| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece. | 93% |
| Proofread and perform quality control of text and images. | 93% |
| Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced. | 91% |
| Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer. | 90% |
| Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film. | 89% |
| Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment. | 88% |
| Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate. | 88% |
| Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths. | 87% |
| Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes. | 85% |
| Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing. | 83% |
| Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making. | 80% |
| Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs. | 80% |
| Scale copy for reductions and enlargements, using proportion wheels. | 77% |
| Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color. | 74% |
| Set scanners to specific color densities, sizes, screen rulings, and exposure adjustments, using scanner keyboards or computers. | 69% |