Workshop Leader:
Dr. Malcolm Keif

Malcolm Keif is a professor in the Graphic Communication Department at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. His subjects of expertise include web offset, flexographic and gravure printing technologies and quality management.

In addition to working for high-quality printing companies, Dr. Keif has been involved in the printing/converting industry for over 20 years; he has instructed classes in various aspects of color print reproduction, serves as Chair for the FTA Professional Development Committee, and provides on-site training and consulting for various organizations.

An alumnus of Cal Poly, he completed his Ph.D. with an emphasis in Technology Teaching from the University of Missouri in 1995.

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Flexo FIRST 4.0 - Walking the Process

Co-sponsored by the Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA)
and the Graphic Communication Institute (GrCI)

Do you need to produce high-quality repeatable flexographic printing? Experience the launch of FIRST 4.0 at the FTA/GrCI Flexo FIRST 4.0 workshop. FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances), is the newly-updated comprehensive set of procedures and specifications developed by the Flexographic Technical Association.

Over a two-day period, participants will learn how to implement FIRST 4.0 in design, proofing, workflow, process ink QC, digital platemaking, flexographic printing, and process control using Cal Poly's "learn by doing" model of education.

When FIRST 4.0 is utilized, flexographers meet customer expectations by producing predictable, repeatable, high-quality results pressrun to pressrun. Come walk the process at Flexo FIRST 4.0!

Flexo FIRST 4.0 will be presented by professionals known throughout the flexo community, including Cal Poly professors Dr. Malcolm Keif and Brian Lawler, Richard Black, Bill Whitfield, Mark Mazur, Jean Jackson, Carl Cecil, Lon Robinson, and Joe Tucccitto.

Workshop Dates:
August 14-15, 2008

Program fee for this two-day workshop is $499 (includes FIRST 4.0, 2 lunches and 1 dinner)
Registration services provided by Cal Poly Continuing Education;
follow this link to register on-line using Cal Poly's secure website

WORKSHOP OUTLINE (subject to change)


8:00 am	Welcome and Introductions
8:30 am	Stakeholder Meeting - who, what, & how
9:45 am	Designing with FIRST 4.0
11:30 am	Workflow Considerations
12:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm	Digital Prepress Breakout Sessions (45 minutes each)
•	Predictable Proofing
•	Curves and Achieving Optimum Plates
•	Plate QC and Mounting
•	Densitometry and Spectrophotometry
5:00 pm	Return to Hotel
6:00 pm	Reception and Dinner

8:00 am	Optimization Discussion
8:45 am	Press Breakout Sessions (30 minutes each)
•	Ink and Substrate QC
•	Ink Metering
•	Press Set-up
11:00 am	FIRST Press Run and Press Sheet Evaluation
12:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm	FIRST Process Control
2:00 pm	Intro to FTA, Test and Q&A
3:00 pm	GrC Department tour, Wrap-up and Evaluations

Foundation of FTA

Since 1974, the Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) has strived to further flexography through education, training, research, and scholarships. The FFTA invests in education, assisting institutions of higher learning in their planning and development of courses for those entering the field and for others in the industry who wish to keep abreast of current technology.