Folding Paper Boxes For Gift. Drupa 2004 pre-Press Technology and Data Preparation Report

Folding Paper Boxes For Gift. Drupa 2004 pre-Press Technology and Data Preparation Report

 

The front end of the printing process is prepress, which usually refers to the process of correctly setting prepress parameters. With the advent of the digital age, the field of prepress has changed a lot, and a new concept is now proposed - Premedia, which is an extension of the printing process.

 

In Drupa 2004, the field of prepress scene is hot, CTP plate making, digital proofing (remote proofing and hard copy proofing), new screening technology, as well as throughout the production process and CIM (computer integrated manufacturing) and other concepts are the primary focus of prepress development.

 

The JDF format has received a lot of attention, but for now it is only a back-office support technology and has not fundamentally changed the entire industry. However, many manufacturers in this exhibition have developed products based on JDF technology, and the combined power makes people call this Drupa "the Druba of JDF".

 

The JDF feels real and is well on its way to becoming a data-driven print manufacturing process. According to CIP4, there are about 75 companies exhibiting their JDF products at Drupa. In the JDF theme park, 21 companies participated and exhibited more than 90 pairs of connected products (two different products communicate with each other through the JDF format). Members of the NGP partner organization have conducted similar development and testing, and approximately 80 more connected product pairs are expected.

 

The significance of JDF is to eliminate the confusion between different manufacturers and different processes in the industry. Both NGP Partner organizations and Print City are now members of CIP4, whose leaders are selected by independent vendors within the organization. NGP partner organizations also commit to the industry that they will share their work with CIP4 and work with CIP4 to establish a common Interoperability Conformance Specification -ICS. Make it easy to solve any problem related to interaction and collaboration in the industry.

 

Operate according to specifications

The concept of ICS was first introduced in JDF version 1.2, which was also released during Drupa. It provides a mechanism for establishing connections between different types of devices using minimal standard format languages. Another notable change, according to CIP4, is the ability to conduct a comprehensive review of the pre-inspection description, resulting in fully standardized pre-inspection description documents and reports.

 

Support for JDF technology is now more or less present in the list of new product features of many manufacturers, and other enhancements include support for the latest PDF files on existing devices, the latest networking technology and tools to improve the customer interface.

 

The exhibition also saw the continued expansion of workflow concepts, such as Heidelberg's Prinect system, Clio's Network Graphic Production, Agfa's ApogeeX and Delano joint products, Trueflownet for screen screens, EFI's OneFl, and more. Kodakopolight has also joined the development of workflow solutions, introducing its first DirectWorks Suite at the show, which integrates Kodakopolight's specialized color management technology into standard workflow tools.

 

After a series of improvements, Esko-Graphics introduced a new workflow environment called Scope, which is a modular and scalable software tool that can extend desktop software to specialized workstations. Similarly, Global Graphics not only revamps its Harlequin RIP to support the JDF format, but also introduces a new "Cortex" development platform, which is said to be OEM-ready and uses the system integrator to integrate the core layer of the workflow, ultimately adding value to the system.

 

Although Adobe did not have its own booth, it did not pass up the opportunity to showcase its progress and achievements in JDF integration technology by joining the JDF theme park and co-exhibiting at nine other booths. It has introduced a new "concept" that enables InDesign and Acrobat software to capture product parameters using the JDF plug-in on the creative and design desktop, and the company has not yet set a specific product release date.

 

In the field of CTP, process-free technology is the new technology focus of digital plate suppliers.

 

Agfa said that with the commercialization of Azura's new product, Agfa has taken an important step towards the ideal goal, Azura uses high-power carbon filament lamp technology, a chemical free, off-grid thermal plate. This material is said to only need to be cleaned or glued in the non-graphic area, and the printing resistance can reach 100,000 prints.

 

Although Agfa's acquisition of Lastra is not yet complete, it has been decided to launch one of Lastra's products under a new plate brand. Currently, Lastra is in beta testing a process-free thermal plate called Cosmic, which is based on transformable polymer technology and has a printing resistance of 100,000 impressions, and is expected to be on the market in early 2005.

 

Kodakopolil's thermal direct processing plates are designed for medium and small printing companies with a printing resistance of up to 75,000 prints and are said to be compatible with existing platemaking equipment.

 

Cleo describes their Clarus PL as a "truly process-free" plate that is now only on display as a technology demonstration. It is a transferable polymer product that can reach 50,000 print resistance and will be put into commercial production by the end of this year.

 

Fujifilm is also developing process-free printing plates, which are based on multi-layer photosensitive polymerization technology and meet various working parameters, with a printing resistance of up to 50,000 impressions, which can be developed on the machine. Fujifilm is not yet sure when commercial production will begin.

 

Konica Minolta has introduced a process-free system that includes the TF-200 thermal version and the SR-830 platemaking machine. The plate has a heat-sensitive layer that allows the unexposed area to be removed by the action of the moistening solution and ink.

 

When it comes to platemaking equipment, manufacturers say they have upgraded most or all of their product lines, often with improvements in speed and automation. Key technologies include the use of higher energy lasers (up to 60 mW) in purple laser imaging systems and the use of raster electronic light valve technology in thermal systems.

