PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 343.17
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
11th June, 1971
LEGAL NOTICE 43 of 1971, as amended by Legal Notices 124 of 1976,
61 and 86 of 1977, 51 of 1978 and 80 of 1979.
Citation and 
application.
Cap. 343.
1. The title of this Scheme is the Printing Industry Scheme -
Scheme No. 17 - and shall apply to the callings of ( a ) Letterpress
Printer and ( b ) Offset Printer, which occupations are being
designated as callings within the meaning and for the purposes of
the Employment and Training Services Act.
Interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 124 of 1976;
L.N. 61 of 1977.
Cap. 252.
2. In this Scheme unless the context otherwise requires -
"customary holidays" means the days (other than Sundays)
declared for the time being to be public holidays by or under the
National Day and other Public Holidays Act;
"Director" means the Director of Labour and includes any officer
of the Department of Labour duly authorised by him in writing to
act on his behalf;
"hours of work" means the time in any day during which
apprentices are at the disposal of the employer exclusive of the
intervals allowed for meals and rest but inclusive of any period of
instruction specified by the Director and of absence from the place
of business of the employer with the employer’s consent;
"recognised establishment" means St Patrick’s or St Joseph’s
Institute or any establishment of comparable standard recognised as
such by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Welfare.
Entry 
qualifications.
Substituted by:
L.N. 51 of 1978.
3. No person may be employed as an apprentice under this
scheme unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Director that
such person has either completed the fourth year of a Secondary
School or the full Trade School Course.
Period of 
apprenticeship.
4. (1) The period of apprenticeship in the callings to which
this scheme applies shall be of four years:
Provided that a period or periods in the aggregate of not
more than twelve months may be deducted from the said period of
four years if the apprentice shows to the satisfaction of the Director
that, following an appropriate course at a recognised establishment,
he has a competent knowledge of any process or processes
specified in Phase II of Parts I and II of the Schedule.
(2) The theoretical and practical training to be given to
apprentices shall be in accordance with the provisuons of the
Schedule.
Undertaking by 
employer.
5. An employer engaging apprentices under this scheme shall
undertake to instruct them and to grant them facilities to be
instructed in the relative calling in accordance with the provisions
of this scheme.
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Classes of 
instruction.
6. (1) The Director may specify by notice given in writing to
the employer the classes of instruction which apprentices employed
under this scheme should attend; such classes shall not take up
more than ten hours in any one week.
(2) Any employer so notified shall afford to any apprentice
employed under this scheme facilities for attending such classes
throughout the period of apprenticeship.
(3) Should any apprentice fail to attend any classes of
instruction on any day without just cause, the employer shall be
entitled to make a deduction from the wages of the apprentice
equivalent to one-twelfth of the weekly rate in respect of each half
day or part thereof of default:
Provided that where the apprentice is conditioned to a five
day week the deduction shall be at the rate of one-tenth of the
weekly rate in respect of each half day or part thereof of default.
Hours of work and 
overtime.
7. (1) The hours of work of apprentices employed under this
scheme shall not exceed nine hours in any one day:
Provided that employers may employ apprentices on
overtime work with the approval of the Director, who may impose
such conditions as he may deem fit, at the following rates of
remuneration:
( a ) for all time worked in excess of nine hours daily: time
and a half;
( b ) for all time worked in excess of forty-five hours in any
week, exclusive of any time paid at overtime rates:
time and a half;
( c ) for all time worked on the weekly day of rest: double
time.
(2)  Apprentices under 16 years of age may not be employed
between 11 p.m. of any one day and 6 a.m. of the next following
day.
Wages.
Substituted by:
L.N. 124 of 1976;
L.N. 61 of 1977;
L.N. 80 of 1979.
8. The wages to be paid to apprentices in the callings to
which this scheme applies shall be as follows:
Weekly rest. 9. Apprentices shall be granted one whole day of rest in every
calendar week.
Vacation leave.
Substituted by:
L.N. 86 of 1977.
