Summary of Qualifications

• Worked as senior digital retoucher/colour specialist at prestigious stock photo agency for the last 10 years
• Computer skills: Photoshop (from v. 2 to CS3), Capture One Pro, LinoColor, various data and colour management software (iView MediaPro, FileMaker Pro, Eye-One Match)
• Over 10 years experience working in the Graphic Arts Industry
• Proven experience ranging from prepress and printing to training and production coordination
• Dedicated, creative and detail-oriented individual
• Quick learner, able to transfer knowledge to others

Employment History

1997-2008

Digital Imaging Production Artist
Masterfile Corp., Toronto

• Performed photo retouching, colour correction (Lab, RGB, CMYK) analogue and digital files, compositing and scanning
• Created and followed work-flow procedures for post-processing scanned files
• Signed and approved bluelines and printed sheets at press-approvals
• Worked closely with personnel from other creative departments including editing and marketing, in order to improve product and increase sales
• Provided feedback to editors and art directors on the quality of Masterfile Production digital images
• Trained more than 20 newly-hired staff and those transferred from other departments in colour-correction, scanning and retouching and evaluated their work until they were ready to work independently
• Transferred knowledge and experience to colleagues through presentations and mini-courses and that way helped them to become more efficient and productive in everyday production

1997

Graphic Production Artist
Image Center, Toronto

• Prepared client files for Indigo Digital Press, including pre-flighting, photo retouching, colour correction, compositing and liaison with clients
• Communicated with clients and discussed jobs, making sure that clients had supplied correct and sufficient files in order to be able to print their artwork
• Worked closely with clients such as designers, art directors and in-house staff

1993-1997

Digital Imaging Production Artist
Masmedia/Gema Publishers, Zagreb, Croatia

• Applied and shared my experience and knowledge in printing and pre-press in producing numerous projects, such as fine art books, magazines, directories and guide-books
• Performed drum scanning, photo retouching, colour correction (CMYK), compositing, on-site press-approvals
• Assisted in creating and developing a small in-house prepress department , by advising the owner of the company on equipment purchase; recommended staffing resources
• Worked closely with in-house and freelance editors and art directors following their instructions and layouts, and when requested, contributed with creative solutions like background replacements, colour change, creating special effects for headlines etc.
• Signed and approved bluelines and printed sheets, made sure that blue prints matched the layouts and checked quality of printed sheets in terms of colour, registration, flaws

1987-1993

Head of Prepress Department
Nasa Djeca Printers, Zagreb, Croatia

• Managed production in lithography, typesetting, high-end scanning, stripping and platemaking
• Projects ranged from labels for food industry, calendars and posters, to very complex 6-colour books, catalogues for museum exhibits, theatre programs, coffee-table books
• Managed staff of 23 and liaised with clients and art directors
• Obtained layouts, text, slides, prints, logos, drawings, illustrations from clients or from clients’ representatives, assessed scope of project and assigned appropriate staff
• Oversaw procedures for all Prepress projects
• Solved problems as they occurred, such as missing text, or images, by contacting clients and asking them to supply us with missing material
• Outsourced projects as appropriate and motivated existing staff
• Worked closely with clients at signing bluelines, and being with them and helping them at press-approvals in order to assure the best possible results
• Advised company management to invest in new technology which could enable businesses to cut production costs and allow for more creative freedom in producing printed materials

EDUCATION

1997

LinoColor training by Heidelberg

1993

ColorQuartet Training course, ScanView, Copenhagen, Danemark

1984-1987

Technical College of Printing Trade, Zagreb, Croatia
Diploma studies in Printing Specialisation