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DesignISCO 7321

Lithographer

A lithographer is a person who produces and prepares the metal plates used as the original in various printing processes and on various substrates.

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Rate 5 of the 20 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

ink printing plates

set scanner controls

prepare colour mixtures

perform image editing

scale copies

About lithographer

Plates are made in two ways. Most are laser-cut from digital sources using computer-to-plate technology, and the lithographer operates the laser plate-making machine that does it, checking register, resolution and the screen the image will be printed at. A plate can also be made by applying a special emulsion to the printing plate, exposing it and developing it, which is the older route and still used for some work.

The lithographer understands chemigraphy, on which both methods rely: what the coating does, how exposure and development change the image, and why a plate holds ink in one place and rejects it in another. The lithographer maintains the lithographic printing plates, inks them, and knows the printing materials well enough to match plate, ink and substrate, since paper, board, foil and textile each behave differently under the same plate. The lithographer also knows screen printing inks.

The lithographer follows the production schedule. Formal requirements are set by the employer.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (20)

screen printing inksscreen printing inksVarious types of screen ink, such as solvent, water, water plastisol, and UV curable ink solutions.printing techniquesprinting techniquesThe techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.printing materialsprinting materialsThe materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.printing plate makingprinting plate makingThe different techniques used to produce the plates that will be mounted on rolls for the flexographic or offset printing process such as laser engraving or the technique consisting in placing a film ...quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.print strippingprint strippingPrinting technique in which the printed pages are arranged into specific patterns in order to create efficient printing plates.photoengravingphotoengravingProcesses for engraving metal film masks to be used to protect and coat plates for various printing processes. A photomechanical method is applied to select the correct colour for the masking material...offset printingoffset printingTechnological printing process where the ink is spread onto a plate with etched images, then to a rubber blanket, and finally onto the target medium, usually paper. This method is used for mass printi...ink printing platesink printing platesCover the plate with a thin coat of water and apply oil-based inks with a rubber roller, repelling and sticking the ink to the image area. This image can then further be transferred to paper in variou...set scanner controlsset scanner controlsUse a mouse, keyboard or other controls to set up the scanner precisely.prepare colour mixturesprepare colour mixturesPrepare colour mixtures in accordance with the recipes and/or the characteristics of the article to be achieved.perform image editingperform image editingEdit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.follow safety precautions in printingfollow safety precautions in printingApply safety and health principles, policies and institutional regulations of working in printing production. Protect oneself and others against such hazards as chemicals used in printing, invasive al...scale copiesscale copiesUse proportion wheels to scale the layout and resolution of images up or down.prepare printing formprepare printing formPrepare and inspect plates that are used in printing process to transfer ink on the desired surface and place them in the machines, for example fixing them around printing rollers.operate laser plate maker machineoperate laser plate maker machineMaintain and handle laser plate making equipment, which converts electronic data to plates without the use of photographic film. Use erasers and needles to perform minor deletions, additions or correc...follow production schedulefollow production scheduleFollow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various conce...maintain lithographic printing platesmaintain lithographic printing platesProduce and store plates used in lithographic offset printing by running a previously imposed and ripped file to plate or exposing and developing the plate using hand tools or machines.read job ticket instructionsread job ticket instructionsUnderstand instructions from the cards accompanying job orders and set up or run the machine based on these statements.prepare films for printing platesprepare films for printing platesPlace the photographic materials coated with a light-sensitive substance on the printing plate in such a way that will limit waste and facilitate printing processes. Place the plates in the machine fo...
Optional (22) — show
digital printingdigital printingThe technique that allows printing a digital-based image directly onto a variety of materials, mostly using inkjet or laser printer.proofing methodsproofing methodsVarious proofing methods are needed for certain kinds of products. They range from soft proofing, which presents the result on a monitor, to hard proofing, where an actual printed sample of the produc...printing mediaprinting mediaSpecific techniques related to various printing surfaces such plastics, metal, glass, textiles, wood, and paper.printed goods processesprinted goods processesThe various types and characteristics of producing printed goods such as catalogues, flyers, etc.maintenance of printing machinesmaintenance of printing machinesUpkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.edit negativesedit negativesUse different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.order suppliesorder suppliesCommand products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.produce prepress proofproduce prepress proofMake single or multi-coloured test prints to ensure that the product meets the arranged standards. Compare the sample with the template or discuss the result with the customer in order to make the las...manage offset printing processmanage offset printing processSelect and oversee implementation of relevant printing processes, necessary tools, and colours.oversee quality controloversee quality controlMonitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.apply opaqueapply opaqueCover up film negatives by applying opaque to printing plates, blocking out defections such as blemishes and pinholes.perform machine maintenanceperform machine maintenancePerform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.store negativesstore negativesPlace the cut photographic film into protective sleeves and store them in a safe manner.lay out digital written contentlay out digital written contentLay out pages by selecting sizes, styles and entering text and graphics into computer systems.manage inventorymanage inventoryControl product inventory in balance of availability and storage costs.reduce dotsreduce dotsUse a contact frame or automatic film processor to reduce the size of dots in printing plates by increasing or reducing colour.use colour printing programsuse colour printing programsUse colour printing programs, such as the CMYK colour (ink) model for various pressing machines.prevent paper jamsprevent paper jamsOverlook the insertion and output of finished products in order to prevent paper jams.scan negativesscan negativesScan processed negatives so they can be digitally stored, edited, and printed.edit photographsedit photographsResize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a lithographer do?

Lithographers make and prepare metal plates to be used as the original in various printing processes and media. Plates are usually laser-etched from digital sources with computer-to-plate technology, but can also be made by applying types of emulsions to the printing plate.

What skills does a lithographer need?

A lithographer needs 20 essential skills, including screen printing inks, printing techniques, printing materials, printing plate making, quality standards.

Will AI replace lithographer jobs?

The AI disruption score for lithographer is 55/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: scale copies, digital printing, quality standards. Most resilient: store negatives, wear appropriate protective gear, printing materials.

AI Replacement Risk

55/ 100
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Quick Facts

SectorDesign
ISCO GroupHandicraft and printing workers
Essential Skills20

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