Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts (Graphic Pre-press)

 

OVERVIEW

The Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts (Graphic Pre-press) will equip new entrants to the graphic pre-press industry with the skill base required for professional practice. The course provides students with skills in graphic art and Website design. The focus is towards the creation of artwork for print and Web. The course will provide a broader skill base with an understanding of HTML, XHTML, and CSS. The course incorporates extensive project work covering areas of Web authoring, graphic design and pre-press.

Course Subjects
Introduction to Pre-press Graphics Work

This subject gives students an overview of the graphics pre-press industry and covers a broad knowledge base of pre-press graphics work and the Workplace Health & Safety practices associated with it.

Subject Covers
• Printing industry terminology and vocabulary
• Trends within the printing industry
• Basic principles and obligations involved in copyright, Workplace Health & Safety, environmental protection
• Image production (typesetting, scanning, graphic arts camera)
• Image combining (manual and electronic)
• Image output (film, plates, direct to press)
• Digital workflow
• Types of images
• Output devices
• Printing processes: lithography, relief, flexography, gravure, pad printing, screen printing, digital / electronic printing
• Converting and finishing processes: guillotining, flat-bed and rotary cutting, collating, folding, adhesive, mechanical and thermal fastening
• Substrates, paper grain and Ink
• Colour theory – RGB, CMYK
• Cost elements/minimising (fixed, capital and variable) in prepress production
• Quality management

Workplace Communications
This subject teaches students to participate in clear and logical workplace communication, including written and spoken communication.

Subject Covers
• Gathering, recording and conveying simple and routine information
• Personal interaction
• Correct procedures for location and storage of information
• Giving and receiving instructions
• Working as part of a team
• Interacting with clients

Creative Design Concepts /Graphic Art Designer
Students will learn creative design skills using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. These skills will form the foundation for creative design work and will prepare students for a progressive career in the creative design / pre-press industries.

Subject Covers
• Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop CS3
• Working with Layers
• Making Selections
• Incorporating Colour Techniques
• Placing Type in an Image
• Using Painting Tools
• Working with Special Layer Functions
• Creating Special Effects with Filters
• Enhancing Specific Selections
• Adjusting Colours
• Using Clipping Masks, Paths, and Shapes
• Transforming Type
• Liquifying an Image
• Performing Image Surgery
• Annotating and Automating an Image
• Creating Images for the Web
• Getting Started with Illustrator
• Creating Text and Gradients
• Drawing and Composing an Illustration
• Transforming and Distorting Objects
• Working with Layers
• Working with Patterns and Brushes
• Working with Filters, Gradient Meshes,Envelopes, and Blends
• Working with Transparency, Effects, and Graphic Styles
• Creating Graphs in Illustrator
• Drawing with Symbols
• Creating 3D Objects
• Preparing a Document for Pre-press and Printing
• Preparing Graphics for the Web

Page Layout Design
Students will learn page layout design for print using Adobe Indesign. These skills will form the foundation for pre-press work and will prepare students for a progressive career in the pre-press industry.

The Subject Covers
• Exploring the InDesign Workspace
• Working with Text
• Setting up a Document
• Working with Frames
• Working with Colour
• Placing and Linking Graphics
• Creating Graphics
• Working with Transparency
• Working with Tabs and Tables
• Making Books, Tables of Contents, and Indexes
• Exploring Advanced Techniques
• Preparing, Packaging, and Exporting Documents

Pre-press
This subject teaches students how to produce printed proofs and product from digital files.

The Subject Covers
• Printing processes, sheet sizes and binding and finishing
• Lay-down sheets, numerical sequencing and imposition schemes
• Binding and finishing requirements
• ICC profiles
• RIP
• Producing proofs
• Quality specifications and tolerances
• Inspection and testing procedures

Create and Use Websites
Students will learn how to create a simple web site using HTML and gain experience developing Web pages in a text editor. Students also learn how to use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and study the basics of Extensible Hypertext, Markup Language (XHTML), JavaScript, Dynamic HTML (DHTML), and the Document Object Model (DOM).

The Subject Covers
• Basic components of the World Wide Web
• HTML
• Creating and structuring an HTML document
• How to add graphics to HTML documents
• How to use background graphics
• Hyperlinks- internal/ external anchors and references
• Creating tables, frames, style sheets, response and evaluation forms

After completing this course, students will be able to create simple Web pages containing text, graphics, hyperlinks, tables, forms and frames.

Dreamweaver
Students should gain an understanding of how to implement and maintain hypertext-based Web sites using authoring and scripting languages; create Web content; use Web management tools; and apply human-factor principles to design. The skills covered in this subject are essential for Web authors, marketing and communications professionals, PR professionals, Webmasters, desktop designers, technical writers, and library scientists. The subject teaches students how to create and manage Web sites with Dreamweaver. Students will also implement the latest strategies to develop third-generation Web sites, evaluate design tools, discuss future technology standards, and explore the incompatibility issues surrounding current browsers. The course focuses on theory, design and Web construction, along with information architecture concepts, Web project management, scenario development and performance evaluations. Topics include:

• Website Development and Dreamweaver
• Creating a Dreamweaver Web Page and Local Site
• Adding Web Pages, Links, and Images
• Tables and Page Layout
• Forms
• Templates and Style Sheets
• Layers, Image Maps, and Navigation Bars
• Page Layout with Frames
• Animation and Behaviours
• Media Objects
• Dreamweaver Web Photo Album

Vocational Outcomes
• Pre-press Operator
• Website Content Manager
• Pre-press Technician
• Website Designer
• Production Controller
• Graphic Artist

Can I apply for Recognition of Prior Learning?
Recognition of Prior Learning is a way for the student to be credited for previous studies and life experience. Contact the College for full details.

Are there any course entry requirements?
Australian College of Information Technology requires the following of its students, before they can enroll in our courses:
• IELTS LEVEL 5.5 (if English is not your first language)
• Australian Year 10 or equivalent. Eg. G.C.E. O level