Set up or operate various types of printing machines, such as offset, letterset, intaglio, or gravure presses or screen printers to produce print on paper or other materials.

Other names for Printing Machine Operators: 1st Pressman, 2nd Pressman, 3rd Pressman, Aniline Press Worker, Assistant Offset Press Operator, Back Up Machine Operator, Backer, Bag Press Operator, Bag Printer, Balloon Design Printer, Batteryman, Ben-Day Artist, Binding Printer, Block Printer, Box Press Operator, Box Printer, Braille Transcriber, Bronzer, Calico Printer, Carton Stamper, Cellophane Press Operator, Cloth Printer, Cloth Printing Back Tender, Collating Machine Operator, Collator, Collator Operator, Computer Typesetter-Keyliner, Copper Plate Printer, Coverer, Cut and Print Machine Operator, Cut Pressman, Cut-Press Operator, Cutting and Printing Machine Operator, Cylinder Press Operator, Cylinder Press Operator Apprentice, Decorating Equipment Setter, Decorating Machine Operator, Design Printing Machine Set-Up Operator, Design Printing Machine Setter, Devil Dog, Die Mounter, Die Stamping Press Operator, Duplex Trimmer, Electrotype Caster, Electrotype Finisher, Electrotype Molder, Electrotyper, Electrotyper Apprentice, Embosser, Embosser Apprentice, Embossing Machine Operator, Embossing Press Operator, Embossing Press Operator Apprentice, Embossograph Operator, Engraver Set-Up Operator, Engraving Press Operator, Engrosser, Feeder, Flexographic Press Operator, Flexographic Press Set-Up Operator, Floor Covering Printer, Folding Rules Printing Machine Operator, Form Designer, Forwarder, Galley Worker, Gilder, Glove Printer, Gold Blower, Gold Layer, Gold Leaf Printer, Gravure Press Set-Up Operator, Head Bander and Liner Operator, Indentification Printing Machine Setter, Ink Printer, Instant Print Operator, Journeyman Press Operator, Journeyman Pressman, Kelly Machine Operator, Label Printer, Letterer, Letterpress Setter, Letterset Press Set-Up Operator, Line-Up Examiner, Lithoduplicator Operator, Lithograph Press Feeder, Lithograph Press Operator, Lithograph Printer, Lithographic Proofer Apprentice, Lithoplate Maker, Machine Carton Marker, Machine Engraver, Machine Printer, Machine Sign Writer, Machine Silk Screen Printer, Mandrel Press Hand, Manufacturing Assistant, Manufacturing Associate, Manufacturing Operator, Marbler, Marker, Marking Machine Operator, Metal or Wood Blocker, Microfiche Duplicator, Mounter, Music Copyist, Music Grapher, Name Plate Stamper, Nipping Machine Operator, Offset Duplicating Machine Operator, Offset Duplicating Machine Set Up Operator, Offset Lithographic Press Setter, Offset Machine Operator, Offset Press Operator, Offset Pressman, Offset Printer, Offset-Press Operator, Offset-Press Operator Apprentice, Pantograph Setter, Paper Products Printer, Photo Offset Printer, Photoengraving Sketch Maker, Photographic Process Screen Maker, Pin Ticket Machine Operator, Plastic Printer, Plate Printer, Plate Sensitizer, Plate Setter, Platen Press Feeder, Platen Press Operator, Platen Press Operator Apprentice, Precision Printing Worker, Prepress Proofer, Press Feeder, Press Helper, Press Operator, Press Operator Apprentice, Press Operator Assistant, Press Operator Helper, Pressfitter, Pressman, Pressroom Foreman, Print Line Operator, Printer, Printer Apprentice, Printer Assistant, Printer Slotter Operator, Printing Offset Duplicating Machine Operator, Printing Plate Setter, Printing Press Machine Operator, Printing Press Operator, Printing Press Operator Apprentice, Printing Pressman, Proof Press Operator, Proofer, Ratoprinter, Raw Material Handler, Roller Operator, Roller Print Tender, Rolling Machine Operator, Rotary Lithographic Press Operator, Rotary Screen Printing Machine Operator, Rotogravure Press Operator, Rotoprinter, Rounder, Rounder Hand, Rounding Machine Operator, Rubber Printing Machine Operator, Screen Printer, Screen Printing Equipment Setter, Screen Printing Machine Operator, Screen Printing Machine Operator Helper, Semiconductor Package Symbol Stamper, Silk Printer, Silk Screen Operator, Silk Screen Printer, Silk Screen Printer Helper, Silk Screen Processor, Silk Screener, Sketch Maker, Specialty Materials Printing Machine Setter/Set-Up Operator, Stamper, Stamping Press Operator, Steam Table Worker, Steel Die Press Set Up Operator, Steel Die Printer, Steel Plate Printer, Stencil Machine Operator, Stencil Printer, Stereotype Caster, Stereotype Finisher, Stereotype Molder, Stereotyper, Stippler, Strickler Attendant, Strike Off Machine Operator, Strip Machine Operator, Striping Machine Operator, Tab Card Press Operator, Tab Cutting Machine Operator, Tag Press Operator, Tape Rules Printing Machine Operator, Tension Worker, Textile Screen Maker, Textile Screen Printer, Ticket Printer, Ticketer, Tinning Machine Set Up Operator, Tinware Lithograph Press Operator, Tip Printer, Transfer Machine Operator, Type Caster, Type Copyist, Vigoureux Printer, Wad Printing Machine Operator, Wallpaper Printer, Web Offset Press Feeder, Web Press Operator, Web Press Operator Apprentice, Web Pressman,

