Parole chiave e obiettivi didattici

CHAPTER 1: TYPOGRAPHY

Measurements

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Describe various types of measurements used in graphic design.

•       Discuss why both absolute and relative measurements are important in design.

Key terms

Absolute measurement: A finite, fixed value or unit of measurement such as a millimeter or inch.

Em: A relative unit of typographical measurement linked to type size.

En: A relative unit of typographical measurement linked to type size equal to half an em.

Pica: An absolute unit of typographical measurement equal to 12 pts. There are six picas in an inch.

Relative measurement: A value determined in relation to a key reference.

 

Type

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Discuss various ways in which typography is used in design projects.

•       Distinguish typographic nuances within various typefaces.

•       Identify various letterforms within a font family.

•       Recite software do’s and don’ts in relation to typography.

Key terms

Alignment: Allows text to be formatted in different ways e.g. vertically or horizontally.

Baseline grid: A set of evenly space lines used to guide the placement of different elements within the design.

Hyphenation: The splitting of words at the end of a line of justified text to allow the formation of a tidy-looking text block.

Justification: Text that aligns with both vertical margins to produce a neat text block.

Kerning: Involves increasing or reducing the space between individual letters in order to resolve what can be problematic combinations.

Leading: The amount of vertical space between lines of type. The distance from the baseline of one line of type and the baseline of another line of type immediately above or below it; also known as line spacing and usually measured in points.

Letter spacing: The space between individual letters.

Word spacing: Alters the space between words, but leaves the space between letters unchanged.

Wrap: Text wrap in InDesign is a command that allows text to flow around an element on a page.

 

Type online

Student Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson the student should be able to:

•       Discuss issues with using certain type fonts online.

•       Identify three universal fonts that can be used on any operating system 

Key terms

HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language): This is the standard mark-up language used to create files for the Web.

Universal fonts: A selection of fonts that can be used on any common operating system.

Web-safe fonts: A limited selection of fonts that any web browser can reproduce.

 

Special Characters

Student Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson the student should be able to:

•       Know when and how to use special characters

•       Be able to identify different types of special characters

Key terms

Special characters: These are typographical symbols included with fonts that are used to help produce a visually consistent body of text.

 

CHAPTER 2: IMAGES

Image types

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Define raster and vector image types and the major difference between them.

•       Create raster and vector images.

•       Identify and create other image types.

Key terms

Bitmap: A raster image that is composed of pixels on a grid.

Grayscale: A tonal scale of achromatic tones with varying levels of white and black used to convert continuous-tone color photographs into approximate levels of gray.

Half-tone: An image made from half-tone dots, produced by screening a continuous tone image for printing.

Line art: An image with no tonal variation, fill color, or shading that does not require screening for printing.

Raster: A fixed resolution image composed of pixels in a grid. (p. 38)

Vector: A resolution-independent and scalable image defined by mathematical formulae, or paths, rather than pixels.

 

File types

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Identify and explain various file types.

•       Demonstrate the ability to work with multiple images.

•       Save images in various formats.

•       Discuss the differences between print and web images.

Key terms

BMP (Bitmap): A format for uncompressed 24- or 32-bit color image files used for graphic manipulation.

Duotones: Tonal images produced from a monotone original and the use of two color tones.

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): An image file format used for storing font and vector image information.

GIF (Graphic Interchange Format): A file format for compressing line art and float color images that are to be used for web applications.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): A file format for compressing and storing images.

LZW (Lemple-Zif-Welch): A lossless compression option for TIFF Files.

PDF (Portable Document Format): A portable format used for sending files from the designer to the client for checking and the printer for printing. A PDF embeds all the necessary font and graphic files for the design.

PSD (Photoshop Document): This is the default format that Photoshop uses for saving data.

RAW: The format for capturing maximum continuous-tone color information when taking photographs.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): A continuous-tone file format for lossless compression of images for print.

ZIP: A lossless compression method for TIFF files like LZW.

 

Working with Images

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Demonstrate the ability to resize images.

•       Demonstrate how to create print-quality images.

