Preflight: What does it mean?

Preflighting is for print documents that run through all the files that you used in the document to make sure none are missing and/or have changed. Before printing a document consider a few points from this checklist.

• Include all fonts
• Include all linked images and photos
• Include all embedded and nested images and photos
• Use CMYK font colors  
• Save images in the proper file format and the proper resolution
• Check all bleeds and crop marks
• Verify your document size

To be hired as a preflight technician one must have the right qualifications. The technician must load the customers supplied electronic onto the prepress file server. Also check customer's files for any problems that may arise. They must identify the problems as well and communicate with the customer and production personnel. A few of the tasks include identifying missing fonts and performing basic troubleshooting.The annual salary starts off at $25,000 and can go as high as $57,000 annually.



Sources:
http://www.printecpress.com/preflight.html
"Printing Industry Education Summit Committee" http://www.graphiccommcentral.org/employ/preflight-technician.html
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes515111.htm