Replace the CTP version with the traditional PS version (on)

The popularization and application of high-tech such as computers and lasers in the printing field has promoted the revolution of printing technology. The computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, which is currently a high-tech printing industry, has been popular around the world since the launch of Dru-Pa in 1995 and is now used in offset printing, flexo printing, and screen printing. At the Drupa 2004 show, CTP technology and media were one of its focuses. A wide range of products such as various equipment and plates were the focus of the show. It can be predicted that with the continuous improvement of CTP plates and related technologies, CTP will become a new trend leading the plate printing industry.

First, the superiority of CTP technology and the need to improve the problem

The CTP technology eliminates the processing of the output film and the development and fixing processes in the traditional plate making and the artificial imposition and other processes. Instead, the CTP technology directly copies the digital graphic information obtained by the computer processing to the printing plate. This not only shortens the time and improves the work efficiency, but also avoids the graphic quality problems caused by film output and environmental problems caused by flushing. It is a high-speed and high-quality plate making new technology and meets the requirements of green printing. To sum up, CTP technology has the following characteristics.

(1) Improve printing quality. Since the CTP technology no longer outputs film, it directly displays the image on the printing plate by light energy or heat energy. Therefore, the dots on the plate are directly imaged at once, avoiding the plate-making defects caused by film factors and dust. Make the dots on the plate cleaner and clearer. At the same time, due to the reduction of processes, the influences of elements such as film development, exposure, chemical development chemicals, environmental temperature, and operating technologies during the plate making process are avoided, and the stability of the plate quality is greatly improved. In addition, because CTP technology uses a more accurate plate positioning technology, there is no manual imposition error, reducing the human error in the plate making process, the accuracy of the repositioning of the completed four-color version up to micron level, in The brightness adjustment errors in printed crystals are almost negligible, so using CTP technology can greatly improve the printing quality.

(2) Shorten the production cycle. The traditional plate-making process takes about 40 minutes to output the film from photoprinting to printing. Especially when the layout is more concentrated, the time required is longer, and the situation such as the printing press is often encountered. The CTP technology can preview and put together a large version (layout the layout required by customers) and then directly image the plate, eliminating the need for film output, manual imposition, and printing. It takes only a minute or two to fight a four-color version, and it takes only about 10 minutes to output a four-color version, which saves nearly 30 minutes compared to the traditional plate-making process. This avoids the phenomenon of a printing press in the traditional plate-making process. . In addition, the preparation time for printing and the cost of preprinted paper and ink can be greatly reduced.

(3) to achieve remote transmission and on-demand printing. The widespread use of computers and network technologies in the printing field has enabled many printers to implement network connections, and some have also established their own web pages, thus making network printing possible. Today, through the Internet, many printing companies can be connected with customers, suppliers, etc. to complete sales, distribute printed matter, manage print production and ordering materials, and use e-mail and other means for business contacts. CTP technology fully adopts digital process flow, which provides convenient conditions for offsite printing of web uploads. Moreover, CTP can achieve "a typesetting, multiple output", convenient remote printing, and on-demand printing.

(4) Achieve green platemaking. The CTP technology not only eliminates the use of film developing rinses and the like, but—if using a CTP plate that does not require developer flushing, it does not need to be chemically rinsed and can be operated in the light room. Compared with the traditional plate-making process, the development of pharmaceuticals is no longer used, thus avoiding harms to the operators and the environment caused by toxic substances such as waste water and realizing green plate making.

(5) Problems that CTP needs to solve. As CTP is a high technology in the printing field that has been introduced in recent years, it needs many new technologies, new materials, new equipment, etc. to support it, and requires related supporting facilities to be digitized. The CTP technology is a new technology, the process is still unstable, the printing plate's resistance to printing force is not high, and problems such as network loss caused by operations during use cannot be avoided, and the operating technology needs to be improved. From the perspective of the application of the front and the front, it cannot be said that it is ideal in terms of price, technology, etc. In addition to relying on computers and purple laser (UV) technologies, CTP plates are also one of the most important factors affecting the development of CTP. Although the use of thermal plates and photo-sensitive plates has been widely applied, CTP plates have some drawbacks. If the thermal plate is still in use, the plate material is sensitive to temperature and humidity, easily deteriorates, and the problem is found only after the plate is exposed. Therefore, the relative stability of the plate is low, and the equipment maintenance and power consumption costs are relatively high. In addition, CTP plates generally suffer from expensive drawbacks, and it is always the biggest bottleneck of CTP technology. At present, almost all CTP plates used in China need to be imported. However, there are few manufacturers that can supply high-quality CTP plates, and the supply channels are narrow, and no bulk supply can be formed in the market. In terms of price, imported CTP plates are more than 90 yuan per square meter, which translates into ordinary split plates, which is about 50 yuan, plus 19% of customs duty and 17% of value-added tax. The general domestic PS version is only 20 yuan (imported PS version of about 30 yuan). The fierce market competition has made plate making a meager profit industry. Therefore, this is a problem that must be taken into consideration for companies with large amounts of media. It makes many manufacturers who are very much willing to adopt CTP technology to shy away from expensive CTP plates. Therefore, opening and issuing low-cost CTP plates can be an important measure for popularizing CTP.

(to be continued)