College of Technology - Building Unlimited Career Opportunities
Graphic Arts Employment Opportunities
Professional Opportunity and Job Outlook
There are professional opportunities in the Graphic Arts industry available for graduates. The following information will assist you as you plan your future. Graphic Arts students leave the program with the skills appropriate for an entry level position in desktop publishing, graphic design, image assembly, offset press, or bindery operations.
The following are a sample of the different positions available in the Graphic Communications industry. Each of these positions requires industry related education and training.
- Graphic Designer uses creativity and artistic ability to translate client ideas into visual artwork that can be printed. Works with other creative professionals, including illustrators, art directors and photographers.
- Prepress Technician/Desktop Specialist processes digital prepress jobs using various computers, workstations and output devices. This processing includes examining (preflighting) incoming files for suitability; importing files into the appropriate application software; editing files to facilitate and assure correct output; outputting files into proper format to the appropriate output device & inspects output materials to assure conformance to customer and company specifications. Processes customers files by sending them to film or direct-to-plate.
- Proofer/Digital Proofing Platemaker/Computer-to-Plate (CTP) operates automatic color proofing equipment. Transfers files from customer supplied discs or in-house files to film, CTP and digital proofing through high quality imaging devices. Inspects incoming materials, prepares, exposes and processes plates, performs manual and machine operated tasks related to producing plates. Performs any necessary programming required
- Digital Press Operator is responsible to operate and maintains a digital press workstation. The operator rips files, manipulates color for expected output, schedules jobs, maintains inventory of paper and supplies, among other duties. Digital press operators posses good math, language, and reasoning skills in order to meet the demands of quality in the industry.
- Offset Press Operator is responsible to operate any of a wide variety of sophisticated single or multi-color presses, sheet size 14" x 20" and larger. Controls ink color and density, registration and consistency of impressions throughout the entire press run. Knows the mechanical workings of the machine, possesses good manual dexterity, and reacts promptly in order to produce a good quality product. In addition, a large offset press operator performs manual and computerized tasks in the set-up, maintenance and operation of a lithographic printing press.
More opportunities are available in these positions:
- Scanner Operator
- Production Scheduler
- Sales Representative
- Job Planner
- Estimator
- Print Buyer
Job descriptions provided by Printing Industries of America.
Career Opportunities
A summary of the Department of Labor and the Idaho Commerce and Labor Department states that the Graphic Design industry in Idaho will grow at a rate of 12.31% this will be three times higher than that of the national average of 4%. At 12.31% growth, predictions are 299 new jobs by 2011. By 2014 it is projected that there will be 125 new or replacement design jobs per year. Graphic Design is listed as the fourth largest occupation. "New technology and equipment will require workers to update their skills to remain competitive in the job market. This should translate into good career opportunities for those who obtain the education to work with this new technology, especially in the field of electronic prepress."
Graphic Arts graduates are employed in these related jobs:
- Magazine, newspaper, and book publishers
- Advertising, Design agencies
- Signage companies
- Printing, Bindery
- Paper sales
- Photo editing
- Screen Printing
- Median income - Idaho $30,730 for printing machine operators and $34,220 for Graphic Designers. Nationally the pay is $30,730 for printing machine operators and $38,390 for Graphic Designers *
- About 2,010 printing press operators and graphic designers work in this occupation in Idaho*
* Idaho Career Information Systems data
Industry Connections
Instructors of Graphic Arts have on-the-job experience and offer industry standard training. Business and industry representatives who serve on the program’s advisory committee provide input and vision for the program, allowing students opportunities to work with state-of-the-art technology that gives them an advantage in the workplace.
For more information on jobs in the Graphic Communications industry visit the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
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