Clean Up!

While sitting at the Info Desk early this morning, I was passed at least three times by Conestoga’s custodial crew. Each time, the man working put in the extra effort to make Conestoga look a little nicer. Picking up a piece of trash from the ground, cleaning up a coffee spill on the floor and finally scrubbing the wall to rid it of an unruly ketchup splatter.

The people who caused these minor messes should have dealt with it themselves rather than leaving it for the custodians. When you come in the door, wipe your feet. If you drop a piece of garbage, or see a piece on the ground, pick it up. If you spill your drink, find some napkins and wipe it up. When you finish lunch make sure you throw out all your garbage. And lastly don’t pull pranks that create more work for the staff at Conestoga. Be respectful to the building, everyone wants a clean atmosphere.

Do You Know Ed?

One of the best ways to learn is to see what you are learning about, in graphic design we learn about the entire process, from initial project proposal to delivering the final product to the client. One of the most important steps is the printing process. This includes several important decisions along the way and can make or break a project.

On one our first field trips last semester we travelled to Spicers in Vaughan to go to paper school. While some of the information didn’t directly pertain to our part of the printing process, we learned a lot and were able to see how a paper supply company operates. The most interesting thing I took away from this field trip was NewPage’s series of informational printing books. The series is all about Ed, Ed knows everything about printing and wants you to know too. Each of the twelve books cover a different topic pertaining to printing. Here are my highlights from each book.

#1 Metallics
Coating metallics can make them less effective, but protects them from scratching and smudging. Coated gloss paper enhances the metallic shine. The metallic particles can be no larger than approximately a thousandth of an inch, however the larger the particle the better the shine.

#2 Quadtones
Quadtones can create a different look than traditional four colour printing such as sepia tone. Black and white quadtones can warm up a portrait, or give images a sculptural look. Work closely with your printer to avoid moirés and unexpected colour changes.

#3 Stochastic and Conventional
Stochastic printing can produce deeper and more vibrant colours, shorter press times and sharper textures. In stochastic printing dots are smaller and randomly placed, they don’t align to a grid or follow a rigid pattern. Since the dots are smaller less ink is necessary, creating a more even film of ink.

#4 Protective coverings
Coverings are generally liquid coatings or film laminates. Liquid coatings can be applied as part of the printing process or after the project leaves the press. Laminates are usually applied by finishers that also offer services such as die cutting, foil stamping or embossing.

#5 Enhancing Colour
While projects are generally printed in four colours, you can also print with more colours. You can add a spot colour, replace a process colour with a different colour of ink, use florescent inks, or try replacing a colour with a metallic version to get a different effect. Touch places can be used to add more depth and make colours more intense.

#6 Embossing and Foil Stamping
While embossing can create dramatic results, don’t forget about the other side of the page, does the reverse look okay? Sculpted embossing involves using multiple levels to add personality. Blind embossing is when letters or images are raised but no foil or ink is added to the raised areas.

#7 Retouching
If you take bits and pieces of images to create your own image, remember the pieces must be either your own photos or you must have permission to use them. The National Press Photographers Associations says that, “Editing should maintain the integrity of the original photographic image’s content and context.” When editing is done honestly, creatively and skillfully it can enhance the photo.

#8 Digital Variables
Digital printing technology allows you to connect directly to a professional print shop. Film, plate making and press make-ready is no longer necessary and changes can be made easily without enormous cost. Printed material can be made on-demand, this eliminates the need to have an inventory. Advertisers can now target audiences more precisely with variable data printing, this allows them to personalize the name and address or make different versions of the piece.

#9 Understanding Ink
Pantone’s Hexacrome inks include specially made CMYK inks along with orange and green to offer a larger range of colours. UV inks can be applied in a thick coat and dried immediately to create an effect similar to thermography. Pearlescent inks create a shimmering effect that breaks up the light that is reflected to the viewer.

