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Career opportunities are available in advertising agencies, commercial printing businesses,
newspapers, fabric printing businesses, publishing companies, photography
studios and various business and industry graphic design departments.
Duties:
Graduates in this field may be required to:
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Scheduling of items to be printed
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Working with clients to determine layout, color choices, etc.
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Quoting print jobs
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Operation of desktop publishing hardware and software, and peripherals
such as laser printers, image setters, color proofers, scanners (drum and/or
flatbed), digital cameras, graphics tablets, etc.
Working Conditions
Graduates in this field commonly experience:
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Clean; air conditioned (usually)
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Office/computer room/art department environment/darkroom
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May work alone or with others
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May perform a variety of duties
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May work with clients one-on-one or in a group setting
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May work under direct supervision
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Work under stress to meet deadlines
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Overtime sometimes required
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May be expected to proof own work carefully to avoid mistakes
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Some outside work may be required (photo shoots, etc.)
Physical Demands
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Great deal of sitting (in computer rooms/offices/art department)
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Very active
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Focused on computer screen for a good portion of the day
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Movement back and forth between computer and paste-up, light
and cutting tables
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Movement in order to get certain angles in photo shoots
Characteristics & Temperament
Graduates in this field should have:
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Ability to work with things
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Problem-solving skills
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Good communication skills
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Good proofing/editing skills/spelling
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An “eye” for good design
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Ability to work with different types of people
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Ability to work with numbers (measuring skills for layout)
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Preciseness, attention to detail
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Good organizational skills
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Good memory skills
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Ability to “catch on” quickly
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Fair motor movement (hand/eye coordination/manual dexterity)
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Self-discipline/self-motivation
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Ability to make generalizations, evaluations, decisions based on verifiable data
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Patience
Employment Outlook
Graduates in this field can expect the following developments:
- increased pay and advancement possible with experience and further education
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employment in cities and towns of all sizes
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possible entry level positions: layout assistant, typesetter, customer service, administrative assistant, photography assistant, graphic arts assistant, designer
Employers
Recent graduates have found work at:
Program & Course Information
Piedmont Technical College offers the following programs related to this career field:
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