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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Apply knowledge of the printing industry
   • Printing industry terminology and vocabulary are used correctly and accurately
   • New technology and new work processes are monitored and implemented when required
   • Trends within the printing industry are monitored, on an ongoing basis, to inform personal work practices
   • Basic principles and obligations of legislative, standards and industrial awards are researched and followed within the workplace and in personal work practices
2. Acquire knowledge of the graphic pre-press, graphic design and multi-channel communications sector
   • Principles behind pre-press functions such as image production, image combining, image output and workflow are researched
   • Different types of images are assessed to identify the most appropriate usage
   • Different types of output are researched and their effects on final product are evaluated
   • Different output devices are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Differences between various markup and scripting languages and their application are assessed to identify most appropriate usage
   • Platforms and computer systems requirements for different products are researched and their effects on final product are evaluated
3. Acquire knowledge of printing machining sector
   • Basic principles of printing processes (lithography, relief, flexography, gravure, pad printing, screen printing, digital and electronic printing) are researched
   • Types of products and processes are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Capabilities and limitations of each process are reviewed
4. Acquire knowledge and requirements of the converting, binding and finishing sector
   • Basic characteristics of converting and finishing processes (guillotining, flat-bed and rotary cutting, collating, folding, adhesive, mechanical and thermal fastening) are researched
   • Types of processes are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Capabilities and limitations of each process are reviewed
5. Acquire knowledge and requirements of the ink manufacturing sector
   • The ink manufacturing sector, its products, services and supplier profile are identified
   • Enterprise products and services, their characteristics and their end use, specifically with regard to printing industry, are identified
   • Printing processes and their implication for ink manufacture are researched
   • Manufacturing processes and quality control procedures for ink, coating, varnish, resin, or chemical production are identified
6. Acquire knowledge and requirements of mail house operations
   • Australia Post Standards and weight and size limitations are researched
   • Equipment used in mail house operations is researched
   • Computer driven bar code, sorting, tagging and reading systems are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Data management and processing systems and software are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Computerised document management, design and reading systems and software are researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Computerised market research, listing services and associated software are researched to identify appropriate usage
7. Acquire knowledge of colour theory
   • Colour theory of additive colours (light), Red, Green, Blue (RGB), is researched to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
   • Colour theory of subtractive colours (pigments), Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black) (CMYK), is researched to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
   • Relationship between ranges of visual colour RGB and CMYK is researched to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
   • Relationship between hue, greyness and substrate for tone and colour correction is researched to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
   • Colour matching conditions and colour matching systems are researched to inform pre-press and/or design decisions
8. Apply knowledge of substrates and consumables
   • Range of substrates used for each printing process is researched
   • Relationship of different substrate sizes is researched to identify appropriate usage
   • Effects of different weights and callipers of substrates on pre-press, printing and finishing operations are researched
   • Effects of substrate on pre-press, printing and finishing operations are researched
   • Effects of different properties of ink (drying properties, fastness, gloss) on pre-press, printing and finishing operations are researched
   • Suitability of inks and coatings for particular finishing processes is identified
9. Acquire basic knowledge of costs of production
   • Main cost elements (fixed, capital, variable) in production are identified
   • Information required to accurately cost particular jobs is determined
   • Ways of minimising use of materials without affecting quality of output are identified
   • Ways of maximising efficiency of resources without affecting quality of output are identified
10. Acquire basic 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
    • Systems and strategies to exchange identified information are researched
    • Basic principles of efficient production management are identified
    • Principles of effective quality management are identified

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

use appropriate vocabulary and terminology in written and oral communications with tradespeople, colleagues, management or clients

document current with trends in the printing industry

apply relevant legislative and workplace requirements when completing tasks

conduct research to determine image type, output settings, output requirements and output devices for different jobs

conduct research to determine the correct process for a print job

conduct research to determine the correct process for a converting or finishing job

use a colour management system to determine colour requirements for a print job

conduct research to determine appropriate substrate and ink for different print jobs

accurately plan, cost and document a print job.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

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Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

describe legislative and enterprise requirements that affect work practice

describe the basic 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)

describe the basic principles of the following printing processes:

lithography

relief

flexography

gravure

pad printing

screen printing

digital and electronic printing

describe the range of substrates used for each printing process

describe designs that are appropriate for different printing processes

describe the basic characteristics of the following converting and finishing processes:

guillotining

flat-bed and rotary cutting

collating

folding

adhesive

mechanical and thermal fastening

describe the relationship between ranges of visual colour Red, Green, Blue (RGB) and Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black) (CMYK)

explain the main cost elements in printing production

explain the basic principles of efficient production management.

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