Print Production – how to do it right from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objective

How to calibrate grayscale and color images for print

Syllabus

Introduction

Print Production - Introduction

This video explains the differences between the two common printing methods: digital and offset. Then it explains the problems that arise from using RGB colour images. This video also contains some absolutely essential Photoshop shortcuts.

A visual representation of the differences between RGB vs. CMYK – and also their similarities. This explains why RGB colours often don't work in print.

This video shows what happens to an image going through a sheet-fed and then through a web offset press. It also shows the differences between the channels in a CMYK and an RGB image.

This video shows the Color Settings window in Photoshop. This is where the different CMS profiles can be found. It then explains how to apply the one that's going to work best.

This is a key video – it explains how to use the Calibration Test Strip resource to compensate for dot gain, and to calibrate the image so that the shadows and highlights don't burn out during printing.

This video covers creating and saving your own CMS in Photoshop, then applying it to the other Adobe apps using Adobe Bridge. Then we check to see that the new CMS is actually in place.

What's the ink limit? Can you see it? Does it make a difference? If you're using Adobe InDesign, the answer is YES. And it's REALLY important! This video shows you everything you need to know.

Making a high-resolution PDF. This is pretty easy, so long as you tweak a couple of the settings. Otherwise, it's not a safe area at all!

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Explores color calibration in Adobe Photoshop, which is essential for achieving accurate and consistent results in print production workflows

Covers dot gain, highlight, and shadow compensation, which are critical for optimizing images for different printing processes and substrates

Explains the differences between digital and offset printing methods, which helps learners choose the appropriate techniques for their projects

Requires Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign, which may require a subscription for learners who do not already have access to these tools

Uses Adobe Bridge to apply CMS settings, which may be unfamiliar to some learners who primarily use Photoshop and InDesign independently

Reviews summary

Practical print production fundamentals

According to learners, this course provides a practical and fundamental understanding of print production. It explains core concepts like RGB vs. CMYK, dot gain, and calibration, clarifying why issues arise in printing by showing what happens on the press. The course demonstrates practical application within Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, showing steps for image calibration and creating high-resolution PDFs. While it offers a solid foundation and useful software techniques, some learners might find it basic if they have extensive prior experience or that it assumes some familiarity with Adobe applications.

Assumes access and basic use of Adobe apps.

"Need Photoshop and InDesign to follow along fully with demos."

"Best if you have some prior Adobe experience before starting."

"Hands-on practice requires having the necessary software."

Provides insight into the printing process.

"It was great to see what happens on the press and why."

"Helped me visualize how inks interact during printing."

"Understanding the press operation helps troubleshoot issues."

Shows how to apply concepts using software.

"The Photoshop steps for calibration are practical and useful."

"Learned exactly how to export a print-ready PDF correctly."

"Useful demonstrations within Adobe apps like Photoshop and InDesign."

Explains fundamental concepts for print.

"I finally understood why RGB vs CMYK matters for print..."

"The dot gain explanation was really helpful..."

"Covers essential calibration ideas needed for printing."

May be too basic for experienced users.

"As an experienced designer, I found parts of this course basic..."

"Doesn't delve into really advanced topics or edge cases."

"Good foundation but not for deep, expert-level knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Print Production – how to do it right with these activities:

Review Color Theory Fundamentals

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Reviewing color theory fundamentals will help you better understand the CMYK color model and how it differs from RGB, which is crucial for print production.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Study the color wheel and color relationships.
Understand additive and subtractive color models.
Explore the impact of color on visual perception.

Review 'Photoshop CC: The Missing FAQ'

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Referencing 'Photoshop CC: The Missing FAQ' will help you quickly resolve any technical issues you encounter while calibrating images for print.

View Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC for... on Amazon

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Browse the table of contents for relevant topics.
Read the FAQs related to color management and printing.
Try out the solutions provided in the book.

Review 'Real World Color Management'

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Reading 'Real World Color Management' will provide a deeper understanding of color management principles and their application in print production.

View Real World Color Management on Amazon

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Read the chapters on color profiles and rendering intents.
Study the sections on monitor calibration and printer profiling.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Four other activities

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Calibrate Images Using Photoshop

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Practicing image calibration in Photoshop will reinforce your understanding of dot gain compensation and highlight/shadow adjustments.

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Download sample images with varying color profiles.
Use the Calibration Test Strip to adjust dot gain.
Adjust highlights and shadows to prevent burnout.
Save the calibrated images with appropriate color profiles.

Create a CMYK vs. RGB Comparison Guide

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Creating a visual guide comparing CMYK and RGB color models will solidify your understanding of their differences and limitations in print production.

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Gather images that demonstrate color differences.
Create a side-by-side comparison in a presentation format.
Explain the technical reasons for the differences.
Share the guide with peers for feedback.

Follow Advanced Photoshop Printing Tutorials

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Following advanced tutorials will expose you to more complex techniques for optimizing images for print, such as advanced color correction and sharpening.

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Search for tutorials on advanced color correction.
Practice the techniques on your own images.
Compare the results with your previous methods.

Design a Print-Ready Brochure

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Designing a brochure from start to finish will allow you to apply all the concepts learned in the course, from image calibration to PDF creation.

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Plan the layout and content of the brochure.
Calibrate all images using Photoshop.
Assemble the brochure in InDesign.
Create a high-resolution PDF with correct settings.
Get feedback from peers and make revisions.

