Summer 2003 Vol. 4, No. 2

Design Hints for Flawless Files

BY ROSE RUMMEL-EURY

Book designers have challenging jobs.As integral members of the teams responsible for transforming raw manuscript to bound book, designers know how crucial it is to have their designs finalized before paging begins. To help eschew complications, we've created a list of design elements to avoid, simply because these elements may cause a printer test to fail. At ICC Macmillan, we anticipate these obstacles and alert our customers immediately. Bear in mind that not all printing companies are alike; if a questionable point emerges, a printer test will provide a concrete answer. Most printers will not accept these design elements: • Very small type containing more than one hit of color in four-color books. (Some printers won't accept less than 10-pt. type, others won't accept less than 8-pt. type.) The reason this might not pass is that the printer can't guarantee that color plates won't shift a bit during printing. If the type size is large enough, minor slippage won't matter; however, if the type is too small, blurred text could result. • Very thin line weight or type size appearing on a screened background. Be aware that the text or line might disappear (due to slippage of plates).This is also true of line weights not on a screen if the line is more than one color and light in weight (for example, .25 pt. is too small, .5 pt. is better). We will also notify our customers if a spec calls for a hairline rule (less than .25 pt.), as these won't appear at all. • Artificial styles (better known as font attributes). When artificially modified fonts are used, they might revert to their roman style in print, even if they display correctly on your computer monitor.We will alert you immediately when attributes are introduced, so you can make a decision regarding their use. (For more information on artificial styles, see the Winter 2003,Vol. 4, No. 1 issue of Interactions.) • Elements falling less than one-fourth of an inch away from the trim lines. Occasionally, the design will ask for page numbers to be set on a tab that bleeds off the edge. In double-numeral digits, such as 10, the 0 is in danger of getting cut off. Or the design will plan for two digits, but doesn't account for three, and the third digit could get cut off. • Bleeds that are less than 9 pts. Bleeds are almost universally designated as 9 pts. (one-eighth of an inch) beyond the page trim. Elements inside the page area should also be at least 9 pts. from the trim, although some printers require that nothing encroach on the "danger zone" within 18 pts. It's best to check with the printer. • Master art or any art saved as RGB instead of CMYK. Converting to CMYK from RGB often causes a slight color shift, so it's best to ensure the art is saved as CMYK. Running a check using Preflight software will alert our customers to this issue so new art can be provided. • Rasterized files that are less than 266 dpi. If these are used, the final product may look pixelated or blurry. Elements should be more than 266 dpi at their final size. • Screens that are very light combinations of color (such as 1%C, 3%M, 2%Y, 2%K). It takes an extremely high-end press to handle this type of formula, so it is best avoided. Please call or email our technical team with any questions. It's our job to help keep projects on schedule and looking good.

EARTHRISE INTERNATIONAL OPENS VOCATIONAL CENTER Earthrise International, ICC Macmillan's nonprofit partner working in impoverished communities in India, has founded a small vocational center in Alipur, a rural village located near the border of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Plans for the vocational center began taking shape after Earthrise finished its participatory needs assessment research, which began in the region last year. Village officials and community members collaborated with Earthrise to determine ways to address some of the problems the village faces—including high unemployment rates and a lack of a functioning sanitation system. Activities at the center include vocational training classes for women, public education and outreach programs in organic farming and vermicomposting (the use of the castings of specific types of earthworms to enhance soil fertility), and helping the community build sanitation facilities.

New Faces at ICC Macmillan

BY JADE MORAN

Please join us in welcoming new members to the ICC Macmillan team.We are fortunate to have such a diverse mix of backgrounds, talents, and experiences at our Portland office. SHARON SHWETZER Sharon's energy and enthusiasm help fuel ICC Macmillan's sales team. She joins us with fifteen-plus years of sales and business development. She is excited to get to know ICC Macmillan's customers and develop creative ways to offer our publishing services. Sharon believes in building long-term, committed  partnerships with our customers that demonstrate an understanding of each of our customer's needs. When not at work, Sharon enjoys being out- doors or playing guitar. MICHAEL BOHRER-CLANCY A native of Portland, Michael is an English literature graduate from the University of Oregon. His publishing experience started when he was editor in chief for the University of Oregon's literary journal Timberline. He attributes his interest in publishing and literary works to his editorial experience  overs- eeing every aspect of publishing, including manuscript review, editorials, and production.As a project manager, Michael likes working with authors and publishers, as well as being directly involved in book production. He enjoys poetry, camping, and shooting pool. AMY ROSE Amy grew up in Portland and New York City, and eventually pursued her passion for modern dance in NYC. Before returning to Portland, Amy's love for performance art landed her the position of operations manager for the off-Broadway Blue Man Group. In add- ition, Amy has also worked with a finan- cial technology company in publication-design and layout. Amy exudes creativity and brings ICC Macmillan a range of experiences, particularly in design. ANDREW GREENE Andrew has been working as interim FTP administrator while our employee, Wendy Tavares, is on her maternity leave. Andrew has been in the IT field for five years. He was born in Sacra- mento, California, and is a recent Port- land transplant. He enjoys listening to music, playing PC games, and creating his own graphic and Web designs.