10. Apprentices shall be entitled, in every calendar year, to -
( a ) all customary holidays with full pay, and
( b ) after three months in employment, vacation leave of
such number of working days with full pay as is
equivalent to the number of working days as that
particular apprentice should normally attend to work
Year Wages per 
week
First .......................................... Lm10.55,0
Second ...................................... Lm13.22,0
Third ......................................... Lm15.90,0
Fourth ....................................... Lm18.57,0.
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 3
during a period of four weeks:
Provided that -
( a ) all apprentices who have been in employment for less
than one year shall be entitled to such part of the said
vacation leave as is in proportion to the number of
months in employment, and
( b ) vacation leave may not normally be availed of on any
day when the apprentice is required to attend school
for theoretical instruction.
Sick leave.
Cap. 318.
11. (1) After completing the first six months of
apprenticeship, apprentices shall be entitled to twenty days sick
leave on full pay in every calendar year less any sickness benefit to
wahich they may be entitled under the Social Security Act:
Provided that a medical certificate certifying incapacity for
work covering the period of absence is produced to the employer,
who may require his medical practitioner to examine the
apprentice.
(2) Apprentices shall not be entitled to the payment of any
wages for the first three days of every period of sick leave:
Provided that the number of unpaid days of sick leave shall
not be deducted from the entitlement of paid sick leave.
Bereavement 
leave.
12. Apprentices shall be allowed two days paid leave on the
occasion of the death of any of the following: the wife, husband,
mother, father (or the person who at the time was in fact acting as
the mother or father as the case may be), son, daughter, brother and
sister of the apprentice.
Injury leave.
Added by:
L.N. 80 of 1979.
Cap. 318.
13. An apprentice shall be entitled to one year injury leave on
full pay less the full amount of any injury benefit to which an
apprentice may be entitled in terms of the Social Security Act, if he
is injured during the actual discharge of his duty and such injury is
not due to coutributory negligence on his part or to contravention
by him of safety rules laid down by the management.
Amended by:
L.N. 51 of 1978.
SCHEDULE
(Article 4)
PART I
CALLING OF LETTERPRESS PRINTER
1. The period of apprenticeship in the calling of Letterpress
Printer shall be of four years divided into two phases as follows: 
PHASE I
2. The first phase shall extend over a period of one year and
shall be divided into two periods of six months each during the
course of which apprentices shall be given the following theoretical
and practical training: 
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
4 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
Method of Approach
Arrangement of cases, galley copy and related work; lay of the
case; the point system; size of spaces; point line; point set; making
up the stick; setting reprint copy; justification of line; general
principles of spacing; lifting types; use of galley; lock-up;
proofing; readers’ marks; correcting; distributing; clearing.
Newspaper Page Make-up
Page make-up from slug matter; the limitations of format; rules
and borders; rules and cut-offs; page folios; date-line variations;
the plan and the page; headings and captions.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Introduction to Printing Machinery
Learning to take care of the machine and instructions on the
functions of the various parts thereof; the point system; the use of
tools and materials; locking-up formes and placing in machine;
practice in hand-feeding on platens; dressing platen; adjusting
impression; positioning and make-ready of simple jobs; safety
guards.
Platen Machines
An understanding of platen machines; vertical job presses and
automatic feeders; choice of dressing according to the nature of
forme; machine adjustments; control of ink and impression.
PHASE II
3. After Phase I, apprentices shall branch into one of six
special fields of training, namely:
( a ) Hand Composition;
( b ) Machine Composition;
( c ) Monotype Keyboard Operating;
( d ) Monotype Caster Operating;
( e ) Letterpress Printing;
( f ) Book-binding and Warehousing; and
( g ) Label and Ribbon Printing.
