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Protiti Sen
Today, computers are changing the way designers all over the world are working. And for textile designers, computer-aided-design or CAD has become more or less indispensable. Where previously designers used to labour over graph paper and stencils, now they simply have to play with the mouse to come out with innovative designs. And the result is not only an increase in speed, but greater accuracy than the manual process.
No wonder then, that even small-scale industries engaged in textile designing and manufacturing are using computers.
With technological development, trained professionals in CAD and computer-aided-management (CAM), are getting tremendous recognition from the textile industry. And this means ample opportunities for textile designers who have computer knowledge.
Realising the potential of CAD in textiles, many educational establishments have started conducting courses in computerised textile designing. An institute of repute, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi,incorporates computer education in its Textile Design and Development (TDD) course. TDD is specialised two-year post-graduate diploma programme with a totally integrated curriculum, blending technology, production, marketing and general management with creative design. Besides covering all the major areas of textile study, the TDD course includes subjects like computer application to fabric design and CAD/CAM for printed textiles.
The PSG college of Technology, Coimbatore, has established a computer aided textile design centre which is equipped with the latest hardware and software facilities. The centre offers a certificate course in computer aided textile designing, sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, under the National Jute Development Programme assisted by UNDP.Some privately run fashion institutes are also offering computerised textile designing courses. One can study CAD in textiles from the Priyadarshini Institute for Fashion Technology, New Delhi. The institute has athree-month course conceptualised for textile designers, fashion designers, graphic designers, or individuals with a flair for creativity.
IEC School of Art and Fashion (IEC SAF) also offers a CAD course of three months duration. According to Deepali Aggarwal, director, IEC SAF, ``the programme is designed keeping in mind the growing need of computers in the field of textiles.'' She adds, ``The course offers equal opportunities to both the beginners and the professionals, to be computer oriented for competence and excellence.''
The Lakhotia Institute of Art and Design (LIAD) offers a one-year diploma in textile design. The CAD course is included in the programme. From the same institute, one can do a six-month certificate course in textile design, which introduces the student to computers. LIAD has many centres spread across the country.
A beginner in any institute is first taught the computer fundamentals (computer hardware, software, types, etc). Then, one is introduced to DOS (Disk Operating Systems)and Windows. Further lessons lay emphasis on multimedia and its uses. For CAD operations, students are introduced to software like Correl Draw, 3-D Studio, Animator Pro, Adobe Photoshop etc. ``Many interesting software packages for textile design are now available. They are developed to meet the special technical and creative demands of designing textiles, besides providing tools for preparing image data for output on film, control proofs, direct engraving and digital printing,'' says Rakhi, who has undertaken a CAD course from IEC SAF.
Using as many individual colours as required, sophisticated and large-format patterns can me manipulated in a short time while realising the highest requirements of image resolution and colour separation quality.
It is very important for students to know digitising and scanning techniques. This helps them in designing processes such as application of block printing, screen printing etc. One also learns to create embroidery patterns and basic weaves. Concepts and theterminology used in image editing are an important part of the course.
Students are taught how to edit hand-made and scanned fabric patterns, motifs etc. Other topics which the institutes cover are styles of over-lapping(mirror effect, layer effect, flipped effect) and colour matching).
The demand for textile designers with computer skills is increasing every day. Textile printing units (print houses), export houses and other textile manufacturing firms require the services of such specialists. They not only develop new designs but also scan edit and combine existing designs on paper and cloth. They use computers to create art work for single, double and multi-layer fabrics.
These days, many fashion designers want to work out their own designs for woven and printed fabrics, to create the desired effect in their garments, rather than depend on what is available in the market. As they work on tight deadlines, the design process has to be time-efficient. CAD in textiles is highly sophisticated and precise,making the process of design rapid and cheap with actual visualisation of the product. Companies like Autodesk Inc. and Tukatech Inc. provide CAD/CAM Multimedia solutions. They need computer professionals who are imparted specialised training on packages which the company provides. They then work as marketing executives or CAD specialists for the company. Their job entails demonstrating to prospective customers. They also train those who buy the company's software packages.
One can choose to work for magazines and other publications dealing with fashion and textiles, too. Teaching is another option. Those with entrepreneurial abilities can start their own consultancy service centres. Such a centre assists the hand-loom and power-loom industries with technology support and design development.
These ventures require a substantial investment as the centres have to be equipped with modern hardware and software facilities. It is advisable to gain work experience before considering opening a business as thishelps in understanding the needs of the industry.
Salaries are very good for computer savvy designers, although one begins as a trainee with a remuneration of around Rs 5,000. But with talent, experience and a knowledge of the latest software, one can easily earn a monthly pay packet of Rs 20,000.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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