MAGGIE NICKLES Many of our customers have already had the pleasure of working with Maggie since last summer. She and her partner moved to Portland from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a change of pace and, as she jokes, "with the ambi- tion of losing my Midwestern accent (which frequently gets me mist- aken for a Canadian)." Maggie graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning two degrees, one in English and the other in Russian. Maggie worked for a composite firm in Madison for two years, and then moved to Milwaukee, where she worked in the International Students and Scholars department. In her spare time, Maggie is a bookworm with a penchant for Russian literature. She also loves to putter around the house and relax on the front porch with her partner. MAGGIE CASPER Far from her hometown of Buffalo, New York, Maggie was the first to enter ICC Macmillan's internship program in spring 2003, and was subsequently hired as a part-time employee. Maggie studies art and writing at Portland State University and wants to work as an editor after grad- uation.  Her  sharp  eye  and  skills with language make her a great addition to our proof team. When not in class or at ICC Macmillan, Maggie prefers to be with her dog and cat, do crossword puzzles, or go to the beach. ERIC METCALF Spending his summer away from the heat of the Midwest, Eric, our systems intern, joined us from Illinois. When not immersed in programming assignments for his computer science studies at Northern Illinois University, he prefers to be in the glow of the sun rather than the glow of the computer screen.Although Eric was excited to jump back into classes, he lamented leaving his summer of hands-on experience at ICC Macmillan in Portland. But it wasn't all work and no play: amid Oregon's mountains and rivers, he got to play Frisbee, basketball, and ride his motorcycle.

Mathematics, ICC Macmillan Style

BY ERIKA KAUPPI

Here is a resource you don't want to miss: ICC Macmillan's (updated!) Style Manual of Mathematics Composition. Compiled using information from a variety of sources—including The Chicago Manual of Style, Words into Type, and Mathematics into Type—the manual is also a product of our staff 's experience with typesetting mathematical and scientific textbooks. Publishers can use the information in the manual to familiarize themselves with ICC Macmillan's math typesetting capabilities and standards, and also to communicate their needs to us. The manual covers a range of topics essential to those working with mathematical and scientific texts, including: • Specifications and copy marking • Type styles and faces • Special characters (e.g., Greek, script, embellished, etc.) • Mathematical expressions, equations, and columnar math • Chemistry • Twelve samples pages of mathematical copy using LATEX, Math-Setter, XMath, PowerMath, FrameMaker, and MathType The ICC Macmillan Style Manual of Mathematics Composition can provide quick answers to a range of questions, such as • How much space does ICC Macmillan set between whole numbers and case fractions? (p. 9) • What is the keymark that indicates one-sixth em space? (p. 8) • If an equation does not fit in the text measure and breaks aren't specified, where will ICC Macmillan break it? (p. 16) • How will ICC Macmillan typeset a matrix that does not fit within the text area? (p. 13) • What type of fraction does ICC Macmillan use in superscript notation? (p. 7) • How much leading does ICC Macmillan use in displayed equations set in 10-pt. type? (p. 24) • What are some differences between the way LATEX and other programs display math? (pp. 26-38) The manual was created to assist our customers in preparing manuscripts for composition. It is also used as part of an ongoing, inhouse training program to ensure consistency throughout the production process. The math manual is available free of charge to our customers.To request a copy, send a note to linda@iccorp.com or call her at (503) 221-9911.

