Blog QR code

QR Code for this blog

Don't bother scanning this code because it will lead you right back to where you are. So what exactly is a QR code? It is a two dimensional matrix barcode, that consists of black "modules" that are set on a white background. These codes can be read by QR code scanners, scanned from a smart phone, or a computer with a camera. These QR codes will take you to a specific webpage designated to it. Besides just holding URLs QR codes can also hold text. 

Why do we have a need for such barcodes? They make it simple to access a certain area of a webpage without having to type in the URL . For our notepad assignment for example, potential employers may like our work and simply scan the QR code that leads to our blog so that they may view more of the work that we have done.

Self-promotional Notepad

Target Audience:
Potential employers that may be searching to fill a position in the graphics field.

Call to Action:
For potential employers to be drawn into the design of my notepad that will draw them to look at more of my work by scanning the QR Code and viewing my blog. Ultimately offering me a job after viewing my work.

Job Specifications and Pricing:
5X7 notepad
0.125" bleed
0.25" margins (minimum)
QR Code
Black and White only (1 color job)
50 sheets per pad
padded with chipboard back
$3.58 per notepad from printing services
$0.5 for the proof (price may vary depending on paper).

Step1: word matrix

Step one in the planning process was to draw out a word matrix. This was to help us along the way to promote our skills that we have learned or are still in the process of learning.

Step 2: Thumbnails

Step two in the planning process is to brainstorm ideas by creating thumbnails. These thumbnails are to help develop multiple ideas with quick sketches.

 Step three: After drawing the thumbnails I chose a design and turned it into a rough. This includes a bleed of 0.125"(dotted line on the outside), and also a margin of 0.25"(dotted line barely visible on the inside).

 Final notepad product. It's not exactly like the proof but I like this a lot better. If I would have left it just like my proof there would have been too much clutter on the page and you wouldn't be able to make out the pictures.
I chose this text because it is classy yet has a little bit of fun to it.
All pictures were taken and edited by me, Eva Schenk-Wilderman.

Business card remake

In class today we remade a business card from a folding dummy given to us by Mrs.Benson. Our parameters were a 2/1 print job: 2 colors (PMS of our choice and black. I think I got my parameters a little bit confused because I used 2 PMS colors as well as black. Our bleed and margins were both 0.125"
For my first side I chose a grayscale raster photo which I downloaded for free from dreamstime.com. On this side for my vector, which I can change to one color ( sorry for my confusion), I chose to use EW, with the W turned sideways to resemble the E. I used the name Wilderman instead of Schenk because I'm getting married in 6 months and if I decide to print these out or use them at any time in the future, I thought it would be wise to start the name transition slowly.
The second side Is full black with white lettering, this would be the reverse and print as the paper color.
I have actually three vectors packaged into he folder but only used the color one as my vector and dragged all the white writing into the file making it indesign writing.

Chapter 2 WL assignment

Halftone dots:
A printing press does not uses thousands of shades of ink. It actually uses a single color of ink that is printed in tiny dots, these halftone dots vary in diameter to simulate different shades. These dots are so small that the individual dot are not apparent unless you have very good eyesight.



















Terms and their importance:
DPI- This stands for dots per inch. This is used to describe the resolution of an imaging device such as a printer, imagesetter, or a platesetter. The higher the resolution (DPI) the better quality the picture is.  It is very important to know DPI because you need to know what type of resolution your printer can output. You can't create something with a DPI of 2400 when your printer can only reach between 600-1200 DPI.
LPI(Lines per inch)- This measures the rows of dots and is used to describe the frequency of halftone dots. Screen ruling is usually measured in LPI. This is important because you need to know what screen rulings you can use on different substrates. Newspapers use a lower DPI because the coarse substrate used for newspapers won't support fine line screens. 
PPI(pixels per inch) This describes the image resolution. In this class all of our files need to be saved as 300ppi.

