Job Description:

• 1) Exposes sensitized metal plate to positive or negative film, using vacuum frame, to produce offset lithographic printing plates: Punches holes in light-sensitive plate with register punch and inserts register pins in holes to prepare plate for contact with positive or negative film.

• 2) Places plate on bed of vacuum frame and inserts positives or negatives on register pins to align positives or negatives with each other and with plate.

• 3) Places masking paper on areas of plate not covered by positives or negatives to prevent exposure of those areas.

• 4) Lowers top of vacuum frame onto plate and film assembly and activates vacuum to maintain contact between negative or positive film and plate.

• 5) Sets timer to activate ultraviolet light that exposes plate to positives or negatives.

• 6) Removes plate and film assembly from vacuum frame and places exposed plate in automatic processor to develop image and dry plate.

• 7) Performs tests to determine time required for exposure by exposing plates and comparing exposure to gray scale.

• 8) May replenish chemical solutions in automatic plate processor to maintain processor in working order.

• 9) May expose plates, using step-and-repeat machines.

• 10) May make proofs.