HAND COMPOSITION
In the case of apprentices following Hand Composition as their
special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall be
divided into six periods of six months each during the course of
which they shall be given theoretical and practical training as
follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Ludlow, Elrod or Nebitype Casting Machine
Display lines; blankslugs; setting of tables; rule formes; repeat
casting; intricate rule work - horizontal and vertical.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Newspaper Page Make-up
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 5
Simple setting and standing headings; programmes; forecasts and
results; sub-headings; the effect of leading; the relation of type-size
and measure; single-column introduction style; double-column
introduction style; small advertisements; display advertisements;
drop (initial) letter setting - good and bad.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Setting from manuscript; use of test methods for copy cast-off;
leads and spacing material; correct placing of initials; indentations;
setting reprint displayed advertisements.
General Principles of type
Interpretation of copy; selection of appropriate type faces in
relation to interpretation of copy; border and spacing arrangements
for balance, contrast and grouping; squaring up; spacing between
letters, words and lines; use of white space; margins; positioning of
type on paper; method of laying and care in distributing of display
founts.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Jobbing and Commercial Work
Business stationery; commercial forms; tickets; cards; labels;
programmes; menus; price lists; table work with and without rules;
balance sheets; account book headings.
Minimum output: 650 ens per hours corrected in straight-forward
composition.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Bookwork
Facing pages, headlines, folios, margins, chapter heads,
preliminary matter and oddments.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Setting various styles to own layouts; handling all description of
copy; office style.
Imposition for bookwork and jobbing work.
Minimum Output: 1,000 ens per hour corrected in setting solid
matter straightforward composition and tabular work.
MACHINE COMPOSITION
In the case of apprentices following Machine Composition as
their special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall
be divided into seven periods, the first two of which shall be of
three months each and the last five of which shall be of six months.
During the course of these three years they shall be given
theoretical and practical training as follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS
General Principles of Type
Interpretation of copy; border and spacing arrangements for
balance; contrast and grouping.
Jobbing and Commercial Work
6 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
Business stationery; commercial forms; tickets; cards; labels;
programmes; menus; price lists; table work with and without rules;
balance sheets; account book headings.
SECOND PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS
Ludlow, Elrod or Nebitype Casting Machine
Display lines; blank slugs; setting of tables; rule formes; repeat
casting; intricate rule work - horizontal and vertical.
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Keyboard Technique
Correct position at keyboard; keyboard fingering system;
methodical approach to work; simple Linotype definitions.
Care of the Machine
Normal cleaning and oiling.
Keyboard Exercises
Keyboard fingering - right hand and left hand; the use of
ligatures and hyphen; alphabetic sentences.
Changes
Moulds, knives, measures, magazines.
Keyboard Exercises
Punctuation marks; capital-letter practice; capitals and lower-
case; figures; double-letter matrix practice; italic or bold-face
practice.
Minimum Output: 2,000 ens per hour corrected in setting
straightforward composition.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Keyboard Exercises
Setting capital and small capitals; figures with fractions; line and
paragraph practice, narrow measure work, aligning columns of
figures; foreign languages using the roman alphabet; trade practice;
office style.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Keyboard Exercises
Centring of line; setting on both matrix alignments; double or
multiple slug-composition; centring poetry or groups of lines;
centred folios; drop initial work.
Recognition of stoppages and their rectifications
Clearing splashes.
Minimum Output: 4,500 ens per hour corrected in setting
manuscript and typescript.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Various Kinds of Setting
Setting a balance sheet; centring words over columns of figures;
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 7
indention and alignment of paragraphs; repeat casting a line on
both alignments.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
More Intensive Work on Dif ferent Kinds of Setting
General knowledge of the various models and attachments which
are used on the machine.
Minimum Output
7,000 ens per hour corrected in setting straightforward matter
and tabular work.
MONOTYPE KEYBOARD OPERATING
In the case of apprentices following Monotype Keyboard
Operating as their special branch of study, Phase II of their
apprenticeship shall be divided into six periods of six months each
during the course of which they shall be given theoretical and
practical training as follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
General Principles of type
Interpretation of copy; selection of appropriate type faces in
relation to interpretation of copy; border and spacing arrangement
for balance, contrast and grouping; squaring up; spacing between
letters, words and lines, use of white space; margins; positioning of
type on paper; method of laying and care in distributing of display
founts.
