Printers

Description

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

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.

Educational Requirements

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job. National Traineeships and apprenticeships in Machine Printing are available at NVQ/SVQ Levels 2 and 3.