Elements and Performance Criteria
- Apply knowledge of printing industry
- Apply knowledge of government acts and regulations
- Basic principles and obligations involved in copyright, OHS, environmental protection, access and equity and industrial awards are understood in relation to the workplace
- The basic principles and obligations involved in copyright, OHS, environmental protection, access and equity and industrial awards are followed in personal work practices
- Apply detailed knowledge of pre-press processes
- The principles behind the following pre-press functions: image production (typesetting, scanning, graphic arts camera), image combining (manual and electronic), image output (film, plates, direct to press) and digital workflow are understood and applied where possible in the workplace
- Different types of images (line, half-tone), digital and their use are assessed to identify most appropriate image for the given job
- Different output settings eg screen rulings and angles, shapes, are researched and how they affect final product is evaluated
- The different types of output required for different printing processes are researched and evaluated for different jobs
- Different output devices eg film setters, plate setters, analogue proofs, digital proofs, are researched and evaluated for different jobs
- Apply knowledge of printing processes
- Basic principles of the following printing processes: lithography, relief, flexography, gravure, pad printing, screen printing, digital/electronic printing are appraised to inform decisions made for different jobs
- The types of jobs and products for each process are considered to ensure appropriate choices are made to meet client needs
- The capabilities and limitations of each process are reviewed for different jobs
- Apply knowledge of converting and finishing processes
- Apply knowledge of substrates and inks
- The range of substrates used for each printing process are researched and evaluated for different jobs
- The relationship of different paper sizes is considered for different jobs
- Different weights and callipers of substrates and how they affect pre-press operations are researched for different jobs
- Paper grain and how it affects pre-press, printing and finishing operations are researched for different jobs
- Different properties of ink such as drying properties, fastness, gloss, and how they affect pre-press operations are researched for different jobs
- Apply detailed knowledge of pre-press requirements for printing and finishing processes
- Designs that are appropriate for different printing processes are explored according to different jobs
- Dot gain and trapping requirements for different printing processes, inks and substrates are evaluated for different jobs
- Use and positioning of trimming and folding marks and how these are affected by different substrates are evaluated for different jobs
- Criteria for evaluating suitability of pre-press outputs for printing processes are explored and implemented
- Criteria for producing folding impositions are evaluated for different jobs
- Apply knowledge of colour theory
- Colour theory of additive colours (light), RGB, is used to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
- Colour theory of subtractive colours (pigments), CMYK, is used to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
- Relationship between ranges of visual colour RGB and CMYK is used to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
- Relationship between hue, greyness and substrate for tone and colour correction is used to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
- Colour matching conditions and colour matching systems are used to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
- Procedures that ensure effective colour management are implemented
- Apply basic knowledge of costs of production
- The main cost elements (fixed, capital and variable) in pre-press production are considered during different jobs
- The information required to accurately cost jobs and the means of collecting it (manual and computerised) are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs
- Ways of minimising use of materials without affecting the quality of output are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs
- Ways of maximising efficiency of capital and human resources are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs
- Apply basic knowledge of production management requirements and systems
- The types of information that need to be exchanged between different stages of production to facilitate production efficiency are identified and implementation strategies developed
- Systems (manual and computerised) that can be used to exchange information are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs
- The basic principles of efficient production management are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs
- The principles of effective quality management are considered and implemented, where required, during different jobs