The course will use a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on, and field-trip experiences.
- Print Coordination
Successful students will:- examine the stages of preparing a publication for digital output to service bureaus and learn how to coordinate a project through print production, including full-colour separation, spot-colour separation, halftone screens, bleeds, overlays and complex registration, digital and printers’ proofs
- analyze various paper weights, styles and sizes
- examine spot and process colour systems
- analyze the process of printing documents on a variety of presses, including web and four-colour presses
- obtain estimates on costs involved in a variety of print jobs
- assess publications at the blueline (or comparable) stage for errors, additions, omissions, etc.
- assess print proofs for colour, errors, omissions, corrections
- go to a professional print shop to view specific production issues, including colour balance, registration, plate imperfections, etc.
- Design
Successful students will:- assess the suitability of design techniques for a variety of publications
- investigate rates of and accessibility to professional designers
- analyze design needs of various clients and organizations
- assess the functionality of software for drawing, graphics and presentation
- prepare design elements, text specifications, and graphics in a graphics software program for import into page-makeup software
- Page Makeup
Successful students will: - examine and use design techniques for page balance and presentation effectiveness
- examine and use advanced techniques in page-makeup software, including
- graphics integration and manipulation
- creating large initial letters
- placing pull quotes
- determining justified and unjustified text spacing
- kerning
- using non-standard line spacing
- spacing headlines
- wrapping text around even and uneven shapes
- downloading fonts to a printer
- print to file
- print thumbnails, crop marks, and reductions
- produce forms
- design templates
Students prepare a series of assignments suitable for inclusion in a portfolio. They will develop advanced skills with industry-standard page-layout and graphics software programs, working with material supplied by the instructor, from external sources, or from other Print Futures courses. They will gain a thorough grounding in print production technology and procedures, including how to communicate with other print professionals, estimate costs, and deal with digital output.
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Evaluation will be based on this general format:
| Assignments (4 to 6) | 70% |
| Lab exercises | 5% |
| Midterm exam | 15% |
| Professionalism (as defined) | 10% |
| 100% |
Texts may include:
- Weinmann, Elaine. QuarkXPress 4 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide. Peachpit Press, 1998.
Software may include:
- QuarkXPress
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Freehand
PRFU 1350 or permission of the coordinator