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Why is Communication Important?

The History of Communication

Producing Visual Images

Printing Processes

Binding & Finishing

Segments of the Industry

Vocabulary

Copy and Art Preparation

Copy is the text or words used in any type of printed materials. Books are typically text intensive while advertisements use more equal amounts of text and images. Copy can be provided to a graphic designer in many different ways. The information can be provided in any manner from hand-written on a napkin, to typed manuscript pages, or in electronic file format. Don't be fooled into thinking that because it is in electronic format that it is ready to use. People unfamiliar with the industry do not know what is necessary to prepare a job for printing presses or cost-effective production. We will be learning that this year.

Copy supplied in a non-electronic format must be re-typed on equipment designed to provide access to the proper fonts, line spacing, and line length to fit a layout, as well as the proper use of bold, italic, or other embelishments designed to make it both attractive and effective.

Images or photos are often provided in many ways as well. It used to be that they were provided separately from the typed manuscripts. They could be photographs, paintings, or drawings. These images were formerly photographed using a process camera in order to be reproduced on a printing press.

The images can be line images, consisting of only areas of black-and-white.

Or line images with areas filled with a solid color.

Or, they could be continuous tone images. Continuous tone meaning that they consist of varying shades of grey on a continuum from solid black to pure white, including every shade of grey in-between.

Sometimes, they could be color photographs. All images needed to be adjusted for size and appearance, as well as for proper reproduction on various pieces of printing equipment.

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Planning A Print Project