#10 Prepress
Prepress questions begin the moment the project does, with the initial client meeting. You need to ask about schedules, quantities, practical decisions and the general background of the project. Proofs are used for the final proofreading, to make sure everything is positioned correctly, that images cropped properly and that colours reproduced accurately.

#11 Print It
The challenge is to use all of the press’s capabilities efficiently, cost effectively and with maximum impact. The two main types of equipment are conventional offset lithographic presses and digital presses. Remember to compare the final proof to the printed sheet to ensure all changes were made.

#12 Standards
Standardizing measuring systems has allowed people to accurately describe and compare characteristics of different stocks. Brightness is one of the most important standards used to select the right type of paper for the project. Remember to follow postal service standards for weight, size, caliper and layout to ensure your project does not get lost in the mail.


I learned many other things from the books and was amazed by the detailed content they offered for each topic. The thing that amazed me the most was the capabilities printers can offer today.

Eco War

During my first year in Graphic Design the thing that was most surprising was the amount of paper I was using and eventually wasting. While I needed all of the photocopies and paper to do the projects, at the end almost everything was useless. Trying to be eco friendly seemed impossible, recycling helped but if anything was put in the bin other than paper it was all put into the trash. In addition to that, some papers couldn’t be recycled since they had paint or similar unrecyclable products on them. This year I have tried to print as little as possible, but similar to last year it’s hard to do the project without using paper. All of this combined with my eco friendly mission inspired me to look for ways to lessen my negative impact.

Paper: Try to find paper with Post Consumer Recycled content. Cascades produces Enviro 100 which boasts 100% post-consumer fiber, is EcoLogo certified, processed chlorine free and manufactured using biogas energy. Another option is Boise’s Aspen 50, it contains 50% post-consumer content and is a great multipurpose paper for those who want the same characteristics and brightness as a non-recycled paper.

Inks: While soy ink may take longer to dry, there are brighter colours available and the recycling process is much easier. Vegetable-based inks have better ink holdout and as long as you allow for the added dot gain, your results will be just as vibrant, if not more so.

At Work: Suggest to clients that they only print what they need rather than creating a stock of flyers and other printed products that will likely go unused. Reduce the amount of printed products by offering PDF versions via email or the client’s website.

While these solutions can’t help much right now, I will be suggesting these options to future clients. By the time I make it to the work world these options will be more commonplace and hopefully more accessible and affordable.

Ps. My only project sent to print was printed on Enviro 100, love it!

In my Element

While most of my free time is spent trying to catch up with friends and family, I also enjoy going outside to beat the stress. Spending time with others in nature can be great, but I love spending time alone. As soon as I hit the forest I’m ten times more relaxed, fresh air rushes my lungs and I’m alone with my thoughts.

Behind my house is a small forested area, but I much prefer the winding trails just around the corner. Each season has something different to offer; fall leaves, geese paddling down the river, flowers about to bloom, and my favourite, touch-me-not plants. On an early Girl Guides trip my leader showed me the plant; as the buds get larger they start to outgrow their casing and with the slightest touch pop in a flurry of curly green pieces. The shapes of these pieces surprise me with their elegant beauty each time.

While spending time doing nothing can be great, I have found that I especially enjoy nature when I look at the fine details. Bringing my camera along helps me to focus on the details and find the real beauty in nature. Minute berries, interesting leaves, neat patterns within nature; it all entices me to explore more. Every time I see the photos I get the urge to head back out there, here are a couple photos from my past few trips.

Homework Avoidance Tools

While I love Graphic Design and can’t imagine being in any other program, I believe is it still acceptable to complain about the amount of homework. Homework is the core of how we learn to design and I have learned so much from it, but it is still a drag. Getting down to work is the hardest part; it sometimes takes quite a bit of coercing. There are just so many other things I would rather be doing, which is why I decided to do a blog on the top ten things I would rather do.

