Description
Set up and operate manual or automatic platen presses for letterpress printing, die-cutting, creasing, embossing, and foil stamping. Perform makeready, registration, feeding, quality control, and routine maintenance to meet job specifications and safety standards.
- • Set ink duct and roller settings to control ink feed.
- • Review job tickets for quantities, stock, colors, and special finishing instructions.
- • Monitor press operation and respond to misfeeds, jams, or safety stops.
- • Retrieve and verify job files for plate or die production.
- • Adjust digital layouts or die lines before making plates or dies.
- • Change plates, lockups, chases, or dies as required.
- • Clean rollers, ink disk or fountain, plates, and platen surfaces after runs.
- • Clean, lubricate, and make minor mechanical repairs using hand tools.
- • Pull and inspect sheets during runs; make register, impression, or ink adjustments.
- • Feed sheets and adjust feeder, guides, lays, and grippers for proper registration.
- • Enter job settings, counts, and status into shop terminals or press counters.
- • Load stock and set feeder suckers, pile height, and delivery settings by sheet size.
- • Mix or match inks and charge the ink disk or fountain.
- • Lock up plates or dies and set packing and impression.
- • Start press and pull proofs to check ink density, impression, alignment, and registration.
- • Verify that stock, ink, foils, and dies meet job specifications.
- • Schedule and track jobs using workflow or database software.
- • Direct or coordinate work of helpers or finishing staff.
- • Archive job settings, makeready notes, and files for repeat runs.
- • Maintain time, spoilage, and production records.
- • Monitor temperature and humidity and condition stock as needed.
- • Monitor inventory of plates, dies, foils, inks, rollers, and stock; request resupply.
- • Set up or operate auxiliary equipment such as plate exposure units, numbering, foil unwind or rewind, scoring or perforating attachments, and cutting or folding machines.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
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
