Digital proofing (on)

With the development of computerized direct-to-plate (CTP) technology in the production of dovetails in recent years, the industry generally believes that this technology will inevitably replace the existing film-making process. However, the speed of its development is controversial. Because the use of film processing technology can still provide a certain degree of flexibility for manual modification, such as typos or local version, etc., and direct plate-making is one step in the use of imagesetter imaging directly on the plate, all imaging data is not allowed Loss, otherwise you need to re-export the full page layout. In other words, as opposed to the CTFILM computer direct output film, CTPLATE more strictly requires a reliable digital workflow to properly handle the production process from designer to printer. Therefore, the most controversial issue is not whether lasers can directly produce high-precision outlets on plates, but whether there is a universally accepted digital workflow to replace the existing production methods. In the entire process, it needs to be considered: digital proofing, electricity and imposition, production and exchange rate, flexibility of modification, cost, trapping and filming. Below we introduce the requirements and techniques of digital strips.
First, the comparison of digital proofing with traditional proofing When referring to the effect of digital proofing, people generally use traditional proofing as a benchmark for comparison. Although this comparison is a matter of course, it is often easy to omit the benefits of some of the features that come with digital proofing. We will try to compare the differences between the two aspects in terms of quality, cost, and effectiveness.
1, the quality of the effect of color simulation capabilities: As the traditional proofing and printing are the same as the use of ink imaging, in theory, it can express the color gamut is very close to the printing. Digital proofing, although some proofers can use inks similar to ink components, the performance of the color gamut is very similar to printing, but the cost of color ink or machine is very high (general equipment is between RMB 500,000 and RMB 1.5 million). Depends on the format and accuracy.) Other regular mail color printers, such as inkjet or thermal sublimation printers, can express richer color gamuts than printing inks at a very low cost. The key to digital proofing is how to use an extremely rich color gamut to simulate the color gamut of printing inks. This is entirely dependent on the so-called color management technology of individual manufacturers.
Network simulation capabilities: Traditional proofing in this area has an absolute advantage, because they use the same set of printing film printing. Digital proofing requires simulation of outlets. On the one hand, it has to pay more than 1 million yuan to invest in high-precision equipment. On the other hand, the effect of the reprint is hardly the same as the actual printing effect. For example, the accuracy of a digital proofer is 2000/3000 DPI, and the resolution of an image-setter is 2400/3600 DPI. The outlets produced by the two are completely different. Most of the devices on the market that can simulate networks are actually only able to meet the visual requirements of customers.
Stability: Because the traditional proofer is based on artificial ink and adjustment pressure, so the effect is very stable, the industry has an experience is the same set of films to take out proofs, the effect is usually not the same. Digital proofing is automated imaging and can be very stable. Of course, if the equipment quality is not good, such as the ink head is often blocked, it will also cause instability. However, the more stable equipment on the market is not hard to find.
Reliability: Similarly, conventional proofing uses a film that is consistent with printing, and it is highly reliable. The Ning proofing can be divided into three levels on this issue:
(1) If the output proofing RIP is completely different from the final platemaking system RIP, then the reliability is low;
(2) If the RIP of the proofing is the same as the RIP of the platemaking system, but it needs to be reprocessed separately before imaging, the reliability is higher;
(3) If the same set of data that has been processed by RIP can be used for proofing and plate making, the reliability is very high. Because in addition to human factors in the entire process, the most likely difference in action is the RIP operation. The above-mentioned three levels of proofers are available in the market, and users must pay special attention.
2, cost-effective investment costs: In this regard, compared with the traditional proofing and digital proofing is very poor. Because in the same production capacity calculation, such as the completion of two sets of four-color proofing within one hour, investment in traditional equipment requires four sets of proofing machines, but also need supporting printing plate, washing equipment, staff and large factories needed The amount of investment required is about 2 million yuan. The investment in digital proofing is 300,000 to 1.5 million yuan, depending on the quality requirements, and the extra work is near zero. In terms of material costs, traditional proofing papers and inks have low costs, high cost ratios, and materials. Digital proofing an open format is about RMB 20 to RMB 150, depending on the technology of individual printers. In general, digital proofing (in a certain degree of quality recognition) can yield a much higher return on investment than traditional proofing.
3, the performance of the performance of production speed: the surface of the digital proofing imaging speed is faster, the market proofer generally can complete a high quality in the 20 minutes to open the layout. Traditional proofing, regardless of its size, does not include time for imposition, printing, and processing. It is usually only 30-40 minutes for proofing, and these are just comparisons for producing a proof. When it is necessary to produce more than one color proof, the difference in speed between the two is similar.
Multiple simulation capabilities: Most of the color proofers mentioned above are richer in color gamut than printing inks. The rich color gamut, coupled with good silver color management and software, enables digital proofing not only to simulate the effects of prints, but also to simulate other production effects such as screen printing, digital printing, inkjet poster proofing, and even Simulated performance under high-speed rotary printing can better meet the needs of increasingly diversified output in the market. The most common example is a set of advertising designs that need to be promoted through different media. (To be continued)