Graphic Arts

The requirements for this badge were revised with publication of a new Graphic Arts merit badge pamphlet (33374B) during 2006. However, these revised requirements were omitted from Boy Scout Requirements 2007 and 2008 (33215), which still shows the old requirements. Scouts may use either set of requirements until BSA corrects the error in the next edition. We have confirmed this with the staff of the BSA National Director of Boy Scout Advancement.

1. Review with your counselor the processes for producing printed communications: offset lithography, screen process printing, electronic/digital, relief, and gravure. You may show Collect samples of three products, each one produced using a different printing process, or draw diagrams to help with your description.
2. Explain the difference s between continuous -tone, line, and halftone artwork. Describe how it can be created and/or stored in a computer.
3. Design a printed piece (flier, T-shirt, program, form, etc.) and produce it. Explain your decisions for the typeface or typefaces you use and the way you arrange the elements in your design. Explain which printing process is best suited for printing your design. If desktop publishing is hardware and software are available, identify what hardware and software would be appropriate for outputting your design.
4. Produce the design you created for requirement 3 using one of the following printing processes:
   1. Offset lithography
      Make a layout and then produce a plate using a process approved by your counselor. Run the plate and print at least 50 copies.
   2. Screen process printing
      Make a hand-cut or photographic stencil and attach it to a screen that you have prepared. Mask the screen and print at least 20 copies.
   3. Electronic/digital printing
      Using both text and graphics, create Make a layout in electronic form, download it to the press or printer, and run 50 copies. If no electronic interface to the press or printer is available, you may print and scan a paper copy of the layout.
   4. Relief printing
      Prepare a layout or set the necessary type. Make a plate or lock up the form. Use this to print 50 copies.
5. Review the following postpress operations with your counselor:
   1. Discuss the finishing operations of padding, drilling, cutting, and trimming.
   2. Collect, describe, or identify examples of the following types of binding: perfect, spiral, plastic comb, saddle stitched, and case.
6. Identify three career opportunities in graphic arts and tell how you can prepare for them.
   7. Do ONE of the following, and then describe the highlights of your visit:
   1. Visit a newspaper printing plant: Follow a story from the editor to the press.
   2. Visit a retail, commercial, or in-plant printing facility: Follow a project job from beginning to end.
   3. Visit a school's graphic arts program: Find out what courses are available and what the prerequisites are.
   4. Visit three Web sites (with your parent's permission) on the Internet that belong to graphic arts professional organizations and/or printing-related companies (suppliers, manufacturers, printers): With permission from your parent or counselor, print out or download Download product or service information from two of the sites.
7. Find out about three career opportunities in graphic arts. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

BSA Advancement ID#: 122
Requirements last updated in: 2007
Pamphlet Publication Number: 33374B or 35906
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 35906
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2006

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.