FIRST Live
NEW in-person, hands-on training
Designed to provide foundational knowledge in flexographic printing, FIRST Live is now available as an in-person, on-site training experience—delivered at the customer’s facility by an FTA-certified instructor. This offering can be delivered as Level 1 only for any FIRST certification track or as a complete Level 1–3 training series for Press Operator FIRST certification track. Available to any company in the industry, it’s ideal for groups as small as five employees.
The program covers key concepts such as flexo terminology, printing press components, and ink & substrate basics, with content that scales by level to match your team’s goals. Companies can use this on-site training to onboard new hires, reinforce internal standards, or build a shared understanding of FIRST best practices across teams—whether they’re starting with Level 1 or progressing through all three levels.
In-Person
Hands On
Perfect for Small and Large Groups
All About the FIRST Methodology
Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications-and Tolerances (FIRST) supports the methodical approach to process control, optimization, fingerprinting, characterization and process improvement as outlined in CGATS TR 012-2003 (Graphic Technology – Color Reproduction and Process Control for Packaging Printing). While each organization may use its own workflow based upon its specific needs, there are certain fundamentals universal to the flexographic printing process.
With a firm understanding and application of the FIRST methodology, flexographers can: identify potentially troublesome issues, benchmark press performance, utilize statistical analysis to maintain optimal conditions, perform accurate device calibrations, identify improvement opportunities and preserve stable conditions for repeatable results—all with the end result of satisfactorily reproducing the graphic design.
Earning Certification: A Three-Step Process
Level One
Whether you’ve been on the job for two days or 27 years, Level I teaches the foundational building blocks crucial for every flexographer.
Level Two
Every job has its own function. Level II becomes more specific to the user’s specific roles, applications and equipment.
Level Three
Level III demonstrates how to apply the science of FIRST methodology by running to the numbers to control the process.
Attending the FTA training at Clemson University’s Sonoco Institute was a transformational experience. As a VP of Operations in flexible packaging, this was my first time fully immersing myself in the complete press process— and it opened my eyes to how much precision, science, and discipline truly drive print excellence. The hands-on FIRST methodology training, led by the outstanding instructor Kenny Tucker, brought clarity to critical concepts such as characterization, fingerprinting, plate-making fundamentals, and process control.This experience strengthened my understanding of the challenges press teams face and reframed the way I view our daily operations. I now see how leveraging accurate data, enforcing process capability, and maximizing our color management system can systematically remove variation and elevate print quality. We are not just running presses—we are engineering predictable outcomes, and we do it because we lead an exceptional team whose talent, discipline, and commitment make that predictability possible.I left this program inspired, equipped, and committed to using this deeper process knowledge to drive continuous improvement across our operations. By embracing the full power of the FIRST methodology, we can deliver a higher level of precision, reliability, and visual impact—raising the bar for our customers, our industry, and ultimately the consumer experience
Cancellation Policy: All cancellation requests must be submitted to FTA in writing no later than 30 days prior to the event and are subject to a 30% fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received within two weeks of the event. Substitutions are permitted and must also be submitted in writing. No-shows will not be eligible for refunds
