Prepress Operator / Designer
Location: Broadstairs, Kent Pay: £13.50 per hour Job Type: Temporary
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5 pm (37.5hrs per week)
Are you a creative problem-solver with a passion for print? Join a friendly, fast-paced production team where your design expertise and technical skill will help bring high-quality printed products to life. This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong eye for detail and a love for all things artwork, layout, and print preparation.
What You'll Be Doing
🎨 Artwork & Design
Create, refine, and finalise artwork using Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
Adapt customer artwork to meet litho printing specifications.
Set up layouts, packaging templates, impositions, and print-ready files.
Ensure accuracy of fonts, images, colour profiles, and embedded assets.
🖨️ Prepress Production
Prepare and process files for CTP (computer-to-plate) output.
Produce imposition layouts optimised for press sheet sizes and finishing requirements.
Perform trapping, overprinting, bleed checks, and colour separations.
Work confidently with spot colours, CMYK, and Pantone for litho printing.
Carry out thorough preflight checks to minimise pressroom issues.
✔️ Quality Control
Carefully inspect artwork for errors, inconsistencies, or print risks.
Ensure all files meet both internal and client quality standards.
Troubleshoot file issues and support the production team with solutions.
🤝 Workflow & Collaboration
Partner closely with account managers, sales teams, and production staff.
Communicate with clients regarding amendments, clarifications, or artwork needs.
Maintain organised file management and archiving systems.
Contribute to continual improvements within prepress workflows.
What We're Looking For
Technical Skills
Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
Strong understanding of lithographic (offset) printing processes.
Knowledge of colour theory, Pantone systems, colour management, and ICC profiles.
Experience with preflight systems and workflow software.
Ability to prepare files for CTP output and plate-making.
Personal Attributes
Excellent attention to detail and high accuracy.
Strong problem-solving and technical troubleshooting ability.
Comfortable working to deadlines in a busy production environment.
Great communication and teamwork skills.
Highly organised with good time-management habits.
Preferred Experience
Previous experience in a litho-printing prepress environment.
Understanding of finishing processes (cutting, folding, binding).
If you're ready to apply your creative and technical skills in a hands-on print environment, we'd love to hear from you