A large offset printer uses an offset press operator to reproduce a variety of paper-based products for commercial clients such as businesses and newspapers. Offset printing is used in most commercial print shops, but becoming an offset press operator requires training — not necessarily a college degree — as well as qualities unique to this type of printing. To become an offset press operator, you’ll need patience, technical knowledge, the ability to mix inks, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Working on an offset printer is very different and much more intense than working on a digital press, where the operator typically just clicks a button on the computer. Setting up plates and mixing inks, for example, can take several hours to complete properly. This means that becoming an offset press operator usually necessitates some form of training. Some colleges and technical schools offer degrees in operating offset press machines, but in this market, apprenticeships at an offset printing company are just as good.
The majority of the skills needed to operate an offset press are acquired during the pre-press stage of the printing process. A person who wants to work as an offset press operator must be able to mix inks, which requires an eye for color and mathematic skills to ensure the correct amount of each color is used. The print will be dull or over-saturated if there is too much or too little ink. The print will not come out as the customer specified if the colors are not mixed correctly.
This job necessitates technical knowledge for two reasons. Offset printers are extremely difficult to repair due to their large and diverse parts. Being able to identify and correct a problem will save the company money by reducing the number of times repair people are called. During the pre-press stage, the second reason comes into play. The pressure between the rollers and the plates must be precisely measured, or the machine will not print correctly, and it may even break if the rollers are under too much pressure.
Before the pre-press stage is completed, offset press operators often spend hours and go through hundreds of sheets. This procedure necessitates a great deal of patience on the part of the operator. Because each job is set up differently, the operator must be able to change for each one. It will be difficult to become an offset press operator without these qualities.