Graphic Arts

Graphic Arts BSA Supply No. 33374

The field of graphic arts includes many kinds of work in the printing and publishing industries. Graphic arts professionals are involved in the creation of all kinds of printed communication, from business cards to books to billboards. The scope of printing communications is huge.

Requirements

1. Review with your counselor the processes for producing printed commu- nications: offset lithography, screen process printing, electronic/digital, relief, and gravure. You may show samples or draw diagrams to help with your description.
2. Explain the difference between continuous-tone, line, and halftone artwork. Describe how it can be created and/or stored in a computer.
3. Design a printed piece (flier, T-shirt, program, form, etc.) and produce it. Explain your decisions for the typeface or typefaces you use and the way you arrange the elements in your design. Explain which printing process is best suited for printing your design. If desktop publishing hardware and software are available, identify what hardware and software would be appropriate for outputting your design.
4. Produce the design you created for requirement 3 using one of the following printing processes:
   1. Offset lithography
      Make a layout and then produce a plate using a process approved by your counselor. Run the plate and print at least 50 copies.
   2. Screen process printing
      Make a hand-cut or photographic stencil and attach it to a screen that you have prepared. Mask the screen and print at least 20 copies.
   3. Electronic/digital printing
      Make a layout in electronic form, download it to the press or printer, and run 50 copies. If no electronic interface to the press or printer is available, you may print and scan a paper copy of the layout.
   4. Relief printing
      Prepare a layout or set the necessary type. Make a plate or lock up the form. Use this to print 50 copies.
5. Review the following postpress operations with your counselor:
   1. Discuss the finishing operations of padding, drilling, cutting, and trimming.
   2. Collect, describe, or identify examples of the following types of binding: perfect, spiral, plastic comb, saddle stitched, and case.
6. Identify three career opportunities in graphic arts and tell how you can prepare for them.
7. Do one of the following, and then describe the highlights of your visit:
   1. Visit a newspaper printing plant: Follow a story from the editor to the press.
   2. Visit a commercial or in-plant printing facility: Follow a job from beginning to end.
   3. Visit a school's graphic arts program: Find out what courses are available and what the prerequisites are.
   4. Visit three Web sites on the Internet that belong to graphic arts professional organizations and/or printing-related companies (suppliers, manufacturers, printers). Download product or service information from two of the sites.

Resources

Scouting Literature

American Business, Art, Communications, Computers, Journalism, and Photography merit badge pamphlets

Books

• Adam, Robert, and Carol Robertson. Screenprinting: The Complete Water-Based System. Thames and Hudson, 2004.
• Adams, J. Michael, and Penny Ann Dolin. Printing Technology. Thomson Delmar Learning, 2001.
• Blake, Kathy. Handmade Books: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Own Books. Little, Brown, & Co., 1997.
• Brookfield, Karen. Eyewitness: Book. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 2000.
• Bruno, Michael H., ed. Pocket Pal: A Graphic Arts Production Handbook. Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, 2000.
• Ernst-Moriarity, Sandra B. ABCs of Typography: A Practical Guide to the Art and Science of Typography. Art Direction Book Company, 1990.
• Fleishman, Michael. Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer. Watson-Guptill Publications, 2001.
• Friedl, Friedrich. Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History. Black Dog & Levanthal, 1998.
• Gatter, Mark. Getting It Right in Print: Digital Prepress for Graphic Designers. Harry N. Abrams, 2005.
• Goldfarb, Roz. Careers by Design: A Business Guide for Graphic Designers. Allworth Press, 2002.
• Gordon, Barbara. Opportunities in Commercial Art and Graphic Design Careers. McGraw-Hill, 2003.
• Graham, Lisa. Basics of Design Layout and Typography for Beginners. Thomson Delmar Learning, 2001.
• Griffiths, Antony. Prints and Printmaking: an Introduction to the History and Techniques. University of California Press, 1996.
• Heller, Steven, and Teresa Fernandes. Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design. John Wiley & Sons, 2002.
• Lumgair, Christopher. Teach Yourself Desktop Publishing. McGraw-Hill, 2001.
• Olmert, Michael, and Christopher De Hamel. The Smithsonian Book of Books. Smithsonian Books, 2003.
• Sidles, Constance. Graphic Designer's Digital Printing and Prepress Handbook. Rockport Publishers, 2001.
• White, Alexander. The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture and Type. Watson-Guptill, 2002.
• Williams, Robin. The Non-Designer's Design Book. Peachpit Press, 2003.
• --------. The Non-Designer's Type Book. Peachpit Press, 2005.
• Wilson, Daniel G. Lithography Primer. Gaftpress, 1997.

Web Sites

• Graphic Comm Central — http://www.TechEd.vt.edu/gcc
• My Design Primer Printing Topicsl — http://www.mydesignprimer.com /printing/50000.html
• Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundationl — http://www.gain.net /employment/scholarships.html
• Vocational Information Centerl — http://www.khake.com /page27.html

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