• Inspect and examine printed products for print clarity, color accuracy, conformance to specifications, and external defects.
• Push buttons, turn handles or move controls and levers to start and control printing machines.
• Reposition printing plates, adjust pressure rolls, or otherwise adjust machines to improve print quality, using knobs, handwheels, or hand tools.
• Set and adjust speed, temperature, ink flow, and positions and pressure tolerances of equipment.
• Examine job orders to determine details such as quantities to be printed, production times, stock specifications, colors, and color sequences.
• Select and install printing plates, rollers, feed guides, gauges, screens, stencils, type, dies, and cylinders in machines according to specifications, using hand tools.
• Monitor feeding, printing, and racking processes of presses in order to maintain specified operating levels and to detect malfunctions; make any necessary adjustments.
• Operate equipment at slow speed to ensure proper ink coverage, alignment, and registration.
• Load, position, and adjust unprinted materials on holding fixtures or in equipment loading and feeding mechanisms.
• Pour or spread paint, ink, color compounds, and other materials into reservoirs, troughs, hoppers, or color holders of printing units, making measurements and adjustments to control color and viscosity.
• Repair, maintain, or adjust equipment.
• Blend and test paint, inks, stains, and solvents according to types of material being printed and work order specifications.
• Clean and lubricate printing machines and components, using oil, solvents, brushes, rags, and hoses.
• Remove printed materials from presses, using handtrucks, electric lifts, or hoists, and transport them to drying, storage or finishing areas.
• Input instructions in order to program automated machinery, using a computer keyboard.
• Place printed items in ovens to dry or set ink.
• Squeeze or spread ink on plates, pads, or rollers, using putty knives, brushes, or sponges.
• Measure screens, and use measurements to center and align screens in proper positions and sequences on machines, using gauges and hand tools.
• Monitor and control operation of auxiliary equipment used to assemble and finish products.
• Correct misprinted materials, using materials such as ink eradicators or solvents.
• Direct and monitor activities of workers feeding, inspecting, and tending printing machines and materials.
• Pour ink into pans, and smooth paint onto stencils, using flat-bladed knives.
• Prepare and treat lithographic plates with various chemicals to clean and preserve plates and fix images.
• Coordinate printing activities with activities of workers who set up, clean, and feed machines.
• Monitor stocks of materials such as paper, ink, and metal in order to maintain supplies during equipment operation.
• Position knives at specified distances from edges of plastic material in order to trim excess material from edges.
• Thin printing compounds, using specified thinners.
• Maintain records of goods produced, supplies used, production costs, and machine maintenance and repair activities.
• Attach cloth to take-up rollers, placing it in feeding position and threading it through equipment as necessary.
• Requisition supplies, materials, and equipment, and receive stock when it arrives.
• Pack and label cartons, boxes, or bins of finished products.
• Provide assistance in the design and layout of forms and materials to be printed.
• Place spools of thread or wire on holders, and thread through machines.
• Apply glue or tape to holes in screens in order to repair leaks.

• Adjustable wrenches
• Hammers
• Printing collators or decollators
• Conductivity meters
• Printing cutters
• Densitometers
• Desktop computers
• Photocopiers
• Lifts
• Flexographic printer
• Printing assemblers
• Photogravure printing machines
• Grease guns
• Hand trucks or accessories
• Magnifiers
• Hoists
• Letterpress equipment
• Belt conveyors
• Tape measures
• Micrometers
• Printing presses
• Offset printing presses
• Height gauges
• Jacks
• Paper drilling machines
• Paper jogging machines
• Perforating machines
• Personal computers
• pH meters
• Screwdrivers
• Platemakers
• Putty knives
• Ratchets
• Offset printing presses
• Silk screen printing machines
• Printing presses
• Screwdrivers
• Stackers
• Stapler units
• Printing assemblers
• Wrapping machinery
• Locking pliers
• Printing presses

Inventory management software

Word processing software

Calendar and scheduling software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Electronic mail software