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O*NET-SOC 51-5111.00

Prepress Technicians and Workers

Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.

From O*NET 30.3

Tasks

From O*NET 30.3, by importance, as O*NET OnLine lists them

Free · O*NET 30.3
  1. Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.Core20927
  2. Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.Core20928
  3. Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.Core10403
  4. Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.Core20929
  5. Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.Core10405
  6. Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.Core10402
  7. Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.Supplemental10407
  8. Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.Supplemental10425
  9. Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes.Supplemental10412
  10. Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.Supplemental10410
  11. Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.Supplemental10406
  12. Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.Core10404
  13. Scale copy for reductions and enlargements, using proportion wheels.Supplemental10433
  14. Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color.Supplemental10427
  15. Set scanners to specific color densities, sizes, screen rulings, and exposure adjustments, using scanner keyboards or computers.Supplemental10428

Technology Skills

From O*NET 30.3, 26 examples in 12 categories, 10 Hot Technology

Free · O*NET 30.3

Document management software

  • Adobe AcrobatHot Technology
  • Adobe LifeCycle Enterprise Suite
  • Global Graphics Software Harlequin

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Adobe Creative Cloud softwareHot TechnologyIn Demand
  • Adobe FreeHand MX
  • Adobe IllustratorHot TechnologyIn Demand
  • Adobe PhotoshopHot TechnologyIn Demand
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Corel Painter
  • LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast Ai Studio

Video creation and editing software

  • Adobe Director

Desktop publishing software

  • Adobe FrameMaker
  • Adobe InDesignHot TechnologyIn Demand
  • Adobe PageMaker
  • Esko ArtPro
  • QuarkXPress

Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software

  • File transfer protocol FTP software
  • ProjectSend

Optical character reader OCR or scanning software

  • Hamrick Software VueScan
  • Multi-line optical character reader OCR software

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft ExcelHot TechnologyIn Demand

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office softwareHot TechnologyIn Demand

Electronic mail software

  • Microsoft OutlookHot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPointHot Technology

Word processing software

  • Microsoft WordHot Technology

Internet browser software

  • Web browser software

Detailed Work Activities

From O*NET 30.3, under their work activities; open one for the AI skills Workforce Automation maps to it

Free · O*NET 30.3

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

  • Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet
  • Examine condition of property or products.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Performing General Physical Activities

  • Clean production equipment.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Controlling Machines and Processes

  • Operate photographic developing or print production equipment.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Working with Computers

  • Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet
  • Program equipment to perform production tasks.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet
  • Operate digital imaging equipment.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

  • Repair production equipment or tools.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
    WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

    WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level

    • No tools yet
    • Not mapped yet

Job Zone

From O*NET 30.3

Free · O*NET 30.3

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Workforce Automation analysis, not part of the source

WFA coverage: AI skills for this job

WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

Pilot mapping: these skill links come from our seed list and haven’t been reviewed yet. Expect them to change as each one is checked.

DWAs covered by an AI skill0 of 12
Distinct tools0
Level mix
  • No tools yet

Equivalents

NICE work roles, with their DCWF equivalents

Mapped to this job by the ETO-CSET NICE/O*NET crosswalk (2024); roles from NICE Framework Components v2.2.0, DCWF equivalents from DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)

Free · NICE Framework Components v2.2.0 and DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)

No NICE work role maps to this job.