Printing is said to be one of the greatest inventions of the middle ages. Invented by Johann Gutenberg in Germany in the 15^th century, printing presses these days bear no resemblance to their middle ages counterparts. The giant machines of today are capable of printing in a mind-boggling variety of shapes and sizes.

Printing is basically concerned with graphic communication, for products ranging from books, plastic, cards to textiles.

There are various types of printing. The biggest category is that of printing of newspapers and periodicals, which also employs the highest number of people. This is also a high-pressure category, where deadlines and accuracy are of utmost importance. Newspapers usually have their own printing presses, employing hundreds of staff.

Book printers undertake the pri nting of high quality jobs, including binding and reproduction of artwork.

Another type of press is the private press or job shop. These vary in size, from specialised presses to huge establishments with specialised departments. Work at these presses usually includes printing calendars, greeting cards, brochures, mailers and newsletters. There are specialised types of presses that handle design, printing and production of packing materials such as paper, board, metal or at times even leather. Government presses printing currency notes, postage stamps, government papers and forms. With the boom in the IT sector, desktop printing has also become popular. All you need is a computer and a laser printer, and presto, you have a press ready to cater to small orders.

Work

Printing can be called a form of reproduction or duplication. There are three stages in the printing process. These are pre-press, press, and binding. The techniques used in printing include letterpress or relief printing, litho offset, gravure or the intaglio, silk screen-printing, flexography and xerography.

Letter is where letters and various symbols are assembled on a frame or block, which is then coated with ink and impressed on paper. Gravure is a process of printing or plastic and other packaging materials. Silk screen is where the printing ink is applied on a silk or fine mesh cloth or where the required printing matter  is first made into a plate. Then an impression is taken on a rubber cylinder from the plate, which is then transferred onto paper or foil. Digital printing processes like laser printing are also catching on now as printing technologies get more sophisticated.

The industry employs professionals at technical and administrative levels. Technical work relates to handling the operation of the machines while administrative work is related to decisions related to use of machinery, materials and human resources. The technical person needs to know how to handle the machines and the administrative person needs to instinctively make decisions on optimum usage of machinery, materials and techniques. Printing technologists also work on research and development of new materials and machinery, while printmakers work on improving typefaces and typestyles.

Attributes

You need to have good visual imagination, aesthetic sense, dexterity and a technical bent of mind in order to be successful in this career. For jobs on the administrative side, you need to have organising capacity, and the ability to maintain cool under pressure and high degree of self-motivation.

Job opportunities

The possibilities of the printing industry are mind boggling. With the growing demand for faster high quality printing needs of individual and industries, printing technologies are being developed every other day.

With professional qualifications and training you may find openings in government presses, commercial presses, newspaper offices or publishing houses. Freelancing is also another option, but you need to have a lot of contacts and motivation as freelancing jobs are usually at the co-ordinator level.

With a few years of experience, you can also open your own printing unit. The investment may be heavy but loans are given by nationalised banks and other financial institutions. Printing can be a risky business, and you need to have good business acumen as well.

Money

Freshers can earn from Rs. 4,500 to Rs.8,500 or more a month.

Educational Institutes

College of Vocational Studies, New Delhi

Delhi University

Department of Technical Education, Institute of Printing Technology, Shoranpur, Kerala

Institute of Printing Technology, Adayar, Chennai

Kala Niketan, Jabalpur

M. H. Saboo Siddik Technical Institute, Mumbai

Maharashtra Mudranshala, Pune

Northern Regional School of Printing, Allahabad

Pune Vidyarthi Griha's Maharashtra Institute of Printing Technology, Pune

Pusa Polytechnic, New Delhi

School of Printing Technology, Bangalore

School of Printing Technology, Mumbai

Spicer Memorial College, Pune

The Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata