Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Checklist for printing requirements may include:
dot gain and dot gain curves
inks and ink limits
metadata requirements
optimal screen frequency
PostScript colour management
profile - embedded or not
screen:
angles
half tone
ruling
stochastic
stock
transfer function.
Appropriate people may include:
staff at pre-press trade houses and bureaux
staff within pre-press sections of printing companies.
Software may include:
colour management software
computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software
densitometry/spectrophotometry software
drawing and graphics software
page layout and page description software
profile creating software
scanner profiling software.
Appropriate pre-press processing techniques may include:
generating output profiles that allow for:
achromatic reproduction
black generation
black values
dot gain
total gradients
under colour removal (UCR), under colour addition (UCA) or varying levels of grey component replacement (GCR), including skeleton black
printing appropriate test charts:
3- and 4-colour neutrals
CMYK colour scales
colour swatches
providing combined images in editable/adjustable formats
providing combined images in security enabled or locked formats
providing scans in appropriate resolution:
low resolution FPO (for position only)
high resolution
saving colour in required formats
using appropriate digital proofing devices:
densitometers
spectrophotometers, including strip reader style devices
using appropriate ICC profiles
using templates correctly.
Stock may include:
high-groundwood
newsprint
super calendared uncoated
uncoated.
Press may include:
gravure
heatset offset
image setters
sheetfed offset
waterless sheetfed
web press offset (rollfed).
Appropriate format may include:
bit depth
compression options
encoding
file format/extension:
encapsulated postscript (EPS)
portable document format (PDF)
tagged image file format (TIFF)
PostScript level
resolution:
dots per inch
lines per inch
pixels per inch
sample points per inch
spots per inch.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
produce CMYK, CMYK with spot colour channel and Duo/Tri/Quad tone image files that cause no pre-press processing problems
produce clipping paths (deep etched) to suit the needs of the image and client or job requirements
manage colour in pre-press processing to ensure test prints and final products match.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
access to:
an environment where digital image files can be prepared for pre-press processing
appropriate sources of information to research colour theory and management
appropriate learning and assessment support when required
the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence
review of third-party reports from experienced practitioners
case studies to assess candidate’s ability to manage colour in pre-press processing
direct observation of candidate preparing digital image files for print processing
problem-solving activities to assess candidate’s critical thinking skills.
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
CUVPHI521A Produce commercial photo images
CUVPHI523A Produce media photo images
CUVPHI525A Plan, capture and exploit visual art photo images
CUVPHI526A Produce technical photo images
CUVPHI527A Make illustrative images for publication and display
CUVPHI528A Plan, capture and exploit stock photo images.