As we launch into a new decade it’s a good time to step back and reflect on different aspects of your business. Not only should you be planning for future investments in technology but also qualified personnel to correctly manage those print jobs. It’s one thing to evaluate printing technology for suitability but assessing competency for managing print is something quite different. So how does one assess your personnel skill set for today’s current and emerging printing technology?
With little exception almost every industry has a program to qualify or certify personnel for employment. In the Information Technology market a MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, certification communicates your proficiency of that technology necessary for employment in that industry. Similarly, in the Automotive industry an ASE: Automotive Service Excellence, certification validates the proficiency desired for employment in automotive repair shop.
But what about the printing industry? There are qualification programs for printing companies but what about the personnel in those companies? How does one assess the personnel are processing jobs efficiently and correctly?
SGIA Digital Color Professional Program
The SGIA Digital Color Professional program is in its 3rd year and has already certified over 350 individuals. The certification program is for professionals in the wide-format and digital inkjet printing industries and helps them to understand the fundamentals and advanced principles of how color is rendered in printing. The short 2.5 day class starts with the basics of why to design in RGB or CMYK, spot color matching, lighting, press maintenance, and leads to hands-on color profiling. Much more is covered, view the complete agenda, https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops/boot-camp-agenda
There are two levels to the SGIA Color Management Professional program.
The first level involves passing an online test. It’s an open-book test so you can use your notes taken during one of the several bootcamps, (https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops) scheduled this year. Passing the online test provides you with a SGIA Qualified Digital Color Professional status. You receive a digital logo with metadata detailing who earned the badge and what they did to earn it to let others know you understand the core principles of color management.
The second level is available after you have passed the online test. A PDF document is provided for you to print and mail back to SGIA’s independent validator at the Sonoco Institute (Clemson University) for evaluation and measurement. The second level tests your ability to apply the principles learned during the bootcamp at your shop. If you can achieve gray balance, match spot colors, RGB and CMYK reference targets of the PDF document within SGIA’s tolerance, then you’ll earn the next level of, SGIA Certified Digital Color Professional.
Where are upcoming SGIA Digital Color Professional bootcamps held?
The SGIA Digital Color Professional bootcamps are held all across the US. Visit this link to find a bootcamp near you, https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops.
Although the curriculum is the same at each bootcamp the instructor presenting has flexibility in how the material is delivered.
In my bootcamps, I offer real world anecdotes of how my clients use these techniques and principles in production. You’ll learn tips and tricks in my class that reduce ink usage dramatically while improving color. You also learn how applying neutral gray calibration metrics in printing affects color matching across different printing technologies.
Why Consider the Digital Color Professional Program
As we launch into a new decade it’s a good time to step back and reflect on different aspects of your business. Not only should you be planning for future investments in technology but also qualified personnel to correctly manage those print jobs. It’s one thing to evaluate printing technology for suitability but assessing competency for managing print is something quite different. So how does one assess your personnel skill set for today’s current and emerging printing technology?
With little exception almost every industry has a program to qualify or certify personnel for employment. In the Information Technology market a MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, certification communicates your proficiency of that technology necessary for employment in that industry. Similarly, in the Automotive industry an ASE: Automotive Service Excellence, certification validates the proficiency desired for employment in automotive repair shop.
But what about the printing industry? There are qualification programs for printing companies but what about the personnel in those companies? How does one assess the personnel are processing jobs efficiently and correctly?
SGIA Digital Color Professional Program
The SGIA Digital Color Professional program is in its 3rd year and has already certified over 350 individuals. The certification program is for professionals in the wide-format and digital inkjet printing industries and helps them to understand the fundamentals and advanced principles of how color is rendered in printing. The short 2.5 day class starts with the basics of why to design in RGB or CMYK, spot color matching, lighting, press maintenance, and leads to hands-on color profiling. Much more is covered, view the complete agenda, https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops/boot-camp-agenda
There are two levels to the SGIA Color Management Professional program.
The first level involves passing an online test. It’s an open-book test so you can use your notes taken during one of the several bootcamps, (https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops) scheduled this year. Passing the online test provides you with a SGIA Qualified Digital Color Professional status. You receive a digital logo with metadata detailing who earned the badge and what they did to earn it to let others know you understand the core principles of color management.
The second level is available after you have passed the online test. A PDF document is provided for you to print and mail back to SGIA’s independent validator at the Sonoco Institute (Clemson University) for evaluation and measurement. The second level tests your ability to apply the principles learned during the bootcamp at your shop. If you can achieve gray balance, match spot colors, RGB and CMYK reference targets of the PDF document within SGIA’s tolerance, then you’ll earn the next level of, SGIA Certified Digital Color Professional.
Where are upcoming SGIA Digital Color Professional bootcamps held?
The SGIA Digital Color Professional bootcamps are held all across the US. Visit this link to find a bootcamp near you, https://www.sgia.org/education/workshops.
Although the curriculum is the same at each bootcamp the instructor presenting has flexibility in how the material is delivered.
In my bootcamps, I offer real world anecdotes of how my clients use these techniques and principles in production. You’ll learn tips and tricks in my class that reduce ink usage dramatically while improving color. You also learn how applying neutral gray calibration metrics in printing affects color matching across different printing technologies.
Dan Reid is part of the first group of experts to teach and qualify shops for the G7 Master Printer Program. Dan has helped numerous grand format shops achieve the benefits of the G7 calibration process since being certified as a G7 Certified Expert in 2006. Dan provides SGIA Digital Color Professional classes nationally.