Prepress Technician

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and production-driven Prepress Technician to support high-volume commercial printing operations across multi-web presses, single-web presses, sheetfed offset, and digital platforms. This role is responsible for preparing customer files for accurate, efficient, and profitable production while minimizing press downtime and waste.

The ideal candidate understands how prepress decisions directly impact press performance, makeready time, paper waste, color consistency, and bindery efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

File Preparation & Preflight

• Preflight customer files for offset web, sheetfed, and digital production

• Verify trim size, bleeds, margins, live area, and safe zones

• Check color builds (CMYK, spot colors, total ink coverage)

• Ensure proper resolution and image quality

• Confirm fonts, linked images, and packaging integrity

• Impose files for signatures, forms, and press configurations

Imposition & Plating

• Create press-ready flats for:

o Multi-web presses (heatset or coldset)

o Single-web configurations

o Sheetfed presses

o Digital presses

• Set up correct pagination and creep adjustments

• Generate plates via CTP workflow

• Maintain plate integrity and output quality

• Archive final production files correctly

Color Management

• Apply ICC profiles appropriately per press type

• Maintain color consistency across platforms

• Review proofs for accuracy before release to press

• Work with press operators on color correction and adjustments

Proofing & Approvals

• Generate digital and/or contract proofs

• Communicate technical issues clearly to sales or customers

• Recommend file corrections when needed

• Ensure final sign-off before production release

Production Coordination

• Review job tickets for:

o Paper stock

o Web width

o Press assignment

o Bindery method

• Coordinate with pressroom and bindery to ensure layout compatibility

• Identify potential production risks before plating

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 3+ years of commercial print prepress experience (web press experience preferred)

• Strong knowledge of:

o Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat)

o PDF/X standards

o Imposition software 

o CTP workflow systems

• Understanding of:

o Web press configurations (multi-web & single-web)

o Sheetfed production

o Digital print workflows

o Signatures, pagination, and folding structures

• Strong attention to detail

• Ability to manage multiple jobs under deadline pressure

• Understanding of paper grain, creep, and ink limits

• Knowledge of postal requirements (preferred for direct mail environments)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in heatset or coldset web printing

• Knowledge of G7 color calibration

• Familiarity with variable data printing (VDP)

• Understanding of mailing specifications and USPS requirements

• Experience working in a fast-paced production environment

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reduction in press downtime due to file errors

• Reduction in startup waste

• Accuracy of imposition layouts

• On-time job release to press

• Error rate / remake rate

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs (plates, proofs, paper samples)