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DesignISCO 7322

Reprographics technician

A reprographics technician is a person who answers for the whole or part of the process of reproducing graphic documents by mechanical or digital means: photography, scanning or digital printing. The purpose is the building of archives or other organised catalogues rather than the production of copies for immediate use.

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Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

handle scanning material safely

set colour profiles

digitise documents

reproduce documents

operate printing machinery

About reprographics technician

Scanning is the central operation and it is more exacting than it looks. The technician produces the scanned images, operates the scanner, handles the material to be scanned safely, and reproduces the documents.

Colour is where a reproduction succeeds or fails. The technician configures the colour profiles, so that what the scanner records, what the screen shows and what the printer produces agree with one another and with the original. A document archived in the wrong colour space is archived wrongly, and the error is only discovered when someone needs a faithful copy.

The physical side belongs to the role as well. The technician works from a knowledge of printing materials and of binding technologies, and uses office software for the indexing and the records that make an archive findable.

European Skills Framework

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

Essential (16)

reprographyreprographyThe process of reproducing, reprinting, or copying graphic material especially by mechanical or electronic means such as photography or xerography.binding technologiesbinding technologiesThe methods to fix paper materials together and enclose them in a cover such as case binding, sewing, adhesive binding, comb binding, and spiral binding.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.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.handle scanning material safelyhandle scanning material safelyLoad and handle the material to be scanned safely and make sure that the scanning equipment is clean.set colour profilesset colour profilesMaintain consistent colour output in digital colour and inkjet printers by running calibration routines and making sure that the colour profiles for the printers are still accurate.digitise documentsdigitise documentsLoad analog documents by converting them into a digital format, using specialised hardware and software.reproduce documentsreproduce documentsReproduce documents such as reports, posters, booklets, brochures, and catalogues for a range of audiences.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...operate printing machineryoperate printing machineryOperate machinery for various types of printed documents, adjusting the font, paper size, and weight. This allows ascenders and descenders to be correctly placed.supply machinesupply machineEnsure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.produce scanned imagesproduce scanned imagesProduce scanned images that satisfy different categories and are free of potential defects.operate digital printersoperate digital printersHandle inkjet and laser printers, allowing the operator to print documents in a single 'pass'. Download or print the digital files to the digital printing machine using the correct machine and print d...operate scanneroperate scannerSet up and operate scanner equipment and its hard- and software.use microsoft officeuse microsoft officeUse the standard programs contained in Microsoft Office. Create a document and do basic formatting, insert page breaks, create headers or footers, and insert graphics, create automatically generated t...scan photosscan photosScan images into computers for editing, storage, and electronic transmission.
Optional (20) — show
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.prepress processesprepress processesThe processes that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing, such as copyediting, proofing, proofreading and others.maintenance of printing machinesmaintenance of printing machinesUpkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.copyright legislationcopyright legislationLegislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.respect data protection principlesrespect data protection principlesEnsure that access to personal or institutional data conforms to the legal and ethical framework governing such access.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.operate binder machineoperate binder machineSet up the binder machine, which forms, inserts, trims, and fastens binding in covers of paper goods like booklets, pamphlets, and notebooks.order suppliesorder suppliesCommand products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.follow a brieffollow a briefInterpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.manage offset printing processmanage offset printing processSelect and oversee implementation of relevant printing processes, necessary tools, and colours.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.meet deadlinesmeet deadlinesEnsure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.perform image editingperform image editingEdit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.inspect printing outputinspect printing outputVerify that the printing output is satisfactory using various methods such as visual verification, use of spectrophotometers or densitometers. The problems that might occur include misregisters or col...lay out digital written contentlay out digital written contentLay out pages by selecting sizes, styles and entering text and graphics into computer systems.report defective manufacturing materialsreport defective manufacturing materialsMaintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.unbind booksunbind booksUse machines or manual techniques to remove the covering holding paper pages together in order to replace it, repair it or to scan its contents.

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 reprographics technician do?

Reprographics technicians are responsible for the full or partial process of reproduction of graphical documents through mechanical-driven or digital means, such as photography, scanning or digital printing. These activities are commonly performed for purposes of maintaining archives or other structured catalogues.

What skills does a reprographics technician need?

A reprographics technician needs 16 essential skills, including reprography, binding technologies, printing materials, quality standards, handle scanning material safely.

Will AI replace reprographics technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for reprographics technician is 66/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: reproduce documents, digitise documents, scan photos. Most resilient: follow a brief, printing materials, follow safety precautions in printing.

AI Replacement Risk

66/ 100
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Quick Facts

SectorDesign
ISCO GroupHandicraft and printing workers
Essential Skills16

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