Kennesaw, Ga. - Heidelberg USA's Print Media Academy, in conjunction with the Educational Foundation of the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia, will host "Check it Out", a free prepress, press and bindery check essential skills workshop for Print Buyers and Printers, on June 22 from 9 a.m. until noon. Following is a second session, "FoldMania," a folding foundation and innovation workshop from 1-3 p.m. presented by Trish Witkowski, Chief Folding Fanatic at foldfactory.com. Both workshops will take place at Heidelberg USA's North American Print and Packaging Technology Center (Tech Center) in Kennesaw, Ga. There is a $99 admission fee to attend the afternoon session.

The free morning workshop, "Check It Out," is divided into three sessions devoted to prepress, pressroom and bindery press check essentials, during which Heidelberg experts will address concepts fundamental to each area. Prepress topics include what really happens to a file when it hits the prepress department, the basis of color proofing, what to look for in a proof, hard vs. soft proofs, and computer-to-plate. Attendees primarily interested in pressroom processes will learn how to conduct a proper press check, including what to expect of a press crew, press check etiquette, and tips and tricks on proof vs. press sheet matching. Rounding out the morning workshop, a third session includes a review of bindery check procedures, understanding the capabilities and limitations of print finishing processes, and an opportunity to view samples of folding and finishing techniques.

The afternoon session will be led by Trish Witkowski, Chief Folding Fanatic at foldfactory.com. "FoldMania" will take workshop participants on a visual journey into the world of folding and finishing. The $99 fee includes a copy of FOLDRite's "A Field Guide to Folding," the FOLDRite Template Master plug-in for Adobe InDesign, a poster showing the anatomy of a fold, as well as a copy of "The Standard: Scoring & Folding," a new publication from Sappi Fine Paper. Workshop participants will be able to view some of the most innovative folding solutions on the planet, learn cheap folding tricks, high budget splurges and valuable production tips. Topics also will include proper file setup for folded materials, folding dos and don'ts, critical folding guidelines for direct mail, proprietary folding solutions, and specialty folds. For further reference, attendees will also receive resources for more folding ideas, custom folding templates, a list of specialty binderies, and much more.

Designed to help Print buyers and their printers become more capable, profitable and competitive, the "Check It Out" and "FoldMania" workshops will offer attendees access to valuable inside information they can't get anywhere else, delivered by world-class experts in Heidelberg's 40,000-square-foot, multi-use Tech Center. A light lunch will be provided for those who register for both events.

Attendees do not need to attend both sessions; the morning session is free, the afternoon session has a fee.