•       Adjust image resolution.

•       Locate and utilize channels in a project.

•       Locate and utilize layers in a project.

•       Combine images in a project.

•       Locate and utilize clipping paths in a project.

•       Locate and utilize masks in a project.

•       Know the difference between DPI and PPI.

Key terms

Channels: The stored color information of a digital image.

Clipping path: Paths around an object that clip or omit areas of an image while leaving the original image intact.

CMYK: The subtractive primary colors used as process colors in four-color printing, specifically Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black).

DPI (Dots per Inch): A measure of image resolution on screen or on the printed page.

Interpolation: One of the several computer processes used to regenerate an image after it has been resized.

Layers: Different levels of a digital image that can be worked on separately.

Masks: Allow images to be subtly blended while preserving the information contained in any original file.

PPI (Pixels per Inch): A measure of image resolution on screen determined by the intensity of the number of pixels.

RGB: Acronym for red, green and blue. This type of image file is used on screen rather than in print.

 

Image manipulation

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Alter images and filters.

•       Select and utilize appropriate applications for manipulating images.

Key terms

Bounding box: The square or rectangle around a digital image whose anchors can be pulled to distort the image.

Distort: A type of image alteration produced by stretching the bounding box.

Filters: Can be applied to a base image to alter its appearance in many ways.

Parallax: A visual effect that makes an object appear displaced when seen from different viewpoints.

Perspective: Type of image alteration produced by stretching the bounding box vertically.

Skew: A type of image alteration produced by slanting the bounding box.

 

CHAPTER 3: COLOR

Basic terminology

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Define additive and subtractive color.

•       Identify the two main color models.

•       Discuss terms for communicating color.

Key terms

Brightness: Refers to how light or dark a color is.

CMYK: The subtractive primary colors used as process colors in four-color printing; cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black).

Chroma: Another way of referring to hue.

Color: Different wavelengths of light.

Hexachromatic:  A six color printing process designed by Pantone Inc. that includes orange and green to provide better color reproduction instead of CMYK, it becomes CMYKOG.

Hue: Refers to the unique characteristic of a color that helps visually distinguish one color from another.

Neutral gray: A color that is used to allow a designer to more accurately see the balance of colors in an image by providing a neutral base contract.

RGB: Acronym for red, green and blue.

Saturation: Refers to the purity of a color. Saturation levels describe a color’s tendency to move toward or away from grey.

 

Color management

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Explain the process and relevance of color management.

•       Define the different types of color systems and specifications.

•       Describe the different color profiles.

Key terms

Color space: A system for describing colors numerically such as RGB, CMYK, etc.

Euroscale coated: A CMYK color profile to define CMYK for offset printing on glossy paper.

Euroscale uncoated: A CMYK color profile created for use on uncoated paper.

Gamut: The range of spectral colors visible to the human eye or the full range of colors that can be produced with a given set of colorants on a given device, for example RGB, CMYK or CMYKOG.

Pantone: A color system including a wide range of colors with each specified by a unique reference number that makes communication between designer and printer simpler.

Spot color: Special colors outside the gamut of CMYK which print as a solid color rather than as half-tone dots.

SWOP (Specification for Web Offset Publications): A color profile used to ensure consistent quality and result.  Adobe used the SWOP profile as a default.

 

Color correction

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Explain the different ways of correcting color in both RGB and CMYK.

•       Use the Selective Color command to alter colors.

•       Use dodge and burn tools to lighten or darken an image.

Key terms

Color Balance: A command in Adobe Photoshop that can be used to remove simple casts by changing the overall color mix in an image.

Color cast: When colors in an image are not properly balanced.

Dodge and burn: Effects used to lighten or darken areas of an image.

Selective Color command: Allows designers to change colors within a color.

Tone Balance: A tool in Adobe Photoshop that can be used to adjust the shadows, highlights or mid-tones.

Variations command: Allows designers to adjust image color balance, contrast and saturation while showing thumbnails and alternatives.

 

Creative color

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Demonstrate how to convert color images to grayscale.

•       Name no less than six color altering modes.

