GRM24 Publishing & Prepress

GRM24 Syllabus
Spring 2013
Nancy Haberman

GRM24 Publishing and Prepress focuses on the process of creating and preparing documents for print and creating press-ready output. Covers such topics as page layout, font and color management, printing processes, papers, bindings and proofing methods.

Applies to Associate Degree. Transfer Credit: CSU.
This Class Meets on Thursdays from 6pm-10:50pm in Com. 109
Best Ways to Reach Me – Email: nhaberman@vcccd.edu (It is important that you type GRM24 in the subject line so that your email is not classified as spam.)
Dean: Pat Ewins
Division Office: PAC 140, extension 1408.
Division Office Hours: 8am-5pm M-Th; 8am-noon on Friday

Special Needs: If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact ACCESS at 378-1461. Their office is just to the right of the Campus Center Building. They will help you determine what assistance is available for you.

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. apply design principles to the creation of original print documents as they contribute to making press-ready projects
  2. manage all digital and physical elements of a print process
  3. identify and describe the different types of output and the benefits of each as applied to printable projects
  4. demonstrate knowledge of file preparation as it related to inks, varnish, binding and cutting
  5. apply the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to use industry-standard digital prepress software
  6. demonstrate an understanding of the principles of prepress required to prepare projects for professional output

BOOKS:

Print & Finish, Ambrose/Harris, AVA 2006
From Design to Print, Sandee Cohen, Peachpit Press 2009
Forms, Folds, Sizes, Poppy Evans, Rockport 2004

OTHER MATERIALS:

  1. USB Flash Drive
  2. Manilla folder and self-adhesive fasteners for every assignment and project
  3. Printer’s Loupe

ATTENDANCE: Attach files from each class to your email attendance at the end of every class session. Also attach to your attendance email a unique snapshot of yourself taken during every class session.

­ Class overview and expectations:

Attendance: Attendance in class is Mandatory and is a part of your grade. You are expected to arrive at class on time and stay until class is dismissed. You must report your attendance by email with a subject line containing GRM24. If you must be absent, you are still responsible for everything covered in that class session and deadlines still apply to you.

Assignments: It is your responsibility to check for updates to the assignments. All assignments and due dates will be posted online on our class website and all assignments are to be posted to our class blog by each student. When in doubt, ask questions. One of our early lessons will include instructions on how to post text and images on the blog where critique will take place on an ongoing basis. All students must participate in the online discussion. All assignments will have a due date assigned and work turned in after the due date is late and will be marked down.

All assignments must be finalized and submitted using the following procedure:

  1. Printed in high resolution (300dpi)-in a manilla folder; if color is part of the design, the assignment must be printed in color on a color printer
  2. Digital files must be backed up on on the file server and on your flash drive
  3. File format should be .jpg (unless another format is specified) and attached to an email sent to the instructor
  4. .jpgs intended for blog posts should be no more than 600 pixels in width.

Grades: Your assignment success is determined by the following criteria:

  1. Timeliness – have your met the published deadline?
  2. Concept – do you have a “good idea?” Have you creatively visualized the idea?
  3. Technique – how effectively have you communicated the idea using the appropriate tools available to you inside and outside of the classroom?

Overall grade is determined by successfully meeting the following criteria:

  1. Attendance & Classroom Participation
  2. Assignment Quality & Effective Communication
  3. In-class exercises
  4. Midterm project
  5. Final project

Weight distribution:

1. Final project – 20%

  1. Midterm project – 15%
  2. Assignments, In-class exercises, Quizzes – 35%
  3. Attendance and Classroom Participation – 30%

 

Exercises and assignments will have the following objectives and will be posted as assigned:

  • Design files that print predictably
  • Understand color models and their place in the workflow
  • Review inks, substrates, finishes, folds and cuts and how they change the final design product
  • Develop a working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite with an emphasis on production and pre-press features
  • Understand the importance of a well-managed filing system, both paper and electronic
  • Learning a productive workflow

Week 1

  • Defining printing and publishing
  • Color Models & Standards
  • Understanding the Importance of The Adobe Workflow & Presets

Reading: pp. 1-80. All readings listed here are from Sandee Cohen’s From Design Into Print unless otherwise indicated.

Week 2

  • Begin Project One
  • Raster/Vector
  • Overview of The Creative Suite

Reading: pp. 81-122

Week 3

Reading: pp. 124-208

Week 4

Reading: pp. 210-265

Week 5–17

FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION  Thursday, May 16th at 6pm sharp. Final Critique is scheduled for 6pm – 8pm.