Diversification, postal reform, old presses and Photoshop artistry

Jun 1, 2005 12:00 AM, By Katherine O’Brien and Michael Koch

InRegister™ InPrint

About 25 percent of the inquiries to the Dirksen Congressional Center concern a famous quote attributed to its namesake. People want to know if the late Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-IL) really said "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money."

Dirksen’s apocryphal comment came to mind as we reviewed the following headlines:

EFI to buy Vutek for $281 million.
Donnelley acquires U.K.-based Astron Group for $990 million.
Adobe to acquire Macromedia in a $3.4 billion, all-stock transaction.

But the real message is one of diversification. Commenting on the Vutek acquisition, EFI CEO Guy Gecht said, "It represents our largest move to extend our leadership in the transformation from analog to digital printing," Astron, Donnelley’s latest purchase, specializes in outsourced document and information management services, such as preparing British Airways flight tickets and processing passport applications. Last year, it reportedly mailed more than a billion documents.

Combining Adobe and Macromedia
Many pundits characterized Adobe’s Macromedia acquisition as a pre-emptive strike against Microsoft. By uniting Adobe’s PDF technology with Macromedia’s Flash products, they say the company is beefing up its Web publishing and document management arsenal, the better to take on Bill Gates.

Our favorite comment, however, came from Brad Wallens, who posted this at PrintPlanet.com: "Yet another opportunity to combine FreeHand with Illustrator could then be called ‘Frustrator.’"

Keep an eye on postal reform
Larry Riggs, senior editor for Primedia’s DIRECT magazine, reports mailers welcomed the relatively small proposed postage increase recommended by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) but are girding for higher rates in as little as two years if Congress doesn’t enact postal reform legislation this year.

According to Riggs, the USPS filed a rate case with the Postal Rate Commission April 8 seeking an expedited recommended decision to raise rates and fees 5.4 percent for almost all categories.

The filing seeks a rate increase solely because of the requirement of Public Law 108-18 that the Postal Service establish a $3.1 billion escrow fund. The law does not stipulate how the funds are to be used. "If Congress passes and the President signs legislation overturning the escrow requirement, this case could be withdrawn," said USPS spokesman Jerry McKiernan. (See www.directmag.com.)

And you thought your press was slow
American Graphic Arts Machinery specializes in museum quality printing presses, including the circa-1830 Columbian Press (right). Rated at a blazing 250 sph, the press reportedly is among the most ornate ever made. Unfortunately, we’re pretty sure American Graphic Arts doesn’t take trade-ins, so you’ll have to find a different upgrade path. For a catalog, see http://www.AGAmachinery.com/AntiquePresses.

Beautiful digital photography & Photoshop
By Michael Koch

Dan Giordan’s "The Art of Photoshop" features visually complex images that are rich in layered tonality. Giordan is the founder and creative director for DigiRAMA Studios. He has worked with corporate clients such as Pan Am, Priceline and IFMG. Readers will learn how to use curves to correct color, silhouette images, map gradients, use blending modes, and draw and paint into an image.

Pick up this book, flip through the pages, notice its heft, its size, and its pleasing colors and photos. Then get over it and move into it! "The Art of Photoshop" is more than a coffee table book—it’s a wonderful mix of artistic expression and in-depth insight into Photoshop’s inner workings. The book goes beyond the simple scaling of an image to offer easily digestible spreads of information, tips and walkthroughs. It goes far beyond the "For Dummies" approach—this is a creative person’s guide to controlling and manipulating an essential design program.

See www.samspublishing.com.
—Michael Koch is the senior art director of American Printer and PFFC magazines. Contact him at mkoch@primediabusiness.com.

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