Application analysis of Half-open Magnetic Closure Boxes digital printing workflow

Application analysis of Half-open Magnetic Closure Boxes digital printing workflow

I. Present situation of digital printing workflow

Although the domestic printing production process has experienced the CIP3/PPF development for nearly 10 years and started to enter the CIP4/JDF stage, the development of printing industry in China is still very slow. Relevant data show that at present, domestic printing enterprises that adopt digital workflow are basically in the transition stage from traditional analog production process to digital production process, represented by large book printing plants, commercial printing plants and large plate making companies and publishing houses. The application of digital workflow in these enterprises is also mainly focused on the pre-press link. Some printing enterprises are extending the process to printing, focusing on the ink volume control. There is a lack of systematic and in-depth research on the equipment and technology for the establishment and development of digital workflow, but practical exploration is still needed. The present digital level status of our country determines the unique way in the promotion and application of digital work flow in our country. Some advanced printing enterprises to realize CTP output as the goal, starting from the realization of digital folding large version, gradually realize digital proofing, PDF output, color management, digital working procedure management, network transmission, and finally realize the digitalization of the whole process. And some technical content is not too high printing enterprises should according to their own situation, the digital work flow based on the phototypesetter.

 

Second, digital workflow application

There are two types of digital workflow for promotion and application in our country. One is the long distance digital workflow, CIP3 workflow; The second is the short-distance prepress digitization workflow, which includes three main methods: one is the digitalization workflow based on CTP, the second is the digitalization workflow based on large format laser phototypesetter, and the third is the mixed operation mode of digitalization process software +CTP+CTF.

 

1. Long-distance digital workflow

This process is the CIP3-based full digital workflow, enabling high precision color digital image acquisition, processing, graphic combination, digital proof, output film or direct platemaking, data transmission, printing and post-press all links closely together, to achieve job automation and integration. CIP3's entire workflow enables digitization and integration of Prepress, Press, and PostPress. The efficiency and quality of the CIP3 all-digital workflow marks a new phase in the digital age for the printing industry.

 

However, the CIP3 work process is very difficult to promote in actual production. For example, lack of funds, a set of work flow matching each other's software and hardware equipment, its price is expensive, generally hundreds of thousands of yuan; Lack of digital management experience, domestic enterprises of digital, standardization, standardization ability is still weak; Equipment is older, complex, most do not have CIP3 interface, it is difficult to fully apply digital workflow, etc. As a result, CIP3's all-digital workflow is difficult to operate, which is one of the biggest challenges in rolling out this new technology.

 

Therefore, if the whole information management system of the printing enterprise has not reached the equivalent level, it is difficult to realize the full digital workflow. However, it must be seen that it is the direction of development, therefore, enterprises with conditions should implement it first. The CIP3 full digital workflow will be more and more widely used as many of the leading developers in China and abroad have launched their own unique set of solutions to help companies implement CIP3 full digital workflow.

 

2. Short-distance prepress digital workflow

Every revolutionary change of prepress technology has greatly promoted the progress of the printing industry. At the same time, every progress of the printing industry is inseparable from the development of prepress technology. At present, the digital technology in the field of prepress is replacing the traditional process, and the digital workflow of prepress will completely replace the traditional process and realize the transformation to pure digital.

 

① Digital workflow based on CTP

This process has been widely used in some advanced printing enterprises, the effect is obvious, and plays a huge role in the actual production. The printing quality and production efficiency have been greatly improved than the traditional process. Many users have fully felt the efficiency, benefit and high quality brought by this new technology.

 

CTP and digital workflow cover from scanning input, document processing, digital proofing, direct plate-making to machine printing and other links between the data processing and exchange process. A complete set of CTP system is not only a plate-making machine, but also the most important thing is to establish an ideal digital workflow matching it. The direct platemaking machine and digital prototyping machine are just output devices, which are determined by the digital workflow software. The digital workflow in a set of CTP system is equivalent to the human brain, which plays a leading role.

 

At present, there are a variety of solutions for C, T, P and digital workflow, among which the PDF based workflow is the most popular workflow at present. PostScript data or other data formats in the PDF workflow are converted to PDF format. PDF avoids the unpredictability of PS page description language. PS files from any application software and any platform can be converted to PDF format. Its singleness ensures the reliability of production. For example, True Flow digital prepress workflow developed by Screen Company is the core of CTP and digital workflow. It can directly interpret PDF1.3 and Postscript T3 files, and it is the world's first workflow management system that can run on web browser. It supports PDF, PS, ICC color management, large format, CIP3, PPF file output, work citation, hot folder and other functions, and integrates RIP technology. RIP's function is to accept files in PS, PDF, EPS and other formats, interpret and calculate them once, form intermediate files, and output them several times. If TIFF chart, Outline PDF, RIPed PDF are generated, they are respectively used for digital proof, blue paper and CTP direct platemaking, which can make the digital process realize multifunctional and intuitive automatic processing. And has the supporting EFI digital proofing software, the RIP completed 1-bit-tiff file or TIFF file on the large format inkjet printer output proof, to achieve the color management of proof output. Practice has proved that CTP and digital workflow has been more mature, from the production of practical analysis, easy to use, accurate, reliable and compatible and system integration is its mature mark.