Jobbing and commercial work
Business stationery, commercial forms; tickets; cards; labels;
programmes; menus; price lists; table work with and without rules;
balance sheets; account book headings.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Basic Principles of the "Monotype" System
Definition and application of "set" and the fundamentals of unit
system.
Operating technique
Seating position, keyboard position; correct fingering.
Measures and Justification
Equivalent measures from the card; making up the keyboard
measure; fitting the gaper ribbon; starting a spool; straight
composition; the line canceller; setting and justifying lines of
straight matter; the "touch" of the space bar; the maximum and
minimum length of lines; unit wheel work; the justifying scale; care
and cleaning of the keyboard; office style.
Relative function of parts of the keyboard mechanism from key
to perforation
Arrangement of punches; identification of perforation; reading
the spool; relation of the keybar lugs to the perforating mechanism;
the paperfeed lock; setting trial lines.
8 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Similar operations as in the Fourth Six Months including
changing the layout; the keybanks; keybars; and stopbars; changing
the justification scale; point rule equivalent table, the "constant".
Keyboard Exercises
Centring words in a line; allowance for initials and blocks;
poetry; setting columns by the unit wheel method; ranging leaders
with fixed or variable spaces; balance sheet; solid-dot leaders.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Matrix-cases and layouts
2, 5, 6 and 7 alphabet arrangements.
"Monotype" spool paper
Recognition of faulty paper, storage of paper - the spool label.
Keyboard Exercises
Rule allowance; diamond leader work; multiple justification;
"turn-up" headings and em rule lines; measures over 65 set ems;
wide measure tablework; time-tables.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Details of caster operation and mechanisms required by keyboard
operators.
The operation of justification mechanism, the positioning of the
die-case; caster difficulties arising from faulty operating; wedges.
Keyboard Exercises
Ditto work; use of the paper-feed lock; programme work;
intricate rule allowance; smaller type column headings; brace
pieces; justified letter-spacing.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Keyboard attachments in commnon use
Unit-adding; letter spacing combined spacing attachment.
Keyboard Exercises
Units added to cast characters to normal width; units added to
characters of running titles and folios; units added to letters in
straight composition; imitation typewriter composition; justified
typewriter composition; typewriter tabular composition; two-line
characters; quadding and centring attachment; the tabular device.
MONOTYPE CASTER OPERATING
In the case of apprentices following Monotype Caster Operating
as their special branch of study Phase II of their apprenticeship
shall be divided into six periods of six months each during the
course of which they shall be given theoretical and practical
training as follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
General Principles of Type
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 9
Interpretation of copy; selection of appropriate type faces in
relation to interpretation of copy; border and spacing arrangement
for balance, contrast and grouping; squaring up; spacing between
letters; words and lines; use of white space; margins; positioning of
type on paper; method of laying and care in distributing of display
founts.
Jobbing and Commercial Work
Business stationery; commercial forms; tickets; cards; labels;
programmes; menus; price lists; table work with and without rules;
balance sheets; account book headings.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Mechanism of the Caster and principal features
Direction of ribbon feed; air tower; paper feed looking lever.
Type Metal
Skimming; re-melting; carbonizing of piston end and pump body
channels; cleaning the pump body and nozzle; temperature of metal
and mould.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Casting speeds
Revolutions per minute; change-speed gear; change speed gear
table.
General instructions for Caster attendants
Cleaning and lubricating; temperature; water regulation;
alterations; taking apart.
Knowledge of equipment attachments
Cleaning air filter; air compressor; adjustment of the safety
valve.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Locating Derangements
Wrong characters being cast; metal squirting between matrix-
case and mould; metal squirting between nozzle and mould; heads
of type breaking off; type being marked or damaged; stop casting -
letter not being cast although pump mechanism working; type
turning in type channel.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Locating Derangements
Type falling down, breaking and choking mouth of type channel;
lines not being drawn to galley; burrs of type; pump not
functioning; pump making knocking noise; faulty alignment; paper
feed defective; imperfect justification; paper not winding up;
bleeding feet; piston seizure.
