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Lesson 5 of 7
  • Year 11

Digital printing: integrating technology in printmaking

I can prepare and create a digital design ready for high quality printing onto a chosen material.

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View unit
Lesson 5 of 7
New
New
  • Year 11

Digital printing: integrating technology in printmaking

I can prepare and create a digital design ready for high quality printing onto a chosen material.

Download all

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Digital technology can expand traditional printmaking methods.
  2. Image file types (vector vs raster) affect print quality.
  3. Preparing digital files correctly ensures successful transfer to substrates.
  4. Print resolution and scale impact clarity of final outcomes.

Keywords

  • Digital printing - a method of printing directly from a digital file to paper or fabric using inkjet or laser technology

  • Vector - graphics made up of paths defined by mathematical equations, scalable without losing quality

  • Raster - graphics composed of pixels, where quality decreases when enlarged

  • Resolution - measured in dots per inch (DPI); the print clarity and detail

Common misconception

Any image from the internet will print clearly at large scale.

Resolution and image type matter - a raster image may pixelate when enlarged, while vector graphics remain sharp.


To help you plan your year 11 art and design lesson on: Digital printing: integrating technology in printmaking, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Model the difference between raster and vector images live on screen - zooming in helps pupils see why resolution matters. Provide physical print examples so students can compare digital prep with real outcomes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Computers/laptops/tablets with design software. Printer (inkjet/laser or sublimation). Materials to print onto (e.g. card, fabric, paper).

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes digital printing?

printing carved images from a lino block
Correct answer: printing directly from a computer file onto a surface
printing only photographs onto paper
printing by hand using stencils

Q2.
Vector images can be resized without losing quality, unlike raster images.

Correct Answer: True, Correct

Q3.
Match the digital term to its definition:.

Correct Answer:raster graphics,graphics made up of pixels that can blur when enlarged

graphics made up of pixels that can blur when enlarged

Correct Answer:vector graphics,graphics made up of mathematical paths, scalable without quality loss

graphics made up of mathematical paths, scalable without quality loss

Correct Answer:resolution,measured in dots per inch (DPI), affects sharpness of prints

measured in dots per inch (DPI), affects sharpness of prints

Q4.
What happens when you enlarge a raster image?

It gets sharper and brighter.
It stays the same quality.
Correct answer: It becomes pixelated and blurry.
It automatically converts to a vector.

Q5.
Which of the following are important steps when preparing a digital file for printing?

Correct answer: Set resolution (e.g. 300 DPI for clarity).
Correct answer: Choose the right file type (e.g. vector for scalable graphics).
Correct answer: Use CMYK colour mode for print.
Always save images as low-resolution JPEGs.
Avoid exporting as PDFs.

Q6.
Why is it important to choose the right file type before printing?

It makes the image brighter on screen.
It saves computer memory.
It prevents colour mixing in paint.
Correct answer: It ensures the design prints clearly and at the correct scale.

Additional material

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