Printers

Tasks

There are many tasks done by printers. A few are listed below:

• setting, adjusting and monitoring substrate-feed mechanisms, delivery mechanisms, inking systems and other printing machine functions
• mixing ink and solvents to standard, and regulating paper and ink supply during print runs
• monitoring, evaluating and determining press operations manually and by computer to check print quality standards against proofs and detect malfunctions
• producing a variety of printed products using relief, lithographic, flexographic and gravure printing presses, and in-line finishing systems
• preparing plates, blankets and impression cylinders on small offset lithographic printing presses
• loading paper into feeding mechanisms
• monitoring machine operations and quality of printing
• undertaking maintenance, adjustment, repair and cleaning of machines
• producing and managing digital print images, and transferring and outputting images
• may set up and operate paper and bookbinding guillotines

Specific occupations

• Printing Machinist
• Small Offset Printer
• Instant Printer Operator
• Flexographic Printing Machinist
• Gravure Printing Machinist
• Label Printing Machinist
• Letterpress Printing Machinist
• Lithographic Printing Machinist
• Reel Fed Printer
• Sheet Fed Printer
• Digital Printer