Unit 1 : Digital Prepress – Introduction

1.1 – Digital Description of the Printed page – Elements of Digital Page – Integration of Text, Images, Graphics, Layout and Prepress checklist.

1.2 – Dot Shape – Round, square, elliptical and composite shapes, Amplitude Modulation /Frequency Modulation Screening –
Difference between AM and FM screening and Benefits of FM
screening.

1.3 – Input and Output Resolution – Scanning Frequency, Picture element and Scanning frequency formula. Image – dependent Effects and Corrections – Spreads and Chokes, Trapping, Moire and interference of dot pattern.

1.4 – Under Colour Removal, Gray Component Replacement, and
Unsharp Masking Techniques – Advantages of UCR, GCR & USM.
Difference between UCR and GCR. Chromatic composition and
Achromatic composition.

Unit 2 : Digital Photography & Digital Proofing

2.1 – Image capturing with Digital camera – Special features of Digital Camera – Tone Value Quantization, Focal length of lens and Aspect Ratio and Link up to a Computer.

2.2 – Charge Coupled Device and Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor – Definition and difference between CCD and
CMOS.

2.3 – Scanner designs and models, Flat bed Scanners – Diagram,
functions of scanners and advantages of flatbed scanner.

2.4 – Digitizing and Redigitizing – Various Redigitizing Techniques – Copy dot, Descreening and mixed mode. Digital Proofs and Press Proofs.

Unit 3 : Digital Image Assembly and Data Formats

3.1 – Page Assembly and Imposition – Digital assembly techniques of CTF and CTP. Imposition – Image register and alignment, Imposition plans – Sheet wise, Work and turn and Work and tumble.

3.2 – Full Sheet Output, Full sheet production in the workflow, Imposition through Software and Full sheet production workflow.

3.3 – Imposition Workflows – Types of Imposition programs, Imposition sheet, demands on Imposition programs and Imposition workflows and considerations for impositions.

3.4 – Raster Image Processor (RIP) – Workflow diagram – Interpreter, Renderer, Rasterizer and Bitmap. File Formats – Postscript, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, LZW, EPS, PDF,PPF, 1 bit TIFF and JDF.

3.5 – Data Formats – Bitmap & Vector, Applications of storage media – Data distribution, Archiving and Backup or transport.

Unit 4 : Colour Management

4.1 – Definition of Colour, Colour Management and Needs – Targets of Print Colour Management, CIE Chromaticity Diagram – CIE Lab Values – Spectrophotometry, Spectral Reflectance curves of colours. Colour perception and colorimetric description of colour.

4.2 – Colour measuring instruments, Colorimetry and Densitometry – Densitometer, Spectrophotometer diagrams and functions.

4.3 – Profiles for Monitor, Scanner and Printer – International Colour Consortium – ICC Profiles, generating ICC profiles for monitor, Scanner and Printer, Device-independent CIE LAB colour space, rendering intents – Perceptual, Relative, Absolute and saturation.

4.4 – Image Reproduction Process using Colour Management –
Implementing Colour Management, Diagram for Colour perception
and the colorimetric description of colour and 3cs’ of colour
management.

Unit 5 : Computer to Plate systems

5.1 – Types of Computer to Plate Systems – Image register and
Alignment, Types of CTPs, Advantage of CTP, Components of
Computer to Plate system, Different Configuration of CTPs –
Flatbed, Internal Drum and External Drum.

5.2 – Workflows – PDF and JDF – Portable Document Format, Job
Definition Format and their advantages. Preflighting – Preflighting techniques, the process and preflighting checks.

5.3 – Computer to Plate workflow, Types of Lasers – UV, Violet, Thermal and Computer to plate technology for flexography, gravure and screen printing processes.

5.4 – Printing plates for Digital Imaging – Types of Plates used in CTP – Silver halide plates, Photopolymer plates, Thermal plates, Inkjet plates – Automatic plate processor diagram and its functions.

Text Book / Reference Book :

1. The Art of Colour – by Johannes Ittem.
2. Digital Colour Printing Technology – by Biswanath Chakkaravarthy.
3. Colour and its Reproduction – by Gray and Field.
4. Colour and Quality – by Heidelberg
5. Computer to Plate Primer – by Richard M Adams and Frank J Romano.
6. Desk Top Publishing – by Ron Strutt and Kirty Wilson Davis.
7. Digital Image – by A Practical Guide – by Adele Drobler, Greenberg and Seth.
8. Electronic Colour Separation – by Dr. R. K. Molla.
9. Introduction to Prepress – by Hugh M. Speirs.
10. Pocket Guide to Colour with Digital Application – by Thaomas E Schildgen, Frank Beah.
11. The PDF Print Production Guide – by Joseph Marin and Julie Sheffo.
12. Understanding Digital Colour – by Phol Green.
13. Understanding Digital Imposition – by Hal Hinderliter.