 

② Digital workflow based on laser phototypesetter

Based on laser phototypesetter digital work process, most suitable for the present most printing enterprises in our country to the needs of technology upgrade, because it can make full use of the existing prepress equipment, the existing production system and new system together, play maximum function, make "old trees bloom new flowers", and continue to create benefits, thus is the favored of everyone, Famous manufacturers at home and abroad also regard this process as the goal of the current workflow development, launched a successful solution.

 

The digital workflow technology based on phototypesetter has been mature, and various solutions can be easy to use, accurate processing and strong compatibility. Many users have realized the value of it in practice: can make full use of the original prepress equipment, play its effect, do less investment, quick effect; Enterprise technology has been upgraded, completely solve the traditional prepress production process of tedious manual plate work, so that the plate work is fast and accurate; For the enterprise to further CTP and digital workflow plays a good role in paving the way; Color level information is stable in the process of transmission, good reproducibility, production efficiency and product quality are improved.

 

(3) Digital workflow software +CTP+CTF mixed operation mode

This operation mode is the co-existence mode of CTP direct platemaking system and traditional CTF equipment. Its advantage is that it can combine the advantages of the two modes and flexibly choose platemaking mode according to the actual situation of the enterprise. On the one hand, it can meet the needs of most printing enterprises to upgrade technology, because it can make full use of the existing prepress equipment, the existing production system and the new system together, give full play to the maximum effect; At the same time can avoid a few live parts using CTP plate cost increase. Therefore, this operation mode is the most suitable mode for most printing enterprises in our country.

 

Of course, the difficulty of establishing this operation mode is how to make digital process software to integrate CTP direct plate making and traditional CTF process, and how to make the two modes work together. Because the present prepress system used in our country some equipment is closed, incompatible, not open, different manufacturer's equipment and software are very difficult to be compatible, which brings a difficulty for CTP direct platemaking and the effective integration of the traditional CTF process. For example, the digital process software integrates the RIP function, but sometimes the one-bit-tiff files output from the digital process software can not be recognized by the laser phototypesetter, so it is necessary to use the third-party RIP software to drive the phototypesetter to produce pieces, which brings certain difficulties to the production.

 

At present, some companies have adopted this mixed operation process mode, and we believe that this operation mode will improve the efficiency of plate making and bring greater benefits to enterprises. [next]

 

3. Problems and reflections in the application of digital process

1. Problems existing in the application of digital process

In recent years, the rapid development of equipment and technology has removed obstacles for the establishment of digital workflow. Digital workflow has been widely used in foreign printing enterprises, but it still needs a period of exploration and running-in for domestic printing enterprises to truly enter the digital era. The reasons include the following.

 

(1) Because of the different national conditions and specific levels of economic development, there are many differences between the management modes of domestic enterprises and foreign enterprises. To enable domestic Indian enterprises to use digital workflow systems, they can only rely on domestic software developers who are familiar with China's national conditions and the dynamics of the printing industry.

 

(2) The role of advanced work flow in the competition and development of enterprises has not been fully recognized, because of low labor costs, a large number of manual participation, traditional operation mode is still the main production mode of printing enterprises. Despite the increasing competition in the domestic printing market and the gradual increase in labor costs, many printing enterprises do not fully understand that the use of new work processes to improve productivity and provide customers with a wider variety of services will play a huge role in promoting the development of enterprises. This requires the whole industry to work together to educate and cultivate the market, so that people know more about the value that the new workflow can create for the enterprise, as well as the decisive role in the future development, and update people's ideas.

 

(3) PDF and JDF are increasingly popular in China, but few people really understand their operation mechanism, so there is a shortage of professional talents to promote digital workflow in China.

 

(4) Many foreign enterprises use a full set of equipment from the same manufacturer, so that they have the basis for the application of the same manufacturer's process software; On the other hand, domestic enterprises generally have complex equipment composition and combination of Chinese and foreign. Moreover, their equipment models are older and do not have CIP3 interface, so it is difficult to apply digital workflow.

