Types of career in Printing Technology



Printing technology has become one of the major career options in today's media-driven world.The printing industry,though often allied with the publishing industry,is an autonomous industry as well. Often we do not realise how integral a part the printed word is, of our hectic lives.

The print revolution started with the invention of printing by Johan Gutenberg in the fourteenth century. The great breakthrough for printing technology was the development of the high-speed steam printing press in 1830. A hundred years later, the rotary press emerged, thus making mass production possible. Gravure and letterpress were the basic forms that were used in first-generation printing.To date, there have been many refinements and additions to the technology - such as offset printing.

In fact, most of the important developments before the arrival of computers were around the printing press. THE quality and speed of printing improved in the latter half of the twentieth century. Printing presses became sophisticated, and the level of automation increased. Technologies emerged for high-quality colour separation and fourcolour printing.The rotary press started giving way to the web offset presses in the seventies. In the last 20 years, the electronic sophistry of printing presses has been increasing consistently. The latest presses are computer controlled and custom settings can automatically be made.They can also be operated remotely.

"There is a dearth of skilled and trained people in the industry," feels Sandeep Vaidya of Alpha, a processing house in Mumbai."There is a tremendous scope for making a career here. I hire at least two freshers every year from the Institute of Printing Technology. But the turnout is always lesser than the requirement."

The printing industry is a growing industry all over India. Mumbai alone has over five hundred printing houses and more than hundred processing houses.In addition to that are print shops belonging to publishing houses like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express and the Free Press Journal that have state-of-the-art web offset machinery.There are book and magazine publishers like Popular Prakashan, Mauj Prakashan,Tata Press, et al.

"Jobs have never been a problem and with publishing houses going for hi-tech equipment, demand for trained personnel has surely increased," says Prof Desai, Principal of Govt.Institute of Printing Technology, Mumbai.

The minimum qualification to get into an institute that trains you in printing technology is SSC.Majority of the institutes (in Mumbai) offer three-year diploma courses in the subject after class ten.

"There are many opportunities available for diploma holders in newspaper/ magazine publishing in printing houses, advertising agencies, packaging units, etc," says Prof Desai. "We personally conduct placement activities to ensure that each student has a job at the end of his education tenure with us."

Job profiles in printing also vary from technical expert to manager or marketing personnel. Salaries start from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 in the beginning. In the electronic and multimedia environment,printing technology is redefining itself and this has opened up new areas of employment.

If you want to get into an institute that imparts training in printing technology, the minimum requirement in class ten is 50 per cent for open category and 45 per cent for reserved category, with English, science and mathematics. Admission is on the basis of marks obtained in the SSC exam for diploma courses all over India.The duration varies from two to eight semesters that include on-job training at print shops or processing houses.

"Majority of the courses, unfortunately, are diplomas," says Abhijit Pandit, technical consultant, Technova. Himself a graduate from Stuttgart's Printing School, Pandit feels that a proper degree course after class 12 will prove to be a better option in the long run.

Source from: Times of India


 

Printing Facts

Did you know ?

The printing press was a very important invention that changed the ways people communicated with each other and shared ideas. Printers could make books faster, which meant that knowledge could be spread more widely, and more people learned how to read.

Here are some cool facts about printing:

1. It took almost two years to produce Shakespeare's First Folio. The First Folio was printed in 1623 and was the first time that Shakespeare's plays had been published together.

2. Johannes Gutenberg adapted a wine press to make the first printing press in about 1439. Instead of pressing grapes, the equipment pressed metal letter forms onto sheets of paper, parchment, or vellum. Gutenberg was a professional goldsmith who used his metalworking skills to make the first set of movable type in Europe!

3. When books were made by hand, scribes used water-based inks; these inks did not stick to printed pages very well, so printers had to invent oil-based inks. The oil-based inks spread over the metal type more evenly. Printers sometimes used ingredients from their homes to create inks. Soot, for example, made a good homemade black ink.

4. Mexico had a working printing press in 1534—before Ireland, Russia, or America!The first American printing press was started in Cambridge, MA in 1639. Jose Glover came from England with his family to open the first print shop, but he died either on the journey or very soon after his arrival. His widow and one of the assistants, Stephen Daye, successfully started America's first printing press.

