Pre Press Technician

Position Summary:

Midstates Printing is seeking a detail-oriented Prepress Technician to prepare customer files for accurate, efficient, and high-quality print production. This position reviews incoming artwork, identifies and corrects potential production issues, and prepares files for digital and offset printing. The ideal candidate has strong graphic-production skills, a solid understanding of commercial printing, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment. 

Full Time, benefit eligible position - Typically  M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. more or fewer hours may be offered based on workload.

Benefits:  

•  Health, dental, vision, life insurance and long term and short term disability
•  Paid time off and paid holidays. 
• Retirement plan. 
• Company-provided training and opportunities for professional development. 
• Additional benefits may be available based on company policy 

Key Responsibilities

• Review and preflight customer-supplied files for accuracy and print readiness. 
• Identify and resolve issues involving fonts, images, bleeds, color spaces, transparency, page size, and resolution. 
• Prepare, impose, and process files for digital and offset printing. 
• Make necessary file corrections while maintaining the customer’s intended design. 
• Create print-ready PDFs and output proofs for customer or internal approval. 
• Apply trapping, color conversions, overprint settings, and other production requirements. 
• Prepare files for plates, digital presses, and finishing equipment. 
• Verify job specifications, including page counts, dimensions, paper, inks, coatings, binding, and finishing requirements.
• Communicate file concerns and production requirements with customer service representatives, sales staff, customers, and production departments. 
• Perform quality-control checks throughout the prepress process. 
• Maintain organized electronic job files and follow established naming and archiving procedures. 
• Troubleshoot workflow, software, and file-processing issues. 
• Help maintain color consistency and established color-management standards. 
• Meet production schedules while managing multiple jobs and changing priorities. 
• Follow company safety, quality, and confidentiality procedures. 
• Perform other duties as assigned 

 Qualifications

•  High school diploma or equivalent required. 
• Associate degree or technical training in graphic communications, printing, graphic design, or a related field preferred. 
• Previous commercial printing or prepress experience preferred. 
• Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. 
• Knowledge of PDF workflows, preflight procedures, imposition, color separation, trapping, and print production. 
• Understanding of CMYK, spot colors, bleeds, crop marks, image resolution, fonts, and file packaging. Experience with prepress workflow or imposition software is preferred. 
• Familiarity with both offset and digital printing processes is beneficial. 
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. 
• Effective written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to organize work, prioritize assignments, and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a production team. 
• Willingness to learn new software, equipment, and production processes 

Preferred Experience

• Commercial printing or publication-production experience. 
• Variable-data printing and mailing-file preparation. 
• Color management and proofing systems. 
• CTP plate production. Automated PDF workflow systems. 
• Experience preparing catalogs, books, magazines, direct-mail pieces, or other multi-page publications 

Physical Requirements

•  Ability to work at a computer for extended periods. 
• Ability to distinguish colors accurately. Ability to frequently sit, stand, reach, and use hands for computer and production-related tasks. 
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds. 
• Ability to work in a printing and manufacturing environment with moderate noise levels.  

Equal Opportunity Employer

Midstates Printing is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law