The Printing Process Four-colour printing (CMYK)

The designer will proof read their work and then use the pack and go feature of Publisher to save the publication in a format that the printer can use. The pack and go feature saves the magazine and information about the fonts being used

The Pack and Go feature in Microsoft Publisher

The graphic designer takes the pack and go file, which has been saved onto a disc or USB flash drive, with a purchase order or covering letter Disc and Purchase Order Forms

The films on the plate ready to be etched The printers then send the disc to the reprographics department who separate the colours in the publication and have films made for each colour used in the printing process (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) The films on the plate ready to be etched

The films are then used to make the plates The films are then used to make the plates. This is done with UV lighting that etches the dark areas of the film onto the aluminium plate UV Light being used to etch the plates The right plate has been etched the left still has the film on top

The plates attached to the drum on the printing press The plates are cleaned and attached to the printing press (placed on drums). The job is then printed. Ink Cleaning the Plates The plates attached to the drum on the printing press

Finished product leaving the machine Once the work is dry it is then sent to the finishing department, who fold, stitch and trim the job to the correct size. The stitcher trimmer machine Finished product leaving the machine

The job is then counted and placed in boxes ready for collection and distribution. Finished Job awaiting collection

Acknowledgements Thanks to BeePrint (Coventry) Ltd. For explaining the printing process and allowing photographs to be taken. Images taken by D. Phelan (The Avon Valley School)