What You'll Do

  • Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.
  • Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
  • Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.
  • Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.
  • Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools.
  • Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
  • Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
  • Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
  • Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
  • Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.

Essential Skills

Quality Control Analysis 3.88/5
Operations Monitoring 3.62/5
Monitoring 3.25/5
Operation and Control 3.25/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.12/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.12/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.12/5
Troubleshooting 3.12/5
Repairing 3.12/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.12/5

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.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Independence, Integrity, Stress Tolerance

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 4.0/5
Control Precision 3.5/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.38/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.25/5
Manual Dexterity 3.25/5
Oral Comprehension 3.12/5
Written Comprehension 3.12/5
Oral Expression 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

AABACH Graphic Systems DIGRA Adobe Acrobat Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe LifeCycle Production Print ES3 Adobe PageMaker Adobe Photoshop Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite Electronics for Imaging EFI Monarch Electronics for Imaging EFI Pace Email software Enfocus PitStop Pro Graphics software Image editing software Inventory tracking software Job scheduling software Job tracking software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.52/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.25/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 3.8/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.78/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.71/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aniline Press Worker Back Up Machine Operator Backer Bag Press Operator Bag Printer Balloon Design Printer Bander and Liner Operator Ben-Day Artist Binding Printer Block Printer Box Press Operator Box Printer Calico Printer Carton Stamper Cellophane Press Operator Cloth Printer Cloth Printing Back Tender Collating Machine Operator Collator Collator Operator Copper Plate Printer Coverer Cut and Print Machine Operator Cut Pressman Cut-Press Operator Cutting and Printing Machine Operator Cylinder Press Operator Design Printing Machine Set-Up Operator Design Printing Machine Setter Die Mounter Die Stamping Press Operator Digital Color Press Operator Digital Press Operator Digital Print Operator Digital Printer Operator Digital Production Operator Duplex Trimmer Electrotype Caster Electrotype Finisher Electrotype Molder Electrotyper Embosser Embossing Machine Operator Embossing Press Operator Embossograph Operator Engraver Set-Up Operator Engraving Press Operator Engrosser Flexo Operator Flexo Press Operator Flexographic Press Operator Flexographic Press Set-Up Operator Flexographic Printing Press Operator Floor Covering Printer Folding Rules Printing Machine Operator Galley Worker Gilder Glove Printer Gold Leaf Printer Gravure Press Operator Gravure Press Set-Up Operator Identification Printing Machine Setter Ink Printer Instant Print Operator Job Press Operator Job Printer Kelly Machine Operator Label Printer Large Sheetfed Press Operator Laser Printing Operator Letterer Letterpress Setter Letterset Press Set-Up Operator Line-Up Examiner Lithoduplicator Operator Lithograph Press Feeder Lithograph Press Operator Lithograph Printer Lithographic Press Operator Lithographing Machine Operator Lithoplate Maker Machine Carton Marker Machine Engraver Machine Printer Machine Sign Writer Machine Silk Screen Printer Marker Marking Machine Operator Microfiche Duplicator Mounter Music Copyist Music Grapher Name Plate Stamper Nipping Machine Operator Offset Duplicating Machine Operator Offset Duplicating Machine Set Up Operator Offset Lithographic Press Operator Offset Lithographic Press Setter Offset Lithographic Press Setup Operator Offset Lithographic Set-Up Operator Offset Machine Operator Offset Press Operator Offset Pressman Offset Printer Offset Printing Operator Offset-Press Operator Pantograph Setter Paper Products Printer Photo Offset Printer Photoengraving Sketch Maker Photographic Process Screen Maker Pin Ticket Machine Operator Plastic Printer Plastics Printer Plate Printer Plate Sensitizer Plate Setter Platen Press Feeder Platen Press Operator Precision Printing Worker Prepress Proofer Press Feeder Press Operator Press Technician Pressfitter Pressman Print Line Operator Print Operator Print Press Operator Print Shop Operator Printer Printer Operator Printer Slotter Operator Printing and Publishing Sketch Maker Printing Machine Operator Printing Offset Duplicating Machine Operator Printing Operator Printing Plate Setter Printing Press Machine Operator Printing Press Operator Printing Pressman Proof Press Operator Proofer Ratoprinter Roller Operator Roller Print Tender Rolling Machine Operator Rotary Lithographic Press Operator Rotary Screen Printing Machine Operator Rotogravure Press Operator Rotoprinter Rounder Rounding Machine Operator Rubber Printing Machine Operator Screen Making Technician Screen Print Operator Screen Printer Screen Printing Equipment Setter Screen Printing Machine Operator Screen Printing Press Operator Semiconductor Package Symbol Stamper Sheetfed Press Operator Shift Operator Silk Printer Silk Screen Operator Silk Screen Printer Silk Screen Processor Silk Screener Sketch Maker Specialty Materials Printing Machine Set-Up Operator Specialty Materials Printing Machine Setter Stamper Stamping Press Operator Steam Table Worker Steel Die Press Set-Up Operator Steel Die Printer Steel Plate Printer Stencil Machine Operator Stencil Printer Stereotype Caster Stereotype Finisher Stereotype Molder Stereotyper Stippler Strickler Attendant Strike Off Machine Operator Strip Machine Operator Striping Machine Operator Tab Card Press Operator Tab Cutting Machine Operator Tag Press Operator Tape Rules Printing Machine Operator Tension Worker Textile Screen Maker Textile Screen Printer Ticket Printer Ticketer Tinning Machine Set Up Operator Tinware Lithograph Press Operator Tip Printer Transfer Machine Operator Type Caster Type Copyist Typesetter Vigoureux Printer Wad Printing Machine Operator Wallpaper Printer Web Offset Press Feeder Web Press Operator Web Press Roll Tender Webfed Offset Press Operator