Accelerate Your Training Efforts

The old maxim, “If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward,” certainly applies to education and training. It’s all too easy to fall behind when striving to maintain your knowledge base.

As the tools you utilize daily in your output, workflow, and finishing departments move and shift, your company’s employees need to be able to keep up with this “technology drift.” If not, as the years progress, your shop is likely to see rapid downgrades in proficiency, efficiency, and, eventually, profitability.

There are opportunities throughout the graphic-arts marketplace to accelerate your training efforts – sometimes, you just have dig for them. Across the industry, manufacturers and suppliers, associations, and tradeshow companies are recognizing the importance of a better educated workforce. So there’s no better time to get back to the classroom – even if that “classroom” is online – and hone your skills.

Training from manufacturers and suppliers
Nearly all industry companies offer training on the specific hardware or software they produce and sell – either as part of the purchase price or for an additional fee. But many companies are now partnering with other manufacturers, suppliers, and associations, etc., to provide users with a broader range of knowledge and expertise. Here are some of the companies that offer training, education, and events beyond the basics. (Note: As you might guess, some of what manufacturers and suppliers offer is company- and product-centric by its very nature.)

Agfa Graphics (www.agfagraphics.com) is planning educational workshops and open houses for 2014 at which attendees will be able to learn about UV and solvent printing, rigid and flexible media as well as inks, and related technology; dates and locales to be announced. The company also works with other industry suppliers and associations for educational events hitting topics such as color management and G7 training.

Arlon’s (www.arlon.com) WrapItRight.com website offers its Video Gallery, an array of free educational videos on various wrap topics, including: “Extreme Stretch Installation,” “Removing a Vinyl Wrap,” “Deep Channel Installation,” “Testing an Interior Wall” (for interior wall wraps), “Using a Knifeless Cutting Method,” “Wet Application of a Window Graphic,” and others. Users can subscribe to receive news each time a new video is available.

New this year from Avery Dennison (www.averygraphics.com) is its Supreme Wrapping Films Workshop series, featuring one-day classes with master installer Justin Pate and focusing on the company’s Supreme Wrapping Films. The classes are for intermediate and advanced students. Topics include: how to section film economically; advanced cutting techniques; how to price and sell paint wraps; and more. Remaining 2013 dates and sites include: Pompano Beach, Florida (October 21); Auburn, Washington (November 9); and Welcome, North Carolina (November 11).

In addition, Avery is partnering with Mutoh for vehicle-wrap training classes in 10 cities across the country in 2013 (Royal Sovereign is also a sponsor). The School of Wrap car-wrap training program is designed to provide wrap installers with an in-depth understanding of graphic-installation mechanics to gain a competitive advantage in the vehicle-wrap industry, the companies report. The three-day workshop focuses on the steps needed to improve the quality and speed of car-wrap installations. Classes are hosted by Justin Pate; award-winning designer Stephen Sinek teaches the design portion of the School of Wrap. Remaining 2013 classes are in Ft. Lauderdale (October 28-30) and Phoenix (October 31 – November 2).

Avery also offers a free series of training and application videos on its website’s Resources section as well as a general Research Library.

Canon’s (www.csa.canon.com) new American headquarters features a 12,000-square-foot space that is used for product demonstrations; the showroom offers touch-and-try product displays for every Canon product category – including wide-format printing. Its “UV Flatbed Buyers Guide” is designed to walk the user through all aspects of UV flatbed technology. It covers printer format, printhead and curing technologies, operational considerations, RIPs, inks, and more (the free download requires registration with Océ). Also available: “Selling Wide Format: A Big Opportunity,” a whitepaper in PDF format.

The Color Management Group (www.colormanagement.com) offers color-competency testing; one-on-one online/remote technical support and training; on-site training and installation services (including 2-, 3-, and 5-day G7 training); and more. Its “Color Without Chaos” seminar is one-day, in-house training that demonstrates how color management can be effectively used.

The EFI Connect conference brings EFI (www.efi.com) users together to test-drive products, discuss industry trends, and network with peers. Various classes will be offered, and users can supplement the classroom learning with live demos in the lab area. EFI will highlight its complete portfolio, including end-to-end workflows. The event’s “Cycle Connect” in 2014 is a 35-mile scenic ride for intermediate-level cyclists. The 2014 event takes place January 21-24 at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

In addition to training for its various products, the company also offers an array of educational downloads via its website, including: its EFI “ABC Guides” (how to use VDP, office, Print MIS, Proofing and Design solutions more effectively, etc.); a Video and Webinar Library; EFI’s Fiery Global University program, a consolidation of eLearning courses, webinars, and technical classroom training; and Fiery Certification program (Professional and Expert certifications).

