Course Title: Managing Prepress and New Media Solutions

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Managing Prepress and New Media Solutions

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
MANU2088	Brunswick Campus	Undergraduate	355T ICGT - International Centre for Graphic Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006

Course Coordinator: John Magnik

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9462

Course Coordinator Email: john.magnik@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bldg 151, Room 515.1.02B, Brunswick

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

From the advent of the very first electronic film output device, prepress has been undergoing an astonishing evolution from the labour-intensive skills of specialist individuals into highly automated, technologically-driven manufacturing systems.
New market drivers are continuously emerging which influence this evolutionary process. The convergence of the supply chain, the increasing need to repurpose files, the preference for data management standards and ultimately the intent to link graphics systems to overall print manufacturing will be examined in the context of their impact on the prepress sector.
This course will identify the current trends and technologies and possible future scenarios affecting the prepress sector. It will equip graduates with a range of capabilities required to implement and manage prepress solutions for increased productivity and profitability.
This course is part of the Associate Degree in Graphic Technology, which articulates into the Bachelor of Business (Graphic Technology).

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Capabilities developed by this course include, but are not limited to:
• Ability to identify prepress foundations in the context of its development from being a compartmentalised analogue process into a converged digital supply chain.
• Ability to identify and describe the range of tools and tasks involved in digital file assembly and management.
• Ability to research and analyse the features offered by a range of both input and output devices and interpret their effectiveness on productivity.
• Ability to define the theoretical foundations of colour and consequently identify tools and techniques that can manage digital colour and its reproduction effectively.
• Ability to identify and describe the processes involved in file preparation within a digital workflow and the impact on productivity.
• Ability to research and analyse the features offered by a range of digital workflows and interpret their effectiveness on productivity.
• Ability to research and analyse current and emerging data standards and measure their effectiveness not only within the context of prepress but rather holistically over print supply chains.
• Ability to describe the foundational concepts of Information Technology Design and Administration within the context of digital workflows and Management Information Systems (MIS).
• Ability to identify and describe concepts and processes for re-purposing files for alternate electronic and print media to attract new markets and improved profitability.
• Ability to research and analyse current and emerging trends and technologies and consequently implement and manage new processes and equipment for enhanced productivity and profitability.
• Ability to research and analyse possible future prepress scenarios and consequently implement and manage new processes and equipment for improved productivity and profitability.

On successful completion of this course each student will be expected to:
• Describe the evolutionary process that is taking place within the graphics arts industry and identify its impact on production methodology with a focus on the prepress and new media sectors.
• Classify the major software applications and identify their intended purpose in context to production within a prepress and new media environment.
• List and define common industry terminology in context to the prepress and new media sector.
• Describe and classify the major stages of the production process within a prepress environment.
• Describe the fundamental concepts and processes of re-purposing digital files.
• Classify a range of input and output devices and explain their function.
• Describe the possible advantages and disadvantages of various technologies available and explain their suitability for different scenarios.
• Define the fundamentals of colour theory in relation to the graphic arts industry.
• Explain the limitations of actual colour and identify the tools and techniques used to manage colour.
• Describe the fundamental design of an integrated digital workflow.
• Describe and classify various workflow options available and explain their appropriateness for different circumstances including full integration with existing management information systems (MIS).
• Research and analyse emerging trends and determine suitable solutions for implementing and managing changes to workflows.
• Research and analyse future scenarios and determine procedures for managing and implementing the solutions.

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities will include:
• Lectures
• Practical Demonstrations
• Industry visits
• Guest Lecturers
• Scenario Analysis

Overview of Learning Resources

There is no prescribed text for this course however, reading material is given in early Topic Guides and further reading will be developed as the semester progresses via lecturer and student participation.

Books:
Adams, Dr. R.M. & Romano, F.J. (1999). Computer-to-plate: Automating the Printing Industry. (Second edition). Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. Pittsburgh.
Adams, Dr. R.M. & Romano, F.J. (1999). Computer-to-plate Primer. Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. PittsburghStevens, R.T. (2002). Computer Graphics Dictionary. Charles River Media, Inc. Hingham, Mass.
Romano, F.J. (1999). Professional Prepress, Printing and Publishing. Prentice Hall. NJ.
Romano, F.J. (2002). Pocket Guide to Digital Prepress. Delmar Publishers. Albany.
Field, G.G. (2003). Color and Its Reproduction. (Second edition). GATF Press. Pittsburgh.
Speirs, H. (2003). Introduction to Prepress. Pira International. Leatherhead.
Websites:
www.creo.com
www.heidelberg.com
www.agfa.com
www.adobe.com
www.cip4.org
www.color.org
www.planetpdf.com
www.prepressure.com

Overview of Assessment

Written Tasks
Written tasks can be submitted in person to the appropriate course coordinator or alternatively sent to them by mail to RMIT University – ICGT, Building 515, Dawson Street, Brunswick, 3056. Students are advised to keep a copy of all submitted written tasks.
Oral Presentations
Oral presentations will be made during classes.

When do I submit my work?
Submission of tasks will be required progressively based on the course structure and due dates will be advised at the beginning of the course.

Return of Assessment Tasks
Written Tasks
Written tasks can be collected from a lecturer or the course coordinator within 3 weeks of the submission date. Written comments and grade will be made on the assignment submission sheet.

Oral presentations
Students will receive written feedback on their presentation from the lecturer as far as possible the week after the presentation.