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| Fine print: Printing
is a cool career option today |
In the current information era,
one of the largest industries is the printing industry.
If you want to be a part of this industry, or perhaps set
up a unit of your own, and have mechanical ability, manual
dexterity and an appreciation for electronics, then print
technology will appeal to you. It’s a cool career option
for persons interested in hi-tech mechanics or electronics.
Perceptual and creative aptitude is an added advantage.
It is a multidisciplinary profession, dealing with the integration
of texts and graphics to make a final print by transferring
ink on paper, board or other materials.
Print technology is about processes
used in printing. Details depend on the end product: lithography,
letter press (now uncommon), gravure or screen printing.
Each product calls for slightly different presses and folding,
binding and glueing processes.
The main kinds of printing are
general printing (mail order coupons to catalogues); books;
high-quality colour printing (cards, brochures, fine art
reproduction); newspapers; security printing (bank notes
or bond issues); cartons (food and other packaging); magazines;
stationery; and metal printing (cans, badges).
Nowadays, computer control over
many processes is common. With computerised typesetting,
whole pages of text can now be produced in seconds. “Old
craft” jobs like letter press printing are now rare. The
work increasingly calls for people with technical skills.
What do I have to
do?
In the first step of the physical
process, compositors read the copy and arrange the type.
Typesetting is done by a computer to make plates. Colour
separators then render digital and printed art into layers
of film separated into four or more colours. Printing press
operators yield the final result, generally with the use
of computers. Finally, the binder completes the process
and puts the printed matter together to create books, pamphlets,
newspapers, journals or magazines.
The more quiet and expensive machines
use laser or LED technology. Less expensive and noisier
machines use inkjet technology, often delivering lower quality
prints than laser machines. Film machines are similar to
standard copy machines, and produce fairly high quality
results. The latest process being used nowadays is the chemical
process known as offset printing.
You can design and produce your
printed documents reliably and efficiently with Adobe print
publishing software. Whether your projects are destined
for high-end printing, a digital press, or multi-channel
publishing, working with integrated software can help you
to meet demanding deadlines.
Presses produce newspapers at
great speed (70,000 copies per hour for the largest machines).
The introduction of new technology into the production process
has streamlined and speeded up the operation. It
has also opened doors to a vast increase in added-value
marketing and publishing activity through editionising,
special targeted supplements and new titles.
What should I study?
You should have passed your Class
XII examination, preferably with physics, chemistry and
maths. Degree courses take three to four years, while diplomas
range between six months and three years.
What next?
The Indian print industry has
excellent growth prospects. You can find jobs with newspapers,
book printing presses, private commercial presses, Union
and state government presses, advertising agencies and packaging
industries.
Printing houses like Tata Press,
Hindustan Thompson, Delhi Press and Everest Press offer
good opportunities for technical specialists and managers.
Some companies which recruit students regularly include
Thomson Press (I) Ltd, Times of India, SICPA, Tata Info
Media, Manipal Press Ltd , Deccan Herald, Macmillan India,
Unique Offset, Navneet Publications and Nagraj & Co.
But there’s nothing like setting
up your business. It is a good idea for entrepreneurs to
start their own company after a few years of experience
with a printing firm. where
to study
- Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s College of Engineering and Technology,
Pune.
- Manipal Institute of Technology,
Manipal.
- Regional Institute of Printing Technology,
Calcutta.
- University of Mysore,
Mysore.
- Jadavpur University,
Calcutta.
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