Production Artist

Job Summary

The Production Artist plays a critical role in both the digital and physical aspects of the production process, ensuring that artwork and materials are optimized for high-quality screen printing, embroidery, transfers, and other applications. This role is equally split between digital design preparation and hands-on production tasks, including color separations, digitizing, ink mixing, screen making, transfer production, and calibration of the computer-to-screen system. The Master Production Artist is also responsible for creating, sending, and managing artwork approvals, as well as approving press checks to ensure physical placements and colors match digital proofs. This position collaborates closely with both the design and production teams to maintain accuracy, consistency, and efficiency across all projects.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Art Preparation & File Optimization

• Convert and adapt design concepts into production-ready files for screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfers.
• Ensure all artwork files are properly formatted, clean, and meet technical specifications for production.
• Maintain consistency and brand standards across all designs while optimizing for print accuracy.
• Digitize embroidery files, adjusting stitch types, densities, and underlays for different fabric types.

Artwork Approval Management

• Create digital proofs and mockups for customer approval, ensuring accuracy in design, placement, and colors.
• Send artwork approvals to clients and track responses to ensure timely production scheduling.
• Manage revisions and communicate necessary adjustments between clients and the production team.
• Maintain records of all approvals and changes to ensure production accuracy and accountability.

Hands-On Production Art Prep

• Perform color separations for screen printing, ensuring each layer is properly prepped for production.
• Mix inks accurately according to Pantone and custom color-matching requirements.
• Prepare and coat screens, expose designs, and ensure proper screen registration.
• Calibrate the computer-to-screen (CTS) system to ensure accurate screen exposure and imaging.
• Create and apply heat transfers and patches using various materials and production methods.
• Digitize embroidery files, ensuring proper stitch sequencing and underlay settings.
• Conduct sew-outs and sampling to verify embroidery accuracy before full production.

Press Check & Quality Control

• Approve press checks to confirm accurate translation of digital proofs to physical prints, ensuring correct placement, size, and color accuracy.
• Review and approve all design files before production, ensuring precision in colors, resolution, and formatting.
• Conduct test prints and embroidery samples to ensure optimal print quality and stitching precision.
• Troubleshoot design and production issues, such as ink adhesion, registration errors, or thread tension problems.
• Implement best practices for color accuracy, file management, and production efficiency.

Collaboration with Production Teams

• Work closely with screen printing, embroidery, and transfer production teams to ensure seamless execution of designs.
• Provide technical guidance on artwork interpretation, scaling, placement, and production feasibility.
• Assist in refining workflows to improve efficiency and minimize errors during production.

Process Improvement & Training

• Identify and implement improvements to the design-to-production workflow, enhancing efficiency and quality.
• Stay up to date with industry advancements in print, embroidery, and transfer technologies.
• Train junior designers, press operators, and production team members on art preparation, digitizing, and sampling techniques.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (preferred).
• Experience in Graphic design role, preferably in apparel manufacturing.

Skills & Abilities

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and embroidery digitizing software.
• Hands-on experience with color separations, digitizing, ink mixing, screen preparation, and transfer production.
• Strong understanding of print production processes, including screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfers.
• Experience creating, sending, and managing artwork approvals for multiple production methods.
• Ability to approve press checks and ensure proper translation of digital proofs to physical prints.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail in both digital and physical production tasks.
• Strong communication skills to effectively coordinate with clients, production teams, and designers.
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced production environment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,774.00 - $53,016.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,774 - $53,016