Scripture Typesetting Training – Sept-Oct 2022

This workshop is designed to meet the need for basic orientation to the knowledge tasks involved in the responsibilities of a production Scripture typesetter.

Scripture typesetting for formal publication is a complex endeavor. It requires specialized knowledge and skills in multiple software tools and processes. The content covered in this workshop is significant, and challenging! To realize maximum value from the training investment, we (GPS) feel strongly that that those who receive training should be assisting multiple language projects with their publishing needs. Experience has shown that it is difficult to maintain these skills without being involved in typesetting at least 30% of the time.

Consider the following questions:

1. Do you anticipate serving multiple language projects, or only your own?
2. Is your language project’s publishing workload sufficient to keep you occupied at least 30% of the time?
3. How do you envision yourself helping meet your entity’s publishing needs?

The GPS training on Scripture typesetting includes the following topics:

• Character Encoding & Unicode
• Paratext Markup with USFMs
• Paratext Stylesheets
• Checking in Paratext
• Introduction to Regular Expressions
• RegExPal
• Regular Expressions Projects
• Review of InDesign Basics
• Publishing Assistant
• Wordlist & Spell-checking
• Hyphenation
• Accessing & Using Pictures
• Working with tables
• Front & Back Matter – Putting it all together
• Producing thumb tabs
• Formatting glossaries
• Preparing maps for Scripture publications
• Working with PDFs
• Round-tripping back to Paratext
• Preparing the job for the printer
• Processing the text for DBL submission
• Archiving & Data Repository (incl. submitting data to REAP (the SIL corporate-wide electronic archive) via RAMP)

Advanced Topics not included in the basic Scripture typesetting training include the following:

• Publishing diglots
• Publishing (OT) summaries/panoramas
• Publishing study Bibles
• Custom page layouts
• Custom header/footer contents
• Formatting Psalms
• Formatting with marginal verse numbers
• Working with page borders
• Dissecting PubAssist Templates
• The Publishing Cycle
• Planning From the End Backward
• Converting text to Unicode
• Keyboarding standards for Unicode
• Paratext Installation
• Importing text into Paratext
• Element Identification and Reader Comprehension & Special Features in Scripture
• Preprocessing Overview
• Picture & Graphic Formats
• Scanning & Touchup
• Typography & Publication Design for Reader Comprehension
• Publishing Guidelines
• Copyrights, Intellectual Property Rights & Publishing Contracts
• Managing the Publishing Job
• Managing the Publishing Computer System
• Managing the Publishing Function

1. A computer (laptop recommended) meeting the following minimum system requirements:
   • Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor (Intel Core i5 or i7 recommended)
   • Microsoft Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit (genuine, registered Windows – not an unregistered, “pirated” copy), updated with all current Windows Updates.
   • 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended)
   • 6GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (512 GB or larger, solid-state drive (SSD) highly recommended.
   • 1024×768 display (15″ or larger, 1920 x 1080 resolution recommended) with a 32-bit video card.
   • External display (22–24″, 1920 x 1080 resolution), so you can view the training materials on one computer screen and do your work on the second screen
2. A fast, reliable internet connection.
3. Basic familiarity with computer operation under Windows, including folder and file management (moving, copying, and renaming files).
4. Registration for Paratext 9, and familiarity with Paratext. The following Paratext training resources are strongly recommended: (a) Attend the Paratext Beginners “Boot Camp” (https://paratext.org/paratext-training/paratext-beginners-boot-camp/); (b) View the Paratext 9 Training Videos (https://paratext.org/videos/); (c) Read the Tutorial Articles on Project Sharing and Keyboard Shortcuts (https://paratext.org/paratext-training/tutorials/).
5. A license for Adobe InDesign (CS4 or newer), and basic familiarity with the software. Quite a bit of training on InDesign is available commercially—books, videos, online, and on-site. (Note: The Publishing Assistant software works with all versions of InDesign from CS2 to the current version. The Scripture publishing workflow is basically the same for all versions, though the custom/study Bible layout features require CS5 or newer.)
6. Completion of the “Introduction to Scripture Typesetting” course on SIL’s E-Learning site at https://elearning.sil.org, or demonstration of equivalent knowledge and expertise. (Please inform us when you have enrolled in the course, and when you have completed it.)
7. Downloading and installing the software, and dealing with any technical issues that arise with the student’s computer or software.
8. Printing out the training materials (300-400 pages).
9. Director approval for pursuing training in Scripture typesetting. Language workers must demonstrate that they have specific project/s in mind.

Previous experience with (Scripture) typesetting and/or with InDesign is helpful!

The fee for the workshop is US$500, with a 20% discount for alumni and for multiple registrants from the same organization.

To indicate your interest in attending, or if you have questions, please contact Darrel Eppler.