Will AI Replace Prepress Technicians and Workers?

Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Scale copy for reductions and enlargements, using proportion wheels.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Set scanners to specific color densities, sizes, screen rulings, and exposure adjustments, using scanner keyboards or computers.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.