Graphic Design Prepress Specialist

2XL Imaging; Springfield (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

2XL Imaging is seeking a senior Graphic Prepress Specialist to prepare and optimize customer artwork for wide-format printing, vehicle graphics, and signage. You will mentor junior staff and partner with sales, design, and production to ensure precision and quality.

The role emphasizes advanced prepress workflows, RIP management, and color accuracy across substrates and printers, requiring strong attention to detail and reliable delivery in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of wide-format prepress experience; five+ preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Illustrator; working knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Pro.
• CMYK, RGB, Pantone color systems; ICC profiles and color management.

Responsibilities

• Review artwork for print readiness and production standards.
• Prepare production-ready files for wide-format and vehicle graphics.
• Create and edit artwork using Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Pro.
• Perform preflight inspections for resolution, bleed, trim, fonts, transparency, and overprint.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Acrobat Pro

Color management

Preflight

Print production

Education

Associate degree in Graphic Arts

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

ONYX

Caldera

EFI Fiery

Wasatch

Job description

The Graphic Prepress Specialist is a senior-level production graphics professional responsible for preparing, verifying, and optimizing customer artwork for wide-format digital printing, vehicle graphics, signage, displays, dye-sublimation textiles, and commercial print applications.

This role serves as a technical resource for sales, customer service, design, and production teams, ensuring accurate, efficient, and high-quality output across multiple printing platforms and substrates. The ideal candidate combines advanced prepress expertise, strong color-management skills, sound judgment, and the ability to mentor junior team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Review customer artwork and job specifications for print readiness and compliance with production standards.
• Prepare production-ready files for adhesive vinyl, vehicle wraps, banners, window films, paper products, polyester and dye-sublimation fabrics, and rigid display materials.
• Create, modify, and troubleshoot artwork using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro.
• Perform advanced preflight inspections, including resolution, bleed, trim, fonts, transparency, overprint, spot colors, and file optimization.
• Generate accurate proofs, mockups, production layouts, contour-cut files, and files for digital finishing equipment and plotters.
• Manage color consistency across print technologies, output devices, inks, and substrates.
• Create production layouts for fleet and vehicle graphics, wall murals, retail signage, trade-show displays, architectural graphics, point-of-purchase displays, and textile graphics.
• Manage RIP workflows, including nesting, tiling, paneling, scaling, color profiling, and repeat-job automation.
• Troubleshoot file issues, RIP errors, print-quality concerns, and production bottlenecks.
• Verify production tickets, material specifications, finishing requirements, and installation instructions.
• Partner with production, sales, customer service, and customers to resolve artwork and file-preparation issues.
• Provide technical leadership, training, and mentorship to junior prepress personnel.
• Improve workflow automation, standard operating procedures, and production efficiency.
• Maintain organized digital archives and accurate job documentation.

Required Qualifications

• At least three years of recent wide-format prepress experience; five or more years of progressively responsible experience is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, with working knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro.
• Demonstrated expertise in CMYK, RGB, and Pantone color systems, ICC profiling, output-device profiles, and color management.
• Strong knowledge of PDF workflows, print-resolution standards, variable scaling, and large-format production requirements.
• Experience preparing files for contour cutting, digital finishing, and multiple viewing distances.
• Ability to use RIP software and apply transferable RIP concepts across platforms.
• Strong troubleshooting, quality-control, communication, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ONYX, Caldera, EFI Fiery, Wasatch, or similar RIP platforms.
• Experience supporting wide-format, UV, eco-solvent, latex, and dye-sublimation printing environments.
• Knowledge of vehicle-wrap production, soft signage, textile graphics, large-format finishing equipment, and installation tolerances.
• Experience using color-calibration tools and spectrophotometers.
• Experience creating, maintaining, or troubleshooting automated prepress workflows.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or technical-mentoring experience.
• Associate degree in Graphic Arts, Graphic Communications, Design, Printing Technology, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Advanced understanding of wide-format production workflows.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication skills and confidence working across departments and with customers.
• Sound judgment, organization, and prioritization.
• Ability to coach team members and support continuous improvement.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to distinguish colors accurately.
• Ability to work for extended periods at a computer.
• Ability to occasionally lift media rolls and production materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work safely in both office and production environments.

This position functions as a senior prepress technical lead. The successful candidate is expected to manage complex customer projects independently, support production troubleshooting, maintain high quality standards, and provide technical leadership within the graphics and print-production department.

Additional Job Application Terms

This job is part of LinkedIn’s Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.

We’re committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you’re a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don’t hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.