 

Here are some truly new offerings:

Agfa introduces the Acento, a quad-open thermal platemaking machine for mid-size printing houses, which is an entry-level purple laser platemaking machine that uses the Palladio platform and is manually loaded.

 

Magnus from Clio is a thermal VLF system (63x83") that supports both single and dual output for greater production capacity.

 

ECRM has introduced the MAKO 8 platemaker, a beautiful and inexpensive product for the production of folio plates. Using purple laser imaging technology, with linear plate channel.

 

Esko-Graphics has upgraded its Purple Laser platemaking line with the addition of the PlateDriver 6 and Compact, which are entry-level quarto platemaking machines. In addition, the company has previewed Espresso, a computer-generated UV system for imaging traditional pre-sensitive versions, which is expected to launch in 2005.

 

Fujifilm has also added a B2 format device to its Purple Laser line, the Luxel V-6, which uses a high energy laser (60mW) with a dedicated RIP.

 

Heidelberg came back to life at the show with improvements to all components of the equipment, including a new laser system, the Suprasetter, available in quarto and folio models.

 

Presstek has also introduced a new thermal laser imaging system using the new ProFire Excel technology, which can be imaged on the company's existing variety of chemical-free metal plates. Its laser head is capable of producing a 16-micron laser spot, easily achieving 300 lpi resolution and FM screening. This technology was incorporated into the new Dimension Excel platemaking machine.

 

Presstek also introduced a low-cost solution, the SureFire laser imaging platform. A.B. ick has incorporated this technology into its latest Vector TX 52 CTP system, which features the "ThinDrum" technology, which also leads to cost savings. This platemaker can be used with the Freedom thermal plate from A.B. Drake and Presstek.

 

Kodak Poly Light has introduced a new entry-level CTP system, DirectSet 4101T, which is a quad-sized thermal plate system based on the screen PlateRite 4100 engine that can be used in Kodak Poly Light's DirectWorks Suite workflows. Prior to the presentation, the company announced that it will work with the screen company to create a cooperative brand, Kodakopolil will promote, sell and fully support the screen of the full line of thermal CTP system.

 

At the same time, the screen will continue to offer its purple laser imaging solution. The high laser energy (60mW) B3 format PlateRite Micra and B2 format FlatRite 2055 Vi Platemakers are introduced.

 

For the CTcP (Computing Mechanism Traditional Edition) launched just two years ago, basysPrint has continued to introduce an entry-level digital UV platemaker UV-setter 731e.

 

Strobbe has introduced a new split format, platform purple laser platemaker PSA-33MV, which is a plate loading system that can be set up to 10 boxes, each plate box can hold two plates.

 

Glunz & Jensen's iCTP (inkjet Computer Plate Making) system, PlateWriter 4200, offers the industry a whole new way of processing. It uses a "Liquid Dot" scheme to image on a non-sensitive aluminum plate. The system will be available in the fall.

 

New screening products

For CTP products, regardless of the laser type, it is developed with optional screening technology. At Drupa, Agfa and Clio's advanced screening solutions (Sublima and Staccato, respectively) gained a lot of attention from visitors, and both of them can be well applied to commercial printing production. In addition, both companies have introduced spot color printing replacement systems (Agfa's Alterno and Clio's Spotless 4 and X), which employ the science of color conversion in advanced screening systems - in some cases, adding inks of other colors.

 

M.Y. PrinTech has introduced Fmsix, which uses standard CMYK inks for imaging and enables two (or three) spot color printing using FM screen technology.

 

The new FM solutions introduced in Dusseldorf include Fujifilm's Taffeta 20 and Screen's Randot X, as well as Heidelberg's Satin mesh and EFI's hybrid AM/FM mesh called OneFlow.

 

The digital revolution continues to affect the realization of proofing, but it has not eliminated its important role in product processing - at least not yet.

 

With Kodakopolyl's acquisition of RealTimeImage's printing division, the focus has changed to integration with proofing technology. RealTimeProof's functionality is gradually being integrated with Kodakopolyl's Matchprint Virtual proofing line, however its standalone application has been upgraded to version 5.0, which comes with new "Multiple preview" and "compare" capabilities that make it easier to preview multiple proofs. This online proofing technology will also be integrated into the products of companies such as Heidelberg, EFI and Esko-Graphics.

 

GMG set a new price standard for its ColorProof software and made a significant reduction in price. In addition, it introduced ProofControl quality control system with color control bar and a spectrophotometer.

 

CGS Publishing Technologies showcases its enhanced color accuracy technology, incorporating color accurate name proofing into a hard copy proofing system. ORIS Color Tuner can be used to produce a PDF document containing a bitmap of color accuracy, which can be previewed and annotated in Adobe Acrobat using a plug-in. The company also introduced a new AutoCal Wizard panel for color adjustment.

 

Many inkjet proofing suppliers such as Kodakopolil, Creole, Fujifilm, Agfa and EFI have upgraded their products, including support for new print engines and improved color management technology.