This
site serves as an online reference to the "Foundations in Graphic
Communications" course that I teach for New York City College Of
Technology. Your comments and suggestions are welcome!
Fall 2009: GRA1110.2400
Tuesdays, September 1—December 15
6:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
Room: G0204
SYNOPSIS & OBJECTIVES
Understanding print production for publishing—the
processes, tools, and techniques behind the manufacture of books,
magazines, and other printed matter—is not just for production
specialists. Everyone who wants to succeed in publishing, advertising,
graphic design, and related fields must be able to trace the sequence
of events that turns raw copy and random images into the finished
product that we see on newsstands, in bookstores, and in our mailboxes.
This course will chart the print production workflow from planning
through distribution. Although we will emphasize ink-on-paper
processes, we also will examine alternatives to print and discuss its
future as a communications medium. (Note: information about course
requirements and grading can be accessed from the column on the left.)
READING & RESEARCH
The course text is Getting It Printed, 4th
edition (HOW Design Books, 2004). See the class session summaries for
required readings. The course Web site also contains links to related
documents for each class session. These documents also should be
considered required reading for which you will be responsible in the
final exam.
You are not required but are strongly encouraged to
follow the links to the recommended
reading list and to various online resources. An especially valuable reference
is the database of articles maintained at Virginia Tech's Graphic Comm Central site.
