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:

create custom device profiles in a digital production workflow to enhance the match across proofs, monitors and final products

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

create three custom device profiles that have been used within a colour workflow

produce a final printed product from the colour workflow.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

that conditions are typical ambient conditions found in the workplace

access to relevant facilities, equipment and materials used for colour management production, such as printing presses, raster image processors (RIPs) with colour management features, profiling software, colour output devices, densitometers and spectrometers

evidence of colour management system maintenance procedures

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

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

a portfolio that demonstrates all criteria have been met

practical demonstration by the candidate in obtaining the best match across colour devices.

Guidance information for assessment

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

digital production or pre-press units that require the application of colour.

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, evidence should be gathered over a period of time through a range of methods for assessment to indicate consistent performance.

Required skills

occupational health and safety (OHS) skills for using correct ergonomics when operating the computer

communication skills needed to communicate ideas and information by printing a test chart on a press

planning, analysing and organising skillsto determine printing conditions and colour management requirements before generating a proof

teamwork skills for maintaining the production process in association with others and working independently with responsibility for others

numeracy skills used in relation to densitometry, spectrophotometry and colour profiles

problem-solving skills used in diagnosing and correcting colour problems

technical skills needed for utilising software and hardware correctly when creating a profile

Required knowledge

OHS issues to be considered when managing colour for digital production

importance of bringing a device into a known state

how often to calibrate devices

what change of condition would result in the need for re-calibration

colour measurement devices and usage

types of proprietary software used for colour measurement

comparison of test charts, their advantages and disadvantages

process of determining grey balance and white points

colour profiles and their use

effect colour profiles have on output

difference between input, output and display profiles

colour management systems

components of a colour management system

components of a colour-managed workflow

red, green blue (RGB) versus cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK) versus mixed colour workflows

how to implement colour management on a system

workplace and international printing standards

effects different substrates have on colour reproduction for proofing and final production

how dot gain effects colour

under colour removal (UCR) and grey component replacement (GCR)

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.

Test charts may include:

IT8

European colour initiative (ECI)

printing test charts (TC)

proprietary or custom made charts.

Press may include:

offset

web

flexography

digital.

Workplace standards may include:

international ISO printing standards or internal workplace standards.

Colour measurement devices may include:

densitometers or spectrophotometers, including strip reader style devices, such as:

Gretag

Macbeth

Xwrite.

Software may include:

a range of industry colour applications including:

colour management software, e.g. Colorsync

profile creating software

scanner profiling software, e.g. Colortone Pro and Scan Open

densitometry and spectrophotometry software.

Colour workflow may include:

software applications, e.g. InDesign and Photoshop

printer

monitors

proofers

raster image processors (RIPs)

computer to plate CTP systems

scanners

digital cameras

digital presses

wide format printers.

Digital devices may include:

input, output and display devices, such as:

monitors

printers, proofers and wide format

scanners and digital cameras.