I am a bit confused. Would a 'computer graphics' course also give experience with printwork?

Question

I do want to learn about print too. I.e. newspaper, magazine, books graphics. Not just the graphics to be published on computers. Would a certification course titled "computer graphics" include courses in Print?

What might be the titles of such print courses?

Thanks.

Answer 1

It is possible depending upon how vaguely the college uses the term, but in my opinion unlikely, as the term "computer graphics" usually covers things like digital art along with 3D modelling/animation and so on.

I think what you are looking for is graphic design, if you want to learn about things like typography and magazine and newspaper layout design as well as digital art. You should be able to find a graphic design course without too much trouble.

It's best to read course descriptions (either in prospectuses or on college websites) and talk to tutors to be sure of the content of the course you are interested in, though. You don't want to enrol on something that isn't right and not find out until you start studying.

Answer 2

Well to be honest, I'm not sure about your classes. But if you arn't sure exactly what your future class involves, you should talk to a teacher or someone that knows exactly what will be involved in each class. It's better to be 100% positive rather than taking a risk and wasting time being in a class that isn't fitted fr you.

Answer 3

Such a course SHOULD offer, at least, an intoduction to print technlology, but, I wouldn't commit myself to that course unless I KNEW that it would.

I have way too much experience with, so-called, professional designers who, while they may be decent designers, know NOTHING about preparing a file for any kind of print output except for their own desktop inkjets.  I get a lot of business from clients that hire inexperienced designers.  They send me the files to do "preflight" checks on individual images and entire page layouts.  I have seen, for instance, RGB images in page layouts that won't run on a press, because the presses run on CMYK inks.  And, on a multipage document, such as a cataloge, that's a LOT of conversions to make.

Add to that, issues of trapping, choking and page bleeds, and I end up getting paid good bucks to fix someone else's mistakes.  Print shops will do it for their clients, but, since they have to pay a technician to do this, they'll turn right around and charge their clients for the service.  One local print shop sends me ALL such work.

I was lucky enough to get my digital design training at a local community college that offered a complete set of classes in print technology.  I learned a LOT more than I needed, but, there is no such thing as too much knowledge.  I came from a generation of commercial artists who had to learn to make artwork "camera ready."  I can still do that, but, with the new technology, I haven't had to do that in over fifteen years. ( I can still cut a good rubilith)