Do You Mix With Automation? Is It Pre or Post Fater?

The idea you were discussing was doing audomation early in the mixing process, rather than dial in processing first, then finish the mix with automation. My question is, once you get the automation done and start applying processing, are you placing that processing pre or post fater automation? Then he goes on to say, i've never mixed this way. A in parenthesis, automation first, but i'm going to try it. Just wanted to hear more about how the whole process works from you guys. Ok. Interesting. I generally don't use compression a as. I know, when i want to use something pre compression, like if i'm trying to automate something into a compressor.