5. Each piece of movable type, including letter forms, punctuation, and blank spaces, was originally made by hand.Some printers created their own typefaces, also called fonts. Some of these fonts are still used today. Garamond, for example, is on many computers and is named after the French printer Claude Garamond.

Source from: Cool Printing facts

RRB Recruitment for Junior Engineer (Design)

Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has issued notification against recruitment of 6449 various vacancies. Eligible candidates may apply through prescribed application format on or before 09-04-2012. Candidates may also Apply Online through RRB website. Other details like age limit, educational qualification, application fee details, selection process, how to apply and important dates are given below… RRB Vacancy Details:- Names of Posts:- 51. Junior Engineer (Design) S&T – 09 vacancies Age Limit: Candidates applying for Senior Section Engineer posts must have age between 20 years to 35 years. Those applying for Junior Engineer vacancies must have age between 18 years to 33 years. Cutoff date for determining age limit would be 01-07-2012. (Age Relaxations extended as per Govt. rules). Educational Qualification: Candidates are asked to refer to the notification for the details of required educational qualification provided separately for each post. Application Fee Details: Unreserved and OBC Male candidates need to pay Rs. 60/- towards application fee in form of Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft in favor of “Assistant Secretary, or Deputy Secretary or Secretary or Member Secretary or Chairman of Railway Recruitment Board payable at the place where the Railway Recruitment Board concerned is situated. SC/ST/PWD/EXSM/Women/Minorities/ Economically Backward Classes candidates are exempted from fee payment. Selection Process: Candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in Written Test followed by certificate verification. How to Apply: Candidates need to apply through prescribed application format available in the notification along with copies of all required certificates and documents, by attaching a passport size photograph and attesting signature, super scribing ‘Application for the Post/s of —-Category No./s — Centralized Employment Notice No. 01/2012 of RRB/—, Community (SC/ST/OBC/PWD/Ex-SM)’ to the address of concerned RRB, available in the notification on or before 09-04-2012. Candidates can also apply online through RRB Bhubaneswar Website. Instructions for Online Application:- 1. Get photograph, relevant certificates, thumb impression and signature, scanned. 2. Make payment through downloaded challan for RRB website. 3. Log on to www.rrbbbs.gov.in 4. Select Online Application System link 5. Click on Proceed button 6. Read all instructions carefully, check the boxes and click on Click Here to Start Online Application button, including fee payment details. 7. Click on Submit Fresh Application link. 8. Upload all scanned items at places provided. 9. Fill all marked details carefully 10. Submit the Application. Important Dates:- Last Date for Receipt of Application: 09-04-2012 Last Date for Receipt of Application: (far flung areas): 24-04-2012 Date of Examination: 09-09-2012 For more details like vacancy distribution, pay scale, reservations and relaxations, instructions and conditions, and addresses and to whom DD.IPO must be favoring, Check on the link given below… Source from: Railway Recruitment Board

RRB Recruitment for Junior Engineer (Printing Press)

Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has issued notification against recruitment of 6449 various vacancies. Eligible candidates may apply through prescribed application format on or before 09-04-2012. Candidates may also Apply Online through RRB website. Other details like age limit, educational qualification, application fee details, selection process, how to apply and important dates are given below… RRB Vacancy Details:- Names of Posts:- 55. Junior Engineer (Printing Press) – 11 vacancies Age Limit: Candidates applying for Senior Section Engineer posts must have age between 20 years to 35 years. Those applying for Junior Engineer vacancies must have age between 18 years to 33 years. Cutoff date for determining age limit would be 01-07-2012. (Age Relaxations extended as per Govt. rules). Educational Qualification: Candidates are asked to refer to the notification for the details of required educational qualification provided separately for each post. Application Fee Details: Unreserved and OBC Male candidates need to pay Rs. 60/- towards application fee in form of Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft in favor of “Assistant Secretary, or Deputy Secretary or Secretary or Member Secretary or Chairman of Railway Recruitment Board payable at the place where the Railway Recruitment Board concerned is situated. SC/ST/PWD/EXSM/Women/Minorities/ Economically Backward Classes candidates are exempted from fee payment. Selection Process: Candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in Written Test followed by certificate verification. How to Apply: Candidates need to apply through prescribed application format available in the notification along with copies of all required certificates and documents, by attaching a passport size photograph and attesting signature, super scribing ‘Application for the Post/s of —-Category No./s — Centralized Employment Notice No. 01/2012 of RRB/—, Community (SC/ST/OBC/PWD/Ex-SM)’ to the address of concerned RRB, available in the notification on or before 09-04-2012. Candidates can also apply online through RRB Bhubaneswar Website. Instructions for Online Application:- 1. Get photograph, relevant certificates, thumb impression and signature, scanned. 2. Make payment through downloaded challan for RRB website. 3. Log on to www.rrbbbs.gov.in 4. Select Online Application System link 5. Click on Proceed button 6. Read all instructions carefully, check the boxes and click on Click Here to Start Online Application button, including fee payment details. 7. Click on Submit Fresh Application link. 8. Upload all scanned items at places provided. 9. Fill all marked details carefully 10. Submit the Application. Important Dates:- Last Date for Receipt of Application: 09-04-2012 Last Date for Receipt of Application: (far flung areas): 24-04-2012 Date of Examination: 09-09-2012 For more details like vacancy distribution, pay scale, reservations and relaxations, instructions and conditions, and addresses and to whom DD.IPO must be favoring, Check on the link given below… Source from: Railway Recruitment Board