MathML—A Developing Language

BY JIM LINK

Mathematics is the language of science and technology. Like spoken-languages, it has structure and syntax.Yet, what makes typesetting-mathematics so fascinating? Nearly 8,000 characters, or glyphs, have been identified that constitute the display of math. It is essential to know how to use these characters so that the result is understandable to students as well as to scientists. THE ADVENT OF A MATH DIALECT MathML (or Mathematical Markup Language) is an XML tagging vocabulary. While still in development, MathML is sure to soon become a favored method of publishing math online.This new language codes the structure of mathematical equations so they can be viewed and manipulated on the Web by the average user. MathML is a recommendation of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Math Working Group.The stated goal of this group " … is to enable mathematics to be served, received, and processed on the World Wide Web, just as HTML has enabled this functionality for text" (see http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML2/ for more about W3C and the ongoing evolution of this technology).To this end, the W3C has developed a set of XML style sheets (called XSL) to transform the MathML code into text browsers can display. WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF MATHML? The benefits of MathML, once it has been fully developed, are numerous. Perhaps the greatest benefit to authors and publishers alike is that MathML enables online readers to view, share, and even recalculate the equations shown on the Web. Although authors never want their text to be copied (i.e., plagiarized), they intend their mathematical work to be discussed and disseminated throughout their community of colleagues. Another benefit to using MathML is that your math content is easily and safely archived. Because the content is coded for use in MathML, it can be repurposed for various different products at a later date. One of the obstacles to the ready display of mathematics using MathML is the vast array of special characters math requires. The most common math programs used in textbook-quality publishing— MathSetter, PowerMath, XMath, and LATEX—also use specific sets of fonts. In its current state, MathML requires proprietary viewing and editing tools to display equations properly both in a physical book and in a user-friendly, browser-based environment. However, more efficient solutions will undoubtedly surface as MathML undergoes further development. Until then, the most common way around the MathML font/ display issue is to convert equations into JPEG or PNG graphic files. This works fine, although occasionally the figures do not print as clearly as real type does, and the files increase download time for users accessing a Web site. LET US TRANSLATE INTO MATHML FOR YOU The burgeoning potential of MathML is of interest to vendors, authors, and publishers alike. ICC Macmillan can convert files into MathML and is keeping abreast of the developments in this emerging technology. We work with our clients to develop the best workflow standards for each project. If you have developed your own processes, we learn them and adapt to them so that your schedule is met. Whether you want the highest quality book production, are ready to enter the world of individual user viewing options, or are looking for efficient means to store and repurpose your data, ICC Macmillan stands ready to help you with your project.

Bill Clark

INTERACTIONS… with ICC Macmillan Staff Meet… Bill Clark BY ERIKA KAUPPI In this issue, we feature Editorial Manager Bill Clark, who is in charge of estimating and invoicing. He began his career in publishing in 1982 as a typesetter, and then became a proofreader, and later a project manager, all while handling freelance copyediting on the side. He has been an ICC Macmillan employee since the inception of our Portland office in 1998. Bill was born in Walla Walla,Washington, and grew up in northeastern Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon where he earned degrees in French and journalism. He also spent one year at the University of Poitiers, France. After college, he relocated to Portland, drawn to its vibrancy as a small city as well as its proximity to the mountains, rivers, ocean, and desert. He met his wife Margo in 1976 here in Portland, and they were married in 1985. They have two children, Matt, 16, and Jane, 14. "Being with my family is the highlight of my life outside of work," Bill says. He also spends time singing in a choir, watching movies from the '30s and '40s, and enjoying Oregon's climate by swimming in nearby rivers, working in his garden, and taking the family dog for walks in his neighborhood. Although Bill notes Billy Collins as his current favorite author, he cites Garrison Keillor when asked to provide a quote that is meaningful to him: "Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music and books, raising kids—all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through. … " What does Bill enjoy most about working for ICC Macmillan? He says that it is the bright, fun, and hardworking people who truly believe in the importance of delivering a decent product on time. The best things about our customers? Their fair-mindedness, an appreciation for each other, and the acknowledgment that we are all part of the same team. And what do his co-workers have to say about him? One summed it upnicely: "He's a great guy to have around—that's our Bill."

Oh, Baby!

BY ROSE RUMMEL-EURY

We're pleased to announce that Wendy Tavares, our FTP administrator, and her husband Chris are the proud parents of a baby boy, Matthew Joseph, born on August 21. Wendy plans to return from her maternity leave on November 4. We are also happy to say that Brittney Corrigan-McElroy, Gina Gordon, and Kerry Beeaker will each be giving birth to their first children in the coming months. Brittney Corrigan-McElroy, senior project manager, takes her leave around September 26 and returns in January. Brittney and her husband Thomas are excited to be having a boy. Sales/Marketing Director Gina Gordon is planning on working up until her due date in late September and plans to return in November. She and her husband Sloan are also expecting a boy. Last, our Portland production manager, Kerry Beeaker, and her husband Jon are expecting their baby in early March. Please join us in congratulating Wendy, Brittney, Gina, Kerry, and their families! We'll have photos of our ICC Macmillan babies in the next issue of Interactions.