GATF QUALITY CONTROL DEVICES

GATF quality control devices enable you to control the entire printing process from copy preparation through press. These devices complement our broad mix of other services, which include applied testing, research, and consulting for graphic arts clients. By using GATF QC devices, you will save money, improve print quality and consistency, and reduce or eliminate downtime, waste and rejected jobs.

Some examples of GATF Quality Control Devices:

• Digital Sheetfed Color Control Bar Package -- a series of five color control bars (two four-color bars, three six-color bars) supplied on floppy disk in Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file format for either Macintosh or IBM operating systems; two of the bars are designed for use with scanning densitometers.
• Digital Test Form -- a five-page test form, available in EPS file format, that enables you to measure, control, and diagnose the output of imagesetters, direct-digital color proofing systems, and page-assembly equipment.
• Plate Control Target -- a new quality control device that gives you complete control over platemaking and proofing.
• Dot Gain Scales -- which helps printers to maintain consistent quality on press by measuring and controlling dot gain.
• High-Key, Low-Key, Portrait Color Photographs -- designed to help separators eliminate moire, test gray component replacement and the color rendition of printing systems, and successfully render highlight and shadow details.
• Proof Comparator (digital and film) -- designed to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of off-press proofs
• Film-Based Color Bars -- a variety of color control bars, in a range of screen rulings, that enable the press operator to monitor ink densities, dot gain, print contrast, ink trapping, slurring, and doubling during litho printing.
• Sheetfed Color Printing Test Kits -- designed to assist sheetfed printers in diagnosing and calibrating color reproduction on presses with up to six printing units.

TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Whether you're looking for a broad-ranging summary of the lithographic process, an advanced technical reference about electronic prepress, or a digest of critical trends, GATF has a publication for you. GATF's product catalog lists approximately 25 textbooks and other booklets, 20 videotapes or slide programs, and 20 learning modules (hands-on, skill training booklets)

Since the first edition of the Lithographers Manual was published in 1937, GATF has been known for the integrity of its textbook publishing program.

In the last year, GATF has released a large number of new or revised textbooks. Following are just some of our newer books:

• GATF Practical Guide to Color Management, by Richard Adams and Joshua Weisberg
• Gravure Primer, by Cheryl Kasunich
• Fundmentals of Lithographic Printing, by John MacPhee
• GATF Encyclopedia of Graphic Communications, by Frank Romano and Richard Romano
• The PDF Bible: The Complete Guide to Adobe Acrobat 3.0, by Mark Witkowski
• The Timetables of Communications, by Frank Romano
• Lithography Primer, by Dan Wilson

Check the "What's New" section for recent publications announcements.

GATF WORLD MAGAZINE AND SECONDSIGHTS

The Foundation's bimonthly technical magazine is your key to understanding the latest advances in everything from color management software to densitometry to how printers can use the Internet to enhance the bottom-line. Its annual supplements -- the Technology Forecast each January, the Tech Alert summary every spring, and the InterTech Awards booklet in the fall -- further embody GATF's mission to serve the graphic communications community as the leading resource for technical information and services through research and education. A subscription to GATFWorld is included with each GATF membership; nonmember subscriptions are $60 for U.S. subscribers, and $85 to all other subscribers. Two-year subscriptions are available for $110 for U.S. subscribers and $150 for all others.

Usually, at least one technical article in each issue of GATFWorld is reprinted. The reprint is called a SecondSight report. More than 50 SecondSight reports are currently available. See the GATF product catalog for a listing of available titles.

TRAINING PROGRAMS

GATF offers training and certificate programs in the areas of press operation (web and sheetfed) and electronic prepress. These programs are based extensively on the training materials produced by GATF.

Press training programs

The printed versions of the Sheetfed Offset Press Training Program and the Web Offset Press Training Program provide standards by which operators of sheetfed and web offset presses can demonstrate competency in their chosen production specialties. Available to both industry trainers and educators in technical schools and adaptable for use in classrooms with limited laboratory space or for full-scale production facilities, these programs cover the theories and principles underlying lithographic presswork as well as the practicalities of equipment operations, standard maintenance procedures, and working safely and efficiently.

Students following this course of training complete read-and-study assignments, laboratory/hands-on experience, a performance test, and a knowledge examination. In addition to a supervisor's manual and a training guide, the programs are supported by a suite of the Foundation's top training publications. Learning modules address specific production operations with step-by-step instructions that encourage self-paced learning. Videotapes and 35-mm slide programs promote group discussion and problem-solving. Textbooks serve as ongoing reference resources that are especially helpful during troubleshooting. The instructional kits, geared toward sheetfed or web technology, may be used independently or in conjunction with a structured GATF School or Industry Certificate program.

A computerized sheetfed offset press simulator developed by Sinapse (www.shotsim.com) is also available. The simulator is called SHOTS, which stands for Sheetfed Offset Training Simulator. Click here to read more about SHOTS.

Read more about their other training programs.

For more information, contact the GATF Education and Training Development Group. Click here to send an eMail message (which should include your complete name, postal address, phone and fax number) to training@gatf.org for more information on GATF turnkey training programs.