Julie Drake
Julie Drake

Prepress Specialist / Variable Data Designer

Open to offers · Member since 19 Jul 2026
Message
Location
Grand Rapids, United States
Desired salary
Unspecified
Work preference
Remote Only / Full Time, Contract
Experience level
Senior

About

Professional summary

I am an experienced prepress professional with a strong background in variable data production, print file preparation, and digital prepress workflows. I specialize in handling customer-supplied native files, converting them into production-ready templates, and ensuring accuracy across fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

I have extensive experience working with Adobe Creative Cloud, Quadient Inspire Designer, HP SmartStream, XMPie, Kodak Prinergy, Enfocus PitStop, and other prepress and print production tools. My work has included direct mail campaigns, large-format output, proofing, preflighting, imposition, and data cleanup.

I am known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and efficient. I take pride in producing accurate work the first time and in supporting teams with creative direction, customer service, and production problem-solving.

My background includes both remote and on-site production environments, and I am comfortable working across MacOS and Windows systems. I also have experience with SQL queries, USPS regulations, mailing workflows, and digital asset management.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to improving print-on-demand processes, maintaining quality standards, and delivering final files that meet brand and print specifications. I enjoy working on complex projects that require precision, organization, and technical skill.

I am open to new opportunities where I can continue applying my prepress, variable data, and production design expertise in a collaborative and quality-focused environment.

Skills

15 capabilities

Experience

Career history

Prepress Technician / Variable Data Specialist Moore, DC Metro Division

Work with customer-supplied native files such as InDesign, Illustrator, and PDFs, converting them into variable data templates for large direct mail campaigns in Quadient Inspire. Modify customer files for layout, typesetting, and design, use scripting functions to assign values to variables, create proof and production print files, support customer service, and preflight files daily using Enfocus tools. Work remotely and in MacOS and Windows environments.

Production Artist Harper Collins Christian Publishing

Worked with art directors and production managers to complete project files for printing, created and routed match prints for approval, preflighted final files, managed delivery to printers, archived projects in Telescope, supported digital asset management, fulfilled reprint corrections, and reformatted files to meet brand standards.

Digital Prepress Technician Gilson Graphics

Prepared Adobe Creative Cloud files, built variable data jobs with HP SmartStream and XMPie, used Fuji XMF and HP Indigo workflows, prepared large-format files with Metrix, supported print-on-demand processes, used Satori and Postal One for mailing services, prepped files with Kodak Prinergy and Preps, and evaluated proofs for accuracy.

Digital Prepress Specialist Brightformat

Handled direct mail projects from raw data to production output, including data cleanup, merge purge, and variable data layouts. Prepared variable data jobs with HP SmartStream Designer, used Adobe Production Suite, managed file construction and imposition, prepared large-format files, and supported Microsoft Office workflows.

Digital Prepress Technician Foremost Graphics Group

Prepared variable data jobs using FusionPro and Darwin, worked with Equios imposition software, supported mailing list processing and USPS uploads, preflighted files for Kodak systems, ran Digimaster printer operations, and performed bindery tasks during downtime.

Digital Prepress Technician Gilson Graphics (formerly Integra Printing)

Prepared variable data jobs using HP SmartStream in InDesign, used Kodak Prinergy and Preps, created variable product tags and mailing materials, maintained master libraries and spreadsheets, supported print-on-demand workflows, and used Xerox FreeFlow for file cleanup and imposition.

Education

Learning history
No education data available.

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