Mailbox

To All at GAM:

As the manager of the project, I wanted to tell you that we are receiving a tropical storm of positive commentary on GRACoL (General Requirements for Applications in Commercial Offset Lithography) Version 5.0, which mailed along with the June issue of Graphic Arts Monthly.

I just got off the phone with an executive in New York who called only to say that it was the best version of GRACoL that he had ever seen. Other recipients have e-mailed me their kudos; following are but three examples.

Writes Nashville-based Leroy Richmond, director of Print Services for the State of Tennessee, "I have just received with GAM Version 5.0 of GRACoL. I need to have 10 additional copies, as I want every graphic designer and every consultant in my division to have their own copy. This is the best version I've ever read. My staff needs to read it; we need to start acting on some of the ideas presented. This is very well done."

Jeff Weiss, vice president and general manager of Rainier Color Lithographers, Seattle, says, "Bravo! I just received a copy of GRACoL 5.0 and I must say I am impressed. Finally, an organization that has the potential to truly educate our industry in a positive way. I would like to offer myself as well as my company's support and assistance anyway you see fit—we would love to be a part of your group. Congratulations on a wonderful piece."

Anne Ballen Ladenson, executive vice president for Disc Makers, Pennsauken, N.J., writes, "Disc Makers has 30 product specialists and 50 account managers who have to talk to clients about the ins and outs of CD manufacturing and printing. There's a lot of training to get them up to speed. On the graphics end, we had for years used photocopies from here and there along with our own materials to cobble together a training program. In 1996, we abandoned all that in favor of using GRACoL as our text. I find it to be the best, most-up-to-date training tool available to us. It's a great resource. Version 5.0 is definitely more complete and current than anything else out there."

I just wanted you to know that this joint project is getting a great reception in the marketplace.

David Hultin, Print Media Special Projects Manager, Graphic Communications Association (GCA) dhultin@gca.org

Additional copies of GRACoL are available through GCA. Call (703) 837-1070, fax (703) 837-1072, or visit gca.org or gracol.com on the World Wide Web.

Editor:

I am looking for a software program, PC, or Mac, that I can use when laying out jobs for our electronic prepress department. We are a 40" sheetfed commercial printing company, so the software should be based on eight- or 16-page signatures as well as other formats.

I am not looking for PressWise [from ScenicSoft] or Impostrip [from Ultimate Technographics], which we have on our production computers. Rather, I need software for job planning purposes. Any thoughts?

mschrenk52@aol.com