Pittsburgh, Pa., January 18, 2002 — First offered in 1986 and updated in 1997, the Lithography Primer was the first in the GATFPress series of primers aimed at communicating the essential concepts of printing processes and technologies in terms that can be understood by non-printers. Now for the first time, GATFPress offers this illustrated, non-technical introduction to the lithographic printing process to Spanish readers. According to the 2000 United States Census Bureau, 12.5 percent of the U.S. population is Hispanic or Latino. The 1990 Census reports that 17,345,064 people living within the U.S. named Spanish as the primary language spoken in their homes, of which 48 percent categorize themselves as not speaking English "very well." "To help this growing Spanish-speaking workforce, we chose to translate the Lithography Primer because of its broad appeal within our industry. Because it is geared towards non-technical people, it is a valuable tool in employee orientation or customer training programs," according to Peter Oresick, director of publishing for the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). GATF will offer bulk rate discounts on the primer to instruct large groups such as students, print buyers, publishers, and salespeople in the graphic communications industry. The Lithography Primer provides readers with a straightforward reference to the current technology, processes, and terminology associated with lithographic printing. This primer begins with a history and explanation of the lithographic process, launching into chapters devoted to platemaking, presses, papers, inks, and finishing specific to lithography, and closes with a forecast about the future of lithography. A glossary of basic terms is included in the book. The primer also discusses more recent components affecting lithographic printing such as digital imaging and computers. Author Daniel G. Wilson is an assistant professor of printing and publishing technology at Penn State’s Pennsylvania College of Technology, where he teaches a variety of graphic communications courses. He has taught in higher education for over ten years and has also worked in the printing industry as a lithographic press operator and technical trainer. Dr. Wilson is co-author of the textbook Lithographic Technology in Transition, and has published a variety of technical articles. Lo Esencial de la Litografia (ISBN 0-88362-399-4), a 192-page book containing 90 black-and-white illustrations and photographs, is available for $25 ($20 for GATF/PIA members), not including shipping. Orders may be placed by contacting GATF by phone at 800/662-3916 (U.S. and Canada) or 412/741-5733 (all other countries); fax at 412/741-0609; or online from the GAIN Bookstore. Mail orders to GATF Orders, P.O. Box 1020, Sewickley, PA 15143-1020. Indicate Order No. 13322S. GATF partnered with the Graphic Type Mexico in Colonic Polanco, Mexico to translate the primer. In the past, GATF has translated five other publications into Spanish: Sheet Control on the Offset Press; Sheetfed Offsset Press Operating; What the Printer Should Know about Paper; What the Printer Should Know about Ink; and the Electronic Prepress Essentials Series. In the near future, the Foundation hopes to work with Graphic Type Mexico to translate more titles.