Graphic Communications Technology Management

Introduces the external forces in the business environment and the resulting implications for organizations. Examines the place of business in BC and Canada. Focus is on the issues arising from government policies, economics, ethics, social environment, forms of businesses, and the basic components of business operations.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

COMM 1100 is designed to give students basic listening, writing and speaking skills that will allow them to prepare written and oral reports for BCIT courses and to proceed to more advanced communication courses.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course introduces students to the Graphic Communications industry, its terminology, production processes, and trends and provides for some first-hand knowledge and experience through guest lectures, visits to modern production facilities, and an opportunity to review the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation Print Scape audio visual program. Students will learn by fully participating in this program through guest lectures and field trips.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course identifies and describes the main functioning parts of small printing presses in the offset printing industry. Students set up and adjust presses to print their projects. Students will operate the presses under supervision to produce a variety of printed material suitable for lithographic offset imaging. Students compare products produced with lithography to electro-photographic, inkjet and flexographic imaging engines. Classes are modular, self-paced, competency-based exercises in all four imaging technologies. Hands-on production skills are stressed in the safety, maintenance, and productivity of each kind of imaging machinery. Students are shown different substrate characteristics, such as formation, colour brightness and grain direction which all help give a better printed product. Safety and environmental issues within the printing industry are covered including pressroom chemistry, inks and toners.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course teaches the fundamental principles of page layout design. Basic typography measurement and terminology will be explained. Students will construct single and multi-page documents with imported text, graphics and images. Students will examine good and bad typography and learn prepress terminology. Using page layout software students will prepare industry standard documents that incorporate the rules and practices of high quality typesetting. Files will then be exported to postscript and PDF formats utilizing a variety of production methods to prepare students for electronic PDF workflows.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course begins by reviewing the Adobe Photoshop toolbox and customizing a work space in a document. Students begin by using the File Browser to sort images and then explore different ways of creating selections and masks. Students will create a series of projects including photo collages, retouching and filters all used to alter and enhance images. Student will use a variety of tools to adjust colour casts and hues. The course provides an opportunity to see how Photoshop manages colour modes between RGB, CMYK and LAB. Students are introduced to Spectrophotometers and Colorimeters and use them to colour manage LCD monitors.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course introduces the Mac System X and Windows XP operating systems. Emphasis is placed on operating, maintaining, troubleshooting systems and procedures required for working with the BCIT network, including FTP file transfers, hybrid CD burning and network printing. The course also covers common methods used to build networked print production work-flows. Emphasis is placed on the design and implementation of automated work-flows, pre-press databases and the Internet.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Marketing 1102 is an introduction to the fundamentals of marketing. In addition to the "four Ps" of marketing—product, price, place, and promotion—students will be introduced to how marketers create customer-driven marketing strategies based on their research and understanding of the marketing environment and customers. Students will plan a strategy for and compete in an online marketing simulation. After the simulation, students will evaluate their performance and deliver a marketing plan for their simulation company, which will be assessed on students' application of marketing terminology and processes and in the professionalism of their work. Additionally, students will complete assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course provides further instruction and practice in the principles taught in COMM 1100. It concentrates on more sophisticated forms of written communication: the job application package, indirect correspondence, and reports. The course might also include modules on graphics, questionnaires, telephone techniques, and organizing and running meetings.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in COMM 1100

Working in teams, the students are required to produce 5 products which are all parts of an integrated design campaign. The students design and produce high resolution files, and will create a professional design for their customer’s branding and identification. The files will require revision changes and file editing to meet customer approvals. Teamwork will be emphasized and analyzed. Each team’s project will have a unique look.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course introduces the mechanisms and protocols of electronic prepress production through the workflow application ‘Prinergy.’ It focuses on the requirements for setting work up in Prinergy, and exposes the student to the Refine and Trapping functions that produce single page PDFs. Fundamentals of imposed form work for printing production is also covered through industry standard applications Preps and the connection to Prinergy. RIP technologies will be contrasted and compared. Other pre-imaging page production systems will be reviewed and analyzed for their strengths and weaknesses. Students will have an opportunity to process a project from input through to plate ready status with close alignment to Kodak’s hands-on training program.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 1100 and GTEC 2250 and GTEC 2280

Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Employed at a commercial business, the student will be required to work as assigned in one or more departments such as: office work for creating a job docket and estimating; assembling and pre-flighting files in prepress; pressroom for loading plates; and wash-up and post-production for folding and stitching processes. Students will be placed in diverse business environments that span commercial applications of all imaging technologies covered in the first year of study. All students are required to make a 10-15 minute presentation to their cohort at the end of their experience in order to expand all student knowledge of the diversity of the Graphic Communications Industry in our community.
Prerequisite(s):

• All term 1 and 2 courses

This course commences with the basics of digital imaging, including the principles of electro-photography and other related technologies. There will be a review of different manufacturer’s equipment, their capabilities, and quality. Media issues will be discussed as well as imaging engine speeds, resolution, quality and job costing features. Students will practice troubleshooting different media and calibrate the printer to ensure consistent colour reproduction. The course also covers many of the other considerations for reproducing files correctly on a digital imaging engine. Digital imaging for dye sublimation will be discussed and demonstrated relative to specially, item marketing and garment design and manufacturing.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 1464

