The digital printing skills gap has been bridged thanks to a new training package announced last week.

The Digital Print Resources Project offers two qualifications: Certificate 2 and Certificate 3 in Printing & Graphic Arts (Digital Printing).

The curriculum comprises 18 units of competency, from 'Set up and produce basic digital print' to 'Finish a digital product', as well as modules focused on topics such producing PDF files and using digital workflows.

The package was launched at a function at the Sydney headquarters of large-format digital business Look Print on Thursday 20 September.

Bob Snedden, who spearheaded the project, told guests: "The major gap in the whole training agenda was meeting the needs of digital print."

Kathy Wilson, general manager of business solutions and production at Ricoh Australia, said: "The industry is in a time of massive change... we need to teach people the technology around QR codes, variable-data and personalised URLs."

The project was led by state training advisory body Arts, Communication, Finance Industries and Property Services (ACFIPS) and funded by the NSW Department of Education & Training.