⑤ Because the establishment of a new digital workflow needs a certain amount of capital investment, and because the workflow needs software products to constitute, and the value of software has not been valued by people, coupled with low labor costs, which makes many enterprises to establish advanced digital printing workflow is "love you in heart, money is difficult to open". Solving this problem requires vendors to better advertise and promote the value of advanced workflows, as well as flexible financial arrangements.

 

2. Thinking about digital workflow

Today, when digital workflow is hot, both insiders and users should carry out objective analysis and calm thinking:

 

① Thinking 1: How to evaluate digital workflow

Manufacturers are trying to promote their own digital workflow, evaluation of its advantages and disadvantages, manufacturers, scholars, customers have their own set of standards, but the most important is the standard of the customer, because the customer is the end user. Development to today, each of the processes are increasingly mature and perfect, each has its own characteristics, there is no need to evaluate the good or bad, the key to see which process is more in line with the actual situation of the enterprise, can bring greater profits for the enterprise.

 

② Think two: Whether to buy digital workflow

Digital workflow is a good technology product, but not every enterprise is necessary to buy and use, do not follow the fashion, must be combined with their own actual situation to make judgments and decisions. For example, an output center only needs a set of RIP, spend tens of thousands of yuan can buy a set of dedicated RIP and large version of the software, why spend more money to buy a set of digital workflow? In addition, consider whether it is urgent to buy now. If it is not urgent, it is better to wait for a while. Over time, the performance of the process will be better and the price will be cheaper.

 

③ Think three: How to buy digital workflow

First, decision makers or key technical personnel must be fully familiar with the content, role and advantages of digital workflow. Secondly, we should have a comprehensive understanding of the production links and technological processes of the enterprise, have a clear idea of how to use digital workflow, and have a clear goal of what effect to achieve. Then, look at different processes to see which process is more cost-effective to meet your actual requirements. For example, enterprises with more foreign business must take into account the requirements of foreign businessmen, who will have their own standards for the requirements of digital workflow. In addition, newspaper printing is different from commercial printing, and the selection criteria will be different. Finally, after-sales service is also a very important standard to investigate.

 

Therefore, enterprises in the purchase process, must consider all aspects of the factors, choose suitable for their own corporate characteristics of the digital workflow. At the time of purchase, you can purchase modules and gradually upgrade and add modules according to the actual demand.

 

Think 4: How to leverage digital workflow

Digital workflow is a set of system engineering, not a single product, is closely related to each production link and production equipment, must adjust the original production process to adapt to and obey the requirements of digital workflow. Digital workflow is just a tool, and ultimately it must be completed by people, so the quality of relevant personnel is particularly important, there should be good managers and excellent technical personnel, as well as serious and responsible operators.

 

Four, concluding remarks

Digital work process, as an advanced means of production, is being gradually recognized by domestic practitioners. Although the digital work process of our country is relatively backward compared with the printing developed countries and areas, and its application mainly focuses on CTF and a small number of CTP production link, but with the progress of technology and the rapid development of the domestic printing industry, The application prospect of digital work flow is very broad.

 

By combining the analysis and understanding of process products and printing enterprises, it can be seen that digital workflow has a broad space for development. Although most of the functions of digital workflow are of greater theoretical significance than practical significance at present, digital workflow represents a development direction and trend of the printing industry, and its role has gradually emerged, with great potential. With its popularization and more mature, it will play a greater role in the printing industry, further pushing the printing industry to standardization, data, networking, towards high quality and efficient development.

 

Although the digital workflow based on JDF has gradually become mature and perfect, on the whole, it is still in the stage of enlightenment and its application has not been popularized. Even the enterprises that use the workflow often only apply part of the functions in the workflow. Some enterprises have not fully recognized and accepted the digital workflow, and its technology and performance need to be further strengthened and improved. Therefore, digital workflow adoption and development is still a process, as CIP4 President MartinBailey said, looking forward to 5 to 10 years, JDF will be truly automated and fully interoperable. Therefore, in the next few years, digital workflow will be the development direction and popular trend of the printing industry. In these years, the publicity will be more powerful, the technology will be more mature, the application will be more popular, and the role will be more significant. I believe that digital workflow will have a better tomorrow.

 

Compared with the particularity of Europe, America and other Asian countries, the domestic printing industry determines that the process of domestic prepress digital process application will not be fast, and it will still be in the application and exploration stage in the next few years. However, the emergence of any new technology will eliminate a number of traditional enterprises or promote the business transformation of some enterprises, and the survival of the inferior market competition, or the emergence of more horizontal cooperation in the industry. The domestic printing industry will have the day, the printing digital workflow in the domestic application prospects are bright.

 

Digital workflow represents a development direction and trend of the printing industry, its role has gradually emerged, with huge potential, with its popularization and more mature, it will play a greater role in the printing industry, further push the printing industry to standardization, data, networking, towards high quality and efficient development.