Key terms

Blend Mode: A control in Adobe Photoshop that enables a designer to decide how the layer and original image will blend.

Colorize: An artistic effect for applying color detail to an image in Photoshop.

Color layers: Different levels of a digital image that can be worked on separately.

Duotone: An image made of two colors.

Grayscale images: A tonal scale of achromatic tones with varying levels of white and black used to convert continuous-tone color images into approximate levels of gray.

Multi-tones: Duotones, tritones and quadtones are tonal images produced from a monotone original with the use of two, three or four-color tones, normally offset against a black base tone.

Opacity: A control in Adobe Photoshop that enables a designer to determine the extent to which on layer shows through the next.

Quadtone: An image made of four colors.

Tritone: An image made of three colors.

 

Color in print

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Recite important pre-press processes to ensure color accuracy.

•       Describe how a tint chart is used.

Key terms

Printed Pages and Panels (PP): Refers to the actual number of pages printed and not the number of sheets printed on.

Tint chart: A table of swatches of color ranging in saturation from 0% to 100% which shows combinations of each of the CMYK colors mixed with one or more of the others.

Tints: A color printed at 10% increments of a full solid color created using half-toned dots of different sizes.

 

Color on screen

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Define web-safe colors.

•       Recognize the limitations of web-safe colors.

•       Explain the differences between the print color palette and web palette.

•       Describe how the web-safe color palette came to exist?

Key terms

Hex triplet: A six digit three-byte hexadecimal number which represents a color in HTML.

Web-safe colors: Colors considered to be safe for the design of web pages. The palette allows for the production of six shades of red, green and blue.

X11: A networking and display protocol list of 140 color names.

 

CHAPTER 4:  PRE-PRESS

Resolution

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Define pixel depth and why it is important.

•       Define the term resolution as it relates to graphic design.

•       Identify and define different types of resolutions.

Key terms

DPI: Dots per inch

LPI: Lines per inch

Pixel depth: The number of bits available to generate a color for each pixel. (p. 110)

PPI: Pixels per inch

Resolution: The number of pixels expressed in a digital image, expressed as dpi, lpi, ppi or spi.

SPI: Samples per inch

 

Scanning

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Explain how and why scanners are used.

•       Explain the different purposes of different types of scanners.

Key terms

Color scales: Graduated test cards with precise colors that can be used as a reference for accurate color reproduction.

Drum scanner: A scanner where artwork is mounted onto a scanner drum, which rotates during the scanning process, producing very high-resolution results.

Flatbed scanner: A scanner that features a flat plate of glass upon which artwork is placed and scanned. Similar to a home scanner.

Scanning: The process through which an image or piece of artwork is converted into an electronic file.

 

Creative Techniques

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Name at least three creative printing techniques.

•       Select the most appropriate printing technique.

Key terms

Gradient: The graduation of increasing or decreasing color(s) applied to an image.

Half-tone: An image made from half-tone dots, produced by screening a continuous tone image for printing.

Knockout: A default setting when one ink prints over another that removes the bottom color so that the top color prints into the gap.

Overprinting: Where one ink overprints another so that they mix to create different colors.

 

Artwork

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Explain the differences between bleed, trim and registration.

•       Choose the most appropriate pre-press technique to utilize when addressing registration issues.

•       Recreate three different types of blacks within image manipulation software.

Key terms

Bleed: The printing of a design over and above its trim marks.

Centred trapping: A trapping technique that uses a combination of enlarging the object and reducing the aperture by the same amount.

Choke: A trapping technique that reduces the size of the aperture into which an object will print.

Ink trapping: The process whereby one printed ink is surrounded by another that effectively traps it.

Overprint: Where one ink overprints another ink so that they mix to create different colors.

Registration: The exact alignment of two or more printed images with each other on the same stock.

Registration black: A version of black obtained from 100% coverage of the four process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black).

Reverse out: A design feature created using an unprinted area within a solid block of color.

Shiner: The addition of C, M or Y underneath black which creates a richer black.

Spread: A trapping technique whereby the lighter object is made larger to spread into another darker one.

