Summary
This activity is divided into five parts –
PART A: Video Research Prepress Video Q and A.
PART B: After the Program Research required after watching the video.
PART C: After the Program Word Search game.
PART D: After the Program Collect examples.
PART E: PrePress Terminology Research prepress terms.
Assessment Criteria:
Complete all the above learning activities for marking in a Word document. Upload this activity to your Blog as well. Clearly label and leave a comment describing what you had to do.
My process:
1. Accessed course material. Identified Learning Activity requirements, and identified additional resources and references;
2. Watched the LA01 Prepressdvd file;
3. Read the ASM, Chapter 6;
4. Re-watched video;
5. Compiled notes on the LA01 Prepressdvd video;
6. Completed Parts A & B;
7. Completed Part E;
8. Completed Part C;
9. Completed Part D;
10. Compiled individual word documents for Parts C and D and reformatted the activity word document for submission. Moved folder from working folder to GPP3 folder in google drive;
11. Completed all notes and final submission, commenced blog post layout;
12. Blog posted and notification to be left on the course PrePress forum;
13. Created a folder for public access to allow for summary of activities to be blogged and access to be available for viewing with the more detailed information. This will be referred to as the Reference file/link.
14. By participating in this activity, I have added new additions to my graphic design resource page. Prepress terminology and Prepress printing comparison guide documents have been created and both have public viewing access (within designated/specific folder in my google drive).
PART A: Video Research Prepress Video; PART B: Video research Prepress Video Q&A Answer these questions in sentence format.
1. List the printing process identified in this program?
The standard processes for commercial digital and analogue printing in Australia consists of many of the following decisions and actions. The printing process is common between the available methods, each having their own specific requirements or restrictions. Printing is not universal and requires different methods, techniques and equipment depending upon what the substrate(s) are to be used and which are available.
The designer must be able to identify which methods are most cost effective, whilst making considerations to the final product and it’s look and feel and what the product is aiming to achieve. This also includes liaison with the printer to discuss scheduling and any possible conflicts with other printing tasks. Timings and availability need to be considered. When the print is required will be discussed as well as types of substrate to be used, substrate purchase (if not available in stock and it’s delivery can take between 6-20 weeks in some instances) as well as the delivery of the final product to the client or distributed as required.
During this process, additional considerations and decisions will be required in regards to the quality and weight of the substrate.
Almost always in digital or analogue printing, the files to be printed are communicated electronically. PDF documents are standard, however printers may be able to use digital files from a graphics program such as Photoshop, Indesign. This method is known as RIP. ‘A raster image processor is a component used in a printing system which produces a raster image also known as a bitmap. Such a bitmap is used by a later stage of the printing system to produce the printed output’. - Wikipedia.
In offset-printing, when the document is received from the designer, each page is imaged onto thin lithographic aluminium plates. The aluminium plates are covered in a light sensitive material and each plate is exposed to one of the 4 CMYK, usually from the colour layers from within the RIP file.
All other colours can be created using CMYK inks using the lithographic printing process. Before printing, all colours within the RIP must be in CMYK. Prior to printing checks will be made to ensure the CMYK colour formats have been used or converted from RGB if applicable.
The printing plates are created through a processing line that is usually fully automated. They can be scanned and produced in under 10 minutes each.
Before printing, proof prints are created. This gives the designer a final chance to review the layout composition, trim and colour confirmation printing commences. The designer should ensure all critical information such contact details, timings, prices/offers and spelling is correct.
Once the client and designer are happy, the designer will authorise the print run by signature and the printer will commence print run preparations. Authority will normally be in the form of a completed purchase order and possibly a printers work order.
Additional services such as spot colouring (silver, gold colours or adding glossy/varnished highlights) can be added to printed pages. Additions such as these are likely to increase the cost of printing, but their additions can have very lasting effects on the final product, client and their customers.
In sequence, the lightest to darkest coloured inks are used. In all methods of printing the lightest colour is always printed first, layering to the darkest, as this ensures the highest possible contrast and clarity of the print.
Once the print has been been made, the ink is dried. This often has to be at high speed in many printing methods. The inks must be cooled/dried before additional processes including folding.
Unwanted areas of the page are trimmed, as well as any registration or control markings. These markings are added to all printed pages to allow the printer to confirm the 4 coloured printing plates are aligned and the colour and density of the print is correct. This process is monitored by computer and cameras which record and analyse the pages when printed at high speeds.
Once cut to size, the pages are collated before being sent for final binding and finishing.
From the client to the designer and printer and designer to the message or product being provided by the client to their audience. Communication is fundamental to achieving the successful and desired outcomes from the commercial printing process.
PART B:
Research and compare two printing processes outlined in the program to produce a magazine and comment on their suitability or otherwise. Document your findings and answer these questions in sentence format.
Analogue printing: An analogue offset printing process would allow designers to create a print run for a high quality magazine, capable of being presented with many embellishments and other traditional features. The cost of the bespoke features are offset by the reduced costs in printing in this older but cost efficient method.
Digital printing: Whilst the quality of digital printing is comparable, the speed of reproduction is not in digital printings favour. Except if there is a large amount of variation required or desired in the produced content. Normally a magazine would not have much variation, however in a very small and competitive print-media market, a magazine that was personalised and in ways interactive with the reader could be a game changing concept if designed, produced and marketed with user participation.
A comparison between the available commercial printing processes can be found here.
PART C:
Create a puzzle word-search using these printing terms:
Plates; Direct-marketing; Squeegee; Ink; Blanket; Web-press; Impressions; Sheet-fed; Folder; Substrate; Ink-jet; Screen; Grippers; Electrophotography; Stencil.
PART D:
Collect examples of six different printed materials and attach a description to each item that explains the main features of the printing process used. Set them out in easy steps or diagrams/pictures and clearly show how the processes relate to your examples.
The Family Guy - Box set for Blue Harvest contains a convenient collection of 6 different types of printed materials. The box set comes in a rigid 4 panel gatefold presentation box, which holds all of the the DVD and additional contents.
PART E:
You are required to prepare a prepress a print glossary. Knowledge of the prepress terminology is a key part for any person working in or dealing with the graphic prepress sector of the printing industry.
PrePress printing Terminology
The reference file also contains this activities bibliography and full PrePress
research learning activity, research notes.
CSFrost
