732 Printing Trades Workers

Pre-press technicians proof, format, set and compose text and graphics into a form suitable for use in various printing processes and representation in other visual media. Tasks include - (a) operating graphic cameras and other photographic equipment to reproduce camera-ready copy onto films, plates and digital output devices; (b) using computer applications to generate images, text, layouts and impositions for print and other visual media displays; (c) operating plate-making equipment to reproduce images from film to printing plates, digital output devices and presses; (d) operating computer screen-based equipment for scanning, colour separation, colour correction, masking, creative design, combining, imposing, retouching, and other processes used to transfer copy to film and produce film for plate, digital output and cylinder productions; (e) carrying out digital and chemical proofing from digital systems, and negative and positive films; (f) evaluating printed proofs, checking and correcting them for quality; (g) preparing and exposing carbon tissue for laying on cylinders by transfer method, and developing images. Examples of the occupations classified here: - Compositor - Desktop publishing operator - Electronic pre-press technician - Photogravurist - Photolithographer - Plate mounter (screen printing) - Plate maker (printing) - Screen maker - Typesetter.

Printers set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, newspaper and other printing presses. Tasks include - (a) setting, adjusting and monitoring substrate-feed mechanisms, delivery mechanisms, inking systems and other printing machine functions; (b) mixing ink and solvents to standard, and regulating paper and ink supply during print runs; (c) monitoring, evaluating and determining press to check print quality standards against proofs and detect malfunctions; (d) producing a variety of printed products using digital, relief, lithographic, flexographic and gravure printing presses, and in-line finishing systems; (e) preparing plates, blankets and impression cylinders on small offset lithographic printing presses; (f) loading paper into feeding mechanisms; (g) monitoring machine operations and quality of printing; (h) maintaining, adjusting, repairing and cleaning machines; (i) producing digital print images, and transferring and outputting images. Examples of the occupations classified here: - Block printer - Digital press operator - Feeder operator (printing) - Flexographic press operator - Gravure press operator - Large sheet-fed press operator - Screen printer - Screen printing press operator - Small press operator - Textile printer - Web press operator.

Print finishing and binding workers bind books and other publications, and finish printed products by hand or machine. Tasks include - (a) setting up and supervising the operation of automatic binding and finishing equipment; (b) binding full, half and limp-bound books, and repairing bindings; (c) folding, collating and sewing signatures by machine and hand; (d) operating paper guillotines for pre-press and post-press paper cutting and trimming, and programming electronically operated units; (e) operating systems to insert printed material into newspapers, magazines and envelopes; (f) embellishing printed products automatically and manually; (g) operating photographic and electronic reproduction devices. Examples of the occupations classified here: - Book binder - Collator operator - Cutter operator - Foil stamp operator - Folder operator - Gatherer operator - Multibinder operator - Perfect binder operator - Saddle stitch operator - Small machine bindery worker.