PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER

Basic Purpose:

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving the set up and operation of a camera to photograph illustrations and printed material to produce film, glass, metal negatives, or reversed negatives used in the preparation of lithographic plates.

Typical functions:

•     Analyzes copy to determine quality of material to be photographed; determines the ratio of reduction and/or enlargement to scale; determines filters to be used to produce color reproductions; adjusts camera; selects appropriate exposure and setting for the speed of the lens; exposes negatives.

•     Makes layout to assure proper printing and folding; mounts and aligns copy and adjusts lighting to eliminate shadows.

•     Prepares necessary developing solutions; fixes, washes and hangs exposed photographic films to dry; trims, masks, and opaque negatives.

•     Sensitizes lithographic plates with photosensitive solution; transfers images from photographic negatives and positives.

•     Applies various solutions to plates to bring out the image; applies preservatives to plates.

•     Selects and places screen over negative to break up shadings in object for half-tone printing.

•     Places color filters over film to produce four-color separation, and/or half-tone separation; processes prints for multicolor printing.

•     Prepares original layouts for half-tone or color prints by copy drawing, paste-up, stripping, or inking techniques.

•     Trains and instructs others in the methods and techniques of making offset negatives and lithographic plates.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORs:

The Photolithographer job family consists of three levels which are distinguished based on the complexity of duties assigned and the technical expertise required to perform assigned tasks.

LEVEL I:                                  Code:  E51A                             Salary Band:  E

This is the basic level of this job family where employees are assigned duties involving photographing and stripping for one color printing for small presses up to 11 X 17.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of offset process cameras; of lithographic processes and techniques; of materials, methods and equipment used in a photographic darkroom; and of the techniques used in photographing copy material.  Ability is required to select proper work techniques; and ability is required to perceive space and color relationships.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of two years of experience in photolithography, platemaking, photographic development, or closely related  work.

Level II:                                   Code:  E51B                             Salary Band:  F

At this level employees are assigned duties involving shooting halftones and stripping for 2 color press to muilti-color spot color stripping or strips of 8 and 16 page signatures for large presses in 1 color.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus ability to shoot halftones and stripping for 2 color press to multi-color spot color stripping.

Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level I plus one additional year of experience.

Level III:                                  Code:  E51C                             Salary Band:  G

At this level employees are assigned responsibilities involving the more extreme and complex shooting and stripping for small and large presses to include chokes and spreads, reverses,  and four color process stripping with color bars.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level II plus the ability to strip very close registration color work.

Education and Experience required at this level include those identified in Level II plus one additional year of experience.