Prepress Technicians and Workers
Also known as: Ad Compositor, Ad Setter, Advertisement Compositor (+190 more)
Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.
Take our free 15-minute assessment to see how well this career fits YOUR unique profile
What You'll Do
- Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
- Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
- Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.
- Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.
- Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.
- Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.
- Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.
- Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes.
- Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.
- Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color.
Essential Skills
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.
Top passions
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
- Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
- Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
Common styles
Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cooperation, Initiative, Stress Tolerance
Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.
Key Abilities
This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Style
Common Styles for This Career
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.85/5)
- Dependability (High importance: 4.35/5)
- Cooperation (High importance: 4.12/5)
- Initiative (High importance: 4.08/5)
- Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.07/5)
Want to see how YOUR work style matches this career?
Take Free 15-Min Assessment →How to Become One
This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.
Similar Careers to Explore
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
99.5% similar profile
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
98.9% similar profile
Audio and Video Technicians
98.4% similar profile
Motion Picture Projectionists
98.4% similar profile
Printing Press Operators
98.3% similar profile
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
98.2% similar profile
Broadcast Technicians
97.9% similar profile
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
97.6% similar profile
Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
Ready to Discover Your Perfect Career?
Our scientific assessment measures your styles, passions, and drivers to match you with careers where you'll thrive.
Take Free Assessment (15 min) →