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pre-press operator
Pre-press operators cover a range of tasks in the printing process from the design and approval of artwork, images and text to the actual printing itself. Their main duties include:
- scanning digital images for insertion into documents
- retouching images and creating example proofs
- laying out artwork to plan how a finished page will appear (known as imposition)
- using desktop publishing (DTP) software packages to set out the artwork, images and text in line with design requirements
- proofreading and checking the whole document for accuracy and visual impact
- preparing the item for reproduction in a format specified by the printer (known as reprographics)
- preparing and checking the quality of any film or digital outputs
- transferring the final image from film onto printing plates using an imagesetter (known as platemaking).
The type and size of the employer will determine how many of these different tasks any one pre-press operator performs. Many companies specialise in pre-press production for design houses or printing firms. Familiarity with computerised technology is increasingly important as digital printing processes become more widespread.
Pre-press operators work on the production of a wide variety of products including newspapers, magazines, books, stationery and packaging.
Hours and Environment
As a pre-press operator, you work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but you often need to be flexible to meet urgent deadlines. You may have opportunities for overtime and shiftwork.
You will do most of your work in an office or studio. If you are involved in the preparation of material for scanning or film checking, you will work in a clean and dust-free environment. If you are responsible for removing films from presses, you may have to wear protective clothing to handle inks and for cleaning and maintaining the machinery.
You may have to travel occasionally to discuss contracts or products with customers.
Skills and Interests
To be a pre-press operator you need:
- an appreciation for detail
- excellent creative skills
- the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure
- good colour vision
- the ability to concentrate for long periods
- an aptitude for working with new technology
- some knowledge of common desk-top publishing (DTP) software
- strong communication skills
- the ability to work as part of a team.
Entry
You do not need any formal qualifications to work as a pre-press operator but GCSE/S grades in maths, English, art and IT may give you an advantage.
You may be able to get into this job through a printing apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
You can also take print-related qualifications at college, which are open to all age groups. These include:
- City & Guilds Certificate in Printing and Graphic Communications (5261) levels 2 and 3, and Diploma in Media Techniques at Level 3
- EDEXCEL Certificate in Graphics; and National Certificate and Diploma in Art & Design (Graphic Design)
- ABC Diploma in Digital Origination and Digital Pre-press at Level 3.
Employers may accept general art and design, and desktop publishing courses for entry into pre-press work.
You can take foundation degrees, BTEC HNC/HNDs or degrees in print media, digital media, graphics and graphic design, which can help you to get into a printing career. Check with the colleges and universities for exact entry requirements.
The British Printing Industry Federation, Get Into Print and Proskills UK websites have details about careers in printing together with contacts for training providers. See Further Information.
Training
You start work as a pre-press operator with on-the-job training, rotating through the print department, learning several key tasks before specialising in one area.
The British Printing Industry Federation (BPIF), the Scottish Print Employers Federation and Proskills UK have details about work-based training schemes. These can lead to:
- NVQ/SVQ Digital Print Production (Pre-press) Level 2
- NVQ/SVQ Printing (5158) levels 2 and 3 (contains an option for digital artwork, pre-press and digital printing).
The BPIF also offers short training courses in specific technical areas, management and business skills.
The Institute of Paper, Printing and Publishing (IP3) offers the IP3 Certificate, which gives a broad overview of these three sectors and may be useful for both existing staff and those looking to enter this field. Contact IP3 in Further Information for details.
Opportunities
The printing, packaging and graphics industry is the UK’s fourth largest manufacturing industry, and employs around 167,000 people in over 12,000 companies. You will find the largest concentrations of jobs in London and the south-east, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow.
Your main opportunities for pre-press work are likley to be with specialist pre-press production companies, design houses, reprographics and printing firms. Most companies are small to medium-sized enterprises, so your duties may cover several aspects of the print process.
With experience, you can become a pre-press manager or move into print administration jobs, such as estimator or production controller. You can also find work in related areas including client account management and general management.
Increasingly, traditional reprographics houses are diversifying into design, artwork, new media, website design and management. You may be able to move into any one of these areas with the right skills and knowledge gained from your work as a print pre-press operator.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Pre-press operators' salaries start from £11,000 to £14,000 a year.
Experienced operators can expect to earn up to £25,000 a year.
There are additional payments for overtime and shiftwork.
Further information
29/35 Farringdon Road
London
EC1M 3JF
Tel: 0870 240 4085
Edinburgh
EH12 5DE
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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
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