NOC 94151 — Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations

TEER 4 · Labour (on-the-job training) · Not eligible for Express Entry (CEC/FSWP)

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.

Main duties

Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations

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.

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