Changing from one size of composition type to another size
Parts to be removed; replacing mould, matrix-case and normal
wedge; sizing; aligning; use of micrometer; adjusting matrices to
10 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
mould; centring pin; type squeeze; care of matrices; production of
good type.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MO'NTHS
Electric Melting pot attachment
Changing the elements; automatic temperature regulator.
Leads and rules casting
Changing from type casting to lead and rule casting; taking the
mould apart for cleaning; reassemble the mould; adjusting the gib
plate of moulds with new style crossblock; hints for maintaining
the accuracy of composition moulds and quad and space moulds.
LETTERPRESS PRINTING
In the case of apprentices following Letterpress Printing as their
special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall be
divided into six periods of six months each during the course of
which they shall be given theoretical and practical training as
follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Bookbinding and Warehouse Practice
Counting; knocking-up; folding by hand and/or machine;
gathering; insetting and inserting; collating; smashing; packing;
drawing on covers or wrappering; stringing; cording; sewing; wire
stitching; guillotine work.
At the option of the employer the apprentice can also be taught:
tipping-in; rounding and backing; case-making; blocking; casing-
in; examining or checking; dust jacketing; banding; multiple sets;
padding; edge gumming; perforating; punching; round cornering;
eye-lettimg; drilling; index-making.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Platen machines
Printing type; matter; halftones; solids; use of spray gun;
embossing; numbering; die-cutting; pre-registering formes; set-off;
printmg aids; accessories.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Cylinder Machines
Methods of cylinder dressing; feeding and delivery adjustments;
setting rollers; setting the automatic feeders; making ready all
kinds of formes; setting up sprayers; use of lay mark.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Work of the Letterpress Machine Printer
Appropriate sequence of operations; making ready, its purpose,
principles involved; underlaying; overlaying; making of hand-cut
and mechanical overlays; choice of appropriate dressing; causes
and remedies of common difficulties; handling and storage of
formes; use of furniture and other spacing materials; quoins;
various types of mounting bases; plate and block gauges.
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 11
Imposing formes up to eight pages, sheet and half sheet work.
Determining margins for dressing up the forme according to the
methods of binding.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Basic knowledge of ink and its proper use of various stock;
purposes and use of printing aids; driers; reducers; matching and
mixing colours, opaque and transparent tints; mixing of metallic
inks; storage.
Rollers
Varieties of rollers for letterpress and printing; care on and off
the machine; cleaning and the use of suitable solvents; storage.
Paper
British standards sizes for paper and boards; sub-divisions of
paper; sizes of cut cards and their uses; brief description of the
printing and writing papers in ordinary use; right and wrong side;
water-mark; machine direction; sample tests for papers; physical
characteristics; common difficulties relating to printability;
handling and storage.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Further study of letterpress ,machine-room work including
register work from simple two-colour to three-and / or four-colour
process; ruling up a sheet for bookwork; use of lining tables; laying
and lining up plates.
BOOKBINDING AND WAREHOUSING
In the case of apprentices following Bookbinding and
Warehousing as their special branch of study, Phase II of their
apprenticeship shall be divided into six periods of six months each,
during the course of which they shall be given theoretical training
as follows: 
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Basic Operations
Counting; knocking-up; folding by hand and/or machine;
gathering; insetting and inserting; collating; smashing; wire
stitching; guillotine work.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
General knowledge of the traditional tools and bookbinding
equipment. Material
Paper, boards, cloth, leather, sheepskins, miscellaneous
materials, adhesives.