EskoWorld is the annual global EskoArtwork (www.esko.com) user event. The organization of the event and preparation of its content is a collaboration between EskoArtwork and the EskoArtwork User Group International (EUGI). The event comprises training sessions, roundtable discussions, seminars, and hands-on labs. The 2013 event drew nearly 600 attendees; the 2014 event will be held June 15-18 at the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Similar EskoWorld events were also held internationally this year, in Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Sweden. The company also offers various training for its own products.

HP’s (www.hp.com) Capture program comprises educational modules, business tools, community networks, market-development activities, and 1:1 consulting services designed to help print providers grow their digital print businesses (users must have an HP registered printer to participate).The company’s Graphic Arts Experience Center in Alpharetta, Georgia, serves as a training facility for graphic-arts customers and prospects throughout the Americas; the site hosts educational workshops on marketing, print business management, and other topics. See also: Dscoop.

At LearnToWrapCars.com, car-wrap installer Justin Pate offers three vehicle-graphics installation DVDs in its “Techniques and Tips” series: “Vehicle Graphics Installations” (144 minutes) covers tools, workspace, hardware removal, safety and more, including Pate’s UGIS (Universal Graphics Installation System); “Advanced Wrapping” (118 minutes) covers how to wrap the more complex aspects of vehicles; Pate addresses: cutting perfect corners, door handles, mirrors, wheel wells, antennae, rubber molding, bumpers, and problem solving; and “Speedwrapping” (94 minutes) is geared to help the entire shop; included in this DVD is a segment on fleet wrapping. Pate also offers live workshops: the Avery-Mutoh School of Wrap workshops (see Avery or Mutoh listings here), as well as the Supreme Wrapping Films Workshop (see Avery listing).

LexJet (www.lexjet.com) has partnered with Canon for free two-day workshops addressing inkjet printing workflow for a variety of applications, including digital photography and fine art as well as sign and display. A workshop in Melville, New York, will take place October 22 (other workshops have taken place in Irvine, California, and Irving, Texas); LexJet reports that it is tentatively planning similar workshops in 2014. In addition, the online Learning Center from LexJet offers various educational guides as free downloads, including: “An Application Guide to Floor and Carpet Graphics,” “How to Create a Wall Mural,” “Increase Revenue by Offering Banner Stands,” “Coating, Stretching and Wrapping Canvas,” and others.

The Install Nation is Lowen Corporation’s (www.lowencertified.com) installation testing facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. Each station at the 3M-Authorized facility was laid out with the student and their learning experience in mind, reports Lowen; the custom stations include compound curves, marine, rough wall, and fleet. The facility offers Lowen Certified/3M Preferred Graphics Installers Prep Training as well as a 3-Day Prep/2-Day Wrap Training Combo Class every month in 2013 (see website for dates).

Lowen Certified is its certification program aimed at vehicle wraps and related digital graphics. Installers can pursue these designations: Vehicle Wrap Installation Professional, Fleet Graphics Installation Professional, Rough Wall Installation Professional, On Premise Graphics Installer, and Lowen Certified Expert Installer. The certification status is portable.

Mactac’s Application Nation (www.theapplicationnation.com) is an online resource and virtual community for graphics installers working with vehicle wraps, cut vinyl, and wall and building graphics, etc. In 2013, the program offered a one-day course focusing on the basics of vehicle-wraps applications, highlighting architectural applications (walls, floors, and windows), covering industry trends, and more. Members can visit the website to ask questions of industry experts, read about installation tips, peruse the resource library, and download ICC profiles. Several training videos are available to members and non-members alike. Its Application Nation Authorized Program was created to provide certification for and visibility to professional installers who adhere to industry standard processes and systems for vehicle and architectural applications.

In March of this year, Mutoh America (www.mutoh.com) opened its new southern California-based learning facility and product showroom in Torrance. The 3500-square-foot space – which hosts a variety of Mutoh printers and other products – is used for vehicle-wrap classes, product trainings and demonstrations, open houses, networking events, and more. Other training centers are located in: Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago, and Boston.

