COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH LONE STAR COLLEGE, KINGWOOD

The University of Houston’s College of Technology’s Graphic Production Control ll students and the Digital Publishing III students at Lonestar College Kingwood have been cooperating in an annual collaborative project since Spring 2008.

Kingwood students, and their instructor Ms.Pam Clarke, visit the Graphic Communications lab facilities shortly after each spring semester begins. During their visit, students receive advice on common errors to avoid before submitting their work for reproduction. Dr. Jerry Waite and Ms.Carmen Carter also give them information on course requirements and UH transfer opportunities.

The Kingwood portion of the project requires students to use Adobe InDesign software to create a full color postcard suitable for reproduction utilizing the four color printing process (CMYK) and conventional offset lithographic printing technology. Students then upload their projects to UH Digital Media Lab Manager, Mr. Can Le, who checks the files for flaws using a process called preflighting. If changes are necessary, Mr. Le informs the students. Otherwise, the projects continue on to the UH Image Transfer Lab where UH students, under the direction of Mr. Harold Halliday, oversee production of the postcards.

The College of Technology’s Image Transfer Lab portion of the project is twofold. First, UH staff divide the Kingwood students into five small lab groups. The day, time, and students in each Kingwood group are entered into a data base. UH students, using Variable Data Printing Technology, use that database to prepare a personalized invitation for each Kingwood student. The personalized piece invites each Kingwood student to participate in the reproduction of his or her individual project at a specific date and time. The most creative variable data project in Spring 2009 was prepared by Ms. Kimberly Chee. It was printed on a HP5500dtn color laser jet printer, finished, and sent to Kingwood students in a specific group.

When the Kingwood students arrive at the appointed time, UH students, utilizing appropriate production process methods and controls, print 500 postcards for each of the Kingwood students using the Image Transfer Lab’s Ryobi 3302HA two color offset printing press. Printed sheets are then cut to size and given to the Kingwood students.

Pictured below are several Lonestar Kingwood students observing UH student Ms. Ruba Shaikh (right) print the project of two of their classmates.