Career center

Learners who complete Print Production – how to do it right will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Color Management Specialist

A Color Management Specialist ensures accurate and consistent color reproduction across various devices and media, including monitors, printers, and presses. This role involves calibrating devices, creating color profiles, and troubleshooting color-related issues. This course provides essential knowledge and skills for anyone working in color management especially the sections dealing with the Color Settings window in Photoshop and creating custom color management systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Color Management Specialist

Prepress Technician

A Prepress Technician prepares digital files for printing, ensuring that they meet the specifications of the printing press and the client's expectations. This role involves tasks such as image editing, color correction, and file conversion. This course directly addresses the core responsibilities of a Prepress Technician by providing detailed instruction on image calibration, dot gain, and highlight and shadow compensation. The section on creating high-resolution PDFs is essential for ensuring that files are print-ready. The course's coverage of color management systems and their application across Adobe apps will be extremely useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Prepress Technician

Print Production Manager

A Print Production Manager oversees the entire printing process, ensuring quality and consistency from initial design to final product. This role involves managing budgets, timelines, and resources, as well as coordinating with designers, printers, and other stakeholders. This course is beneficial because it provides a deep dive into image calibration, dot gain, and highlight and shadow compensation, all of which are crucial for achieving accurate and high-quality prints. In particular, the section on CMYK image calibration and understanding how printing presses work will assist a Print Production Manager in troubleshooting issues and optimizing print output. The video on creating high resolution PDFs will be extremely beneficial to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Print Production Manager

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. This work includes designing logos, brochures, advertisements, and other marketing materials. This course helps a Graphic Designer understand how their designs translate from screen to print, ensuring that the final product matches their vision. Understanding image calibration, dot gain, and highlight shadow compensation can prevent unexpected results. The explanation of RGB versus CMYK color spaces will be extremely helpful for those working in graphic design as well as the section on working with Adobe InDesign.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Packaging Designer

Packaging Designers create the aesthetic design and structure of product packaging. They are responsible for ensuring that packaging is visually appealing, functional, and protects the product during shipping and handling. The image calibration sections are essential to a Packaging Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Packaging Designer

Publication Designer

A Publication Designer creates visual concepts for magazines, books, and other printed materials. They are responsible for the overall design and layout of publications, ensuring visual appeal and readability. This course provides knowledge of the printing process, including color calibration, dot gain, and resolution, which are essential for achieving high-quality print results. The video on producing high-resolution PDFs can be extremely beneficial to this role.

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Digital Print Specialist

A Digital Print Specialist operates and maintains digital printing equipment, ensuring that prints are produced accurately and efficiently. This role requires a strong understanding of color management, image calibration, and print quality control. This course provides valuable insights into the factors that affect print quality, such as dot gain and highlight and shadow compensation. The explanation of color settings in Photoshop and how to apply them to different printing scenarios is particularly relevant to this position. The section on resolution will also be critical in this role.

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Image Retoucher

An Image Retoucher enhances and manipulates digital images to improve their appearance for print or online use. This work involves correcting flaws, adjusting colors, and optimizing images for specific output requirements. This course helps an Image Retoucher understand how their edits will translate to print, ensuring that the final product meets quality standards. In particular, the image calibration section is useful to an Image Retoucher.

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Desktop Publisher

A Desktop Publisher uses specialized software to create layouts for printed materials, such as books, magazines, and brochures. This role requires a strong attention to detail and a solid understanding of typography, image editing, and page design. This course can help a Desktop Publisher optimize images for print, ensuring that they appear crisp and clear in the final product. The sections on image calibration and dot gain are particularly relevant to this position, as they directly impact the quality of printed images. Furthermore, the section on producing high resolution PDFs is helpful for delivering files to print shops.

See salaries and explore the career path for Desktop Publisher

Commercial Printer

A Commercial Printer operates printing presses to produce a variety of printed materials, such as brochures, magazines, and packaging. This role requires a thorough understanding of the printing process, including color management, image calibration, and paper handling. This course explains how to achieve consistent and accurate colors in print. The course's coverage of dot gain and highlight and shadow compensation is extremely valuable for troubleshooting print quality issues. In particular, the explanation on CMYK will be helpful.

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Print Sales Representative

A Print Sales Representative sells printing services to businesses and organizations. They work to understand their clients' needs and to build strong relationships with them. This course may help a Print Sales Representative build credibility with clients and better understand their needs. This course provides foundational understanding of image calibration, dot gain, and highlight and shadow compensation.

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Print Estimator

A Print Estimator analyzes project specifications and calculates the cost of printing jobs. This role requires a strong understanding of printing processes, materials, and labor costs. A Print Estimator with a foundational understanding of image calibration, dot gain, and highlight and shadow compensation may be better able estimate costs. The explanation on CMYK will be very helpful to this role.

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Print Buyer

A Print Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing print services, negotiating prices, and managing relationships with print vendors. A Print Buyer with knowledge of the printing process can better evaluate vendor proposals and ensure quality. This course provides a foundational understanding of image calibration, dot gain, and highlight and shadow compensation which may assist the Print Buyer in making informed decisions. Additionally, the section on creating high-resolution PDFs may be useful to the Print Buyer.

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Marketing Coordinator

A Marketing Coordinator supports marketing campaigns and initiatives by managing print production, coordinating with vendors, and ensuring brand consistency. This work includes overseeing the creation and distribution of marketing materials, such as brochures, flyers, and posters. This course may help the Marketing Coordinator understand the technical aspects of print production, ensuring that marketing materials are produced accurately and to the highest quality. An understanding of color management, image resolution and converting between RGB and CMYK may also be useful in this role.

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Museum curator

Museum Curators oversee the acquisition, care, and exhibition of museum artifacts and artwork. They conduct research, develop exhibitions, and manage collections. This course may allow a Museum Curator to better understand print production when producing brochures and promotional materials for exhibitions. It may be helpful in preventing errors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Print Production – how to do it right

What's inside

Learning objective

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical print production fundamentals

Activities

Career center

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