Discussion

By Diane Dragoff on Jun 23, 2023

Frank:
Started as a designer, learned to do pasteups, etc. and then learned the digital equivalent. Decided I wanted to learn more about the actual printing process, so worked at a series of printing company customer service jobs, in essence translating customer need via computer programs and lots of hand written NCR forms (no eyerolls here, no one knows what they are anymore!) So that paper is ordered, ink is ordered, the digital prep proceeds and strippers/plate makers can do their thing. Sort of a do it yourself apprenticeship which I appreciate to this day.
My questions:
1) Why don't printing companies offer paid internships as other companies do?
2) Why doesn't Print Institute offer training?
3) Why don't print equipment and consumables companies offer classes?
4) How about SCORE or RSVP running seminars?
5) Where do new salespeople come from? Who teaches them? Seems that there would be an huge issue if no one can teach them.
6) Training via on line technology: Zoom classes? YouTube?

Why isn't there more excitement about printing, the kind that is growing in volume? Food/medical packaging and fabric printing are two that immediately come to mind.

I'm kind of astounded that there isn't active recruiting at this time when other trades are saying "join us, no need for a college degree"! What do you think?

By Vincent Nicholes on Jun 23, 2023

Frank,

I couldn't agree with you more. I have been in the printing business all my life. I started learning about printing in High School. My school had a 3 year half day course with actual presses and a ludlow! I Owned my own printing company for 25 years and I am now a specialist for Digital printing presses and solutions in government and education. The one common denominator I see today in Schools and traditional printers is they cannot find operators! This has become a very serious problem. We need more printing vocational courses taught in high schools and colleges.

By Gordon Pritchard on Jun 23, 2023

Below is a short letter to the editor that appeared 100 years ago on the topic of graphic arts training - it could have been written yesterday.

"Because I have recently declared in one of our daily papers that our system of art and graphic art education is wrong, I have been plunged, immersed, turned over and over, in hot water. It is essential that the school of art must give the commercial artist the right preliminary training. And what should that be?
The first step is a change of outlook. It is critical that the student artist be taught that his skills must first of all serve the needs of commerce.
The next step towards making the complete commercial artist is to enable him to become thoroughly acquainted with the methods of production. One of the most serious defects in the present system is that students are pouring from the schools to join the army of work seekers and find themselves but ill-equipped to do the work they seek. Young artists who know nothing of the means by which their ideas have to be produced. It is just not easy for them to obtain inside knowledge. Manufacturers are secretive and often look on the creative artist with suspicion and even contempt.
The art masters, the students, the printers, and manufacturers must learn to understand each other and work together. Equip the student with the right point of view towards commerce, the right perspective, and the right technical training, and commercial art will attain new heights of achievement. And print manufacturers themselves will profit by this new relationship with the creative artist through more efficient production methods and happier results for all.”

Charles A. Famer
Published in Commercial Art First Series 1923

After 100 years, it appears that the old adage that the more things change the more they stay the same still applies.

By Joe Treacy on Jun 28, 2023

Frank, love the college mortarboard. You wear it well.

I agree with you that print scholarship money should be directed at printing education and that the amounts should be increased. It’s not academic, but vital.

The reason why is that it’s not just about initial graphic arts education. It’s career-long refreshers, too.

These days, as a designer who has spent 50 years buying pre-press and printing services at sheetfed offset, flexo, roto, web, digital and embellishing (and relish every minute of being part of this amazing industry), I primarily consult on design and also buying quite a lot of digitally printed labels, boxes and more (in addition to my font design and marketing at treacyfaces.com).

Even with the best-of-the-best printers that I have the good fortune to work with, there are still “prep 101” mistakes made in proofs and production runs that I see and have to approve several times each week.

It just demonstrates to me that whatever the levels of graphic arts education are out there, there can always be more. And also, refresher courses.

As in design, the software nuances and updates driving prep and printing of all sophistications are always coming ‘fast and furious’.

So, an individual’s initial graphic arts education is just a snapshot in time, at that time, and needs refreshing periodically.

Today, I’m sure that just as on the design side, the prep and press depts can use all the continual educational refreshers they can get.