Graphic arts authority Frank Romano is returning to CalPoly, with students set to help produce a historic book.

His role in the winter quarter Research Professors from Industry programme is an "absolutely extraordinary event" according to Ken Macro, chair of Cal Poly's graphic communication department. "Students in graphic communication gain tremendous opportunities - not just in learning from his mastery of subject matter - but also having exposure to the vast network of professionals with whom he communicates."

The visit is the fourth in eight years, and Romano - professor emeritus from the Rochester Institute of Technology - will teach a course on book production and publishing.

Some 16 students will design a book, 'Mike Bruno's History of Printing in the 20th Century' about the life and contributions of Michael Bruno, using Adobe InDesign, managing colour files to print consistently using two different printing processes.

Romano has extensively studied Bruno's research and notes and has collected photographs and interesting personal materials from Bruno's collection, which is now housed at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts. "This book is about the person who had a profound effect on the development of printing technology," he says. "It will be a time capsule for a bygone era."

Bruno was a renowned scientist, scholar and editor of 'Pocket Pal Graphic Arts Production Handbook'.

The book will be printed by Quad Graphics.