Printing & Production Workers
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Bookbindery and Bindery WorkersThe U.S. Department of Labor created this site to give you an excellent overview of the work of bookbindery workers. From a general job description to information earnings, this site contains everything you need to get started on the exploration of a graphic design career.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Prepress TechniciansThe U.S. Department of Labor created this site to give you an excellent overview of the work of prepress technicians and workers. You will find a general overview of this stage of the printing process, details on earning potential, and everything you need to get started on the exploration of a graphic design career.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Printing Machine OperatorsLook at the nature of the work of a printing machine operator, as well as the job outlook, projections data, earnings, and group of related occupations. You will also find resources for apprenticeships and internships.
Learn About PrintingThis knowledge center connects you to definitions and summaries of key terms and activities learned in the printing industry—from pre-print production to finishing work. Find out all about print products, and click on keywords to be connected to introductions and detailed encyclopedic entries for all topics.
Occupational Titles
Advertising Layout Worker
Art Director
Digital Artist
Forms Designer
Graphic Art Designer
Graphic Artist
Graphic Communications
Graphic Designer
Label Maker
Layout Artist
Mac Artist (Macintosh)
Online Producer
Photo Stylist
Presentation Specialist
Printer
Production Artist
Accredited Academic Programs
Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing, and Converting Technologies: EducationThe Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing, and Converting Technologies has created this education information page to connect visitors with affiliated programs and details on its scholarship fund. Go to Graphic Comm Central to find access to thousands of educational resources, or look at the International Graphic Arts Education Association.
Graphic Comm CentralAccess to thousands of educational resources for graphic communications faculty, students, and industry trainers are provided at this site, including curriculum and instruction resources, publications, career opportunities, and college and university links.
Salary Levels
PayScale: PrinterFind the median hourly rate for a printer by years of experience in the field, as well as related information on hourly rate by city or state of employment.
PayScale: Production ArtistA salary survey by years of experience as a production artist is supplied at this page, which also includes median wage according to city or state of employment. Perform a search on your own using related job titles or a location of your choice.
Professional Organizations
Art Directors ClubThis organization is dedicated to providing a forum for creativity and networking in the visual communications field. You will find descriptions of programming for leaders in production design and interactive media. Read about these events, download podcasts, hear about student competitions, or discover the site’s job board for advertising, exhibit design, graphic design, and internet creativity.
Graphic Arts Education and Research FoundationAt “Make Your Mark,” you can learn about graphic communications industries by touring the workplace online, or exploring the graphic communications process. Develop your talents by creating a project, or get a start on your career with access to information on college programs, scholarships, and jobs.
Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical FoundationThis is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, and offers news, events, training, and consulting resources. Take a look at the organization’s books and products related to quality control, or access other industry links and associations.
Job Opportunity Sources
Indeed.com: Prepress TechnicianLearn about the job responsibilities of prepress employees and their role in compiling files for printing operations. Over 1,000 jobs are listed, drawn from a variety of sources around the nation.
Indeed.com: Press OperatorLook for a position as a press operator in this single location, which takes its listings from multiple job databases around the country.
Indeed.com: PrinterSort printing jobs by relevance or date, at this collection of online job opportunities. Click on any that you are interested in to learn more about the position requirements, salary, and company.
Publications
Communication ArtsThis publication hosts competitions in advertising, design, and digital arts. Find departments on jobs and talent location, or link to information on student subscriptions to this magazine. In it, you will find fresh insights, exhibits, webpicks, and news in visual communications.
Computer Graphics WorldThe current issue of this magazine is available at this site, as well as issue archives, a gallery of graphics and illustration, portfolios, news, a job board, and computer graphics forum.
Graphic ExchangeGraphic design resources are collected here, where you can find details on upcoming learning events, graphic news, conversations with important people in the area of graphics training, and video tutorials of such programs as Photoshop.
Online Forums & Blogs
Design: TalkBoardIf you are new to design, you might be interested in reading about the differences between web page, graphic, and poster design jobs. You’ll find design news discussions, reviews, links, and glossaries to help you cut through the jargon quickly so you can focus on the real concepts in design.
GraphicComm Central: ListservSign up here for e-mail discussion group for graphic arts educators, industry trainers, and anyone else interested in graphic communication education. A wide range of topics are discussed on the GCC-L Listserv, such as: current issues in graphic arts education; technical printing questions
Career Videos
YouTube: Bindery Workers Job DescriptionThe careful assembly of books by bindery worker is examined in this video, with the wide array of equipment used, and all steps of the process. Attention to detail, precision, the ability to work with chemicals, and other job requirements are discussed.
YouTube: Careers in the Printing IndustryLearn about careers in the printing industry, with laser work, bindery work, data processing programming, and skills of the trade. Find out about needed job qualities, such as creativity and precision, the wide range of products printers create, and technologies influences across all three stages of printing, from prepress to bindery.
YouTube: Prepress Technicians and Workers Job DescriptionLearn about work in a smaller and larger shop, with the use of design software, coordination with other technicians and color specialists, and the need for artistic abilities in this field. You’ll also find out about typical deadlines and the increasing role of computers, formal education, and certification.
