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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Apply knowledge of printing industry
   • Printing industry terminology and vocabulary are used correctly
   • New technology and new work processes are monitored and implemented when required
   • Trends within printing industry are monitored, on an ongoing basis, to inform personal work practices
2. Apply knowledge of government Acts and regulations
   • Basic principles and obligations involved in copyright, work health and safety (WHS), environmental protection, access and equity, and industrial awards are applied
3. Apply knowledge of pre-press processes
   • Principles behind pre-press functions such as image production (typesetting, scanning, graphic arts camera), image combining (manual and electronic), image output (film, plates, direct to press) and digital workflow are identified and used in production process where applicable
   • Different types of images (line, half-tone) and their uses are investigated
   • Qualities of main material types of paper, ink, adhesive, wax and plastic films and extrusion are investigated and used to inform product development choices
   • Different output settings (screen rulings, angles, shapes) and how they affect final product are identified
   • Different types of output required for different printing processes are identified
   • Different output devices (film setters, plate setters, analogue proofs, digital proofs) are identified
4. Apply knowledge of printing processes
   • Basic principles of printing processes (lithography, relief, flexography, gravure, pad printing, screen printing, digital and electronic printing) are used to inform production processes
   • Types of jobs and products for which each process is appropriate are identified and used to inform production decisions
   • Capabilities and limitations of each process are investigated and used to inform production decisions
5. Apply knowledge of converting and finishing processes
   • Basic characteristics of converting and finishing processes (guillotining, flat-bed and rotary cutting, collating, folding, adhesive, mechanical and thermal fastening) are identified and used to inform production processes
   • Types of jobs and products for which each process is appropriate are identified and used to inform production processes
6. Apply detailed knowledge of paper and printing processes
   • Relationship of different paper sizes is used to inform production processes
   • Different weights, callipers, bulk, density and opacity of paper and how they affect pre-press, printing and finishing operations and end uses are investigated and used to inform production processes
   • Paper grain and how it affects pre-press, printing and finishing operations is used to inform production processes
   • Moisture content, porosity and ink absorbency and how they affect pre-press, printing and finishing operations are investigated and used to inform production processes
   • Gloss, smoothness and surface strength and how they affect pre-press, printing and finishing operations are investigated and used to inform production processes
   • Permanence, durability and acidity and alkalinity of paper and how they affect pre-press, printing and finishing operations and end uses are investigated and used to inform production processes
   • Bursting strength, folding endurance, tensile strength and tearing resistance and how they affect printing and finishing operations and end uses are investigated and used to inform production processes
   • Paper behaviour and how it affects different production processes is investigated and used to inform production decisions
   • Effect of combining paper with adhesive, wax and plastic films on production processes is investigated and used to inform production decisions
7. Apply detailed knowledge of paper grades and colours
   • Paper types and grades and end uses for each type and grade are used to inform production processes
   • International paper sizes (IPS) system, its basis and relationship of different paper sizes are used to inform production processes where appropriate
   • Differences between wood pulp, rag and recycled papers and appropriate end uses are identified and used to inform production processes
   • Colour matching processes are used to inform production processes
   • Effect of different paper colours on printing operations is used to inform production processes
8. Apply detailed knowledge of paper handling and storage procedures
   • Ideal storage conditions for different types and grades of paper are investigated and used to inform production procedures
   • Advantages and disadvantages of different packing and delivery systems are investigated and used to inform production procedures
9. Apply basic knowledge of costs of production
   • Main cost elements (fixed, capital, variable) in production are investigated and applied in workplace
   • Information required to accurately cost jobs and means of collecting it (manual and computerised) are identified and applied in workplace
   • Ways of minimising use of materials without affecting quality of output are identified and applied in workplace
   • Ways of maximising efficiency of capital and human resources are investigated and applied in workplace
10. Apply knowledge of production management requirements and systems
    • Types of information that need to be exchanged between different stages of production to facilitate production efficiency are identified and applied in workplace
    • Systems (manual and computerised) that can be used to exchange information are identified and applied in workplace
    • Basic principles of efficient production management are applied in workplace