CIRCULAR LETTER NO. 424

July 25, 1997

TO: Printing and Publishing Officials of the Federal Government

SUBJECT: Addendum to Class Schedule for the Institute for Federal Printing and Publishing

Circular Letter No. 418 provided the 1997 and 1998 Institute for Federal Printing and Publishing class schedule. Since that time, we have added some new classes, reconstructed one class, and have scheduled additional sessions of popular classes. Following is a revised schedule through the end of this calendar year. Please note especially those that are new or added. If you are not receiving updates and would like to get them via fax or mail (we're currently looking at e-mail, too), please call (202) 512-1283, e-mail ifpp-registrar@gpo.gov, or fax (202) 512-1255 with your name, organization, voice and fax numbers, e-mail and mailing addresses.

TOTALLY RECONSTRUCTED! July 22 and 23, 1997.¹ Washington, DC. CD Publication. This class covers CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, and various kinds of DVDs. It discusses digital information in its many forms and common uses of each. OCR and PDF scanning are covered, and an exercise in Omnipage Disk Publisher is included in which participants analyze a file and go through the steps necessary to index, create a textbase, search the textbase, and create a table of contents as well as tagging of the text base to include an image. An exercise in FrontPage Explorer is also included in which participants create a document for the Internet, and another exercise has participants create a document for an Intranet. A special PDF exercise is included in which participants create a thumbnail, bookmarks, an index, and search a document. Panorama Pro, SGML software, is also used to create an SGML document for the Internet. Class participants create a CD-R incorporating the various text bases and receive two free retrieval software programs. Special tips for buying a CD-Recorder and CD-R discs are included as are tips in the recording, testing, and care of the recorded discs. Standards for all kinds of CDs and development of CDs are also covered. Information on the Special Interest Group for CD Applications and Technology (SIGCAT) is provided as is information on other organizations that may be of interest. This is a hands-on computer class that assumes computer competency and is limited to 10 people per session. The cost is $370.

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       ¹This session has already occurred, but the information is provided because we schedule additional sessions when we have enough people on a waiting list. Please call, fax, or e-mail to add the name of any nominee; we will let the nominee know when the next session is scheduled. This holds true for all our classes, especially the hands-on computer classes which are small.

ADDED SESSION. July 29, 30, 31, and August 1, 1997. Chicago, IL. Introduction to Document Preparation for World Wide Web (WWW) Publishing covers the implementation of HTML, the standard tagging scheme used to publish documents on the WWW. Class participants will experience the steps needed to prepare a document for the WWW using computers in a classroom environment. The format includes Web page development, design techniques, data analysis, markup, and encoding a document. Related software, browsers, and design techniques are also reviewed. Participants will create a home page and learn the techniques required to link to other documents or WWW sites. The class assumes computer literacy; knowledge of Windows and DOS systems is helpful. This class may be taken alone, but those not familiar with SGML might find it useful to take that class first. The cost is $675.

ADDED SESSION. August 14 and 15, 1997. San Francisco, CA. Getting the Best from Desktop Publishing deals with some of the printing considerations that must be kept in mind when using desktop publishing programs or systems to prepare materials for printing. It is targeted at how to submit materials that can provide the printing you need. Some of the areas covered include fonts and font incompatibility, graphic file formats, trapping colors, and submission of information and visuals to accompany "electronic mechanicals." While the desktop publishing process will be explained, this is not a hands-on class in how to prepare copy or design on a particular program or system. It deals with software packages only as the information is relevant to the printing process. The focus is on ways the agency can get the best printed products from desktop-produced material. Information is applicable to both PC and Mac users. The seminar assumes basic familiarity with desktop publishing and basic knowledge of printing. The cost is $205. This special two-day San Francisco session is being scheduled to coincide with the Printing Industries of America "Digital Prepress for Offset and Digital Printing" session scheduled August 13, 1997.

ADDED SESSION. August 26, 27, and 28, 1997. Washington, DC. Introduction to Printing Processes and Terminology is a basic overview of the printing processes including planning, desktop publishing, photography, electronic copy preparation, platemaking, paper and ink, presswork, binding, and delivery. This is a beginning session for people with little or no knowledge of printing processes and terminology. It is a good introduction for other courses offered by the Institute; it is also a good review. The cost is $275.

NEW! September 2 and 3, 1997. Washington, DC. PageMaker Workshop (Level 1). This is a hands-on, small (6 student) class in a computer lab. It provides basic familiarization with the PageMaker 6.5 program including tools and menus; importing and threading text; fonts, font sizes, and styles; aligning paragraphs by menu; keyboard shortcuts; setting leading, spacing, and tabs; and importing and placing graphics. Tips on providing files that work in the imagesetter environment and/or in the digital copier/duplicator and press environments are included. The class assumes familiarity with computer software products and knowledge of printing and publishing terminology. Information is applicable to both Mac and PC users. The cost is $370.

NEW! September 4 and 5, 1997. Washington, DC. PageMaker Workshop (Level 2). This is a hands-on, small (6 student) class in a computer lab. It includes creating, assigning, editing, and applying and removing style sheets; creating and using libraries; creating and using levels and stacking orders; formatting and assigning master pages, and using pre-installed templates and saving publications as templates. The class assumes familiarity with computer software products and knowledge of printing and publishing terminology. Information is applicable to both Mac and PC users. The cost is $370.

