What You'll Do

  • Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.
  • Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
  • View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.
  • Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
  • Store copies of publications on paper, magnetic tape, film, or diskette.
  • Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns.
  • Enter digitized data into electronic prepress system computer memory, using scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse.
  • Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching.
  • Import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software.
  • Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Active Listening 3.5/5
Speaking 3.5/5
Writing 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5
Time Management 3.12/5
Active Learning 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Learning Strategies 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Innovation, Cautiousness, Achievement Orientation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 4.12/5
Information Ordering 4.0/5
Originality 3.88/5
Visualization 3.88/5
Written Comprehension 3.75/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.75/5
Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Written Expression 3.62/5

Technologies & Tools

Actuate DocBook Adobe Acrobat Adobe ActionScript Adobe After Effects Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Dreamweaver Adobe FrameMaker Adobe FreeHand MX Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe LiveMotion Adobe PageMaker Adobe Photoshop Adobe PostScript AlgoLab Raster to Vector Conversion Toolkit Apple AppleScript Apple iPhoto Apple macOS Arts & Letters Express AT&T Troff

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.85/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.48/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 3.73/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.71/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 3.62/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

Similar Careers to Explore

Technical Writers

99.0% similar profile

Sound Engineering Technicians

97.4% similar profile

Film and Video Editors

97.2% similar profile

Architectural and Civil Drafters

96.6% similar profile

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

96.3% similar profile

Interpreters and Translators

96.1% similar profile

Prepress Technicians and Workers

96.1% similar profile

Audio and Video Technicians

96.0% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Advertising Associate Compositor Computer Compositor Computer Publisher Computer Typesetter Design Editor Desktop Operator Desktop Publisher Desktop Publishing Associate Desktop Publishing Specialist Desktop Support Engineer Digital Publisher Digital Publishing Specialist Document Design Specialist DTP Operator (Desktop Publishing Operator) Electronic Console Display Operator Electronic Imager Electronic Pagination System Operator Electronic Prepress Systems Operator Electronic Publisher Electronic Publishing Specialist Magazine Publisher Online Publisher Page Makeup System Operator Paginator Publisher Publishing Specialist

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.