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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. Identify colour requirements
   • Printing conditions are determined to identify colour management requirements
   • Printer’s requirements are established to guide provision and use of International Colour Consortium (ICC) colour profiles
2. Fingerprint press if printing in a controlled environment
   • Suitable test charts are selected
   • Test chart is printed with standard ink densities on a range of stock, including non-standard types such as yellow parchment
   • Densitometer and/or spectrophotometer is used to examine printed test charts and generate colour profile for that press and that stock
3. Calibrate digital proofing device
   • Proofer is linearised for required stock
   • Digital test file (eg. IT8 chart) is produced
   • Test file is printed on a proofingdevice and on the type of press that will be used to obtain a proof for both film and direct-to-plate technologies
   • Results are measured with a spectrophotometer
   • Results are used to generate output profile that allows for dot gain, Grey Component Replacement (GCR), Under Colour Removal (UCR), total gradients and black values
4. Create different monitor profiles using colour tuning package
   • A densitometer with screen suction device, if available, and/or appropriate software (OR) are used
   • Contrast (white level) and brightness are set
   • Red, Green, Blue (RGB) and Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/black (CMYK) and ICC profiles are applied
   • Jobs on screen are viewed through appropriate profiles
5. Calibrate scanner
   • Test chart (eg. IT8) is loaded
   • Scanner input profiling software is used to calibrate scanner (OR)
   • All settings are put to zero (0)
   • Test chart is scanned and digital proof is outputted
   • Spectrophotometer is used to measure proof and ICC profile is generated and loaded into scanning software
6. Calibrate digital camera
   • Standard lighting conditions are set up
   • ICC target is photographed and digital proof is outputted
   • Spectrophotometer is used to measure proof and ICC profile as generated
   • ICC profile is loaded into digital camera software
7. Carry out maintenance
   • Whole system is checked every two to three months
   • Monitor calibrations are checked monthly
   • Digital proofing devices are checked at least every time ink or paper stock is changed
8. Use colour profiles
   • Appropriate profiles are used to ensure colour on monitors, proofs and final product match as closely as possible
   • In a controlled environment press fingerprint for final output is used, otherwise digital proofer profile is used
   • Colour wedges are included in all files and outputs

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

manage colour in pre-press operations to ensure proofs, monitors and final products match

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

produce a portfolio of THREE jobs that demonstrates and provides evidence of:

final product printed on various stocks and matching digital proofs on simulated stock

monitors are checked to ensure they have different loaded profiles that match the portfolio jobs

colour management system maintenance procedures.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence

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Knowledge Evidence

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

describe WHS issues encountered during colour management for pre-press

Light

describe how light intensity and colour temperature are measured

identify standard lighting conditions for matching colour

list effects different lighting conditions have on: using a monitor, proofing and printing

Colour theory

describe the difference between Red, Green, Blue (RGB) and Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/black (CMYK) colour

explain Under Colour Removal (UCR) theory and the effect it has on an image

explain Grey Component Replacement (GCR) theory and the effect it has on an image

Densitometry and spectrophotometry

explain densitometry and spectrophotometry measurement

describe use of International Colour Consortium (ICC) profiles and how they affect output

Scanning theory

list factors that influence selection of highlight and shadow aim points

explain why grey balance requirements are determined prior to applying colour correction, and how they are determined

list factors that determine colour correction requirements

Printing process

explain why different ink densities are used for different stocks

describe standard ink densities for different types of jobs

list affects different stocks have on colour reproduction

list affects different inks have on colour reproduction for proofing and final production

describe affects age and configuration of the press (eg. 2-colour vs. 4-colour) have on colour reproduction

define dot gain and how it affects colour

explain why final output is affected by the type of press and printing process used

describe strengths and limitations of different printing processes in colour reproduction

Problem solving

describe common colour management problems and appropriate solutions

explain when an ICC profile is included in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file

describe how using the wrong profile affects output

Information sources

identify sources of information about colour management.

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