Digital Workflow and Printing Production Integration (3)

Digital workflow implementation

It can be seen that the digitized workflow includes two major parts of the graphics and information flow mentioned above. Graphic information flow solves the problem of "doing"; and controlling information flow solves the problems of "how to do" and "what to do." The key point is: Both types of information are digital and can be stored, processed, and transmitted by computer storage.

We illustrate the difference between the non-integrated digital work and the complete digital flow through Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the customer provides graphic manuscripts, layouts, and production requirements. After the printing unit receives these non-digitized information, it performs text input/layout, image scan input/processing, and prepress processing and production of graphics. According to the customer's requirements, the digitalized multi-page information will be formed into a full-page version. Then the printing function will be used to generate the PostSript or PDF information of the layout description. After the RIP processing, the whole page color separation graphic record will be output. Go to the film or plate. When the customer agreed to formally print, batch printing began.

When performing batch printing, the operator relies on experience to adjust the amount of ink to control the ink zones of the printer; if it is desired to obtain the basic data for adjustment of the ink zone of the printer before printing, the printing plate must be scanned with a special device before printing to obtain Ink statistics for each ink control area to get the correct ink volume control on the press. After the printing is completed, the printed product is obtained through steps such as folding, cutting, and binding.

In this non-integrated digital prepress process, although the graphic information is digital, and the ink control on the printer can also be digitized to a certain extent, the production control information is still fragmented and non-integrated. The prepress, printing, and postpress processes are not very tightly linked.

The client provides the original manuscript, layout, and production requirements. After receiving this task, the printing unit determines the appropriate copying route, distribution printing and post-press processing equipment according to the basic characteristics of the printed product and the customer's requirements.

The prepress processing stage was conducted in the same way as described above. After the imposition of the imposition, the information relating to hand-sheet folding, cutting, binding, and registration rules has been determined. After RIP processing, the record information for each plate was obtained. This information can be used for two purposes: First, it is used for film or plate recording, and secondly, this data can be used to count the ink control basic data of each ink area of ​​the printing machine. Thus obtaining the ink amount control data information eliminates the step of printing plate scanning.

After the printing plate is produced, during the printer adjustment stage before the printing is officially started, the multi-color overprint adjustment can be performed by using the registration position data already generated in the pre-printing stage; at the same time, the ink amount adjustment data that has been obtained can be used to print the printing machine. The ink volume of each ink zone is adjusted without having to repeat the test printing, so that the printing press can quickly enter the formal printing state, which saves material and shortens the time spent.

After the printing is completed, prior to the post-press processing such as cutting, folding, affixing, etc., the information such as folding, cutting, etc. already generated in the pre-printing stage can be recalled, and presetting of the folding machine, cutting machine, and binding machine can be performed. , To make various equipment quickly into working condition, carry out post-press processing and production, and finally get printed products.

From the above comparison, it can be seen that in the integrated digital workflow, various equipment control and pre-adjustment status information required for printing and printing have been obtained in the prepress stage. As long as the information is accurate and can be smoothly transmitted to printing and postpress equipment, these devices can quickly enter the normal working state of a product. This saves the overall adjustment time, reduces and avoids the operation of things, is conducive to improving the quality of printed products. It is these digital control information that link prepress, printing and postpress to form a complete production chain.