ADDED SESSION. September 9, 10, and 11, 1997. Washington, DC. Resources for Publishing-Doing More with Less includes project assessment and planning; where to find resources for writing, editing, proofreading, and indexing; where to go for design, layout, illustration, and photography; and where pre-press, production, and reproduction for print resources are. Attendees will learn of multimedia resources and packing and distribution for print and multimedia, of internal Government resources, about using freelancers, and about Internet resources. Trade journals, glossaries, training programs, publications and the Internet are all included as are important ancillary subjects such as copyright considerations and evaluating effectiveness. The class assumes some familiarity with computer software products and knowledge of printing and publishing terminology. The cost is $275.

September 23, 24, and 25, 1997. St. Louis, MO. Introduction to Printing Processes and Terminology. See August 26, 27, and 28, 1997. The cost is $275.

September 26, 1997. St. Louis, MO. How to Communicate Effectively Using SF-1 is a hands-on session that emphasizes the need to communicate clearly and completely; it addresses new orders, reordering, and unusual requirements. It discusses ways to communicate to get the product you need. The class is intended to help solve some of the communication problems that arise in ordering printing. Those who have little or no knowledge of printing terminology should take Introduction to Printing Processes and Terminology prior to this class. The cost is $120.

NEW! October 15 and 16, 1997. Washington, DC. Intermediate PhotoShop. This is a new hands-on, small (6 student) class under development. It will be held in a computer lab and will provide tips, shortcuts, and production techniques for people who have basic program knowledge. An announcement will be issued in the near future. The cost is $370.

October 15 and 16, 1997. Washington, DC. Introduction to Full-Text Coding for Electronic Manuscript Using SGML is an overview of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) and includes document analysis and automated coding methods. SGML concepts and creation of a document type definition (DTD) are discussed and insertion of SGML tags is achieved at the PC workstations. PC workstations and hands-on classroom techniques are used to explore solutions to the general coding required to make data available for electronic dissemination on CD-ROM and other media. Word processor hard codes and conversion software techniques for direct usage with specific software retrieval programs are also covered. The class assumes computer literacy; knowledge of Windows and DOS systems is helpful. The cost is $370.

October 20, 21, 22, and 23, 1997. Washington, DC. Introduction to Document Preparation for WWW Publishing. See July 29, 30, 31, and August 1, 1997. The cost is $675.

November 4 and 5, 1997. Washington, DC. Publishing Media. This class is an introduction to the various types of publishing media available to Government publishers. It discusses print, CD-ROMs, faxes, e-mail, bulletin boards, and the Internet. Features of each medium are addressed including costs, security, reliability, and access. Special electronic publishing considerations are also discussed, and Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), HyperText Markup Lanaguage (HTML), and Portable Document Format (PDF) are briefly addressed. People who want to better understand available publishing options will want to attend this class. The cost is $205.

November 18 and 19, 1997. Washington, DC. Proofs and Press Sheet Inspections includes a discussion of proofs and proofing systems and the relationship between proofs and PSIs. It covers what a PSI is and is not, scheduling of PSIs, PSI procedures, and advice for agency representatives. Various press sheets are used in demonstrations. Government employees who review proofs or participate in PSIs will benefit from the class. Basic familiarity with printing terminology and processes is necessary for this seminar to have full value. The cost is $205.

December 2, 3, and 4, 1997. Washington, DC. Getting the Best from Desktop Publishing deals with some of the printing considerations that must be kept in mind when using desktop publishing programs or systems to prepare materials for printing. It is targeted at how to submit materials that can provide the printing you need. Some of the areas covered include fonts and font incompatibility, graphic file formats, trapping colors, and submission of information and visuals to accompany "electronic mechanicals." While the desktop publishing process will be explained, this is not a hands-on class in how to prepare copy or design on a particular program or system. It deals with software packages only as the information is relevant to the printing process. The focus is on ways the agency can get the best printed products from desktop produced material. Information is applicable to both PC and MAC users. The seminar assumes basic familiarity with desktop publishing and basic knowledge of printing. Those with little or no knowledge of printing terminology should take Introduction to Printing Processes and Terminology prior to this class. The cost is $275.

December 5, 1997. Washington, DC. Scanning Black-and-White Photos for Desktop Publishing covers ways in which you can get the best halftones from black-and-white photos, offering tips to be sure you get the best product. The scanning tools available, methodology used to adjust highlights and shadows, adjusting midtones, sharpening images, saving the file, and making corrections are all covered. Adjusting contrast, what to do about moires, and converting color image to grayscale are also covered. Information provided is applicable to PC and Mac users. Designers, visual information specialists, editors, writers, printing officers, and anyone who uses black-and-white photos in their desktop products should benefit from the class. This 1-day class was developed by one of the co-authors of "Photoshop in Black and White, a comprehensive guide to producing digital halftones on the desktop." The cost is $140.

December 11 and 12, 1997. Washington, DC. Reaching Your Desired Audience--An Information Marketing Overview. Participants will find out how to promote their product/service/message successfully using a variety of media including electronic, press releases, trade shows, public service announcements, and direct mail. Techniques taught by expert professionals include identifying target audiences, choosing the best medium, writing promotional copy, and evaluating the results. Participants are encouraged to bring (or envision) the product/service/message they wish to promote. Class includes examples, samples, demonstrations, and in-class exercises. The cost is $205.

Washington, DC, courses (except the hands-on computer classes) are held in the Carl Hayden Room, U.S. Government Printing Office, North Capitol and H Streets NW., Washington, DC 20401-4302. Please report to Room C-805 (the Institute=s office) to be escorted to the hands-on computer classes. Specific locations for regional courses will be announced. For reserva-tions, call (202) 512-1283, fax (202) 512-1255, e-mail: ifpp-registrar@gpo.gov or our web site: http://www.gpo.gov/ifpp/ifpphome/html. To ensure your place in class, provide your Government Visa credit card information or send SF-182, SF-1, DD-1156, purchase order, or check to: