A new perspective of printing workflow in the information era

From drupa 2004 to ChinaPrint 2005, information digital technology has created a wave of waves in the printing industry. The digital workflow, ERP, and JDF have received extensive attention as the focus of technological development. The printers have also continued to embrace the blueprint of digital printing factories. But there are also more and more people in the industry facing the status quo of the domestic printing technology applications, and raised questions about “how far we are from the information digital technology.”

At present, the division of printing application technology is mainly marked by direct plate making and film plate making. Now most of China's enterprises are still in the stage of film making. Even some enterprises that use direct plate making technology use both production methods. Process method. Therefore, for most of the printing companies in China, there is still a long way to go before the information digital technology can be realized and it cannot be accomplished overnight.
To achieve a good transition from the current process to digital information technology, we must start from the following two aspects.

1. The use of computer network technology, the introduction of miniaturized workflows, and the construction of a miniaturized process that is suitable for its own production process, actually constitute a production process with a raster image processor, imposition software, and digital proofing.

The small process can be combined with the photo-composing machine to form a small process-based photo-taking system based on filmmaking. In the same way, in combination with a direct platemaking machine, a small plate-type direct platemaking system based on direct platemaking can be constructed. In general, the small process capital investment is less, is only one-tenth of the big process, and "installed and used," there is no investment risk. The use of small processes is very flexible and can be adapted to different needs. It applies to commercial printing production processes, newspaper printing production processes, etc.

2. Small Process Production System Expands to Large Process System

According to the status quo of the application of printing technology in China, the traditional film-making process and digital-to-digital plate-making process will coexist for a while. Therefore, while introducing a small process, it is necessary to consider the expansion and compatibility of the direct platemaking system, that is, the feasibility and compatibility of the data transfer between the small process and the large process.

At present, the international mainstream data format 1-bit TIFF has the best compatibility, namely the electronic film files after RIP. This format file comes from the PIP, has a special dot for printed film, and exists as an electronic file. The greatest benefit that electronic film brings to printing companies is that it is not limited to front-end publishing software. Once generated, all page elements are fixed, resulting in no image movement and text loss, and reducing the risk of printing companies. Based on the electronic film technology, the large-scale small-scale process is compatible with the large-scale process through electronic film files, so as to maximize the use of corporate resources.

In short, the small process system has a full range of functions, covering all aspects of the printing process, such as RIP, imposition, trapping, and ink control. Users can implement DIY according to the links they need to handle. At present, pre-press system integration suppliers can provide this kind of DIY small process. For example, one of the high-tech company's digital process management system is a flexible small process portfolio, including Jiameng PIP, Gaoshubaotong (newspaper imposition) and Fuxin. Prinect (commercial imposition), ink control software (for CIP3, CIP4 related equipment).

Any commercial printing and newspaper printing company can choose the appropriate small process according to its own production situation. The use of small processes to digitize local processes and lay a good foundation for digital information technology for printing companies has become a new choice for the workflow of printing companies. Source: HC Network (HC Network Printing Industry)

Source: Window of Printing