Letterpress" as a free webinar, and you're invited to register. Letterpress is one of the oldest printing technologies still in use. Guest speaker Judith Berliner of Full Circle Press has been printing since she was 14.

To register, visit www.paperspecs.com/webinar/letterpress.htm.

3rd Annual Print Buyers Conference - Better in Boston! Hold the dates for '08: September 10 - 12, 2008 The Sheraton Boston Hotel Boston, MA September 10th: Print Buyer Boot Camp!™ (full day) September 11 - 12th: Two full days of Conference and Exhibit Hall Interested in exhibiting? Visit our exhibitor page.

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