A professional who fabricates and finishes duplicate electrotype printing plates, according to specifications, using handtools, electroplating equipment, and metal casting, trimming, and forming machines. Responsibilities include:

• Forms plastic mold of composed type and cuts, using sheet-molding fiber and hydraulic press.
• Sprays mold with silver solution and immerses mold in plating tank.
• Separates mold from plated shell and fills back of shell with molten lead to form plate, using pouring ladle or casting machine.
• Removes excess metal from edges and back of plate, using power shear and milling machines.
• Examines plate to detect imperfect formation of halftone dots, lines, and type, using magnifier, and corrects defects, using engraver's handtools, punches, and hammer.
• Mounts finished plates on wood or metal blocks for flatbed presses or curves plate for cylinder presses, using hammer, nails, bonding press, or plate-curving machine.
• Removes excess metal from nonprinting areas of plate surface, using radial or cylindrical routing machine.
• May operate proof press to obtain proof of plate reproduction and registration.
• May revise plates to customer's specifications.
• May be known according to task performed as electrotype caster; electrotype molder.