Pittsburgh, Pa., August 21, 2002 —Variable data printing skills are a growing customer demand. However issues such as database management, design and production, postal considerations, and selling and marketing have become obstacles many printers are struggling to overcome. The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has developed a new "how-to" conference for owners of digital printing presses to address these variable data related issues. The GATF Variable Data Printing Conference will be held November 3–6 at GATF’s state-of-the-art facility in Pittsburgh, Pa. In addition to the keynote presentation and sessions, the conference will include in-depth case studies, roundtable discussions, and variable data printer panels. Printers, both large and small, will discuss and share information with those looking to enter this market on how to go about producing variable data print jobs successfully on a daily basis. The conference is co-sponsored by the Digital Printing Council (DPC) of the Printing Industries of America, an organization formed specifically to provide users with a source to develop, exchange, discuss, and evaluate information on digital printing, and will include top industry experts on personalized printing. * Frank Romano will present on the full spectrum of design issues: file format, typeface, image, paper, and preflighting. Romano is the Melbert B. Cary Jr. Distinguished Professor of Graphic Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology where he teaches electronic prepress and publishing. * Bill Lamparter, principal, PrintCom Group, one of the industry’s leading consultants, will provide the "big picture" of variable data printing, describing the varying levels of sophistication and their associated workflows. * An experienced executive in this matter, Bill Farqueson of PrintTech will explain how selling variable data printing can be a complicated task and will demonstrate how printers can seek out potential variable data clients. * GATF on-demand printing expert, Doug Bober, will provide a primer highlighting what variable data printers need to know in order to work with the United States Postal Service. "The ability of personalization to increase response rates means clients can easily see and pay for the added value," says Jim Workman, director of the training programs group at GATF. He added, "This conference should benefit virtually all printers specializing in direct mail." Attendance is limited because the conference will be held at GATF’s technical facility. Registration to the conference is $895 ($695 for GATF/PIA or DPC members). All companies can receive a $100 discount on their second registrant. For more information, contact Gwen Martin, GATF’s conference coordinator, by phoning 800/910-GATF extension 116 or emailing [email protected]. Register on GAIN.