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Prepress technician

Also called prepress worker, prepress engineer, graphics technician

Prepress technicians prepare printing processes by formatting, setting and composing text and graphics into a suitable form. This includes the capture of text and image and processing it electronically. They also prepare, maintain and troubleshoot printing presses.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects9 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Handicraft and printing workersWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,100 (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Handicraft and printing workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Handicraft and printing workersWill AI change it?In some tasksLevel 3 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Pre-press technicians · ILO

What you'd do

Pre-press technicians · ILO
  • Operating graphic cameras and other photographic equipment to reproduce camera-ready copy onto films, plates and digital output devices
  • Using computer applications to generate images, text, layouts and impositions for print and other visual media displays
  • Operating plate making equipment to reproduce images from film to printing plates, digital output devices and presses
  • Operating computer screen-based equipment for scanning, colour separation, colour correction, masking, creative design, combining, imposing, retouching, and other processes used to transfer copy to film and produce film for plate, digital output and cylinder productions
  • Carrying out digital and chemical proofing from digital systems, and negative and positive films
  • Evaluating printed proofs, checking and correcting them for quality
  • Preparing and exposing carbon tissue for laying on cylinders by transfer method, and developing images
Follow safety precautions in printingProduce prepress proofLay out digital written contentPrepare printing formPrepare films for printing plates+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Prepress Technicians and Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as handicraft and printing workers in the EU
1.02m893k739k 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
204,000 replacing leavers 126,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Handicraft and printing workers9
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of pre-press technicians, 6 a surplus.
Pre-press technicians · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in audio-visual techniques and media production is the usual route.

Highest qualification of handicraft and printing workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 17%Vocational 48%General secondary 11%Basic schooling 24%
Fields that teach it
Audio-visual techniques and media production · Computer use
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

In some tasks

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.38 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Using computer applications to generate images, text, layouts and impositions for print and other visual media displays0.69
Evaluating printed proofs, checking and correcting them for quality0.66
Operating computer screen-based equipment for scanning, colour separation, colour correction, masking, creative design, combining, imposing, retouching, and other processes used to transfer copy to film and produce film for plate, digital output and cylinder productions0.41
Operating graphic cameras and other photographic equipment to reproduce camera-ready copy onto films, plates and digital output devices0.28
Carrying out digital and chemical proofing from digital systems, and negative and positive films0.24
Operating plate making equipment to reproduce images from film to printing plates, digital output devices and presses0.23
Preparing and exposing carbon tissue for laying on cylinders by transfer method, and developing images0.15

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for pre-press technicians. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).