Analysis of Some Misunderstandings in Current CTP Application
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In contemporary print production processes from manuscripts (information sources) to products, the key to the core competitiveness of printing companies is to solve how to reduce time redundancy, cost redundancy, staff redundancy and expand new application areas to achieve products and their individuality. Re-value-added services. Therefore, the focus of competition in today's printing houses has shifted from focusing on "print quality" to "improving work efficiency under the premise of quality."
The efficiency of print production is achieved through the entire process of digitally connecting printers, computers and users, and directly determines the price of the print. At present, in order to speed up production and increase the number of processes, printing companies rely on the management information system (MIS) for generating documents and printed work tickets and the prepress RIP system for converting computer codes into film/plate exposure control information. Networked user graphic file import, processing, online proofing, CTP direct plate making, printing process control and postpress processing. Among them, CTP is a key technology node that can reduce time, cost and personnel at the same time. However, in the current CTP application, due to the ideal promotion of CTP by the manufacturer and the lack of understanding of CTP technology by users, the current misunderstandings of CTP applications are summarized as follows:
1. Misunderstanding of CTP and its technology
Different from the 20-year call extension, laser imagesetter and DTP system in the printing industry, the application of CTP has become a CTP-based technology to integrate the entire production from prepress to printing and post-press. Links, including color management, digital workflow, and even the development of production technology processes that extend to the distribution and sales process, the printing business and business system are integrated into a digitally controlled information system.
The rapid development of modern technology has brought many uncertain factors and difficulties to the printing industry. In addition, the influence of the people who are engaged in the theory and research of printing technology on the development of the industry technology has made the printing enterprises in China still follow the traditional thinking. With the introduction of new technologies, supply and technology integrators have not completely completed the localization of technology according to the actual conditions of the domestic market, but applied foreign standards and models, so that some printing companies think that the application of CTP is to concentrate on purchasing a batch of computers. Hardware and software facilities such as servers, direct plate making, digital proofing, etc., can achieve low-cost and high-efficiency results. But the opposite is true. The core of CTP for printing companies is to digitally integrate traditional printing techniques and processes by mastering new production knowledge and using new knowledge. Therefore, only a comprehensive system analysis of traditional printing processes, with a certain cost to acquire new knowledge of CTP and related technologies, can use new knowledge in breadth and depth to increase efficiency. From the current research and analysis of the installation of CTP printing enterprises, the printing enterprises that master new knowledge, the quality and efficiency are simultaneously improved, the competitive advantage is increased, and the printing enterprises that have not mastered the new knowledge have not changed without any improvement after installing CTP. Big money and thoughts are burdened.
In addition, the application of CTP must also prepare a number of preparations in advance, including the creation of a complete digital environment, the solution of front-end file system interface technology, the improvement of electronic file management and data preservation and retrieval technology, the optimization of color management and RIP technology, and employees. Training in knowledge reconstruction. At the same time, according to their actual needs, through the comparative analysis of new and old technologies and processes, inherit the advantages of traditional crafts, and play the characteristics of new technologies, in color separation, tone transfer, digital proofing, layout and printing. Matching key points such as conditions, transforming the theoretical advantages of CTP into real productivity.
2. Misunderstanding of CTP application control methods
Since the application of CTP must integrate all the hardware equipment, software tools and process control in the existing production process, the CTP must analyze and summarize the various control nodes of the original process, understand the role of each node in the production quality and efficiency of the product, so that CTP can truly Become a bridge to deliver printed information. The understanding of CTP application control methods includes four aspects:
(1) What kind of precision printing information can CTP technology deliver?
At present, the understanding of what kind of precision printed information can be transmitted by CTP technology is mostly limited to the advantages of CTP. For example, in terms of technical advantages, it has high recording dot quality, small dot change, and can better record FM dots, highlights and darkness. The reproducibility of the network is good, the level of the tone is large, there is no problem of dust and film on the edge of the film, and the registration accuracy of the plate is high. In terms of aging advantages, the use of digital workflows has shortened the printing production time, improved the timeliness, and eliminated the manual finishing time of the dirty spots and film edges on the printing plates. The application of digital ink pre-technology saves the time of adjusting the printing presses. Record repeatability is good, and the printing adjustment time is short when the patch is replenished. In terms of cost advantage, the cost of film and its development processing is eliminated; the amount of test waste paper, ink and fountain solution is reduced; the utilization rate of printing machine and post-press processing equipment is improved; and personnel cost is reduced. However, it does not focus on, evaluate and select the most suitable CTP and its control parameters according to its actual printing conditions and quality level.
(2) What is the best information to be delivered during the printing process?
At present, the understanding of the best information that needs to be transmitted in the printing process is only in the range of the dot points that the CTP can reproduce, the number of screen lines that can be outputted, the frequency, the amplitude modulation or the hybrid screening, the minimum dot value that can be reproduced, etc. The ideal output state of the platesetter and its plates. It does not reflect the pre-press plate data, printing conditions and the rule of dot transfer between printed materials, and does not consider the side effects of high dot reproduction accuracy on the printing process, and the different transfer requirements of different types of prints for dot reproduction.
(3) What aspects and processes of traditional processes have been optimized and improved by CTP technology?
The process links and processes for optimizing and improving traditional processes of CTP technology are lack of systematic analysis and research. Without careful analysis, after adopting CTP in the process, the system color management caused by digital proofing completely different from the traditional proofing mechanism must be adopted. Controls fundamental changes that are tailored to match, as well as technical control methods and operating procedures, and new requirements for operators. Instead, I believe that high-quality products can be obtained with high-precision instruments. In fact, integrators and users do not adopt a scientific method to ensure that samples can reproduce or describe the true color characteristics of the device. As a result, the acquisition of high-precision digital control parameters, error handling, and set reliability are reduced. It is able to generalize and construct a modular process structure, and the reliability of the application is low.
(4) How to choose CTP and plate according to product requirements
In the current production, the products are divided into two categories: quality-first commercial plate making and speed-priority newspaper plate making. In the quality-priority commercial plate making, the main body of the product is high-quality albums, exquisite samples, fashion magazines and other high-quality printed materials, which have extremely high requirements on the color, level, clarity, consistency and screen line of the products, especially the highlights. The dark-tone dot reproduction, so it is necessary to adopt a variety of screening techniques, such as FM screening and AM screening, square point chain mixing. It is also necessary to use a CTP and a plate with a large gamma and good dot uniformity. For speed-priority newspapers, the main body of the product is time-sensitive newspapers and color books with lower quality requirements. The time requirements are higher than the quality requirements, and most of them use commercial, semi-commercial or newspaper rotary machines to print images. The tone is short, the color reproduction requirement is low, and the amplitude modulation network with low number of screen lines is mainly used. Therefore, the fast CTP and its plate can be selected.
3. Misunderstandings in the adaptation of each process in the CTP process
Currently, printing companies are applying CTP processes to replace traditional analog CTF processes. The CTP process integrating prepress, printing and postpress processing not only realizes the direct production of PS and PDF files, but also generates PPF/JDF which realizes process management, online proofing, automatic transmission of internal data, and printing machine operation instructions. (CIP3/CIP4) file. It can even allow customers to specify paper and ink over the Internet and track the production status of the print. Thereby, the visual analog medium transmission in the traditional process is transformed into the digital transmission of the invisible CTP process, which reduces the reliability of the adaptation state between the visual determination processes.
Whether the printing company is a traditional process or a CTP process, the adaptation of each process directly affects or determines the printing result. The CTP process should not only unify the data format, color management, tone transfer characteristics and optimal printing conditions of the production system by establishing the operation benchmark of the CTP process, but also regulate the relationship processing and different folding of the image in the page group version. With the principle of the binding method, we also need to consider digital proofing, CTP printing and a variety of printing methods such as single sheet and rotation, especially for rotary printing which is faster than single sheet and difficult to control. It is also necessary to solve the most reasonable process control and adaptation parameters for different quality standard products under different paper, ink, printing conditions and different working conditions. As a result, the difficulty and overall requirements of the adaptation between the processes in the CTP process are increased, making it seem difficult to understand and grasp the seemingly simple data filling.