This intermediate course in small litho press operation stresses press maintenance, problem solving and troubleshooting techniques. Students’ skills are improved by printing more complex projects, projects consisting of more than one piece, multi-coloured projects with proper registration and working in teams to produce a program newsletter. Students prepare specific ink colours and gain confidence by printing projects of their own creation and preparation from other classes. Classes are modular, self-paced, competency-based exercises in all four imaging technologies. Hands-on production skills are stressed in inkjet and digital imaging engines and flexographic press technology. Press simulators are introduced to build real world production values.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 1464

This course provides students with an orientation to bindery and finishing. Students will learn how to do basic setup and running of the Cutter, Folder and Saddle Stitcher for lithographic post production. Students will also learn to read job dockets; plan work processes; identify production standards; and consistently monitor work quality. Students will gain hands-on bindery and finishing experience and learn basic setup and running of a Gang Stitcher including observation of a Three-Knife trimmer. Students will also be able to identify the challenges of more complex folding, cutting and stitching jobs. In Large Format post production students will learn substrate mounting and laminating techniques. Digital Bindery operations including collating, coil binding, drilling and perfect binding will be demonstrated. Students will build a portfolio of their own custom finishing projects.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course begins with the fundamentals of lithographic print estimating, processes, and the development of production standards. Students will work with EFI Print Management Solution software to create imaging project cost estimates. Topics covered in this course will include: the scope and function of estimating; production standards; order processing—sale through invoice; estimating paper, ink and buyouts; estimating prepress; estimating sheet fed offset; estimating post-press; and the completion of a number of basic estimates. These principles are then applied to other imaging technologies starting with Large Format inkjet projects, Digital Imaging projects and Flexographic print processes.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is an exploration of the models and systems used to communicate colour information in graphic arts. Students will work with industry standard measuring devices and applications to create and apply colour profiles with the intent of achieving colour fidelity through the various stages of the print production process.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Covers the accounting function and the services it provides to the manager. Topics include preparation and interpretation of various financial statements, reports, budgets, etc., in managerial decision-making.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course builds on the foundations taught in GTEC 2005: Managing Pre-Imaging Workflows 1 and provides an overview of output devices fed by electronic imaging workflows. Students are taught to evaluate and apply the required attributes to transform electronic files into tangible output. The course will focus on tools for automating PDF workflows. Students will get hands-on experience with Kodak Prinergy servers and the connection to Kodak Insite web server. The course connects to the eCommerce course by building web pages that link to the Insite server. Current workflows in soft proofing, web authorizations and eCommerce transactions are explored and evaluated.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2105 and BUSA 1005

Sustainability Practices in the Workplace focuses on moral issues arising in the world of business, including businesses’ responsibilities to employees, employees’ responsibilities to employers, honesty in business, and environmental responsibility. Emphasis will be placed on practical skills to assist in improving moral decision-making in the workplace. The importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability will also be communicated. Students will discuss and evaluate several case studies in modern business settings to practice sustainable decision making in a business setting. This course focuses on the importance of communicating effectively with customers utilizing Customer Relationship Management techniques and principles.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is an introduction to the many opportunities presented by e-commerce and online connectivity in the Graphic Communications industry. It will prepare the student to devise, select, implement, maintain and grow an online website for a commercial Graphic Imaging company. Emphasis will be on using current technology for website creation with links to PDF workflow systems and online estimating and transaction services.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Printing multi-colour and four-colour process jobs using single-colour and mid-size sheet-fed offset presses are the focus of this advanced imaging course. Students identify press systems, adjust the press for optimum operation, perform maintenance, incorporate troubleshooting techniques and consider quality control issues as well as prepare and install dampeners, and mix printing inks. Problem solving is emphasized with experiences on the large press SHOTS simulator and the FLEXstar simulator for Flexographic Press simulation. Hands-on experience with the flex press will give students experience with mounting plate cylinders, changing media, and registering 2-colour inks. Digital Press production will be analyzed for colour gamut comparisons and quality issues relating to colour management and proofing. Digital output will be compared to inkjet proofing to evaluate effectiveness in a production environment. Emphasis is placed on job scheduling and planning to maximize production and complete finishing operations.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2464

Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course concentrates on checking documents before they are printed by application programs used for preflighting including native application and PDF files. Students will also set up Colour Management settings within the application programs using ICC profiles to help ensure consistent colour reproduction from the monitor to final digital output. Students will perform all of the tasks using a high capacity digital printer including setting up routines for running calibration and registrations tests. A database will be utilized to create a variable data print run for a personalized print marketing campaign. Students will impose a four-colour brochure with bleeds and trim marks and produce final output. The final exam will be to produce a complex job from creation through to completion.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2463 and MDIA 2140

