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drive-thru · Oct 6, 2004, 07:49 PM

I'm a design student on a broad course (ranging from structures to web design). Next year I will be going into my final year and I want to focus on graphics, I do a lot of typography and vector work at the moment and find it much more interesting than the product/industrial side of design.

Something I'm really interested in, and which will no-doubt be useful for future employment, is learning more about printing; setting up documents correctly, learing about specifics (like trapping, spot colours etc), and generally being able to produce a file which a printshop will appreciate rather than dread.
I know a lot of this is specific to each printer, but if I can develop a knowledge & understanding of the concepts then I'll at least know what I'm talking about. I've been searching through the forum and found a few threads which made me realise that I have a lot to learn about this area.

I realise the best place to learn is through experience. I'm about to start a work placement for the year at an architectural firm (not exactly what I wanted to be doing), but it means I will have some spare time. Once I'm settled I might look for a weekend job at a printshop, or even somewhere I can go to talk to the staff and learn from them. (Anyone know a good, friendly place in/around West London?)

In the mean time, are there any good web sites/books that you can point me towards, or even spare some time to pass along some advice, information and experience here? I'm familiar with Photoshop, Illustrator & a little InDesign, so I'm not exactly a beginner, but I haven't been taught much about print and until now haven't had the time to find out for myself.

I want to learn about what I will need to know about print as a designer and hopefully go a bit deeper than that and understand the reasons for doing things the way they're done.
Thanks a lot for any help, it will be greatly appreciated.

KeriVit · Oct 6, 2004, 08:39 PM

Congrats for wanting to learn! Unfortunately, I am in the US and cannot take advantage of such an seeker. You might want to lurk around

www.prepressforums.com

good info- some more advanced... but others...

what else ...

there's a prepress book for designers that is a GODSEND... what is it??? hold on...

ok:

Graphic Designer's Digital Printing and Prepress Handbook
by Constance Sidles

and

Getting It Printed: How to Work With Printers and Graphic Imaging Services to Assure Quality, Stay on Schedule and Control Costs (Getting It Printed)
by Mark Beach, Eric Kenly

Some of our people have used these and have worked wonders...

kaboom · Oct 6, 2004, 08:41 PM

As a prepress person myself, I have only this to say:
Thank You!

KeriVit · Oct 6, 2004, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by kaboom:
As a prepress person myself, I have only this to say:
Thank You!

Yes- ditto!

drive-thru · Oct 7, 2004, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by kaboom:
As a prepress person myself, I have only this to say:
Thank You!

Haha

I'm hoping that it will not only make the prepress people's lives easier but mine too. Plus it's something I'm interested in anyway.

Thanks for the info KeriVit, if anyone else comes up with any good resources or advice please post it here.

Thor · Oct 11, 2004, 12:21 PM

Find a shop that still does 4/c stripping on light tables.
You'll learn a lot.

kaboom · Oct 11, 2004, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Thor:
Find a shop that still does 4/c stripping on light tables.
You'll learn a lot.

Yeah. Like "How to go out of business in 5 easy steps".

nica · Oct 19, 2004, 09:10 AM

This is an excellent book on color management and also deals with how to setup printers. See if they have at your library
Real World Color Management

eyevaan · Oct 19, 2004, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by kaboom:
Yeah. Like "How to go out of business in 5 easy steps".

funny response but I can't think of a better way to learn trapping, separation and the all important lessons of "No you can't do that" . . . and why.

Here is a pretty good source. I know at first look it is just a paper company but considering you are talking about printing - - -

http://www.ippaper.com/printers.html

buy a copy of Pocket Pal - worth every penny
http://www.ippocketpal.com/

and because this sh** is taken far too seriously for anyone's ulcer, bookmark these guys
http://lynnster.com/saints.html

welcome to the dark side - better bring a match

drive-thru · Oct 21, 2004, 04:54 AM

Thanks guys, I've been pretty busy so haven't been able to work out which books to get, but I'm bookmarking all this stuff so that I can come back to it when I have some time.
Thanks for all the replies.
If there's any more, keep it coming.