Career Guide

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY By

V.K. Bharti Print communication is one of the strongest and powerful media of mass communication which is growing very rapidly. Books, newspapers and magazines come to mind most often when people think about printed products. Everyone is familiar with such products. Print is power. According to famous saying “Book lives longer than author himself” and “Book is an indispensable document in its own field” also establishes the importance of print.      The printed material either book, magazine or newspaper has a strong impact on society and plays a key role in nation building. We find the existence of print in every sphere of our life and it plays crucial role in educating the people and to provide them clear picture of what is going on in and around the world. The invention of movable type and printing press by Johannes Gutenberg has actually revolutionized print media. Gutenberg printed the first book on a printing press with movable type in 1453. This invention transformed the way the world received printed material.      Printing is a part of the mass communication process. It involves several skills. Printing industry is an industry in which technical skills holds the prime importance. Each person engaged in performing typesetting, designing, pasting, plate making, image setting, camera work, printing and binding has a specific and specialized role to perform and contribute for the final output. Career in Print Media            Print Media is one of the most flourishing sectors of the country. The young generation of today is seen choosing a career in print media as working in this sector gives promising opportunities to stride ahead very fast. But jobs in the print media also demand lot of hard work and patience. There is a huge opening for qualified printing professionals in India. Jobs for printing technologist are available in advertising agencies, newspapers/magazines, government presses, machine manufacturers, packaging industries, book printers and even more in private commercial press as technology consultant. Opportunities are available in the area of: Publishing houses under central and State Govt. Printing Presses under Central and State govt. Commercial printing presses doing Offset, Flexography, Gravure and Screen printing Publishing houses in private sector Pre-press solution for printing Industry Designing and digital printing Security printing Software solution for print industry Electronic publishing Color management solution Packaging Print finishing and converting Machine manufacturing /service Marketing/management executive Research and development Total quality control      The printing industry is the fast growing industry in India. There are thousands of quality printing houses in major metros in India. In addition to that, some govt. departments, engaged in publishing activities are Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Historical Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Indira Gandhi National Open University, National Institute of Open Schooling, Lalit Kala Academi, National Book Trust, National Council of Educational Research and Training, National Institute of Science Communication & Information Resources, Publication Division, Sahitaya Akademi, Zoological Survey of India, Bureau of Indian Standard, Survey of India, All Universities, All State Textbook Corporations, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd., Govt of India Presses, State Council of Educational Research and Training, Joint Cipher Bureau, Parliament of India, Offices of Registrar General of India, National Museaum, Directorate of Printing and Stationery etc.      A Career in printing gives an opportunity to work on various positions like General Manager, Registrar, Director, Professor, Reader, Lecturer, Consultants, Head, Chief Production Officer, Production Officer, Asstt. Director (Production), Technical Officer, Printing Officer, Manager Printing, Supervisor, Publication Officer. Apart from these positions, there are many more positions.      This sector has immense employment opportunities. A printing technologist can get job in newspapers, magazines and advertising agencies, government departments, banks and private publication houses. He can be in the marketing and sales department of companies, which supply raw materials for printing and photographic films.  Another option is teaching where jobs exist in schools, college and polytechnics offering vocational, diploma, degree and master degree courses. A print technologist in the production department of a newspaper or a magazine starts his career as Production supervisor and can go up to the level of General Manager.      Students after successful completion of printing technology courses can get job in printing companies and media houses across countries.  Generally, the students are recruited through campus interviews by the major advertising agencies, newspapers/magazines, machine manufacturers, packaging industries. All leading publishers recruit students through campus interview. Some students get job in multi-national firm also. Reputed software companies also recruit printing technologists in various capacities. This is the only field where the demand is always more.      The printing technology courses are offered in India at four levels i.e. diploma, degree, Masters degree and Ph.D. which are offered at university, institutes and polytechnic level. The eligibility for admission in Printing Technology Courses are given as under: S.N. Courses Admission Criteria Intake Duration 1 Diploma in Printing Technology 10th Pass with Mathematics and Technology Science 60 3 Years 2 B.Tech/B.E. in Printing Technology 12th Pass with Physics, mathematics as compulsory subject along with Chemistry, Computer Sc./Bio-tech./ biology subject and admission on the basis of merit of AIEEE or State level engineering competitive exam. OR diploma holders can get admission in 2nd year directly through LEET. 60 4 Year 3 M.Tech/M.E. in Printing Technology 55% marks in B.Tech/B.E in Ptg. Tech./Packaging Tech. and with valid GATE score or on the basis of merit of test conducted by the university 20 2 Year 4 Ph.D. in Printing Technology As per ordinance of the universities - 2-4 years      Apart from the above, the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s) are offering certificate courses in the area of plate making, offset machine operation, screen printing, camera operation, desk top publishing and book binding. These courses are designed in a way that the students acquire adequate knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects to get job at shop floor level in the industry.      Printing Technology Courses in India became popular towards the later half of the 20th century. With the advent of print media on a universal scale and innovations in printing technologies, this field of study has gained immense popularity among learners. Printing as a subject is huge and involves studying of different analogue and digital technologies.      