Bookbinding - Binding a single-sectioned book
Preparing the endpapers; marking up for sewing; sewing a
single-sectioned book; marking out for cutting the fore-edge;
cutting the edges with the plough; marking out for cutting head and
tail; preparing the boards; attaching the boards to the book; cutting
patterns for the cloth back and corners; covering the back;
preparing the sides; pasting down the endpapers; alternative
12 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
endpaper for single sectioned books; alternative styles of binding
for a single-sectioned book.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Preparing a Multi-sectioned Book for Rebinding
Pulling; signatures; pulling tight-backed books; knocking out the
groove; pressing the sections; cutting guards; mending torn
sections; guarding single sheets and plates; collating.
Case-bound Books
Cased book; rounded and backed; knocking-up square at the head
and the back; marking-up for sewing on tapes; setting up the
sewing frame; sewing the sections on tapes; making a kettle-stitch;
joining thread; finishing off the sewing; knocking down the
swelling; pasting-up first and last sections; tipping-on the
endpapers; gluing-up the back; cutting the fore-edge; rounding the
back; backing the book; lining up the back with mull; lining up the
back with paper; cutting the boards to size; cutting the head; cutting
the tail; sticking down the tapes and mull; making a case; casing
the book; flat-back book; round-back book.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Styles of Covers
Full or whole bound, half bound, quarter bound, stiff board
cover, limp cover. All operations involved in - Library stye
binding, stationery binding.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Finishing Work
Blind finishing; gold finishing; lettering; use of blocking machine.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Other Equipment and Operations
Spiral binding; punching; round cornering; eyeletting; drilling;
index-making.
LABEL AND RIBBON PRINTING
In the case of apprentices following Label and Ribbon Printing
as their special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship
shall be divided into six periods of six months each during the
course of which they shall be given theoretical and practical
training as follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Foil Printing Machines
Printimg type-matter; line-blocks; solids; printing one-colour to
two-and/or three-colour work; die cutting.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
In addition to the above, apprentices should also be taught:
guillotine work; cutting press; round cornering; stringing, and
screen process printing.
PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17 [ S.L.343.17 13
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Work of the Foil Machine Printer
Approrpiate sequence of operations preparation of printing
material and foil; setting of blocks; make-ready, its purpose,
principles invloved; setting the right temperature, pressure;
adjustment of pull; use of cutters; peeling of waste; care of
machine; normal cleaning and oiling; safety precautions.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Work of the Letterpress Machine Printer
Appropriate sequence of operatians; oparation of ribbon/paper;
inks; blocks; setting of blocks; inking system; setting of ink-duct;
adjustment of pull; make-ready; use of cutters; peeling of waste;
care of machine; normal cleaning and oiling; safety precautions.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Basic knowledge of operations
Register work from simple two-colour to three-colour work;
setting die-cutters; matching and mixing of colours; purposes and
use of printing aids; driers; reducers.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Materials in use
Printing inks - pigments, vehicle, driers; transfer of ink to paper;
proper use of ink and various stock; importance of ink distribution
on press; flat-bed and rotary presses; self-adhesive material; causes
and remedies of common difficulties relating to printability and
cutting.
PART II
CALLING OF OFFSET PRINTER
1. The period of apprenticeship in the calling of Offset Printer
shall be of four years divided into two phases as follows: 
PHASE I
2. The first phase shall extend over a period of one year and
shall be divided into three periods of four months each during the
course of which apprentices shall be given the following theoretical
and practical training:
FIRST PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS
Graphic Art Camera
Design and construction of gallery camera, dark room camera,
enlarger, floor covering, wall covering, lighting, heating,
ventilating, water supply, processing sinks, glass screens, contact
screen, screen ruling, choice of the ruling, screen angles, moire
effect, handling of the screen.
SECOND PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS
Process Engraving
Safety precautions; description of chemicals and the use and care
14 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
of handling other material in use including copper, zinc,
aluminium, magnesium, plastic, positive plates, negative plates.
albumin plates; plates graining; study of grain; light sources used
for printing down frame; difference between offset plates, letter
press plates or blocks; difference between powderless etcher or
scanner engraver.
