The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

set up either wide or narrow reel or sheet-fed lithographic printing machines for non-routine print jobs. The individual will conduct a proof run and adjust settings to ensure production speeds are attained in minimum time with minimum wastage

demonstrate use of computerised control, monitoring and data entry systems if available and appropriate

demonstrate an ability to find and use information relevant to the task from a variety of information sources

set up a lithographic printing machine for a complex job on TWO occasions (if possible using different substrates and sheet sizes if sheet-fed and if possible including at least TWO in-line processes) according to job and manufacturer's specifications, enterprise procedures and the Performance Criteria

evidence for assessment may be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone or through an integrated assessment activity.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

assessment may take place on the job, off the job or a combination of these. Off the job assessment must be undertaken in a closely simulated workplace environment

lithographic printing machine with in-line units.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICPPR332C Produce complex lithographic printed product.

Required skills

OHS in relation to operating machinery such as safely switching off machinery before cleaning is started

communication of ideas and information by interpreting the job brief and providing advice to internal or external clients about options and limitations

collecting, analysing and organising information by collecting and analysing data about printing process, machine specifications and performance to calculate appropriate adjustments for the job

planning and organising activities by providing information about time and materials requirements for production scheduling

teamwork when cooperating with other workers and coordinating the production unit to ensure efficient operation

mathematical ideas and techniques by calculating substrate requirements, plate position and pressures

problem-solving skills by recognising proofing faults and calculating adjustments necessary to meet job specifications

use of technology by using monitoring equipment and computerised production records

Required knowledge

need to ensure that the job specifications are read and properly understood

production problems that could eventuate by not reading and understanding the job specifications

with whom would you discuss any production problems?

problem that can result from the plate cylinder not being cleaned prior to plate fitting

effect or over tensioning of the plate during fitting

faults that could result from a plate being under tensioned

need for accurate plate bending necessary on a web-fed machine

considerations that would have to be made when deciding the colour sequence

visual aid on the plate that identifies the colour of ink to be used

OHS precaution that must be observed when webbing up the machine

determining the position of the reel

effect if the brake tension is not set correctly

function of the "Dancer" roller on a web machine

determining the position of the bustle wheels

effect if the web is not spliced correctly

operation of the particular web viewing device

OHS factors that need to be considered when setting up the sheet transportation and delivery systems

cause of more than one sheet to be picked up in the feeder

need for accurate feeder set up

determining the position of the sheet prior to being transferred to the printing unit

determining which front lays to use

type of substrate that would require additional front lays to be engaged

need for additional front lays when printing this type of substrate

OHS precaution that must be observed when setting up the delivery

controlling the web in the rewind unit

function of a slitter on a web machine

cause of the web to jam up in the folder

need to disengage the folder if sheeting

problems that could be attributed to a blunt knife when sheeting

a safety feature that is in the delivery system if the web jams up

fold that is always made with the grain of the web

type of folder that folds the web in half in the direction of the web grain

remedial steps that can be taken if there is a possibility of the ink marking in the folder

main reason for having a silicone applicator on a web machine

OHS precaution that must be observed when removing sheets from the delivery

cause of sheets being delivered incorrectly

adjustments that would be necessary if changing from lightweight to heavyweight stocks

sheet release into the delivery

problems that result from the excessive use of anti set off spray powder

cause of printed sheets to set off in the delivery

possibility of reducing set off in the delivery

a fault that may be created if there is excess vacuum on the slow-down wheels

OHS concerns that are related to the preparation of inks and additives

details that are necessary to check an ink's suitability for the printing process

special end-use requirements that may be necessary

need to mix an additive into the ink

usinga spectrophotometer to assess the colour of an ink

formula for calculating the correct quantity of lithographic ink

a print fault that will occur if excessive driers are mixed into the ink

precautions that you observe to minimise waste when preparing the ink

shelf life of most inks

conditions that are relevant to the storage of inks and additives

conventions that should be adhered to when labelling mixed inks

OHS factors that need to be considered when setting up the machine

checks that should be made on the plate prior to fitting

required plate packing

normal printing pressure that is required between plate and blanket

determining the correct printing pressure between blanket and stock

ideal blanket surface condition

achieving the correct blanket tension when fitting a new blanket

print faults that can occur if the impression cylinder is not maintained

ordereccentric or concentric roller adjustments should be made

width of the contact stripe between two rollers when setting the rollers

determining the ink duct setting

ideal ink duct sweep setting

recommended degrees shore hardness for bare back and conventional dampeners

conductivity of the fountain solution

need to constantly check the conductivity of the fountain solution

changing the amount of fountain solution across the plate surface

need to adjust the fountain solution laterally

effect of engaging the perfecting unit on the run

main reason for blistering on a heatset machine

substance that the oven evaporate from the ink

function of chill rollers on a web machine

OHS precaution that must be observed when slitting on the machine

operations that can be performed with in-line units

machine position that you should engage in-line processing units

precautions that are necessary when setting up in-line processing units

reasons for a printed product to be punched

considerations when setting hole punching in relation to repeat length

result of excessive pressure on the slitters

operation of the true inch function fitted to some machines

problems that may cause the machine to keep stopping

checks that are necessary prior to engaging the impression

checks that are performed when running the machine

effect that the position of certain guards have on the operation of the machine

communication of the steps involved in operating the machine to other team members

aids that are available for the testing of the machine proof

taking tests that are necessary for this job

function of a polarisation filter in a densitometer

ideal conditions for inspecting the proof

need to use visual aids on the printed sheets

acceptable wet trap value range for lithographic inks

an indicator of optimum solid ink density in the absence of a proof

result of low solid ink density and excessive dot gain

methods that are available to check and adjust ink colour and consistency

adjustments that may have caused mis-register

adjustments that are made to position the image laterally

adjustments that are made to position the image circumferentially

adjustments that are made to position the image diagonally

effect of changing the colour sequence on the wet trap value

procedure to lengthen the print length on this type of press

procedure to shorten the print length on this type of press

difference between mechanical and optical dot gain

cause excessive mechanical dot gain

responsibility for the final say in the "OK" of the job

machine manuals, safety and other documentation that are relevant to this task and where they are kept and information that is included in these documents

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Substrate handling may include:

wide and narrow reel, and large and small sheet handling systems.

Inks/coatings may include:

wide range of inks commonly used in printing, including standard and special colours, if required.

Colour matching systems may include:

use of viscosity controls, densitometers and spectrophotometry.

Machines may include:

range of single sheet, stream-fed or reel-fed printing machines with manual, semi-automated, fully automated or computerised process control. Includes machines with digitally imaged plates.

Design may include:

complex graphics and text. Critical "tight" registration, fit and position, registration for quality print requirements.

Substrate types may include:

range of substrates within the major categories of paper, pressure sensitive material, board, plastics and related films, or metal.

Specialised may include:

non-routine within this context relates to the set up and production of print runs. The set up of equipment and production involves a significant amount of deviation from using standard equipment settings. It also involves significant problem solving and the development of new criteria and procedures for performing current practices. It does not refer to a job that an individual does only occasionally.