The Mutoh Business Builder is a resource for print providers to gather market-specific information, education, and application suggestions to help them be more successful in their business. Business Builders are available for Signage, Wraps, Textiles, Packaging, Color Management, Wall Art, Tradeshow Graphics, Process Control, and more.

In addition, Mutoh has teamed up with Avery to produce the School of Wrap car-wrap training program – designed to provide wrap installers with an in-depth understanding of graphic-installation mechanics and to gain a competitive advantage in the vehicle-wrap industry. The three-day workshop focuses on the steps needed to improve the quality and speed of car-wrap installations. Classes are hosted by Justin Pate; remaining 2013 classes are in Ft. Lauderdale (October 28-30) and Phoenix (October 31 – November 2).

Nazdar Consulting Services (www.nazdarconsulting.com) offers various training and consulting programs and initiatives designed to improve the productivity, predictability, and profitability of screen and digital print providers. Specific programs include: G7 Master Printer Certification; Chromatix Color Control; and IDEAlliance PCC Process Control. The company also offers free online videos, on the topics of automated trapping, Lab color correction, Catzper, and more. In addition, Nazdar Consulting was part of this year’s Color Management Boot Camp at the recent SGIA Expo.

Neschen Americas’ (www.neschenamericas.com) Training and Education Center is designed to train students on the Seal and Neschen brand portfolio, from product selection to final delivery. The center is located near the company's Elkridge, Maryland, headquarters and includes a workroom, conference room, and expandable classroom; it’s equipped with laminators, laminates, media, and wide-format printers. Course options for print-service providers include: InDisplay In Depth, where students learn about the integration of inkjet media, hardware, and laminating films in creating comprehensive display products; Application Training in Finishing; Textile Printing and Material Selection; and more. There are also course options for sales training.

Roland Academy’s (www.rolanddga.com) end-user and dealer workshops feature hands-on instruction by industry experts on wide-format printers, printer/cutters, vinyl cutters, engraving machines, and more. It held two 2013 Born to Wrap vehicle-graphics workshops, in conjunction with Digital EFX Wraps, in Irvine, California and Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year; the next workshop is scheduled for November 12-13 in Welcome, North Carolina. Attendees learned about file setup and design, color matching and workflow, printing, cutting and laminating, job estimation, sales, and advertising; and preparation, application, and removal techniques.

The company also offers an Online Webinar Series. In 2013, the topics included: “Intro to VersaWorks” and “PrintCut Workflow with Adobe Illustrator.” Other topics are archived on the site. And the “Tips & Tricks” section on its website provides free articles on topics including apparel, banners, finishing, print/cut, restyling, and more.

SA International (SAi, www.thinksai.com) has opened a dedicated training and technology center, located at its new Brussels-based EMEA headquarters in Belgium. The new facility serves as a state-of-the-art demonstration, training, and testing center and offers educational sessions on SAi software and applications to the company’s reseller and OEM network, as well as to end-users. The center includes a fully equipped showroom comprising hardware and consumables, including a suite of wide-format printers, plus vinyl cutters and specialized spectrophotometers.

More than 50 free Educational Webcasts on sublimation and digital apparel decoration are available from Sawgrass Technologies (www.sawgrassink.com). Major categories include: Production & Applications, Software and Graphics, Social Media for Business, Sales and Marketing, Business Management, and Troubleshooting. Also available are various Educational Webinars, how-to videos, knowledge bases for sublimation and digital apparel, and more.

3M (www.3m.com) offers three separate certification programs: 3M Certified Graphics Installation Company and 3M Preferred Graphics Installer (for all types of graphics installations); and 3M Endorsed Vehicle Graphics Installer (for vehicle wraps and graphics); testing dates and locales vary, check 3M’s website. Optional training sessions are also available. Its 3M Graphics Video Library includes a number of instructional videos for graphics providers; the online videos cover topics such as: vehicle and fleet graphics; wall and architectural graphics; cut graphics; and more.

At the three-day CorelDraw Unleashed Boot Camp from Unleashed Productions (www.unleash.com), attendees learn the ins and outs of CorelDraw and Corel PhotoPaint. The company also offers phone consultations and onsite training sessions and boot camps, plus books and DVDs, all centered on Corel products.

