Job description Printing Plate Engraver in the Lower Mainland–Southwest Region

Find out what work is like for a printing plate engraver in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations (NOC 94151).

Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations

Description

Camera and platemaking workers operate graphic arts cameras and scanners, assemble film and negatives and prepare, engrave and etch printing plates or cylinders for various types of printing presses. They are employed in firms that specialize in colour graphics or platemaking and cylinder preparation, commercial publishing and printing companies, newspapers, magazines, and in various establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Graphic arts camera operators, scanner operators, film strippers and assemblers
  • Set up and adjust black and white or colour separation process cameras to convert graphic art and photographs into film for assembly and exposure onto printing plates or cylinders
  • Operate computerized scanning machines or digital cameras to make colour separations and corrections from colour copy or transparencies for use in preparing film, digital files, printing plates or cylinders
  • Assemble and position, either using automated equipment or by hand, pieces of film containing all parts of a printing job to produce flats or composite negatives for preparing printing plates or cylinders.
  • Etchers and engravers
  • Examine the text, design, or pattern to determine how it will be etched or engraved onto the workpiece
  • Prepare surface of workpiece for etching or engraving by cleaning, polishing, treating, and applying additional methods
  • Etch or engrave the text, design or pattern onto the workpiece using hand tools, etching machines, photogravure or laser processes.
  • Prepress technicians, platemakers, proofmakers, and pre-flight/file-preparation operators
  • Operate various computer-controlled studio systems to perform colour separation, retouching and editing that allow changes to be made to a colour negative for printing purposes, plan page layouts and electronically alter shape, size and positions of illustrations and text
  • Prepare and initiate the development of printing plates for the offset process and are responsible for the maintenance of plate flasher type devices (CTP, Computer to plate)
  • Operate vacuum frames, plate processors and step and repeat machines to produce printing plates for various types of presses
  • Operate computerized equipment to prepare film, laser or dylux proofs for quality control purposes and for customers' review.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 94151), and a list of similar occupations:

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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