Mac Operators, Artworkers and Graphic Artists?what's the difference?

Once upon a time, graphic designers and art directors conceptualised and produced design concepts. They then briefed specialists, who went ahead and used highly expensive hot-metal machinery, chemicals and cameras to produce the type and graphics - artwork. These people came to be known as artworkers or graphic artists and typesetters. Fast forward to the present day, wheel in some computers and some of these roles still exist.

The term Mac Operator is such a relative one, that it is hard to give a specific description of the role. A Mac Operator will often do much of the less creative work in a design studio, or publishing house. This can include marked-up text corrections, spell checks and formatting documents to pre-arranged templates. However, in a pre-press or print environment, the role can be a much more technical one.

Either way, it is generally true to say that being a Mac Operator is rarely a route to becoming a graphic designer. In fact, many job advertisements even display warnings such as 'This is Not a Creative Position'. On the other hand, it can be a way in to becoming an 'Artworker' or 'Finished Artist'. It can also be a good money earner for those returning to employment, temps and part time workers. If you fit into that category and have fast QuarkXpress or InDesign skills, it may be worth a punt.

Artworkers, graphic artists (or Finished Artists as they are called in some countries) would generally have a high level of skill in the basic graphic design software products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXpress, Indesign, Freehand and so on. Traditionally, Artworkers would not be expected to have much creative input, but would implement a concept, based on a designer's or Art Director's brief. High-end Photoshop skills, in particular, are a much sought after skill.

Art workers would also, generally, be expected to take a designer's layout and make sure that it is ready for pre-press or print. Since the advent of desktop publishing(DTP), many people have questioned the need for such a distinction between 'creative' and 'artworker'. Indeed, many design companies are beginning to despair at the number of graphic design students that continue to leave university without the ability to set up a job for print. There are, however, other design agencies that continue to function on the old system. Whether they will still be able to afford to do so in the future, is questionable.

There is, of course, the whole graphics industry based around pre-press, reproduction and printing. And many Artworkers and Mac Operators work in that sector. These highly skilled jobs require a high-end knowledge of the usual graphcis software, such as Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXpress and Adobe Illustrator. But it also requires a knowledge of print production issues such as colour reproduction theory, trapping and ink density. It is here that graphic designer's concepts are actually turned into a reality.

from: http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/artworkers.php