Xpedx (www.xpdex.com) has offered a 14-city Wide Format Solutions Summit tour throughout 2013 (28 shows in all), designed to provide print operators with tools for succeeding in wide-format print work. Each Summit has featured consulting group InfoTrends sharing wide-format insight and advice, as well as demonstrations on a variety of equipment, media, and substrates. “Stay tuned, as there is potential for a 2014 tour,” the company reports.

X-Rite (www.xrite.com) offers hands-on training workshops at its facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Regensdorf, Switzerland, and in its various local sales offices, on color-management topics specific to wide-format printing, textiles, prepress, packaging, design, and more. Online seminars and e-Learning modules are also available on many of the same topics. Its Color Control Freak e-course is designed to provide a solid and entertaining introduction to color management. X-Rite also offers customized on-site training.

A tradeshow alternative
If you’re planning on attending a major industry’s tradeshow, why not add an educational component along the way? You can seek out opportunities for training before or after show-floor hours (so as not to interfere with your time on the floor), or simply ensure that you schedule enough days at the event to accommodate learning as well as exploring and buying.

Graphics of the Americas Expo (www.graphicsoftheamericas.com) will kick off the 2014 tradeshow season, February 27 through March 4, 2014, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida. Its educational sessions typically hit on topics ranging from wide-format printing and production to prepress, digital printing, and more; many sessions are offered in Spanish. The conference will feature Digital Classroom Live! presented by the American Graphics Institute. The event is managed by the Printing Association of Florida.

The ISA International Sign Expo (www.signexpo.org) is scheduled for April 23-26, 2014, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This year’s show featured more than 40 educational offerings, including six AIA-approved sessions. In addition, it offered sessions/events on dynamic digital signage, including details on how a shop could incorporate this technology into its business. The ISA also offers an International Sign Academy program via its website (signs.org). The academy includes webinars, online training courses, and onsite seminars on topics including installation and service, production and fabrication, design, sales and marketing, LEED certification, project management, and more.

PhotoPlus Conference+Expo 2013 (www.photoplusexpo.com) will be held October 24-26 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Attendees can choose from more than 90 seminars and hands-on workshops covering the digital-imaging industry, including “Fine Art Digital Printing,” “Printing 101: Put Your Pictures on Paper,” and others.

Print13 (www.print2013.com), produced by the Graphic Arts Show Company, took place September 8-12, 2013, in Chicago’s McCormick Place. See our August issue, page 26, for details. Its sister event, Graph Expo, is scheduled for 2014.

At the 2013 SGIA Expo (www.sgia.org) in Orlando, October 23-25, attendees have access to more than 40 educational sessions as well as sales-free Zones with educational theaters. Four educational tracks are offered: Graphics & Sign, Garment Decoration, Industrial Application; and Business Management; plus, SGIA is hosting a Printed Electronics & Membrane Switch Symposium the day before the expo begins. (See pg. xx for more information on SGIA Expo.) Its PDAA-certification test takes place October 22 in Orlando. SGIA also hosts workshops and seminars throughout the year on graphics/signage, garment decoration, installation, and other topics.

Conferences and associations
Many industry-related associations offer training and education events, generally focused upon their members’ particular market niche. Keep in mind that, for these types of events, you typically must be a member to attend (conferences without association ties are open events).

The American Graphics Institute (AGI, www.agitraining.com) provides organizations and individuals with training and support for design, marketing, and publishing technologies. It offers regularly scheduled courses in its classrooms across the US (and London) and online, or private training at a customer’s location (or at AGI site). Online classes are available for Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, FinalCut, and others. Its digtalclassroom.com site, in partnership with Wiley Publishing, is an online learning resource that combines video training from AGI instructors with a library of e-books published by Wiley; annual and pay-as-you-go memberships are available.

The annual Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) Conference (www.acup-edu.org) typically attracts approximately 100 in-plant managers from the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia/New Zealand. The 2014 conference, which takes place April 6-10 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa, will offer educational sessions and workshops, professional development opportunities, peer-to-peer discussion groups, and an extensive vendor trade exhibit. Topics covered include: offset and digital printing, variable data, wide format, 3D printing, branding applications, copier-fleet management, mailing solutions, and the latest in hardware and software offerings.

