Plate Burner
さっぱんやきつけこう
Industry & Occupation
Classification
Summary
Specialist in the offset printing process who exposes and develops films or photosensitive plates to create printing plates.
Description
Plate burners are responsible for the process of producing printing plates used in offset printing. Using films created from originals or data output from CTP systems, they expose aluminum plates coated with photosensitive material using an exposure machine. After exposure, they perform development and fixing processes, then clean and dry the plate surface to prepare it for printing. Precise control of exposure time, chemical concentrations, room temperature, and other conditions is required, as this is a critical process that determines the quality of the final product. They also handle equipment inspections, maintenance, and troubleshooting, collaborating with other printing processes to improve productivity.
Future Outlook
Although traditional burn-in processes using film are declining due to the spread of digital platemaking technologies such as CTP, there is expected to be steady demand for specialized plate platemaking technicians, including those involved in quality control.
Personality Traits
Cautious / Dexterous hands, skilled at detailed work / High concentration / Meticulous
Work Style
Career Path
Plate Operator → Printing Operator → Platemaking Chief → Platemaking Process Manager → Printing Factory Technician
Required Skills
Color Tone Correction / Development and Fixing Processing Techniques / Exposure Machine Operation / Film Plate Handling / Printing Process Knowledge
Recommended Skills
Automated Equipment Maintenance / CTP System Operation / Color Theory / DTP Software Operation
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Because minute misalignments or exposure unevenness affect print quality. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Creativity & Ideation | Centered on routine tasks rather than new ideas, with few elements of creativity. |
Aliases
- CTP Operator
- Plate Burner
- Platemaking Operator
Related Jobs
- CTP Operator
- DTP Operator
- Platemaker
- Printing Machine Operator