THIRD PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS
Offset Printing
General principles of the machine and instructions of the
functions of the various parts, the use of tools, mounting; press
plate with the required packing; test printing pressure between the
blanket and the plate; water fountain to proper level with fountain
solution, wet dampness evenly.
PHASE II
3. After Phase I, apprentices shall branch into one of three
special fields of training, namely: 
( a ) Photolithography;
( b ) Process Engraving;
( c ) Offset Printing;
( d ) Screen Process Printing.
PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY
In the case of aonrentices following Photolithography as their
special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall be
divided into six periods of six months each during the course of
which they shall be given theoretical and practical training as
follows: 
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Graphic Art Camera Operation
Basic knowledge of the process; construction of gallery camera;
darkroom camera; camera scales; lenses; focal lengths; diaphragm
control; V/Ratios; lights sources; hand focusing; enlarging and
reduction with camera; image reversal; percentage camera scales;
water supply; darkroom ventilation; processing sinks; copyboard
lighting; scaling copy size; line film; exposure of simple line copy;
development, fixing; washing and drying of line negative.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Processing
Measurement of light intensity; reflection and transmission copy;
film types; film speed; film contrasts; colour sensitivity;
developers and development; temperature control; reduction and
intensification; chemical reversal; solutions making-up;
reproduction of continuous tone original; development, fixing,
washing and drying of negative; contrast and density range.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Halftone Negative Making
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Ruled screens; correct screens; screen ruling; screen distances;
V//Ratios, contrast control; halftone negative with ruled screen,
and with contact screen; percentage dot; halftone and line
combined; exposure for halftone; flash exposure; contrast control;
reduction and intensification; positive from negative and negative
from positive by contact.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Film types; characteristic curves, contrast control by
development; gamma curves; reflection and transmission copy;
density range of negative in relation to copy; density reading with
densitometer; simple retouching.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Colour Separation
Elementary knowledge of colour; additive mixture; substractive
colour photography; the four colour principal; tri-colour filters;
filter factors; narrow band colour filters; films for colour
separation; development of colour separation negatives;
identification of separations, printing colour; matching of
separation negatives in contrast; correction of; importance of
registration.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Colour Correction and Plate Making
Basic principles of colour correction; why correction is needed;
one and two stage masking; silver masks; colour correcting masks;
electronic colour correction; undercolour removal; halftone
positives from separation negatives; percentage dots; soft and hard
dots; contrast control with magenta contact screen; properties of
zinc and aluminium plates; plates graining and study of grain; light
sources used for printing down frame; relative humidity; line
printing; halftone printing; blue key; double printing; plate-making
by albumin; deep etch process; pre-sensitized plate (positive and
negative); step and repeat; coating, developing and processing.
PROCESS ENGRAVING
In the case of apprentices following Process Engraving as their
special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall be
divided into five periods the first two of which shall be of six
months each and last three of which shall be of eight months each.
During the course of these three years they shall be given
theoretical and practical training as follows: 
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Photo-engraving Metals
Basic knowledge of the process; zinc gauge and size; physical
properties of photo-engraving metals; copper and other metals
suitable for process engraving.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Equipment for Printing on Metals
The whirler, hand- and mechanical whirler; coating thickness
16 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
control; pressure frames; vacuum frames; exposure, and exposure
lamps; burning-in stove; etching machines.
FIRST PERIOD OF EIGHT MONTHS
Printing on Metal "Conventional Etching"
Preparation of negatives; retouching of pinholes; the use of
photopaque; light sensitive coatings; good knowledge of basic
formulae; acid resists; plate cleaning and graining plate coating;
exposure control; difference of line and halftone printing blocks;
developing the image; burning-in; "dragon's blood"; etch depth
control; four-way powdering; rolling up method.
SECOND PERIOD OF EIGHT MONTHS
Printing on Metal "Powderless Etching"
Powderless etching machine; advantage of this method;
preparation of negative; acid resists coating; whirling speeds; acid,
water and oil ratio; etching the plate; exposure to line negative;
exposure to halftone negative; double printing method; plate
developing and fixing; control of etch depth; burning-in; plate
cleaning after etching; zinc and copper plates; other metals.