The annual conference of the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing, and Converting Technologies (NPES, npes.org) will take place in Orlando, November 11-12, 2013; seminars and sessions will include “Identifying Global Opportunities for the Print Industry,” “A Customer’s View of Our World,” and others.

CIP4 (www.cip4.org), the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4), offers white papers, case studies, educational slides, tutorials, and more on topics such as JDF, JMF, and more. It produces the monthly JDF Interoperability Matrix, which identifies JDF-enabled integrations co-developed by vendors of graphic-arts systems to support print automation. Its JDF Expert Certificate Training Program is a series of webinars about JDF presented by CIP4 and IPA.

The 2013 Color Management Conference, hosted by the Printing Industries of America (PIA, www.cmc.printing.org), takes place December 7-10, 2013, in Phoenix. Seminars include: “Spot and Brand Color, Technically Speaking,” “How to Build a Profile,” “PDF Export for Brand Consistency,” “Printing by the Numbers: G7 in Action,” “Optimize Your Print and Creative Workflow,” and others. PIA also offers public workshops, seminars, and teacher programs, as well as custom training.

The 2014 DIMA Conference, part of PMA@CES 2014 (www.pmai.org), takes place at Bally's Las Vegas, January 5-6, 2014. An educational event for digital-imaging professionals, the conference will include sessions focusing on photo publishing, imaging technology, marketing, and retail strategy. Registration includes a CES exhibits pass.

Dscoop (www.dscoop.org), the Digital Solutions Cooperative, is a user-driven community of HP Graphic Arts press users. The organization’s yearly conference brings together Indigo and other HP users from around the world. Dscoop9 will be held March 6-8, 2014, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Conference Center in Orlando. In addition, the second annual Dscoop EMEA conference will be held November 6-8, 2013, in Rome; Dscoop Asia 2013 took place May 12-13 in Beijing, in conjunction with China Print 2013. This spring, the group announced Dscoop University, a community-driven training program with its first components put into effect in November. Powered by HP, it will offer courses online as well as via in-person venues; additionally, interactive instructor-led classroom sessions will be held on a range of topic tracks in various locations.

IDEAlliance (www.idealliance.org) offers various webinars and conferences throughout the year. In addition, the group offers its G7 Digital Press Operator training program in conjunction with the Printing Industries of America in October, and at Print13 it’s scheduled to release the Inkjet RoundUp 2013 study of 25 leading wide-format inkjet systems for the sign industry. In late 2013 it will release Digital Press Certification for Wide/Grand Format Inkjet. Its series of “IdeasOnline” webinars include topics such as Color Management, Integrated Production Workflow, Marketing Strategies, and more. IDEAlliance also offers downloads of various best-practices standards and papers on color management and other topics.

The Information Management Institute (imiconf.com) sponsors a number of conferences throughout the year, in the US and Europe. In November, it will host its Thermal Printing and Security Printing conferences in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its IMI Industrial Digital Showcase and Ink Jet Academy will take place in Hong Kong in January 2014. The institute also makes available content from its previous years’ programs.

The 2013 Kodak GUA North American Conference (www.guaconference.com) for Kodak users took place this past April in Atlanta. The conference included educational sessions, user panels, roundtable discussions, and hands-on demonstrations, as well as networking with industry peers. In-depth GUA University classes also were offered.

The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL, www.napl.org) holds it 2013 Owners Conference in Nashville, November 7-10. The event, aimed at owners and general managers of small digital, commercial, and quick-print operations, will feature educational sessions including: “Adding Wide Format to Your Business,” “Is 3D Printing in Your Future?” “How Do You Grow Your Sign Sales,” “Direct Mail to the Max,” and others. Many of its past webinars are available for download.

Premedia Training Solutions by IPA (www.prepresstraining.com) offers course tracks geared toward the graphics industry, including: PDF Workflow, Imaging, Layout, Imposition, Color Management, and others. Courses are available via an annual, monthly, or single-course subscription.

Sign Biz, Inc. (www.signbiz.com) offers personalized sign-technologies training, comprising two weeks of home instructions, 48 hours of formalized training at its Technical Training Center in Dana Point, California, and 32 hours of on-the-job training at Sign Biz store locations. Aspects covered include marketing, design, EDS, sign technologies, products, sign codes, and more. A Certificate of Sign Arts is awarded upon completion of Advanced Sign Studies. Following graduation, additional equipment setup and training takes place on-site at the shop. Webinars, seminars, and video education are delivered weekly under the Sign Biz ELATEd umbrella (e-Learning Alliance for Training and Education). Sign Biz also hosts three-day international conventions each year featuring an array of educational components.