Therefore, in the face of the CTP process, an effective way to achieve the adaptation of each process is to (1) analyze whether the conditions of the equipment, personnel, and materials for constructing the CTP process are mature. (2) Based on the CTF simulation CTP production process, find out all the problems that may be encountered and form a solution. (3) Establish production standards and quality specifications, do a variety of data testing and change adjustment measures, (4) conduct process and application tests of CTP processes, in order to truly achieve the normal operation of all production processes in the CTP process. Facts have proved that the successful strategy is based on the characteristics of printing presses, establishing ICC profiles of different paper and ink combinations, using scientific and reasonable quality control methods and testing methods to ensure the stability of printing colors, in order to allow employees to work according to standards. Changes in the CTP process are simply an addition to the actual production output.
4. Misunderstanding of CTP and its application selection
The introduction of CTP workflows by printing companies usually has the dual significance of improving the quality of technology and expanding the market and application fields. From the perspective of equipment and materials, there are a variety of direct platesetters to choose from, as well as a variety of plates to choose from, such as silver salt, photopolymerization, infrared thermal and inkjet.
In the selection and application of CTP equipment and plates, many companies do not start from the characteristics of their own products and market development. They do not use CTP technology to solve the shortcomings and defects in the traditional plate making process, break through the technical bottleneck of traditional processes, and find out The weakest link of their own, but based on the propaganda of the CTP printing company's positive reputation in terms of quality, cost and efficiency, or the direct exposure of the CTP plate has direct exposure to the printing plate, clear outlets, stable output quality, consistent production quality, The registration accuracy is higher, the printing preparation time is reduced, and the work efficiency is improved. Without carefully analyzing the product types of these manufacturers' model companies, the composition of technical personnel, the level of production quality management, and the time and material consumption from installation to formal production with the full support of the manufacturers, the idealized imitation often leads to the introduction. High-grade equipment and high-priced materials, due to insufficient digestion and mastery, did not achieve the required quality improvement, accelerated production efficiency, reduced operating costs, and even failed to achieve the quality of traditional plate-making processes.
5. Partial quality expectations replace the misunderstanding of overall quality expectations
The quality of printed products is actually a combination of a technical and aesthetic integration evaluation system. From a technical point of view, the quality of the final printed product is a comprehensive reflection of the equipment, materials, processes, control methods and personnel quality in a printing production system or printing production process. The introduction of CTP and its processes is actually the improvement and optimization of the local process or production process in a printing production system and printing production process, rather than the overall reconstruction of the entire printing production system or printing production process. In the technical promotion and product promotion, the manufacturers will carefully select the sample images that are most suitable for the expression of such devices under specific production conditions, and deliberately highlight the outstanding advantages of equipment and materials in some aspects, such as 1 The reduction of % small outlets does not explain the real production environment, personnel requirements and control means, product rate levels that achieve this advantage. Therefore, this level of quality is not repeatable among the vast majority of users.
When applying CTP technology, printing companies often follow the quality requirements of the sample or the high quality of the products as the quality expectations of their final printed products, ignoring the integration caused by the lack of other process equipment, technical level and management methods. Quality decline. For example, domestic printing companies generally have a problem in the printing process, using excessive amount of dampening solution to cause ink emulsification, which leads to insufficient printing density in the field, and 1% to 3% of small dots cannot be well inked. Even with the best CTP and its plates, the printing plates of 1% to 100% of high-quality outlets have been made, but the result is that the printing quality is the same as that of the conventional PS printing. In addition, domestic printing companies are still in the rough classification stage of printing quality control. They do not strictly test the product materials, determine the best matching state of materials and equipment, and do not carry out data transmission from color separation scanning to printing plates for different printing products. Effective segmentation control. Therefore, it is often impossible to find the link that has the effect of obtaining the overall quality. In short, it does not improve the quality level of the lowest quality link in the printing production. Finally, the printing quality will always stay at the quality level of the lowest quality link.
In short, the principle that the printing enterprise should be quality, time, and benefit to the advanced CTP technology should be: whether it can bring higher benefits to the enterprise. Second, see if a suitable all-digital CTP workflow is established. Thirdly, it is possible to maintain technical continuity and ensure that operators have rich experience and improve core competitiveness.