This course introduces an advanced page layout workflow with features like nested frames, anchored objects, smart text handling, snippets and libraries for moving items of a page between documents and dragging and dropping external design elements on a page. The course focuses on integrating advanced features into page design while working with multiple applications with bridge software. Students will create a series of projects complete with a set of packaged files ready for output to different postscript devices.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Educates the student on the importance of managing operations across all industries by presenting the fundamentals in productivity improvement based on a systematic, scientific problem solving methods. Includes economic feasibility, recording techniques, assembly and analysis of data, critical examination, the development and selection of alternative solutions. Case materials explore applications to manufacturing, warehouse, office, materials management and general management. Students uncomfortable with basic algebra applications are encouraged to take OPMT 0199 prior to the course.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Presents the influential concepts of both micro and macroeconomics and, in a student-based learning environment, assists you in applying these notions to your career. A professional economist will work with you in discovering the laws of supply and demand, consumer decision-making, producer profit maximization, competition and monopoly regulation in microeconomics. Use of fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policy to influence unemployment, inflation and economic growth is also covered. Familiarization with spreadsheets is strongly recommended for those intending to register in the Internet delivery section.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This senior-level course provides students with advanced bindery and finishing skills. Students will learn how to do complex (e.g., working with diverse materials) setup and running of a Perfect Binder. Students will continue to build on previously learned machine operating and specialty skills and learn to handle plant floor organization.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2465

Students will be expected to develop a media imaging promotional campaign for a customer. Students will work collaboratively to implement their design skills specific to the media they are producing to deliver a specific marketing message for their customer. The project will stress working effectively on a team to produce high quality media. The students will design and lay out the project using software skills previously taught. Substrate and manufacturing processes will be engineered and weekly planning and management considerations must be accounted for. When the job is assembled and checked, students will create final media files for electronic distribution and archival. The student team will produce final colour composite proofs that are colour-managed to set proper client expectations. The final product will be graded in comparison to prototype proofs.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2010 and MDIA 3049

Students will examine the relationship between the print buyer and printer. Referencing an industry MIS (Management Information Systems) software, students will be exposed to sales fundamentals, account management, job specifications and project management. The basics of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) will also be covered. Students will be exposed to contractual issues, trade practices and copyright law.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2010

A practicum is designed to provide the student with practical experience in the Graphic Communication and associated industries. A secondary objective is to enable students to establish contacts in the industry. Students should note that practicums will vary in the range of experiences the student can expect. Some employers have formal practicums that include exposure to many departments within the company. Some companies have a less formal approach. Preferred companies include printers, finishing trades, in-house production facilities, design studios and suppliers of consumables to the trade. Obtaining a practicum is the responsibility of the student. BCIT provides assistance in terms of the Advisory Board, BCIT Job Fair, and industry associations such as the Craftsmen Club and the BC Printing and Imaging Association.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 2400 and all Term 3 and Term 4 courses

This course identifies and describes the main functioning parts of small printing presses in the offset printing industry. Students set up and adjust presses to print their projects. Students will operate the presses under supervision to produce a variety of printed material suitable for lithographic offset imaging. Students compare products produced with lithography to electro-photographic, inkjet and flexographic imaging engines. Classes are modular, self-paced, competency-based exercises in all four imaging technologies. Hands-on production skills are stressed in the safety, maintenance, and productivity of each kind of imaging machinery. Students are shown different substrate characteristics, such as formation, colour brightness and grain direction which all help give a better printed product. Safety and environmental issues within the printing industry are covered including pressroom chemistry, inks and toners.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 3464 and GTEC 3467

This course provides a solid understanding of Web Offset Printing, and Flexographic Printing. It will be a combination of in-class theory; take-home assignments, investigative assignments (plant tours, evaluating suppliers), and evaluation by the management in the industry. A heavy emphasis is placed on practical evaluation and good understanding of all technical issues to lead the industry in the future. The course will utilize hands-on training on a flexographic web press and simulator exercises on FLEXSTAR simulator software. The course will let students develop a solid understanding of the packaging industry through hands-on training in fingerprinting our flexographic web press. The course will evaluate digital proofing technologies relevant to the flex press runs and correlate the use of ICC profiling in creating proofs for packaging products.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 3464

Students will gain a basic understanding of several digital technologies and produce colour-managed contract proofs for large format signage and variable data digital print work flows. Students will get hands-on implementation of several process controls to integrate all the digital equipment in the facility. Particular attention will be paid to digital print as a proofing technology for offset and flexographic print workflows.
Prerequisite(s):

• GTEC 3467 and GTEC 3464 and MDIA 2140

This course provides the fundamental skills, tools and processes of professional selling. The focus is on “relationship” and “need-satisfaction” selling in a business-to-business environment. Through experiential exercises, practical applications and discussions students develop, deliver and evaluate a wide range of selling methods and presentations. This course is ideal for people in business who want to enhance their selling skills, people new to a sales role, and salespeople at any level who do not have formal training in the field. To be successful in this course, students must be able to communicate well in English.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.