The Signage Foundation’s (www.thesignagefoundation.org) 5th annual National Signage Research & Education Conference (NSREC) took place at the University of Cincinnati, October 9-10, focusing on “Signage as Advertising.” Specific presentations included: “Economic Value of Signs Research 1997-2012: An Overview,” “Visual Blight and Sign Regulations: How Far Can a City Go to Prescribe Aesthetics?,” “Planning and Implementing an Urban Wayfinding Project,” “Illuminated vs. Non-Illuminated Signage: The Economic Impact of Illumination,” “A CEO's Perspective of Signage in Rebranding,” and others.

The Digital Fabrication Conference from the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T, www.imaging.org) “explores the potential of digital printing technologies with sessions on new applications and materials that go well beyond traditional printing.” The 2013 conference, held in Seattle, included sessions on 3D printing, image permanence/print quality, security printing, printed electronics, and more. IS&T also offers conferences on Digital Printing, Archiving, Color and Imaging, Electronic Imaging, and more.
The Xplor Conference from Xplor International (xplor.org), aimed at electronic-document professionals, takes place March 25-27, 2014, in Orlando; it will feature more than 60 educational sessions covering print, Web, mobile, and social media. Xplor also offers an Xplor Canada conference (October 25, 2013, in Vancouver), an array of Webcasts, an EDP certification program, the Xplor Document University Continuing Education Unit program, and more.

The college and university option
Various colleges and universities provide course and degree offerings for print and graphics, and some also offer one-time seminars and online opportunities. What follows is just a sampling of these.
Ferris State University (graphicarts.ferris.edu) in Big Rapids, Michigan, offers an associate’s degree in Graphic Communications as well as a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Media Management. In the latter, students learn the core operation processes of production planning, estimating, cost analysis, process and color management, and workflow automation.

The Graphic Communication Institute at California Polytechnic State University (www.grci.calpoly.edu) offers hands-on training for the printing, packaging, publishing, and imaging industries. So far on its 2014 workshop schedule: HD Flexo Bootcamp and Flexo Plateroom Automation Workshop. In July 2013, it hosted an executive forum – Innovation in Marketing Through Packaging Technology – brought together leading corporations to discuss issues and explore innovations in competitive packaging and was sponsored by Exopack. The Institute will also provide custom training programs and workshops to address a company’s needs.

Pittsburg State University’s (www.pittstate.edu/git) Department of Graphics and Imaging Technologies in Pittsburg, Kansas, offers bachelor’s degrees in Applied Science – Technology (with a digital and print media emphasis) and Science in Technology (Graphic Communications Management and Commercial Graphics); it also offers a Master of Science – Technology degree with an emphasis on Print Management.

The College of Imaging Arts and Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology (www.cias.rit.edu) in Rochester, New York, offers a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Technology as well as a graduate degree in Print Media and a minor in Print Media. Its Printing Industry Center is a research center “dedicated to the study of major business environment influences in the printing industry brought on by new technologies and societal changes.” Areas of research include: New Media Publishing, New Media Advertising, Sustainable Print, Color Workflow, and Industry Studies.

Ryerson University’s (www.ryerson.ca) School of Graphic Communications Management in Toronto offers a bachelor’s degree (technology) in Graphic Communication Management. Also available: a Certificate in Communications (part-time). And the school offers various online courses; in 2013, those courses include: “Estimating in the Graphic Arts,” “Selling in the Graphics Arts,” and “Layout and Typography I.”
The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University (sonocoinstitute.com) in Clemson, South Carolina, offers various seminars and workshops, including: “Digital Proofing and Prototyping,” “Brand Color Management,” “Printed Electronics 101,” “Paperboard Packaging,” “Prepress Workshop for Graphic Designers,” and others. The Institute also offers two online courses, including: “Packaging Fundamentals” and “Packaging Design.”

Waukesha County Technical College (www.wctc.edu), based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, offers degrees and technical diplomas in Commercial Printing, as well as a degree in Printing and Publishing, plus Graphic Design. Also available is a certificate in Digital Production/DTP. It also offers a variety of small-business courses and classes.