Printing Policies and Regulations
The laboratory's printing policy is explained in detail in the RPM.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Printing and Duplicating has established guidelines pertaining to many aspects of printing. All printing and binding work for Berkeley Lab must be done through the Government Printing Office. CSO is Berkeley Lab's official liaison to GPO; all laboratory printing must be coordinated through CSO.
Use of Color
Authorization is required for CSO to proceed with commercial printing that uses more than one color. Follow these instructions to obtain authorization:
- Download the letter of authorization.
- Fill out form completely, giving reasons for use of color that meet JCP guidelines.
- Have your Division Director or designee sign the form.
- Send completed form to CSO for approval.
Excerpts from Government Printing and Binding Regulations - Title 44, United States Code
501. All printing, binding, and blank-book work for every...independent office and establishment of the Government, shall be done at the Government Printing Office.
Color Printing
In essence, these guidelines say that any time you want to use more than one color of ink in printing, it must have demonstrated value with regard to clarifying information or calling attention to some specialized areas (e.g., safety). The guidelines exclude the use of multiple colors for decorative effect or in cases where other options (e.g., good design) would work as well. Note that black counts as a color; black and red inks on white paper, for example, constitute multiple colors. Dark brown ink on light beige paper counts as one color.
18-1. Color Printing.--The committee recognizes that printing in two or more colors generally increases costs. Consequently, it is the responsibility of the head of any department, independent office or establishment of the Government to assure that all multicolor printing shall contribute demonstrable value toward achieving a greater fulfillment of the ultimate end-purpose of whatever printed item in which it is included.
18-2. Demonstrable valuable multicolor printing, for the purpose of these regulations, includes the following categories:
- Maps and technical diagrams where additional color is necessary for clarity.
- Object identification (medical specimens, diseases, plants, flags, uniforms, etc.).
- Safety programs, fire prevention, savings bonds programs, and competitive areas of personnel recruiting.
- Areas wherein clearly identifiable savings in cost can be soundly predicated on multicolor.
- Printing for programs required by law, whose relative success or failure is in direct ratio to the degree of public response, and where that response can be logically attributable to the number of colors planned and the manner in which they are proposed to be used.
- Color for promotional or motivational purpose such as programs concerning public health, safety, consumer benefits; or to encourage utilization of Government facilities such as programs for Social Security, Medicare, and certain areas of need for veterans would come within this category.
18-3. Multicolor printing which does not meet the demonstrably valuable contribution requirement of these regulations, includes but is not exclusively limited to the following categories:
- Printed items wherein additional color is used primarily for decorative effect.
- Printed items where additional color is used primarily in lieu of effective layout and design.
- Printed items where additional color is used excessively, i.e., four colors when two or three will fulfill the need; three colors when two are adequate; two colors when one is adequate.
- Printed items wherein the inclusion of multicolor does not reflect careful, competent advanced planning which recognizes the contribution the use of color is expected to make to the ultimate end-purpose.
