Computer-to-plate (CTP) Operator

☛ Transfer images from master plates to unexposed plates, and immerse plates in developing solutions to develop images.

☛ Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.

☛ Lower vacuum frames onto plate-film assemblies, activate vacuums to establish contact between film and plates, and set timers to activate ultraviolet lights that expose plates.

☛ Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light-boxes and microscopes.

☛ Perform close alignment or registration of double and single flats to sensitized plates prior to exposure, in order to produce composite images.

☛ Remove plate-film assemblies from vacuum frames, and place exposed plates in automatic processors to develop images and dry plates

☛ Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.

☛ Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.

☛ Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.

☛ Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.

☛ Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.

☛ Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.

☛ Monitor contact between cover glass and masks inside vacuum frames, in order to prevent flaws resulting from overexposure or light reflection.

☛ Position and angle screens for proper exposure.

☛ Inspect developed film for specified results and quality, using magnifying glasses and scopes; forward acceptable negatives or positives to other workers or to customers.

☛ Punch holes in light-sensitive plates and insert pins in holes to prepare plates for contact with positive or negative film.

☛ Unload exposed film from scanners, and place film in automatic processors to develop images.

☛ Place masking paper on areas of plates not covered by positives or negatives, in order to prevent exposure.

☛ Mount negatives and plates in cameras, set exposure controls, and expose plates to light through negatives in order to transfer images onto plates.

☛ Operate and maintain a variety of cameras and equipment, such as process, line, halftone, and color separation cameras, enlargers, electronic scanners, and contact equipment.

☛ Perform tests to determine lengths of exposures, by exposing plates, scanning line copy, and comparing exposures to tone range scales.

☛ Mix solutions such as developing solutions and colored coating solutions.

☛ Activate scanners to produce positive or negative films for the black-and-white, cyan, yellow, and magenta separations from each original copy.

☛ Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.

☛ Reposition lamps and adjust aperture controls in order to provide high quality images.

☛ Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color.

☛ Set scanners to specific color densities, sizes, screen rulings, and exposure adjustments, using scanner keyboards or computers.

☛ Perform minor deletions, additions, or corrections to completed plates, on or off printing presses, using tusche, printing ink, erasers, and needles.

☛ Correct minor film mask defects with litho tape or opaquing fluid.

☛ Position color transparencies, negatives, or reflection copies on scanning drums, and mount drums and heads on scanners.

☛ Arrange and mount typeset material and illustrations into paste-ups for printing reproduction, based on artists' or editors' layouts.

☛ Scale copy for reductions and enlargements, using proportion wheels.

☛ Describe a recent unpopular decision you made as Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator)

☛ What parts of your education do you see as relevant to this Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) position?

☛ What problems have you encountered at work?

☛ What were your starting and final levels of compensation?

☛ What do you do if you disagree with a co-worker?

☛ What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?

☛ Describe how you have balanced your academic work with your extracurricular activities.

The interviewer will not have allocated a lot of time to answer your questions so keep it short. Stay focused on what is critical to the job. Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) interview questions like these demand specifics.

☛ What are you looking for in terms of Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) career development?

☛ Give examples of steps taken to make each team member feel important.

☛ What is good customer service?

☛ How do you make the decision to delegate work?

☛ What kinds of situations do you find most stressful?

☛ What were the steps you needed to take to achieve goals?

☛ Tell me about an important goal that you set in the past.

Review the company's mission statement to understand how it addresses its long-term goals and the way it does business. Think of recent strong strategic examples of work you've done. Talk about your education, work history, recent career experience and future goals.

☛ At CTP Thermique we work with some of the largest scale machinery in our industry. Tell me about the types of machinery you are most experienced with.

☛ We put a lot of effort into ensuring CTP Thermique uses only the best parts and materials available. What do you know about our cutting edge machinery?

☛ How will the knowledge gained from your most recent position help you succeed in this role with CTP Thermique?

☛ The health and safety of our employees is top priority at CTP Thermique. How would you react if your supervisor asked you to perform a task that you were not comfortable with?

☛ At CTP Thermique we measure productivity in a variety of ways. In your opinion, what are the most important performance metrics for this position?

☛ Our reputation is very important to us. In which ways do you feel CTP Thermique stands out from the crowd?

☛ Some of our competitors use social media to promote their brand. How do you feel about the social media presence at CTP Thermique? Do you feel this type of marketing is relevant to our industry?

☛ Our motto at CTP Thermique is to work smarter, not harder. If you had a workplace motto, what would it be?

☛ We have a variety of shifts at CTP Thermique. Do you have any restrictions on your availability?

☛ Do you have experience working in a unionized environment? What are your thoughts on union based roles?

☛ Tell me about a time that you have helped a co-worker accomplish an important goal.

☛ What was the biggest change you have had to deal with in your career?

☛ Tell us about a time when you were particularly effective on prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.

☛ What are your career aspirations beyond this job?

☛ Why are you the best candidate for us?

☛ How would you describe your written communication skills?

☛ How would you describe your relationship with your customers or clients?

☛ Name me a few things you were asked to do in your last position that you weren't trained for.

☛ When have you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem?

☛ If you were given a choice, which work related task would you leave for last? Why?

☛ Tell me about yourself.

☛ With your experience, what contributions do you believe you will make to our department?

☛ On a scale from 1 to 10, how honest are you?

☛ How can we motivate you on the job?

☛ Give me an example of a time when your communication skills helped you be a more effective leader.

☛ When have you effectively delegated tasks to your employees?

☛ How do you handle situations that could cause you to be late or miss work?

☛ What types of activities keep you busy, outside of work?

☛ What makes you a great problem solver?

☛ Is compensation the most important factor for you when taking a new job?

☛ What part of this career brings you the most stress?

☛ Tell me about a time there was a serious conflict. How did you resolve it?

☛ What were the steps you needed to take to achieve goals?

☛ What do you believe are your key strengths?

☛ Can you describe a time when your work as Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) was criticized?

☛ Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?

☛ What did you like least about your last job?

☛ What do you feel is the best educational preparation for this Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) job?

☛ How have you coordinated the work of your team to achieve target goals?

You can continue by describing specific examples of challenges you have met. How you respond to these Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) interview questions may be a litmus test for how well you'll fit into the organization.

Think of an example where you have had to do something on your own initiative in your current job.

☛ What have you gained from your Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) work experiences?

☛ Have you found any ways to make Computer to Plate Operator (CTP Operator) job easier?

☛ Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.

☛ What were your starting and final levels of compensation?

☛ Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? How?

☛ Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.

☛ What do you think, would you be willing to travel for work?

The interviewer wants to see why you think you are the best person for the job. Review the company's mission statement to understand how it addresses its long-term goals and the way it does business. The response to this question usually reveals if the candidate has personal or professional goals.