The graphics technician's working day
From file to finished print
As a graphic technician you stand between the digital file and the finished physical product. Your task is to make what looks good on screen look at least as good on paper — in large quantities and without errors.
§Preparation of pressure
Before storage
- 01Check file for resolution, colours and cropping.
- 02Make sure that the colours are set up for print and not just screen.
- 03Choose the right paper for the task.
- 04Prepare the machine and adjust it according to the task.
§Colors for print.
Colors on a screen and colors on paper work differently. The screen blends light while printing blends dye. Therefore in printing one typically works with four primary colors that together can render a large color spectrum.
| Color system. | Where it is used | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | Screens | Blends red, green and blue light |
| CMYK | Pressure | Blends cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink |
| Specialty colors | Logos and precise brand colours | Mixed colour for uniform result |
§Under the pressure.
When the machine is running, you watch quality the whole time: are colors right, is the print sharp, is the paper clean? You take sample sheets and compare to the approved result. If you spot a deviation, you adjust before it affects the whole run.
§Post-processing
After printing, the product often needs to be trimmed, folded, stapled, or glued. A beautiful print that is trimmed crooked or folded incorrectly is still a defective product. Therefore, post-processing is just as important as the printing itself — this is where the product gets its final form.