Mac Production Artist / Prepress Specialist - (ZR-733)

Horizon Tech is hiring an experienced Mac Production Artist / Prepress Specialist to join a US-based commercial and specialty printer as a dedicated, full-time remote team member, working directly with the client's production team.

You'll take artwork from customer file to press-ready. That means building separations, overprints, and traps; imposing in Kodak Prinergy; and preparing output for offset, digital, and specialty processes, including foil, letterpress, engraving, embossing, and screen printing. Every file you release becomes a plate, a die, or a press sheet, so accuracy is the job.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Print-Ready File Preparation:

• Preflight incoming artwork and correct issues in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat, using Enfocus PitStop to catch problems before files move downstream.
• Set up artwork to be print-ready with proper ink separations, overprints, knockouts, and traps for each print process.
• Set up files for special white, silver, and invisible ink printing.

Imposition & Plate Preparation:

• Impose final artwork in Kodak Prinergy (Workshop and Preps).
• Prepare files for plates across multiple print processes, including offset, foil, letterpress, and engraving.
• Set up imposed files and order plates from outside vendors for engraving, embossing, and foil, following up to keep jobs on schedule.

Digital Press & Film Output:

• Impose and upload files to Canon and HP Indigo digital presses.
• Set up files for outputting film positives for position, screen plates, and letterpress plates.

Quality Control & Coordination:

• Check every job against its job ticket (trim size, stock, ink colors, quantity, and process) before it goes to plate, film, or press.
• Work with the production and customer service team to resolve file issues and meet daily production deadlines.
• Keep job documentation and vendor order tracking current in Microsoft Word and Excel.

SOFTWARES:

• macOS: Primary working environment
• Adobe Illustrator & InDesign: Artwork setup, ink separations, overprints, and trapping
• Adobe Acrobat Pro: PDF review, editing, and proofing
• Enfocus PitStop: PDF preflight and correction
• Kodak Prinergy Workshop: Job processing and plate/output preparation
• Kodak Preps: Imposition and production layout
• Microsoft Word & Excel: Job documentation and vendor order tracking

REQUIREMENTS:

• 3+ years of hands-on prepress or production art experience in a commercial or specialty print environment.
• Expert-level print-ready file setup: ink separations, spot and process color, overprints, knockouts, and trapping.
• Hands-on imposition and plate preparation in Kodak Prinergy Workshop and Preps.
• Proven file preparation for offset, digital (Canon and HP Indigo), and specialty work, including foil, letterpress, engraving, embossing, screen printing, special inks, and film output.
• Fluent in a Mac-based production workflow.
• Meticulous attention to detail, with the discipline to catch errors before they reach plate, die, or press.
• Clear written and spoken English for day-to-day work with a US team.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Adobe Photoshop for image cleanup and color correction.
• Color management and proofing experience.
• Experience with digital front ends (DFEs) and RIPs for Canon and HP Indigo presses.
• Variable data setup for digital printing.
• Previous remote work with a US-based print or design team.

OTHER DETAILS:

• Job Timings: On-site (5:30 pm till 2:30 am PKT)
• Office location: Off Shahrah-e-Faisal, PECHS, Karachi.