The application of digital proofing in Handmade Hinged Lid Cigarette Box printing industry is discussed

Feb 22, 2023

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In the traditional printing process, proofing is the beginning and a very important link. Traditional proofing can undoubtedly achieve the closest effect to the final print, but any technique is not perfect. With the application of ink-jet technology in the printing industry, digital proofing has gradually risen, and has quickly become a powerful supplement to traditional proofing because of its short process and variable data.

In this digital proofing in the printing industry application and development prospects and we do a discussion.

One, the use of proofing

First of all, let's clarify the purpose of proofing. Whether it is traditional proofing or digital proofing, there are the following three points:

1. Provide standard approval sample for customers: the sample is the finished product of a professional plate-making company, and the customer's signature marks the completion of the whole plate-making process.

2. Provide basic control data and standard color proofs for printing: "only after the customer signs the samples can the machine be printed" is the principle of the printing industry to ensure the accuracy of printing content and quality, distinguish the responsibilities of both sides, and is also the basis for the printing workers to adjust the printing environment according to the needs of the proofs.

3, error check: through the proof can fully check the quality of each process link before printing, found that there are or may appear in the printing error, in order to correct it, reduce the risk of production. Therefore, proofing has the functions of finding errors in pre-press operations for users and printing units, providing various types of proofs for printing, and reaching a contract with customers before printing. In short, the key to proofing is to simulate the printing effect, find the errors in the pre-press work, and provide relevant standards for printing.

Two, the shortcomings of traditional proofing

Traditional printing proofing, because the consumables used are basically consistent with the final printed matter, is undoubtedly the closest to the printed product, but the traditional proofing has its fatal shortcomings:

1. Proofing takes a long time. Because the traditional proofing process is the same as printing, the only difference is the amount of print, before printing RIP plate, plate, ink and so on a lot of processes, resulting in long proofing time.

2. Uneconomical. On the one hand, because the process is not reduced, resulting in the cost of more materials, on the other hand, in proofing, the yield is low, often need half a day or even many times to change a sample.

3, take up a lot of human resources. Generally, traditional proofing requires at least two full-time personnel to be responsible for it. One must also be a master level. Generally, it is an old master who has many years of captain experience to be responsible for proofing.

Three, the advantage of digital proofing

The emergence of digital proofing is based on the development of inkjet technology, when the inkjet gamut is greater than or equal to the printing gamut, in theory, digital proofing becomes possible.

What are the advantages of digital proofing compared with traditional proofing?

1. Proofing is simple and time-consuming. With inkjet printer and color management software, it can restore more than 90% of the printing color, easy to operate, only need to do a characteristic curve, output a folios of the sample generally more than ten minutes can be done.

2. Strong color repeatability. Because the ink-jet printer itself is relatively stable, the whole proofing process is computer control, greatly improving the stability and repeatability of digital proofing, which is unmatched by traditional proofing.

3. Save costs. Because the digital proofing process is simple, the resource occupation is very small, and the waste is very small, basically zero. Digital operation process, so there is no need for special personnel responsible for the operation, generally after a week of training can be competent.

Four, the principle of digital proofing

Because the advantages are obvious, so in the field of commercial printing, digital proofing quickly replaced the traditional proofing. So what is the principle of digital proofing? How is it implemented?

Color management for digital proofing can be simply summarized into three steps:

1. Basic printer linearization;

The basic linearization determines the physical characteristics of paper and ink together, optimizes the total amount of ink jet and single channel ink of the printer, and finds the maximum ink capacity of the proofing paper. It provides the foundation and optimization characteristics for the creation of the printer paper Profile, and thus establishes the basis of color management.

In fact, most inkjet printers are not linear output state, combined with the quality of proofing medium, generally in the total amount of ink does not reach 100% can obtain the maximum color density value, after that, even if the amount of ink increases, the color density will not change significantly, or even reduce.

This leads to a union of levels when making profiles, so it is crucial to basically linearize to determine the maximum total ink amount and the amount of ink in a single channel.

After the basic linearization of the printer, the part that exceeds the ink amount of the paper will be ignored, and the color value displayed by the remaining inkjet range is evenly distributed. That is to say, the range of 0%-100% of the printed color block is evenly distributed to the ink amount of 0%-X%, showing a linear change in density. A linearized printer will produce a much more desirable Profile than a non-linearized one.

2. Make digital proofing paper Profile;

Based on the linearized file and the amount of ink measured, print out the color marker plate for making the paper Profile, such as IT8.7/3, ECI2002, etc., measure and make the Profile in ICC software.

3, match the printer Profile and printing Profile.

After the above steps, just make the best match between the specific printer and the medium, that is, know the maximum gamut of the specific printer and the medium, in order to complete the digital proofing, it is necessary to match the maximum gamut and the target gamut, where the target gamut can be the printing factory's own standard, can also be the international standard, such as ISO12647-2 standard, Or FOGRA standard and so on, the size of the color difference after the two gamut matching determines the closeness of digital proofing and printing.

Five, digital proofing development direction

Before, due to the ink, the limitations of ink-jet consumables are relatively prominent. Digital proofing can only be completed with specific digital proofing paper, and can not be printed on the most commonly used coated paper for printing. The gap between the media leads to the distance between digital proofing and printing, so digital proofing is only used in commercial lithography. However, it is less used in the packaging and printing industry.

Now there is universal printing ink on the market, such as the water-based universal ink developed by Hongsheng, which can be directly printed on copper paper with heating device, and the brightness and firmness of color are relatively ideal, which can fully meet the requirements of digital proofing. In addition, printer manufacturers are also accelerating the development of packaging proofing machines, such as epson, mimaki respectively launched white ink printing machines, more some manufacturers use UV drying technology, the largest to meet market demand.

In short, whether Hongsheng launches the "coated paper printing solution" using water-based universal ink or realizes digital proofing through other inkjet methods, it will certainly greatly promote the use process of digital proofing in the printing industry and inject new vitality into the traditional printing industry with a long history.