Surprint: Describes two elements that are printed on top of one another and which are tints of the same color.

Trim: The process of cutting away the waste stock around a design to form the final format once the job has been printed.
 

Imposition

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Identify and list the key information a printer should have prior to printing a design.

•       Define the differences and draw examples of a printer’s plan and an imposition plan.

Key terms

Imposition Plan: A document showing the sequence and position that pages will print before being cut, folded or trimmed so certain pages and sections can be grouped together in order to improve efficiency and costs (i.e. reducing the amount of paper being used).

Pages to view: Refers to the number of pages that will be printed on one side of a sheet of stock.

Printer’s Plan: A document showing how different sections of a publication are to be printed prior to being printed.

Tip-ins: An attachment of a single page into a publication by wrapping it around the central fold of a section and gluing along a binding edge.

Tip-ons: When a page or other element, such as a reply card is pasted into the publication.

 

Proofing

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•      Identify the most appropriate proofing method for a design.

•      Name the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of proofs.

Key terms

Blueline, Dylux or salt proof: A contact print produced from film. Shows imposition photos and text as will appear when printed together with trim and binding edges.

Composite integral color proof: High quality proofs (such as Matchprint or Chromalin) produced using four sheets (one for each color) laminated together in register.

Contract proof: A color proof used to form a contract between the printer and the client; the final proof before going to press.

Laser proof: A black-and-white computer print.

Pre-press proof: An analogue or digital proof that gives an approximation of what the finished piece will look like.

Press or machine proof: A proof produced using the actual plates, inks and paper.

Scatter proof: A proof of an individual photo, or group of photos, not included as part of the page layout.

Soft or screen proof: A proof used for layout and color information control and to check the screen structures of a print.

 

CHAPTER 5: PRODUCTION

Printing

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Discuss various printing processes and procedures.

•       Identify potential problems that can occur during the printing process.

•       Develop a plan to mitigate any potential printing problems.

•       Recite multiple printing processes and the advantages of each.

Key terms

Digital printing: A printing method which uses toner rather than ink.

Gradient: Uses one or more colors that combine to create a color effect.

Moiré pattern: An effect caused by conflicting halftone screen angles.

Printing imposition: The arrangement of pages in the sequence and position in which they will be printed before being cut, folded and trimmed.

Print order/RFQ (Request for quotation): A document that communicates printing requirements for a job that includes the printing process to be used, stock, print run, special requirements such as die cuts or inks. Delivered to a printer before the job is run, it enables a printer to provide the designer with a potential cost for the job.

Print order: The sequence in which the different colors used in a job are laid down during the printing process.

Screen angle: Refers to the inclination or angle of the rows of halftone dots that are used to form color images in the four-color printing process.

Sheet work: Printing one side of a sheet of paper, turning it over and printing the other side with a separate plate.

Stochastic printing: The use of different dot sizes and random placement to avoid the appearance of moiré patterns.

Tint: A color printed at a percentage of 10-90% of its full strength.

Work and tumble: Both sides of a sheet are set on one plate. The sheet is printed and turned over side to side to be printed again.

Work and turn: Printing one side of a sheet, turning it from front to back and printing the second side with the same sheet-edge alignment on the press.

Work and twist: Printing one half of the sheet, turning it 180 degrees and then going back through to print the other side.

 

Print Processes

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       List the four main printing processes and the differences between them.

•       Identify common problems with web and lithography printing.

Key terms

Inkjet printing: A printing methods whereby the ink is sprayed onto the substrate.

Letterpress: A method of relief printing whereby an inked, raised surface is pressed against a substrate.

Lithography: A process through which the inked image from a printing plate is transferred or offset on to a rubber blanket roller.

Printing: The process whereby ink or varnish from a printing plate is applied to a substrate.

Screen-printing: A relatively low-volume printing method in which a viscous ink is passed through a screen – originally made from silk – that holds a design, on to a substrate.

Web printing: Uses stock that is supplied in massive rolls rather than individual sheets.

 

On Press

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Comprehend and practice making image correction marks.