During their studies, students learn the detailed aspects of printing processes, printing material, pre-press technologies, binding and finishing techniques, business management, entrepreneurship development, cost estimation etc. The Bachelors and Masters programmes are of multi-disciplinary nature, covering subjects like; Mechanical, Information Technology, Electrical, Electronics, Computers, Chemical, Total Quality Management, Operation Management, Organization Behaviour, Project Management, Technology Management, Security Printing in addition to Physics and Chemistry.  Printing studies involve not only processes and technologies but also gives thorough knowledge about ink, paper and other consumables.      Printing jobs extend over a number of sectors. Apart from offset printing, there are large number of printing houses engaged in screen printing, flexography and gravure printing. Qualified printing professionals are also given placements in printer manufacturing houses and consumable producing companies. Inks, toners, and print cartridges are some of the consumables extensively used in different printing processes.      Categories of personnel with Diploma/Degree in Printing Technology are employed in various positions as given below. After getting initial orientation training to suit the specific needs of the employer, they will be able to fulfill the employer’s requirements. -    Supervisory personnel at the middle-management level for shop floor supervision of large presses. -    Works Managers, Production Manager and production executives for the modernized commercial presses, newspaper presses, Government presses, publishers and specialist printers. -    Engineers for printing machinery manufacturer and printing materials manufacturer, both in the design office and factory shop-floor. -    Maintenance engineers for implant maintenance in large printing establishments. -    Sales/maintenance engineers for printing machinery manufacturers, and sales/marketing executives for modernized printing presses. -    Faculty positions in diploma and Degree level printing institute’s courses in Printing Technology. -    Production executives/managers, Co-coordinator in advertising agencies.      The annual growth rate and the demand for degree holders for the next two decades is very promising. Remuneration      The job offers good remuneration in the production department of newspapers, publishing house, packaging, pre-press work, digital designing etc. A student with a diploma in Printing Technology may get a monthly salary of Rs. 15000-16000 per month in the beginning.  Similarly, a degree holder in Printing Technology may get a monthly salary of Rs. 20000-22000 per month in the beginning which is considered a good start.      The colleges and institutions in India offer diploma, degree, master degree and PhD programmes in printing technology. The leading institutes in India conducting courses in printing technology are: Institute offering Ph.D in Printing Technology Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai-600025. Institutes offering Masters degree in Printing Technology 1   Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai-600025. 2   Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology Hisar-125001, Haryana. 3   Jadavpur University, Faculty Of Engineering and Technology, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal. 4   Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s (PVG’s) College of Engineering and Technology, 44, Vidyanagari, Shivdarshan Parvati, Pune-411009, Maharashtra. Universities offering degree in Printing Technology 1   Anna University, College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai-600025 2   BMS College of Engineering, P.O. Box No. : 1908, Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560019. 3   Jadavpur University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal. 4   Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology Hisar-125 001, Haryana. 5   Institute of Engineering and Technology, Calicut University Campus, Tenhipalam, Malapuram, Kerala. 6   JNTU College of Engineering, Kukatpally, Hyderabad-500872, Andhra Pradesh. 7   Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s (PVG’s) College of Engineering and Technology, 44, Vidyanagari, Shivdarshan Parvati, Pune-411009, Maharashtra. 8   Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana. 9   Somany Institute of Technology And Management Rewari, Haryana. Universities offering Diploma Printing Technology 1   NR Institute of Printing Technology, Teliar Ganj, Allahabad - 4, (UP). 2   Southern Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Adyar, Chennai - 600 113 (TN). 3   Western Regional Institute of Printing Technology, JJ School of Arts Campus, Opp VT Station Mumbai, Maharashtra. 4   Maharashtra Institute of Printing Technology, 1786, Sadashiv Peth, Pune, (Maharashtra). 5   Department of Printing Technology, Pusa Polytechnic, Pusa, New Delhi - 110 002. 6   Department of Printing Technology, Government Kalaniketan, Jabalpur (MP). 7   Department of Printing Technology, Govt Polytechnic, Gulzar Bagh, Patna -7, Bihar Department of Printing Technology, Govt. Polytechnic, Gandhi Nagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 8   Department of Printing Technology, Institute of Printing Technology, Shoranur, Kerala. 9   Government Institute of Printing Technology, East Nehru Nagar, Secunderabad - 500 026 (U.P). 10 Institute of Printing Technology, Sivakasi - 626 123 (Tamil Nadu) 11 Times Institute of Printing Management Times of India Press, Opp. VT Station, Mumbai, Maharashtra. 12 Don Bosco School of Printing, Okhla Road, New Delhi - 110 025. 13 Government Institute of Printing Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka. 14 Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts, 22 A, Taylors Road, Chennai - 600 010, (TN). 15 Graphic Arts Technology & Education, 12 Shree Mills, Mumbai-Agra Road, Kurla, Mumbai - 400 070, Maharashtra. 16 Institute of Printing Technology, 87, Kamaraj Road, Sivakasi - 626 123 (TN). 17 Institute of Printing Technology, Chennai, (TN). 18 Institute of Printing Technology, Hyderabad, (AP). 19 School of Printing Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka. 20 Government Polytechnic College, Department of Printing Tech, Makhupura, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 21 The Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal. (The list is indicative only)      It is evident that print has the power to influence the society and nation as a whole. The growth rate in GDP has increased the per capita paper consumption. Paper consumption and press output shows the wealth, civilization and economic power of the country. Today, with the increasing trend towards digitization and computerization of the media and explosion of internet has created doubts about the existence of print, but the fact is that print will remain forever. It is evergreen. Hence, the future prospects for the printing technologists are very bright as there are immense opportunities awaiting this discipline. Qualified printing professionals will be in demand in the coming years. (The author is a Chief Production Officer in the Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, Indian council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, Pusa, New Delhi-110012, e-mail: cpoicar@yahoo.com) Soure from: employmentnews