Occupation Profile for Prepress Technicians and Workers

Set up and prepare material for printing presses.

Most prepress technician jobs now require formal postsecondary graphic communications training in the various types of computer software used in digital imaging.
Employment is projected to decline rapidly as the increased use of computers in typesetting and page layout requires fewer prepress technicians.

Core — Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
Core — Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
Supplemental — Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.
Core — Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.
Supplemental — Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.