Customer Reviews

Pocket Pal: A Graphic Arts Production Handbook

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I was thrilled to see the new 17th edition of the Pocket Pal published by International Paper. This book is written in easy to understand English (easy if you speak English I guess) and covers all aspects of the graphics arts business, including printing and now electronic pre-press. It should be on the bookshelf of every designer and art director. I was in advertising and graphic arts for over 25 years and I still look to this handy book for answers to questions related to printing, color separations, and more.

If you work in publishing, prepress, graphic design, or any print-related field, you NEED this book. What else needs to be said? Anything you need to know--from process or spot colours, to print processes, to historical information--is in this book. Surprisingly enough, it is as interesting as it is informative--this is the first "techie manual" that I've read for fun. (Either this book is really good, or I *really* don't have a life.) Regardless, GET THIS BOOK. NOW!

I have recommended and referred to this book for 25 years in teaching production and pre-press to graphic design students in colleges and art schools around the country. Its a pocket "bible" and a "must have" for any graphic designer wanting to know about printing. Although it would help to have more pre-press how-tos, it never was a how-to-mech book. It keeps updated and is a good, small and inexpensive reference of terms and technologies for designers so they can be able talk to printers intelligently and professionally.

although the book was originally written in 1934, all of the basic theories of film, printing, bindery and other production processes still apply. I first found this book in the mid 80's in college, and still use it today as the Director of Creative Services in an advertising agency. I find that the best employees in the production field today are the ones who not only understand new digital technologies (i.e. filmless printing), but also understand the foundation for the traditional print process. This book will help you to understand the basics and serve as a great reference book. Keep it on your shelf, you never know when you might need it!

Ok... so this is a pretty intimidating and formidable little book. But it is the seventeenth edition! Obviously, this book is doing something right to stay in print. That something is providing a fundamental trade resource on the subject of layout, prepress, and printing. This is all the stuff you didn't want to know. Topics covered in minute detail are: history; copyfitting and type; halftones, screens, and dot matrices, imagesetters and platemaking, press types and their operation. It is packed with high quality illustrations, diagrams, and 4-color photos. This is definately a blue collar book in a black turtleneck world and a must for every designer. Consult this book before you design something wacky -- you don't want to get that "ya should'a read yer Pocket Pal" wink from the pressman.

I have been a publisher for over 30 years and I can testify, Pocket Pal is one of the best selling books in the industry. Condensed and concise, it gets right to the point on type, prepress, printing, postpress, paper and so on. There is even a history of type and printing. Glossary.

This 4.25 x 7.25, 234-page goldmine will be a constant reference for typesetters, publishers and printers. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

The world's greatest little book, this gem contains the collective widom of the printing industry in an easy to carry-around format. It explains all of the mechanical, digital, and photographic aspects of the printing process, including typesetting, digital imaging and imagesetting, platemaking, and printing. The latest edition (1997) is up to date in describing CTP (computer to plate) development as well as details on the oldest printing methods still in use. Get two copies: someone will always "borrow" one of them.

good pictures and illustrations. good data and information. excellent description of the major printing processes. could use more on the minors.