Number 10: Surf the Internet

I’m almost in the homework zone then I realize I haven’t checked Facebook in at least ten minutes. Or want to make sure I have enough money in my chequing account, maybe even see if there are any new posts on iamneurotic.com. In general this is my last ditch effort to procrastinate before getting to work.

Number 9: Eat

I’m going to be hungry after 10 minutes of working so I better grab something to eat now. Maybe I’ll go fill up my water bottle and take a bathroom break too while I’m at it. If I make a homemade supper instead of just throwing something in the microwave it would be healthier, I do want to be healthy. If eating constantly was an option I’d be eating right now, it’s just so much more relaxing than homework could ever be.

Number 8: Work Out

I’m going to gain weight from sitting in this chair so long; I better go to the gym at least a couple times a week. Maybe if I go at 4:30, then home for supper and a shower, then I’ll really get down to work. That is if I don’t start surfing the Internet.

Number 7: Catch up on Movies and TV

I’m addicted to Grey’s Anatomy, but never seem to be free to watch it Thursday night. Good thing I can watch TV online and catch up on all my favourite shows. As for movies, it’s hard to see all the movies I want when I only get to the theatre about once every other month. Better watch some movies online or go to Blockbuster and catch up. Why do homework when I can multitask, knitting while watching a movie is one of my favourite pastimes.

Number 6: Read

I’m not picky about what I’m reading as long as it’s not part of my homework. There are so many options, I could read a magazine, something online, or my favourite, a good novel. My ideal holiday would involve me lying in the sun reading for days on end, why not take a mini holiday right now!

Number 5: Knit

I’m not trying to brag, but I can knit a pair of mitts like no other, what have I learned from homework that could come close to comparing. Hats are my new forte, as is the cable stitch. Everyone loves handmade gifts and I love any reason to knit. I knew my friends knew me well when I got a knitting book on how to knit an owl. Why not become a professional old person at 19, beats graphic design right?

Number 4: Party

I’m known to be pretty conservative with my partying; I even contemplated putting knitting ahead of it. Then I realized knitting on a Thursday night might be worse than doing homework. Plus neither compare to forgetting that I even have homework. Meeting new people and dancing the stress away can be quite fun.

Number 3: Hanging Out with Friends

I’m the only one who still likes Woodstock, but home is where I get to see the majority of my friends. Summer is the best, but life can’t always be that carefree. During the school year I miss my friends like crazy and I have to maintain friendships, homework isn’t there for me when I need a friend.

Number 2: Explore Somewhere New

I’m going to be halfway around the world in 6 months time, ideally. Going somewhere new is so exciting, new things to try, new things to eat and beautiful new scenery to experience. Many of my most cherished childhood memories involve travelling around Canada with my family. I loved the swimming, the car rides and the time spent together. Why sit at my desk doing homework when I could be planning an escape!

Number 1: Anything But

I’m sure everyone has their own favourite things to do to avoid homework, but in general I would rather do most anything than get down to work. It’s scary when I realize how much I still have to learn!

Chief Researcher

Unsure about how to begin my first blog I did what most unsure people do, research. I flittered through some of David Airey’s “Top 50 graphic design blogs”, which linked me to countless other interesting design related sites. (One of my most exciting finds was thisisindexed.com which uses Venn diagrams to describe just about anything.)

The research process has helped me through countless projects in my design history. In first year my professor constantly asked us to do things we had never done before, draw type by hand, use a DSLR camera without the auto function and create illustrations with impact. At the end of my first semester I was amazed by all the things I had learned and the people and places I had learned them from. Librarians were on our side, always willing to help and professors helped us make our work shine. Online resources were seemingly boundless, but our largest resource was each other. Being the first to do a project often had its disadvantages (it only took me twice as long, no big), but we had to start somewhere. Once the project had been attempted, peers could learn from each other’s mistakes and find the most efficient way to complete the project. This created a strong bond throughout the class and truly showed us that everyone had something to offer.

Regardless of how steep the learning curve, how short the deadline or how difficult the project, there is always a way to research your way out of it.