Printers

Description

Printers set up and operate various small offset printing presses and digital printing processes.

Qualifications

Typical tasks

• positions form or plate on machine, checks alignments and sets press;
• mixes and loads inks and solvents, loads paper and regulates during print run;
• prints and examines proof copies and adjusts press as necessary;
• starts or directs start of printing run and monitors machine to ensure that printing proceeds smoothly;
• pours colour into machine or directly on to screen and positions screen over item;
• operates squeegee by hand or machine to press colour through screen;
• dips wooden pattern block into colour tray and lays different colours on top of, and adjacent to, others to form the required pattern;
• produces, transfers and outputs digital print images;
• maintains, adjusts, repairs and cleans machine;
• keeps production records.

Common job titles