Mind Bending

Last Edit November 1, 1999

Life has ways of letting you know that you are supposed to be doing something different.
As part of the job change, my boss left, the department I was with collapsed, I am in Content Development now.
I was given the opportunity to attend the Taz Tally's Seminar series - scanning, PhotoShop, Fonts etc., and Prepress. Two days.
And a printer, DeHarts, was the sponsor.
And the next set of seminars is a year away.
I wanted to go. For some reason, I wanted to go NOW.
OK.
I get two days out of the cubbyhole cube and into the Hilton Sunnyvale hotel.
I get to refresh myself on skills with the software I don't use everyday and don't want to lose touch with.
I get to be with other people who work the art and design layouts and presspress stuff in the computer world. Marketing. Communications people. Service bureaus. Printers.
I like this. I speak this language. Stimulation.
So off I go.
Of course the kid can't possibly leave the house on time. God forbid. And he roars and grumbles and is late for his class. And, of course, even trying to drive like a bat out of hell is not possible in the Wed. AM rush hour on southbound 880 and westbound 237. Ask anyone in Silicon Valley.
I get there precisely at 9AM - and find a long, long walk in heels in from an obscure corner of the parking lot. They have started.
I get my badge (name and company wrong) and my notes, and a restroom (essential after 2 hours in traffic) and slip into the room. Within moments, I get up for a coffee - and he calls attention to this. "Leaving already?"
No, just need coffee. I start a trend. This does not phase me. Not in the slightest.
I get back in my seat, which is further back in the room than I like, given my eyes, and am mad at my kid. We have to do it better!
I do learn from others that I am not alone in having trouble reading the screen. I'll live with it.
The room is packed. He goes fast. Lots of material. Lots of eye-opening demonstrations. I can do this. I need better software, a better scanner.
I have an HP5P - it is a low-end - good-enough scanner.
I need better. But then, I knew that.
You see, back when I was Director of Marketing, I had one employee whom I sent to all these classes and she was very well training. She was my color person - handled all things colored. She understood 4-color process, 5-color process. Master. Dye Sublimation. Film. Separations. Prepress checklists.
All that stuff I know I need to know.
We had a top of the class scanner and a postscript color inkjet printer.
You can get these at your local business supply store now!
For my book, correction, for my FIRST book, I will use a service to photo-manipulate.
Rule says: If you aren't an expert, hire one. A very good rule. Do not try to do everything yourself.
However, you need to be aware of the processes involved and be able to comprehend the vocabulary.
This class is doing just that. For me.
We break.
And there, in front of me, is a UMAX scanner. It's the one used in the class. It's like the one I used to have in my department when I was a Director of Marketing.
No heavy thought required here.
I double-check - "Which software are you running?"
I get the second level up - with the software I have been watching.
It is due to be delivered in the next day or so.
Alleluia.
Right behind the G4.
It took about 5 minutes to do this.
Decide and do. Several other people want it, but have to go back to the office and get signatures, get permission, justify.
When you are the CEO of the company, not necessary.
Just do it.
Good.
I sit in class and learn how to do better scans. I will practice on the Fabio book covers.
Upgrade the website.
Knew there was a reason I was doing all this.
Born to shop.
Born to rule.
Back in class, I learn PhotoShop stuff. PhotoShop 5.5.
Should say, the class is a mix of PC and Mac users. Good.
And the class is being done on a Mac. Very good.
I will need to re-read all this material. And play with it.
And I chat with the printer rep.
Turns out.....
They are just bringing up fulfillment. Print-on-Demand.
Hmmmm.
Sound familiar?
My next step actually.
Figure out fulfillment.
So here we are.
Talk to me I say.
They will they say.
If the price is right saves me setting up a commercial account on a commercial site.
Maybe they can also print the 20,000 paperback books. And fulfill accounts with that too.
Step 1 in the stand and deliver phase.
I haven't figured out exactly how to do that.
At the end of Day 1, I am exhausted. Intense. Lots of reading. Mind going like a house on fire.
I split just as they are doing the drawing for prizes.
Turns out, I won something but I won't get it because I was out of the room! (It was a CD holder - don't need it. Thanks anyway.) If it had been the new Adobe In-Design, I would have jumped out of my skin.
Next day, he (my son) gets up just as slowly. And the traffic is just as bad. But I made it with 5 minutes to spare.
I sit in the front. Know what?
Couldn't see any better.
But today I have a different mission.
Last night, it was confirmed that I should do three articles for possible printing in Romantic Times.
One is on the photo shoot.
One of the trials of self-publication.
And one is on the book that it has taken 25 years to launch - Jettison - the Star Trek novel that almost was..
So today, we up the contact with the printer.
Need to do this SOON.
At LUNCH. Next week.
I meet the head of the company.
They have done a paperback.
So they can help me too.
Maybe. Good.
This has now made these seminars priceless - regardless of all the software stuff I learned.
I learned Font management guidelines (on a Mac and a PC ) (Adobe Type Reunion Delux)
I learned about pre-flight software - what you can run to sort out missing fonts, art, etc. And I am doing the book layout. (Cute Eagle. Squawks like a hawk.)
I review terms and samples of different proof mechanisms.
And how to allow for color bleed.
Hightlights and shadows.
How to "fix" a bad photo. Misc. Things.
Even which tablet I should get my son - who wants to draw on the tablet.
Two days.
A lot accomplished.
A few steps nearer.
Always listen to your mind.
It knows what you should be doing.