Production Artist Job Description and Salary Outlook

Production Artist Job Description and Salary OutlookProduction Artist Job Description and Salary OutlookA keen eye for detail along with a healthy mix of creative and technical know-how makes the production akrobat an indispensable - and in-demand - part of the creative team.While the earliest production artists performed paste-up duties for the advertising industry, the position has evolved to include prepress work for both print and digital projects. Todays production artist assists design teams primarily in producing print, packaging, advertising, point-of-purchase and digital graphics. The fruchtwein common duty for a production artist is preflight formatting, in addition to collecting, processing, checking and uploading files.A successful production artist must possess a mix of both creative and technical skills. They must be able to work quickly but also remain extremely detail-oriented.Heres a look at the production artist job description and average starting salary.Producti on artist salary benchmarksAccording to The Creative Groups 2019 Salary Guide, the midpoint starting salary for a production artist is $52,000. Use our Salary Calculator to find out what a production artist can make in your city.Check out our available production artist positions nowProduction artist duties and expectationsWhile an art director comes up with creative concepts and a graphic designer executes them, its the production artist who brings them to life. Thats why strong typographic and layout skills, strict attention to detail, and outstanding organizational, project management, file-organization and archiving skills are a must.The production artist job description often includes the ability toCollaborate closely with art directors, designers and developersPrepare final press-ready files based on supplied specifications for several types of printingMake various formats of supplied artwork production-ready and resolve any artwork issues that arise during productionProvide i mage retouching, clipping paths and additional image manipulationPackage and preflight files for release to printers or media partnersCreate PDFs for print and client reviewConduct press checksPrepare images for online and mobile applicationsCatalog and reference art for future projectsFollow a development timeline to ensure tasks are being completed on timeTroubleshoot problems as they arise with both the creative team and the printerLooking to hire a production artist? Learn how we can help you with your staffing needsProfessional experience and skillsA bachelors degree in design or other related positions is preferred for the production artist position. Significant course work in graphic design, print production, visual arts or a related field, along with an outstanding portfolio and experience that demonstrates clear knowledge of print production and design, may suffice in the absence of a degree.A production artist must have a solid knowledge of printing processes and should be adept with software applications such as FlightCheck, the Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.Experience with digital content such as websites, social media, online advertising and email campaigns may be required, along with basic knowledge of HTML5, Adobe After Effects and web-development software.A production artist should have strong analytical skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. These creative professionals should also be process-oriented self-starters. And they must stay up to date with new production techniques and trends through research and education.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.