THIRD PERIOD OF EIGHT MONTHS
Finishing, Mounting and Proofing
The finishing department; layout; the routing machine; router
cutters; bevelling machine; engraving tools; mounting; hand
proofing; machine proofing; types of paper; printing inks;
electronic scanner engraving; safety precautions.
OFFSET PRINTING
In the case of apprentices following Offset Printing as their
special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall be
divided into six periods of six months each, during the course of
which they shall be given theoretical and practical training as
follows: 
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Plate Making for Offset
Direct and offset printing; printing surfaces; contact angle; grain
and graining methods; equipment for printing on metal; coating
substances; plate performance; properties of zinc and aluminium
plates; effect of relative humidity; plate coating; exposing and
developing from line negatives; preparing plate for machine.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Ink and Paper
Printing inks - pigment, vehicle, driers; transfer of ink to paper;
paper for printing; elementary knowledge of letter form; ink
receptive and water receptive surfaces; importance of ink
distribution on press.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Machine and Press Work
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Preparation for printing; desensitising; gumming-up; offset
blanket; inking rollers; damping rollers; offset press operation; flat-
bed and rotary presses.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Printing
Good knowledge of present machine in operation; how to ink up
image on plate, and damping of plate; checking form rollers for
uniform contact with plate; pressure of blanket with plate cylinder;
feeding the press; examination of first printed sheets.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Colour Printing
Process colour inks; reflective index of process inks; printing
order of colours; importance of registration; colour mixing; basic
drying systems; packing of plate cylinder in relation to length of
print; packing material; produce a good colour print in full colour.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Care o f Printing Press
Cleaning rubber ink plate rolaers; cleaning fabric covered
dampening rollers; changing offset blanket; preparing plate for
storage; press lubricating; makmg press ready for next job.
SCREEN PROCESS PRINTING
In the case of apprentices following Screen Process Printing as
their special branch of study, Phase II of their apprenticeship shall
be divided into six periods of six months each during the course of
which they shall be given theoretical auvd practical training as
follows:
FIRST PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Screen Process Frames
Differernt types of frames; attaching stencil fabric to the frame;
various types of fabrics; classification of meshes; gauze, lemo,
plain or taffeta weave; nylon screen fabric; stretching nylon; metal
screen fabrics; plain, and twill weave; treatment of screen in
preparation for printing; cleaning nylon, reclaiming metal fabric
screens; solvents; removers; reconditioning of screens.
SECOND PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Screen Process Inks
Classificatian of process inks; natural or synthetics; opaque,
transparent, semi-transparent (translucent); flat, semi-gloss, gloss,
luminescent; basic knowledge of ink and its proper use on various
surfaces; use of vinylite inks, glass inks, glass etching inks; textile
inks, porcelain inks; enamels; fluorescent, daylight fluorescent
phosphorescent; retarder; extender; transparemt base; care and use
of solvents; reducer; driers; matching and mixing of colours.
THIRD PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
The Squeegee
18 [ S.L.343.17 PRINTING INDUSTRY SCHEME - SCHEME NO. 17
Different types of squeegees; material used for the blade;
thickness, height, and length of the blade; sharpening squeegees
blades; care and cleaning of squeegees.
FOURTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Stencil preparations
Different types of printing plates; hand-made knife-cut, block-
out, wash-out or resist; photagraphic plates; direct photo, transfer
photo; preparation of film plates; attaching film to screen;
removing film from screen; blocking-out screen with paper and
tape.
FIFTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Register in Screen Process Printing
Appropriate sequence of operations; correct registration;
different techniques and devices; guides; make-ready sheet;
masking tape, methods of registering thick stock, large objects;
adjusting cleats.
SIXTH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS
Printing Machines
General knowledge of the various models and attachments;
advantages and disadvantages of screen process machines; printing
on flat surfaces, cylndrical and spherical objects, textile printing
machines and jigs, coating machines.