•       Understand the role of a designer on press checks.

•       Explain the common steps/processes in checking color while on press.

Key terms

Color densitometer: A device that uses a light source and a photoelectric cell to measure optical density.

Proof marking: A process in which a designer and/or printer uses an eye glass to check color productions against the control strips and uses image correction marks to indicate adjustments to color, density, etc.

Striker bar: A horizontal bar containing a series of predefined colors printed along its edge for color checking. The bar includes additive and subtractive primaries and overprints.

 

Paper

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       List the paper qualities and characteristics a designer should be aware of when selecting paper.

•       Describe the relevance of ‘sustainability’ to the role of the graphic designer in the 21st century.

Key terms

Absorbency: The degree to which ink penetrates the paper.

Basis weight: Used to specify paper weight in the US.

GSM (Grams per Square Meter): Used to specify paper weight in the UK.

Ink holdout: The degree to which a stock resists ink penetration due to its relative lack of absorbency.

ISO 14000: An international standard that certifies that a company follows environmental management standards to minimize the negative impact on the environment.

Opacity: The extent to which whatever is printed on one side of a sheet of paper shows through and is visible on the other side.

Paper grain: A direction in which most of the paper fibers lie.

Stock: A substrate that a job is printed upon such as paper.

Sustainable printing: Includes processes that reduce the environmental impact of printing such as the use of recycled paper, minimized use of foils and varnishes, avoiding printing more than is necessary, etc.

 

CHAPTER 6:  FINISHING

•       Special techniques

•       Laminates and varnishes

•       Folding and trimming

•       Binding

Special techniques

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Identify various print techniques employed by graphic designers within design annuals.

•       Identify and collect diverse examples of print techniques.

•       Explain why certain techniques would be used in certain situations.

Key terms

Die cutting:  The use of a steel die to cut away a specified section of a design.

Duplexing: The bonding of two stocks to form a substrate.

Embossing and Debossing: The use of a steel die to stamp a design into a substrate to produce a decorative raised or indented surface.

Foils: A process whereby a colored foil is pressed onto a substrate via a heated die.

Kiss cutting: A die-cutting method often used with self-adhesive substrates whereby the face stock is die cut but not its backing sheet to facilitate the easy removal of the cut stock.

Laser cutting: Uses a laser to cut intricate shapes into the stock rather than use a metal tool.

Perforation: A process that creates a cut-out area in a substrate to weaken it so that it can be detached, torn or to create a decorative effect.

Thermography: A print-finishing process that produces raised lettering by fusing thermographic powder to a design in an oven.

 

Laminates and varnishes

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Identify various types of laminates and varnishes designers can employ.

•       Explain how to set up artwork for a laminate or varnish.

•       Discuss the pros and cons of utilizing laminates or varnishes.

Key terms

Laminate: A layer of plastic coating, heat-sealed onto a substrate to produce a smooth and impervious finish.

Varnish: A colorless coating applied to a printed piece to protect and enhance visual appearance.

 

Folding and trimming

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Identify various types of folding and trimming techniques.

•       Sketch and create mock-ups (dummies) of various folding techniques.

•       Understand how to compensate for creep.

Key terms

Creep: A process whereby the inner pages extend beyond the outer pages.

Mountain fold: A fold that has a central crease at the top with the panels falling downwards.

Trimming: The process of cutting excess stock away from the design to produce the final format.

Valley fold: A fold that has a central crease at the bottom with the panels rising upwards to form the sides.

 

Binding

Student learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:

•       Explain the impact binding has on the communication of a project.

•       Explain the pros and cons to certain forms of binding.

Key terms

Binding: The process through which the various pages that comprise a job are gathered and securely held together so that they function as a publication.

End pages: Pages that secure the text block to the boards of a cover.

Headband/tailband: Decorative cloth added to the top or bottom of the bound pages/book block.

Swiss bind:  A soft cover binding methods whereby the back cover is mounted and then wrapped over the front leaving the spine exposed when the cover is open.

Z-bind: Features a z-shaped cover used to join two separate text blocks.