NQF Level 2: BTEC First
Guided learning hours: 60
Unit abstract
The printing industry is one of the United Kingdom's largest industries with an annual turnover
in excess of £14 billion and over 17,000 printing companies serving a huge diversity of other
industries. These are mainly small firms employing fewer than 20 people; there are roughly only
500 companies which have more than 50 in their workforce. The products that printers deal with
vary enormously – books, newspapers, magazines, fine art images, cartons and other forms of
packaging, publicity material etc. Most of the work is done on highly sophisticated machines
but there is still a place for the craft printer working with traditional technologies.
This unit aims to develop learners’ understanding of print production techniques and
technology. Learners will be introduced to ways of developing ideas for print products They
will investigate hand, mechanical and digital print production methods, learning about the
advantages and disadvantages of each method. They will then make print products using
analogue and digital print production technology and techniques.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit a learner should:
1 Understand print production techniques and technology
Techniques and technology: hand eg etching, linocut, screen print, woodcut, lithography;
mechanical eg letterpress, gravure, screen process; digital eg photocopying, laser printing,
inkjet, desk top publishing (DTP)
Advantages and disadvantages: skills and knowledge required; costs; speed; aesthetic
considerations; technical considerations
2 Be able to develop ideas for printed material
Ideas generation: methods eg brainstorming, group discussion, past and current commercial
practice; requirements eg client’s needs, technical restrictions, costs, audience or market
Design originations: ideas sheets; thumbnails; concept drawings; rough drafts
Considerations: costs; available resources; quantity; legal and ethical issues
3 Be able to produce print products
Production: means eg hand, mechanical, digital; proofs; final versions; production
management
Products: eg newspapers, magazines, posters, leaflets, flyers, booklets, labels, packaging
4 Be able to review own print production work
Finished product: compared with original intentions; technical qualities; aesthetic qualities;
suitability for audience or market
Production process: production management; technical skills; creative development
Sources of information: self-evaluation; production logs; comments from others eg
audience, peers, tutors, client
Unit 6 Print Production is on page 61 of BF017268_FD_in_Media_L2_Issue_3.pdf © Edexcel Limited 2008
http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/first/media-pa/btec-fd-sep-2006/btec-fd-media/