Printing has been called the meeting place of art and science but above all it is an industry. It is concerned with graphic communication. Communication is the purpose behind printing. The printed matter could be books, magazines, newspapers, security documents, theatre tickets, posters stamps, currency notes, credit cards, manuals or packaging. The material used would also vary and includes paper, plastic, card, metal, and textiles. Printing uses a large variety of technological processes to create a product of visual impact.
Some of the printing processes have been around for a long time but the printing technology has undergone enormous change in the last decade. It continues to change with innovations and evolution of technology and introduction of computers on a large scale.
The printing process is known to have three stages: pre-press, press and binding of finishing. With personal computers now in widespread use, advances in computer software and printing technology have begun to affect prepress work greatly. Customers themselves increasingly do much of the type-setting and page layout work rather than prepress workers.
Nature of Work
Customers are increasingly able to use their computers to send material to printers that look more and more like the desired finished product. This change called DTP (Desk Top Publishing) poses new challenges for the printing industry. Use of DTP software enables an operator to turn all the elements of text and graphics into complete made up pages which are then put on film ready for plate makers.
The printing industry is rapidly moving towards complete ‘digital imaging’ by which customers printed material received on computer disks is directly converted into printing plates. Special typesetting programmes can ‘convert’ different word processing programmes, used by writers so they are ready for typesetting.
Electronic scanners are used in the production of both black and white and coloured illustrations; and holograms can be printed on credit and identity cards. In some countries transmission of text and illustrations by satellite for printing is now common. Electronic pagination in commercial use allows an entire newspaper page – complete with artwork and graphics – to be made up on the screen exactly as it would appear in print.
Work Environment
Organisations in the print industry may be large and small general printers or they could be specialist packaging printers. Some are high quality book printers, magazine printers, etc. Most large publishing houses have their exclusive printing set-ups. Many individuals have their own small-scale businesses.
Press operators may work in noisy environments while typesetters and compositors usually work in quiet, clean and air-conditioned offices.
Specialisations
Because of the explosive rate of technology and the increasing demand for printed materials, there are countless specializations. The printing industry covers a wide range of specialised processes in the factory and in the office.
Printing and Communication Engineering graduates or printing technologists handle the most technical jobs in the factory but the technician level jobs are handled by those skilled in the printing processes through diploma programmes.
There are pre-press operators who transfer type matter for output to paper or film. While setting to disk, proof reading is done automatically. When the process is not completed electronically, plate makers take the film and place the type and illustrations in the right place in the correct pages.
Machine minders ensure consistent quality of printing. Binding and finishing involves trimming the paper, assembling sections into book form and binding or stitching these together.
Physical and Psychological Requirements
Sound knowledge of chemistry and materials science, knowledge of computer graphics, laser scanning, computer-controlled printing and converting systems is useful for printing jobs. With the explosive rate of technology, the industry is changing rapidly. So professionals in the industry must be prepared to move with the times and re-train in the latest technologies and processes, where necessary. A responsible attitude and pride in the process of production are necessary. Production workers need good colour vision and manual dexterity. Some visual imagination helps. Managerial level jobs require organizing ability, the ability to work under pressure and being a self-starter.
Study/Training
Entry into Bachelor’s degree courses in Printing Technology would require a background in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Admissions may be competitive with selections on the basis of merit and/or entrance examinations.
Diploma courses in printing/printing technology are open to those who have completed secondary school examination with Maths and Science at Class 10 level. Contact the Board of Technical Education in each state for counseling on the admission and selection procedure. Some states offer diploma courses after Plus Two in Science or Plus Two with Printing as a vocations subject.
Those who have pursued training in an Art programme with specialization in Graphic Design and Typography may also look for positions in the printing industry.
Employment Prospects
With the passage of time more and more processes in printing will be automated. Supervisors, technologists and technicians will continue to be in demand, as varied automated processes will require workers skilled in updated technologies.
Craft-based workers in printing will decline but only with large publishing houses which can afford the newer technologies. In regional language publishing and small publishing organisations which have a relatively small turnover, technological upgrading and introduction of labour saving operations will be slower.
The demand for technologists and technicians will continue.
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