Training: Print Awareness - File Preparation for Prepress

11 January 2010

Prepress is an essential behind-the-scenes step in the printing process. Print Awareness: File Preparation for Prepress is an introductory course identifying the essentials for producing workable electronic files for commercial print.

Aim:

This introductory module equips participants with a broad understanding of file preparation for print and prepress requirements. With an emphasis on avoiding costly reworks and down-time, it will enable candidates to define and communicate their requirements.

Prerequisites:

No prior experience in printing is necessary - although application is open to persons wishing to advance their knowledge of print production and procedures.
Topics include:

1. Introduction

  • Define prepress.
  • Discuss the process of creating files for print and identify the workflow from concept to print.


2. Planning the project

  • Identify print considerations during the artwork creation process.
  • Compare process colour printing to 1 colour and 2 colour printing.
  • Consider gang printing options compared to an individualised approach.


3. Prepress requirements

  • Identify and discuss the following colour models:
    • CMYK (process colour)
    • Pantone Matching System (PMS)
    • RGB
    • Lab
    • 1 bit colour and 8 bit colour
  • Identify printers marks.
  • Discuss graphics software packages as opposed to non-graphics packages.
  • Identify the implications of using packages that may pose problems during prepress.
  • Discuss requirements for supplying artwork in a native file format.
  • Identify any cross-platform or version issues.
  • Identify raster and vector art.
  • Discuss resolution required for print.


4. Prepress essentials

  • Discuss and identify digital fonts.
  • Identify the conversion of digital to dots along with the following attributes:
  • Halftone images
  • Screen ruling
  • LPI and DPI
  • Screen angles
  • Moire patterning
  • Dot gain
  • Discuss tonal correction, identifying white and black points, UCR, GCR and rich black.
  • Define prepress trapping.
  • Understand colour separation and channels.
  • Introduce colour management.
  • Define Raster Image Processors (RIPs).


5. PDF workflow

  • Define PDF and PostScript.
  • Discuss the creation of PDF files for proofing and for print.
  • Identify job options and file size.
  • Compare PDF to other file formats.
  • Define preflighting

 

Who should attend?

  • New industry entrants
  • Print salespersons
  • Print buyers
  • Printing customer information personnel
  • Advertising, marketing and publishing personnel
  • Prepress, printing and production staff
  • Desktop publishers and typesetters
  • Office staff producing publications for commercial print
  • Graphic artists and designers
  • Print managers and brokers

 

Duration

One Day (9am - 4.30pm)

Location

Printing Industries Association
25 South Parade, Auburn NSW

Cost

Members: $209.00 (Inc GST) Non Members: $242.00 (Inc GST)
All course materials, lunch and refreshments supplied

For bookings:


Simon Peppercorn
National Manager, Learning & Development
Printing Industries Association of Australia
Tel: (02) 8789 7363
Email: simon@printnet.com.au

 
Course developer and proprietor of Who Dunnit? Design, Stephane Bowker has 17 years industry and training experience. She holds qualifications in Graphic Design; Prepress; Printing Technology and Administration; and Workplace Training and Assessment. She has project planned and designed B2B marketing campaigns, advertisements, promotional material, large format exhibitions, book work and publishing.