Pre-press Operator Job Profile
What is the work like?
Pre-press operators work on the production of a wide variety of products including newspapers, magazines, books, stationery and packaging. 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.
As a pre-press operator your exact duties would depend on the type and size of your company but could include:
- scanning digital images to put 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 to match design plans
- 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)
- transferring the final image from film onto printing plates, using an imagesetter (known as platemaking)
You may find a lot of your work would be on computerised machinery, which is increasingly important as digital printing processes become more widespread.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any formal qualifications to work as a pre-press operator but GCSEs in maths, English, art and IT may give you an advantage when looking for work.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers.
Alternatively, you could take print-related qualifications at college, which would give you some of the skills needed for this job. Qualifications include:
- BTEC Certificate and Diploma in Graphics, and in Art & Design (Graphic Design) levels 2 and 3
- ABC Diploma in Digital Origination and Digital Pre-press at Level 3
- City & Guilds Certificate in Printing and Graphic Communications (5261) levels 2 and 3
- City & Guilds Diploma in Media Techniques at Level 3
Employers may accept general art and design, and desktop publishing courses for entry into pre-press work.
You could also take foundation degrees, BTEC HNC/HNDs or degrees in print media, digital media, graphics and graphic design, which could help you to get into a printing career. Check with colleges and universities for their exact entry requirements.
What further training and development can I do?
You would start work with on-the-job training, covering the different roles within the print department, learning several key tasks before specialising in one area.
You could work towards the NVQ in Digital Print Production (Pre-press) at levels 2 and 3.
View other print, packaging and design job profiles here.