Prepress technician

Description

Prepress technicians prepare printing processes by formatting, setting and composing text and graphics into a suitable form. This includes the capture of text and image and processing it electronically. They also prepare, maintain and troubleshoot printing presses.

Prepress technicians typically do the following:

  • Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
  • Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
  • Perform “preflight” check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.
  • Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.
  • Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
  • Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to prepress technician:

prepress technologist
prepress engineer
prepress worker
press preparation technician
graphics technician
prepress specialist
press preparation engineer
press preparation technologist
press preparation specialist
press preparation worker

Minimum qualifications

Prepress technicians typically hold a certificate or diploma in electronic prepress operations or printing prepress technology. An alternative is an associate’s degree in graphic arts and imaging technology or printing and prepress technology.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Prepress technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Prepress technician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to prepress technician.

imagesetter
prepress operator
lithographer
typesetter
reprographics technician

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of prepress technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of prepress technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

print studio supervisor
3D printing technician
aeronautical information specialist
webmaster
optical instrument production supervisor

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of prepress technician.

  • Typography: The procedure of arranging written texts for printing processes.
  • Reprography: The process of reproducing, reprinting, or copying graphic material especially by mechanical or electronic means such as photography or xerography.
  • Adobe Photoshop: The computer program Adobe Photoshop is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
  • Adobe Illustrator: The computer program Adobe Illustrator CC is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
  • Printing on large scale machines: Methods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.
  • GIMP (graphics editor software): The computer program GIMP is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by The GIMP Development Team.
  • Printing plate making: The different techniques used to produce the plates that will be mounted on rolls for the flexographic or offset printing process such as laser engraving or the technique consisting in placing a film negative over a plate exposed to ultra-violet light.
  • Proofing methods: Various proofing methods are needed for certain kinds of products. They range from soft proofing, which presents the result on a monitor, to hard proofing, where an actual printed sample of the product is obtained.
  • Sketchbook Pro: The computer program SketchBook Pro is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Autodesk.
  • Microsoft visio: The computer program Microsoft Visio is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.
  • Prepress processes: The processes that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing, such as copyediting, proofing, proofreading and others.
  • Graphics editor software: The field of graphical ICT tools which enable digital editing and composition of graphics, such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, to develop both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics.
  • Synfig: The computer program Synfig is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by Robert Quattlebaum.
  • Maintenance of printing machines: Upkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of prepress technician.

  • Produce prepress proof: Make single or multi-coloured test prints to ensure that the product meets the arranged standards. Compare the sample with the template or discuss the result with the customer in order to make the last adjustments before mass production.
  • Set colour profiles: Maintain consistent colour output in digital colour and inkjet printers by running calibration routines and making sure that the colour profiles for the printers are still accurate.
  • Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
  • Output electronic files: Load customer supplied electronic files onto the prepress file server, whilst checking them for completeness and potential problems. Communicate eventual problems with customers and production personnel.
  • Align content with form: Align form and content to make sure they fit together.
  • Set scanner controls: Use a mouse, keyboard or other controls to set up the scanner precisely.
  • Follow safety precautions in printing: Apply safety and health principles, policies and institutional regulations of working in printing production. Protect oneself and others against such hazards as chemicals used in printing, invasive allergens, heat, and disease causing agents.
  • Operate printing machinery: Operate machinery for various types of printed documents, adjusting the font, paper size, and weight. This allows ascenders and descenders to be correctly placed.
  • Lay out digital written content: Lay out pages by selecting sizes, styles and entering text and graphics into computer systems.
  • Scale copies: Use proportion wheels to scale the layout and resolution of images up or down.
  • Prepare printing form: Prepare and inspect plates that are used in printing process to transfer ink on the desired surface and place them in the machines, for example fixing them around printing rollers.
  • Operate laser plate maker machine: Maintain and handle laser plate making equipment, which converts electronic data to plates without the use of photographic film. Use erasers and needles to perform minor deletions, additions or corrections to complete these materials.
  • Scan negatives: Scan processed negatives so they can be digitally stored, edited, and printed.
  • Prepare films for printing plates: Place the photographic materials coated with a light-sensitive substance on the printing plate in such a way that will limit waste and facilitate printing processes. Place the plates in the machine for the different exposure and curing processes.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of prepress technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Printing techniques: The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.
  • Printing materials: The materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.
  • Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
  • Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
  • Printing media: Specific techniques related to various printing surfaces such plastics, metal, glass, textiles, wood, and paper.
  • Printed goods processes: The various types and characteristics of producing printed goods such as catalogues, flyers, etc.
  • Offset printing: Technological printing process where the ink is spread onto a plate with etched images, then to a rubber blanket, and finally onto the target medium, usually paper. This method is used for mass printing on large scales.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of prepress technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
  • Handle scanning material safely: Load and handle the material to be scanned safely and make sure that the scanning equipment is clean.
  • Ink printing plates: Cover the plate with a thin coat of water and apply oil-based inks with a rubber roller, repelling and sticking the ink to the image area. This image can then further be transferred to paper in various printing processes.
  • Create digital files: Create digital files in the computer system after quality checking printing or scanned documents for malfunctions.
  • Digitise documents: Load analog documents by converting them into a digital format, using specialised hardware and software.
  • Interpret illustration needs: Communicate with clients, editors and authors in order to interpret and fully understand their professional needs.
  • Manage offset printing process: Select and oversee implementation of relevant printing processes, necessary tools, and colours.
  • Apply opaque: Cover up film negatives by applying opaque to printing plates, blocking out defections such as blemishes and pinholes.
  • Use typesetting software: Use specialised computer programs to arrange the type of texts and images to be printed.
  • Store negatives: Place the cut photographic film (negatives) into protective sleeves and store them properly.
  • Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
  • Process printing input: Accept and pre-process input documents and orders to be used for print production.
  • Prepare offset printing machine: Adjust, set, and prepare machines for offset printing by calibrating each part of the machine.
  • Use colour printing programs: Use colour printing programs, such as the CMYK colour (ink) model for various pressing machines.
  • Prevent paper jams: Overlook the insertion and output of finished products in order to prevent paper jams.
  • Maintain lithographic printing plates: Produce and store plates used in lithographic offset printing by running a previously imposed and ripped file to plate or exposing and developing the plate using hand tools or machines.
  • Edit photographs: Resize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.
  • Scan photos: Scan images into computers for editing, storage, and electronic transmission.

ISCO group and title

7321 – Pre-press technicians


References
  1. Prepress technician – ESCO
  2. Prepress Technician: Job Description & Requirements – BestAccreditedColleges
Last updated on September 10, 2022

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