The Print University

New training focused on the fundamentals of print and graphic communications is now available as a no-cost benefit to all PIAG members. PIAG has licensed more than 70 on-demand courses and educational tracks developed by print industry veterans and business consultants at The Print University. 

Whether a new employee is hired from outside the industry or a current employee needs to learn about a new segment, these short, digestible videos provide an introduction to a wide variety of subjects within the industry. 

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Content Areas

Click on a content area below to view all videos within that respective learning module (member log in required). If you need assistance with your member log in, please contact us at info@piag.org or 770-433-3050.

Intro to Production Printing Print Workflow and Processes 

Inside the Print Shop
Operations of a PSP

Selling Strategies

Vertical Markets for Print
Introduction to Finishing Market Update Business Skills

Itemized List of Videos by Content Area

Below is a list of videos that fall within each content area. Click on the header of a content area (in blue) to view all videos for that respective area. Member log in will be required. If you need assistance with your member log in, please contact us at info@piag.org or 770-433-3050.

Intro to Production Printing
  • Brief History of Printing
  • What is Production Printing?
  • Analog vs. Digital Printing
  • Print 101: Electrophotography
  • Print 101: Offset Lithography
  • Print 101: Inkjet
  • Print 101: Gravure
  • Print 101: Flexography
  • Print 101: Screen Printing
  • Industry Speak: Acronyms & Jargon
  • Paper 101
  • Wide Format 101
  • The World of Ink and Their Uses
  • Importance of Print in Today's World
  • Careers in Print: Pre-production
  • Careers in Print: Production
  • What is a Trade Printer?
  • What a Print Buyer Should Know
  • Careers in Print: Outside the Print Shop
Print Workflow and Processes
  • Preflighting 101
  • Imposition 101
  • Primer: Software & Functions
  • Primer: Key Workflow Processes
  • Primer: Design Considerations
  • Job Onboarding
  • Estimating, Quoting, & Ticketing
  • Preparing Data Part 1
  • File Preparation (Prepress)
  • Proofing and Approval
  • Digital Front Ends
  • Designing for Mailings
  • Preparing Data Part 2
  • Datastreams
  • Tips for Walking Your Workflow
  • Tips for Automating Proofing and Approvals
  • The Ins and Outs of IPDS vs. AFP vs. PDF
  • Ways to Automate Customer Experience and Proofing Approvals
Inside the Print Shop
  • Commercial Printers
  • In-plant Printers
  • Direct Mail Printers
  • Transactional Printers
  • Publication Printers
  • Packaging Converters
  • Sign Printer
Operations of a PSP
  • Commercial Printers
  • Sign Shops
  • In-plant Printers
  • Direct Mail Printers
  • Transactional Printers
  • Publication Printers
  • Packaging Converters
  • Control the Chaos of Costs
Selling Strategies
  • Commercial Printers
  • In-plant Printers
  • Direct Mail Printers
  • Transactional Printers
  • Sign Shops
  • Franchise Printers
  • Selling Print Online
Vertical Markets for Print
  • Education
  • Financial and Insurance
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceutical
  • Manufacturing
  • Non-profit
  • Government
Introduction to Finishing
  • Folding
  • The World of Finishing
  • Embellishments
  • Trimming and Cutting
  • Mailing
  • Binding Methods
  • Converting
  • Finishing for Wide Format
Market Update
  • 2023 Q1 Market Update
  • 2023 Q2 Market Update
  • 2023 Q3 Market Update
  • 2023 Year End Review and Predictions for 2024
  • 2024 Q1 Market Update
  • 2024 Q2 Market Update
  • 2024 Q3 Market Update
Business Skills
  • How to Write a Winning Job Description

Suggested Learning Tracks

Below are suggested learning tracks based on type of printer and common roles within a print service provider.

To view the videos, please click on the respective content area (in blue) and you will be taken to that content area web page. Member log in will be required. If you need assistance with your member log in, please contact us at info@piag.org or 770-433-3050.

This course track gives a broad exposure to new employees.

Choose the most appropriate printing technologies based on your operations

Choose the most appropriate type of printer based on your operations
This course track provides an overview for sales representatives on the technologies, processes, and key market opportunities for printing.

Choose the most appropriate printing technologies based on your operations

Choose the most appropriate type of printer based on your operations

Choose the most appropriate type of printer based on your operations
This course track gives a broad exposure for customer service representatives (CSRs).

Choose the most appropriate printing technologies based on your operations

Choose the most appropriate type of printer based on your operations
This course track provides the framework, toolset, and processes used in prepress to support various outputs.

Choose the most appropriate printing technologies based on your operations
This course track provides an overview of printing processes and primary way of finishing or converting the print into its final product for delivery.

Add for Wide Format finishing

Add for Packaging converting
These learning modules are most relevant to commercial printers.
Total length is approximately 9.6 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to in-plant printers.
Total length is approximately 8.8 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to direct mail printers.
Total length is approximately 9.3 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to transaction printers.
Total length is approximately 8.75 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to publication printers.
Total length is approximately 7.1 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to wide format printers.
Total length is approximately 7.5 hours.
These learning modules are most relevant to packaging converters.
Total length is approximately 7.9 hours.

Meet the Moderators
Ryan McAbee
Principal at Pixel Dot Consulting

Part of The Print University and the principal at Pixel Dot Consulting, bringing a technology focus and 20+ years of experience in the production printing industry.

 

Pat McGrew
Principal at McGrew Group

Part of The Print University and the Managing Director at McGrewGroup, uses her decades technical and marketing experience to lead the industry toward optimized business processes and production workflows.

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