Tuesday 22 October 2013

The Fundamentals of Print Production Jobs

The world and how it functions was changed forever when the printing press was invented. Over the centuries, technological advances have come, some remain to date, others faded into oblivion but the need to produce print material, and both analogue and digital remains ever so present.


The Significance of Print Production Jobs

To understand the fundamentals of print production jobs and what it takes to achieve this, one needs to first delve into the significance of print production.


A quick look around reveals the impact of print on the world. One does not need to venture too far to realise this. Religion, entertainment, education and most if not all elements of human existence need print specialists to compile thoughts and ideas into sequences of books, motion pictures, magazines, websites etc. One would be forgiven for daring to state that the world runs on print. Authors, designers, planners, proof readers, illustrators and technicians know this too well. The need for their products will keep growing even as platforms broaden. Print production careers are here to stay!

The technologies involved in print jobs and print production, largely vary but one thing remains constant; the need to communicate through the final product. During the print production process, players in the industry are brought together by the. The product has unifying factors, which are listed to describe the best candidates whenever print job openings arise.

Qualities of a Print Production Specialist

a) Organised

Volumes of content being produced require a very organised mind. The individual seeking a career in print production needs to be able to handle small and big print projects with agility and precision. This ability could be the link between a failed execution of a great print project and a rewarding result. Producers and project managers do very well when endowed with organisational skills.

b) Detail oriented

Attention to detail is another key facet in this job. Minor errors can be very expensive especially in print production. These errors may mean budgets go off by huge sums. It is here that proof readers thrive best. They catch errors and do reviews before products are mass-produced and launched.

c) Creative

Great ideas aimed at reaching the masses need to be easy to understand yet detailed enough to communicate. Planners, designers and illustrators are tasked with ensuring the big picture remains intact, interesting and easy to understand. Marketers and advertisers work very closely with the creative minds to ensure their targets are met.

d) Tools

Print production continues to evolve very quickly. A good handle on tools used in print production ensures steady career growth and earnings. Technicians, designers and illustrators are ever on the lookout for better tools of trade.

This keeps industry players on their toes seeking to learn and earn more by using ultra modern tools to deliver messages through their products. It can often be an expensive affair but the rewards of a good print product are unrivalled. Software engineers, manufacturers and product designers will continuously be engaged in research to make print production ever more lucrative.

e) Flexibility

Execution and delivery of print production projects can spun long periods and requires a flexible individual who can work long hours. This is a key requirement which features prominently in most print job listings. The individual also needs to adapt to shifting scopes within projects as some creative ideas can evolve to different products during production.

f) Standards and Ethics

Legal tussles are never a good thing. It is therefore very significant that print producers maintain high ethical standards. Some of the biggest legal battles the world has seen involve copyright, libel and plagiarism.

g) Communication

At the end of the day, print production is about communicating ideas, theories and much more. It is therefore a major requirement that a person seeking to grow in this industry must be a good communicator.

The fundamentals of print production jobs are the launching pad for a great career anywhere in the world.

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