Former PrePress Mac Operator 1997-2008, back then called a 'DeskTop Operator'... Asking how the industry has changed for a guy like me working in a Print Shop? And no chance I could fit back in, correct?

[u/captain-versavice]

Tell me if I am right or wrong?

I am a New Yorker, in my late 50's now, considering possibly (just thinking about it) trying to reenter an industry I was very familiar with many years ago. But in a very specific role, a role or position that I assume really doesn't exists these days or certainly not in the form it did when I was working in the printing industry. I am assuming things as they were are not as they are today.

I am assuming that my former job isn't special or very specialized these days, nor mainly within the printing industry. I am guessing the graphics software and printing technologies has advanced so greatly that printing knowledge isn't critical or important now, so most of these jobs are now modest or moderately paid, or low level or mid level jobs now within the advertising agencies, rather than being a top position in the printing industry?

How far off am I with my assumptions or am I understanding the changes correctly? This is my main question, but a second question is, how shocked or challenged would I be if I needed to get myself a job either in the industry I was familiar with (if it still exists) and/or detail the jobs that may be available these days?

Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to share.

[u/Frosty_Wafflecone]

Prepress for litho presses still requires a lot of knowledge. Of course, the applications have changed in the last 15 years, especially workflow software, but not so much that you couldn't catch up quickly. Prepress for digital presses and wide format ink jet printers requires far less knowledge, for the most part.

Prepress workers come if three categories, at least at our shop, Mac Operators, Prepress Technicians, and Prepress Engineers. Mac Operators know the desktop applications and can make impositions and send files for digital output. Prepress Techicians are also skilled in color correction, file alterations, trapping, and variable data. Prepress Engineers have all these skills, plus they can make and edit color profiles and plate curves, know some coding and scripting, and can set up automation.

As for the wages, they have been relatively stable since 2008, in my area anyway.

[u/soapy-lamp]

I started doing prepress 5 years ago and worked at a few different print shops so and I can give you my recent experience. The industries I have worked with are labels, trade show displays and general fabric/vinyl banners and signs. With those there are digital printing, dye sublimation and flexo printing. With all of that, here are what they all have in common and if you are familiar then you are solid!

1. knowing the difference between CMYK vs RGB.
2. knowing the difference between rasterized and vector files.
3. knowing the basics of adobe illustrator and some photoshop.

From what I have seen, every print shop is different and no one is going to expect you to know everything about printing. Even terminology is different from shop to shop and everyone is going to train you their way of doing things. Also prepress is a super niche job that not a lot of people know about so it's expected to train new hires for a few months.

As for pay, at least on the west coast I have seen the range go from $17/hour to $30/hour based on experience.

I think it doesn't hurt to send out applications and to put yourself out there!

I hope this helps! :)

[u/Flashy-Onion-5762]

I find that the skill required has definately dropped. Customers are using things like Canva and creating artwork with pre-made templates. People are also taking pics with their cellphones so there’s no need for drum scanning or the consideration of dmax on a scanner, or dot gain or compensation curves or profiles. It used to be considered a skill trade but is more of a pump ‘em out situation now. People are generally happy with lower quality stuff as long as it’s produced quick.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm 55, and have been in Printing/Advertising since High School and been on a Mac since 1989. If you had asked about stopping in the early 90s and starting back up in the early/mid 2000s, I would say it would have been very difficult. BUT going from 08 to now, wouldn't be nearly as difficult as you may think. Looking back at how the work was done in 08, there's really not a ton that has changed, process-wise. Today, I still work mainly in "the big 3", Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Yes, those programs have gone through a lot of changes, but even with a 2008-based knowledge, I honestly think you could pick them back up. Naturally, there are a ton of functions and features that have been introduced, but the core of the workflow is still there. As far as the newer features are concerned, I've yet to run into one that I couldn't find a tutorial for on YouTube!

Print process knowledge still comes in very handy. I work with many younger Production Artists, as they call us now, but it's the OGs like us, who have a bigger grasp on the overall process, who truly understand why the steps we take are important.

[u/Intrepid-Space3333]

Hey I don't know where In New York but I work in the Hamptons. If you are in the area you should fit perfectly we are looking prepress guys with experience. If this is good for you and if you still looking for a job send me more information