Courier Launches FastPath Status Check
FastPath Status Check is Courier's new web-based service that lets you instantly view your job and paper inventory status 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is now accessible through rightfromthestart.com, the companion website to our popular digital prepress guide Right from the Start.

Key benefits of FastPath Status Check include:

• Password protected access to your data
• Both job status and paper inventory status are available
• Fast and easy to use
• Saves time on the phone with your Customer Service Representative
• Immediate access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through your web browser
• Powerful yet simple query-based design allows you to find what you are looking for quickly and easily
• You can look up jobs by eight different variables including ISBN, due date, buyer, and manufacturing location
• You can look up paper inventory by eight different variables including basis weight, PPI, description, width, and length
• Sorting options on query results allow you to customize the report
• Detailed backup information on a job or inventory item is available with a single click
• Data can be cut and pasted into Microsoft Excel

"Improved communication benefits both Courier and our customers," says Peter Conway, Vice-president of Sales, "so we are very excited about this new service."

Sign up by contacting your Sales or Service Representative. Or sign up online — first register at rightfromthestart.com if you haven't done so already. Once you're in, click on "INFO" at the top, "FastPath Status Check" on the left, and follow the "Sign up" link.

New Lightweight Contender at National
Courier has installed a very specialized press at National Publishing Co., its Philadelphia subsidiary. National is one of the world's premiere printers of bibles and other books on lightweight paper.

The new web press is up and running. It prints an impressive 128 pages per impression — as two-up, one-color, right grain, 51/2" x 81/2", 64-page signatures. It can also print two-color product, and will handle even the toughest registration. Books can be smythe sewn or adhesive bound and can have paper, case, or flex case covers.

These specifications are particularly well-suited for long run, high page count, one- and two-color books on lightweight paper (40# or lighter). Bill Flavell, President of National, says, "The press will serve the high-quality bible market very well, but the additional capacity also represents an opportunity for publishers of high-quality professional/reference books, directories, and manuals."

Right From the Start Tip
Be sure to use Acrobat Distiller to prepare PDF files from PostScript files instead of using the PDF print driver. The driver assumes you want the PDF for web content and will downsample your images to 72 dpi and convert the color space from CMYK to RGB. To avoid delays on your project, generate a PostScript file using the proper PPD, then use Courier's Distiller settings located at of www.rightfromthestart.com.