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Deborah Adair of Taligent wonders about book designs for ESL readers doing
design and testing in semiconductors.
Gosh, that project sounds like a real mess. For both 8.5x11 and smaller trim
sizes, see Cadence's recent manuals. A really good design that's flexible
enough to have worked with half a dozen small companies that they took over;
in other words, it's been around the block enough to have the worst problems
smoothed out. Of course, in the long run, you should hire a Japanese,
Chinese, or Korean designer, and similar writer, and have them redo the whole
shmear.
Low volume lay-flat perfect or spiral: you're right, it's incredibly
expensive. You might talk to the folks in Apple doc, and HP, at the south
bay STC meetings; they've both turned out these books, though probably not in
as low volume as you're suggesting.
Jonathan Price
Communication Circle
918 La Senda, NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107