Description
Prepare, format, and proof text and images from designers and clients into print-ready pages. Perform digital typesetting and imposition, manage color and preflight files, and output proofs and plates as needed.
- • Enter, store, and retrieve job files on prepress systems.
- • Compose and arrange pages, adjusting text and images for print production.
- • Maintain, calibrate, and clean prepress equipment; perform minor repairs.
- • Operate and maintain CTP plate-making equipment.
- • Create imposition layouts to match press and finishing requirements.
- • Preflight PDFs and native files for fonts, links, bleed, color spaces, and resolution before release to press.
- • Output and evaluate digital or press proofs to verify quality.
- • Evaluate and correct color using densitometers, spectrophotometers, and ICC profiles.
- • Set RIP, screening, trapping, and exposure parameters for accurate output.
- • Scale, crop, and position artwork to required dimensions.
- • Inspect digital images and pages for defects before output.
- • Inspect plates before and after imaging for defects and accuracy using light tables and magnification.
- • Select plate materials and screening based on press type and run length.
- • Monitor jobs through the RIP/CTP workflow and troubleshoot file or output issues.
- • Document, archive, and retrieve final files and plates per job specifications.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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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