CMYK vs RGB
CMYK stands for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black, these are process colors that are transparent and when they are combined on paper they produce different colors. 
RGB(Red-green-blue) is displayed on our computer monitors. This is the color gamut that the monitor can reach. 
Both of these color gamuts can reach ranges of colors the other can't. That's why its important to have a swatchbook of color on hand so you can type in the code of the color you want and that will be what you get in your prints. What you see on your monitor might not be what you get after you print. 

 


Spot colors:
Spot colors are necessary when you need printed inks that are not in the range of CMYK. Using CMYK inks would make your job a four color job meaning it uses the four ink plates to create your whole image. If you have a spot color, it is made for your job. If you can eliminate your CMYK color to just a one plate spot color. This would decrease your four color job to a one color. However if you add spot color to your already four color CMYK job then it can printing costs.


Registration is the alignment of printed inks. Natural variation in colors can camouflage small amounts of misregistration. On large presses the paper has registration marks that are scanned to keep them aligned when they are moving at a fast pace. Printing in shades of a single color can diminish misregistration.

bad registration in two color logo

 Rich Black
I like how the textbook describes the use of Rich Black. Solid black areas usually need to be beefed up or they will appear anemic. Print service providers vary on the definition of rich black but according to the author of Real World Print Production the color consists of C-60 M-40 Y-40 K-100. this is also said to add a neutral color balance to avoid a color cast to rich black areas. 

Controlling your Environment when it comes to color management:
Minimize lighting interference. Avoid glares on your computer screen and try to have consistent lighting in your room. Surround yourself in neutral colors. 
Subdue that psychedelic monitor background. Use a gray desktop or grayscale image as a background. 
Calibrate and profile your monitor.
Treat your desktop printer kindly. Buying recommended name brand ink is a lot better for your printing job and you will get what you pay for. 
Invoke Printer profiles. 

All images are from Real World Print Production by Claudia McCue.

Chapter 1 WL assignment

Then and now:
Before the Apple desktops, Adobe's Post Script, and other page layout application were made available everything in the printing and design work was needed to be done by specialized craftspeople. All these functions back then were divided between different trades. Designers were designated to their functions as well as trade shops and printers



Many of these specialized jobs do not exist any longer because they can now be done by desktop users.  Page layout programs replaced a lot of functions that were being done in trade shops, things that needed to be manually done can now be done on a computer.  Along with the change of technology, redistribution of responsibilities was necessary. The redistribution of labor began to look a lot more like the table below.






Job titles and salaries:
Sales Rep/customer service:
CSR's interact with customers to provide information in response to inquiries about certain products or services. CSR's are knowledgeable in the services and products their company provides in order to handle costumer questions or complaints, and perhaps also to explain how things work.
Salary can range from $19,000 to $42,000 a year.

Estimator:
Estimators are responsible for estimating the time, labor, paper, ink, and other materials that will be required to complete a printing job.
Salary can range from $32,000 to $62,000 a year.

Preflight technician:
Loading customer prepared files for output and checking them for any errors, completeness, and potential problems. Identify missing components and communicate them to CSR, and personnel to work out any problems with the job.
Salary can range from $20,000 to $50,000 a year depending on area and experience.

Prepress operator :
Prepress operators prepare items for print. They layout text and artwork and correct any formatting errors so that the publication looks like the designer intended. Prepress operators may prepare the metal plates to transfer the words and images to paper.
Salary can range from $28,000 to $57,000 a year


Imposition: Placing individual pages of a multipage document in the correct position for final printing.

RIP (Raster Image Processor): A specialized computer that uses a combination of proprietary software and hardware to translate PostScript or PDF input to a very  high-resolution bitmap image that drives the marking engine of an ouptut device, such as an imagesetter, platesetter, or a desktop printer.


 


Trapping: To create overlapping areas of common color in order to minimize gaps during slight misregistration on press. This is usually performed at the RIP stage however you can create traps in applications manually as well.

Die Cutting: Using pressure and shaped metal dies in order to cut a printed piece in an interesting shape. This is done by the printer, or by specialty companies that are subcontracted by the printer.

All images were taken from Real World Print Productions by Claudia McCue