Description
Prepare, format, and proof digital files from designers and clients into press-ready pages for offset and digital production. Perform PDF preflight, color management, imposition, and RIP/CTP output. May create printing plates and run contract proofs.
- • Preflight PDFs and native files for fonts, links, bleeds, transparencies, and color spaces.
- • Assemble and adjust layouts, type, and images to produce press-ready pages.
- • Create impositions and step-and-repeat for press sheets and finishing.
- • Set RIP parameters including screening, angles, traps, and overprint handling.
- • Operate CTP systems to output plates; monitor exposure and calibration.
- • Generate and verify digital and hard-copy proofs to match press conditions.
- • Evaluate and correct color using ICC profiles, densitometers, and spectrophotometers.
- • Inspect plates for defects and confirm registration, dot structure, and imposition accuracy.
- • Select plate types and screening based on press, substrate, and run length.
- • Check and adjust images and artwork for resolution, color mode, scaling, crop, trim, and bleed.
- • Trap artwork and resolve overprint, knockout, and transparency issues.
- • Maintain and calibrate RIPs, CTP devices, and proofers; perform minor maintenance.
- • Release jobs to production and monitor RIP queues, correcting errors as needed.
- • Proofread and perform quality control of text and images against client specs.
- • Document job settings, archive files, and communicate with clients and pressroom to resolve issues.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
