Prepress Operator​/Designer

Location: Broadstairs, Kent Pay: £13.50 per hour Job Type: Temporary Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5 pm (37.5hrs per week)

Are you a creative problem-solver with a passion for print? Join a friendly, fast-paced production team where your design expertise and technical skill will help bring high-quality printed products to life. This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong eye for detail and a love for all things artwork, layout, and print preparation.

• Create, refine, and finalise artwork using Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
• Adapt customer artwork to meet litho printing specifications.
• Set up layouts, packaging templates, impositions, and print-ready files.
• Ensure accuracy of fonts, images, colour profiles, and embedded assets.
• Prepare and process files for CTP (computer-to-plate) output.
• Produce imposition layouts optimised for press sheet sizes and finishing requirements.
• Perform trapping, overprinting, bleed checks, and colour separations.
• Work confidently with spot colours, CMYK, and Pantone for litho printing.
• Carry out thorough preflight checks to minimise pressroom issues.
• Carefully inspect artwork for errors, inconsistencies, or print risks.
• Ensure all files meet both internal and client quality standards.
• Troubleshoot file issues and support the production team with solutions.
• Partner closely with account managers, sales teams, and production staff.
• Communicate with clients regarding amendments, clarifications, or artwork needs.
• Maintain organised file management and archiving systems.
• Contribute to continual improvements within prepress workflows.

• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Strong understanding of lithographic (offset) printing processes.
• Knowledge of colour theory, Pantone systems, colour management, and ICC profiles.
• Experience with preflight systems and workflow software.
• Ability to prepare files for CTP output and plate-making.

• Excellent attention to detail and high accuracy.
• Strong problem‑solving and technical troubleshooting ability.
• Comfortable working to deadlines in a busy production environment.
• Great communication and teamwork skills.
• Highly organised with good time‑management habits.

• Previous experience in a litho‑printing prepress environment.
• Understanding of finishing processes (cutting, folding, binding).

If you're ready to apply your creative and technical skills in a hands‑on print environment, we'd love to hear from you!