Prepress Operator - Commercial Printing

Meredith-Webb is a commercial offset printing company built on quality, precision, and reliability. Our team runs a demanding, multi-shift production floor — large-format sheetfed presses, bindery and finishing equipment, and full prepress capabilities — to deliver work our customers can count on. Our prepress team is the last technical checkpoint before a file becomes a proof and then a plate, and getting it right there prevents costly problems everywhere downstream.

About the Role

The Prepress Operator prepares customer-supplied electronic files for print production — verifying formatting, resolution, fonts, and color — and produces proofs and press-ready printing plates from approved files.

This role matters because it’s the last technical checkpoint on a file before it becomes a proof and then a plate. Careful, accurate file preparation here prevents costly press-side corrections, rework, and delays downstream.

What You’ll Do

• Process customer-supplied files to finalize formatting, resolution, fonts, and color specifications, producing a print-ready file for each job.
• Check document size, margins, and bleed allowances, extending bleed as necessary to meet production requirements.
• Verify fonts function properly and troubleshoot font or file issues before they reach proofing.
• Read and apply all work-order notes and instructions accurately to each job.
• Produce a printing proof containing all job specifications for customer approval, and impose art per job-ticket instructions.
• Produce plate ready files
• Perform basic troubleshooting on files that error in the prepress workflow, resolving routine issues without escalation.
• Work directly with Customer Service Representatives, Account Executives, and the Plant Production Manager to resolve file or specification issues.
• Maintain prepress department equipment to keep it production-ready.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated experience preparing print files for production (job prep, imposition, proofing) in a commercial print or prepress environment.
• High degree of proficiency in Adobe products, Kodak Prinergy RIP and plating, Kodak Colorflow, and the Macintosh platform.
• Strong attention to detail and troubleshooting ability.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects under aggressive turnaround times.
• Good eye for color.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proofing, grammar, and spelling.
• General printing knowledge
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Nice to Have

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts, Imaging Technology, or Printing and Prepress Technology.
• Direct experience with Kodak Prinergy workflow and Colorflow.

Work Environment

• Office/light-industrial prepress environment; primarily computer workstation-based work.
• Frequent standing, stooping, walking, and sitting; occasional lifting of proofing materials and stock up to 20 lbs.
• Full-time, on-site; availability for deadline-driven extended hours during peak production periods.

What Success Looks Like

• File and plate accuracy, with low rework, press-side corrections, and remake rate.
• On-time delivery of proofs and plates against job and customer deadlines.
• Effective issue resolution with CSRs, Account Executives, and Production.
• Well-maintained equipment and departmental standards.

Work Location: In person

Salary : $38,329 - $56,748