GRT 400 - Intro to Printing Methods

1. Assess safety and health guidelines in a printing environment.
   1. State the purpose of a plant safety and health program
   2. Describe the importance of machine guards and personal protection.
   3. Demonstrate safe handling of materials, tools and equipment, as well as proper techniques for lifting
   4. Identify the correct handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and other materials
   5. Explain plans for fire prevention within a plant
   6. Summarize ways to reduce and eliminate waste for environmental compliance.
   7. Locate the MSDS sheets in the printing lab
   8. Describe the purpose of MSDS sheets
   9. Explain how to obtain updated MSDS sheets
2. Evaluate the workflow of a typical printed project.
   1. List the steps in the creation and production of a project.
   2. Describe the function of each step.
   3. Explain the differences between traditional workflow and digital workflow.
   4. Identify proofing responsibilities and laws.
3. Differentiate between various printing and publishing methods.
   1. Describe the basic operation of each method.
   2. Identify various items produced from each process.
   3. List local and national businesses that specialize in each process.
   4. Identify local and/or national professional organizations for each.
   5. Recognize the theory of four color process printing.
4. Produce an understanding of lithographic plate making systems.
   1. Explain how lithographic plates are used on an offset press.
   2. List types of equipment used in plate making.
   3. Recognize the methods and equipment used in different plate making systems.
   4. List common problems associated with plate making systems.
   5. Produce an offset plate from black and white copy.
   6. Center copy in the plate maker.
   7. Obtain proper gripper edge placement on offset plate.
   8. Replenish chemicals for proper development.
5. Outline a basic understanding of lithography printing press systems.
   1. Distinguish between lithographic sheet fed and web fed systems.
   2. Demonstrate how a substrate travels through a press.
   3. Explain the function of each press cylinder in a printing system.
   4. Describe how dampening and dinking systems prepare a plate for printing.
6. Print a one-color job on a lithographic press.
   1. Construct a project for one color-one side print production with a fold.
   2. Prepare a paper offset plate for project.
   3. Set up offset press for printing of project.
   4. Maintain proper paper feed for position of imposition.
   5. Maintain proper ink and water balance during printing.
7. Characterize offset ink properties.
   1. Summarize the various properties of ink.
   2. Define commonly used terms relating to ink.
   3. Identify the characteristics of inks used for different printing processes.
   4. Describe the characteristics of some specialized inks.
   5. Explain how ink characteristics affect the printed product.
   6. Mix ink using the Pantone ink color system.
8. Demonstrate screen print production.
   1. Determine the inks and mixture percentages to mix a specific color.
   2. Mix inks to proper densities.
   3. Print a one-color job on a screen printing press.
   4. Develop a screen plate.
   5. Obtain proper positioning of image on screen press.
   6. Maintain proper ink coverage on substrate throughout printing process.
9. Perform finishing and binding of printed products.
   1. Identify finishing methods for completing a multi-page printed product.
   2. Select the most efficient finishing process for a specific job.
   3. Explain the types of equipment found in the finishing and binding section of a facility.
   4. Describe the various binding techniques.
   5. Compare various local finishing and bindery companies.
   6. Summarize the processes needed for different binding techniques.
   7. Trim a project in proper position using the electronic cutting machine.
   8. Jog the paper in for note pad using the jogger.
   9. Mechanically fold the project using the desktop folding machine.
10. Explain the measurement system used in graphic communications.
    1. Identify incremental measurements of a standard U.S. inch ruler, and standard point/pica measurement system.
    2. Compute decimal equivalents to U.S. inch measurement.
    3. Calculate inch and pica equivalents.
    4. Describe how type is measured using the point/pica measurement system.
    5. Use a line gauge and E gauge to measure point sizes of type.
    6. Use a micrometer to measure paper thickness.
    7. Identify how electronic file sizes are measured.
    8. Understanding color measuring devices to measure ink densities.
11. Categorize digital printing equipment and systems.
    1. Identify various types of digital printing equipment used in graphic communications.
    2. Differentiate between various digital printing equipment.
    3. Summarize the differences between digital print inks and toners and offset inks.
    4. Describe the differences between laser compatible papers and paper used in other printing methods.
    5. Analyze the advantages/disadvantages between digital and offset printing.
    6. List various printing and finishing features of a digital press.