The development of Internet technology is changing the pre-press workflow of Foldable Magnetic Paper Boxes

The development of Internet technology is changing the pre-press workflow of Foldable Magnetic Paper Boxes

 

Every day, in the business section of the local newspaper, we read a number of articles about the development of Internet technology and the great changes it is bringing to all walks of life. Have you ever wondered, "Can these technologies change the prepress workflow of our packaging industry?" Now that you don't have to confuse yourself with this question, let me give you a clear answer: "Internet technology can and is changing the prepress workflow."

 

First, the old prepress system took a lot of time

Prepress workflows have long been independent, closed systems that have no direct contact or integration with other business or communication systems. Telephone, fax, and E-mail all play a role in communication systems, but they do not track information in a systematic way, so these technologies do not fundamentally improve the overall efficiency of our prepress production.

 

For example, in order to be able to make last minute changes to a printed text, you might export a proof copy and then send a fax sample of the changes to the client. You may even send a very large file to the client via email for the client to sign off on, but sometimes the sample may fail to be sent due to the capacity limitations of the client's email system. These problems seem to be small problems, but they can cause certain delays and delays, seriously affect production efficiency, and affect production profits.

 

Second, the new prepress system can save time and improve work efficiency

Instead, imagine this scenario: by giving certain permissions to each customer of the company, the customer can browse the current production status of the live part through the network, but also can add their own opinions and instructions, such as how to change the live part, approve or reject the live part, and so on. All of this happens in real time, no more having to wait by the fax machine for last-minute changes, no more trying to figure out the intentions in the fax, and no more laboring over the phone to describe how changes are being made. The current prepress technology and Internet technology have been developed by leaps and bounds, and have been able to overcome the above difficulties.

 

Flexible PDF files, Internet-based operating systems and powerful databases, the combination of these three, to our packaging and printing industry has brought great changes, previously only in other industries can experience major changes, and now in the packaging and printing industry has also been achieved.

 

Third, why use PDF file format?

PDF file format is another new output file format after PostScript file format, and has rapidly developed into a standard file format in the field of commercial printing, publishing and packaging printing. Prepress companies are now able to freely exchange files with each other without having to worry about file incompatibilities that were common in previous workflows. Millions of computers around the world already have the free software Adobe Acrobat Reader, which allows people to view PDF files easily on the Web. This reader helps us to remove all kinds of obstacles and difficulties, and provides us with a tool to browse images and text files.

 

At present, many sales manufacturers have begun to provide some plug-ins for Acrobat series of applications (plug-ins), and the price is relatively cheap, with these programs and software, prepress platemaking companies can correct the image, implement color management, set screen parameters, trap values and store into PDF files. And these programs can complete a variety of complex tasks necessary in the field of packaging prepress design, after which the file can be set up the corresponding password protection when storing the file, and then sent to the specified location, unauthorized people can not change or modify the file, so you can rest assured.

 

The documents can also be stored with a "digital signature" to verify that they have passed the appropriate quality assurance and are now ready for print reproduction. [next]

 

4. Integrate and coordinate Internet connections

Current file conversion technologies are very similar to existing prepress workflows, except that they are just standalone solutions. Cooperation between prepress companies and their customers may not be smooth, because the client may not be able to transfer live copies from remote, and it may not be able to verify, approve, or reject documents by annotating them. Current communication systems (such as fax, telephone, or email) are peripheral to the prepress workflow and cannot communicate directly with the prepress system, and must manually control and manage the incoming and outgoing files, and changes to the files still need to be viewed, interpreted, and manually added to the master file. All of this adds more delays to production, extra manual labor, the potential for errors, and time consuming.

 

If you can integrate communication tools and prepress tools into an efficient prepress system, you can not only eliminate redundant communication equipment, but also reduce the amount of labor of prepress document management, of course, you can save a lot of time and improve the efficiency of prepress production. This method combines communication technology and image technology perfectly.

Current technology has shown us just how far this integrated prepress process has come. Imagine that you need to get a customer to sign off on a package right away so that you have enough time for printing. You have to get the customer to approve the proof as soon as possible. Using the Internet, PDF files, and integrated pre-press workflow for packaging, you can send an email to your customer's voip to tell him or her that he or she can view his or her files on the company's secure pre-press site.

 

Prepress companies have complete control over their customers' rights, and can set what users can browse, sign samples, upload or download files, and so on. The customer, on the other hand, can easily access the website of the prepress company and, with the help of the software, can check the production status of his or her packaging parts online in real time. This is actually what is called a "digital master file", that is, the file used for imaging on the plate. Customers can annotate PDF files with the help of tools that already exist on their desktop. The database system in the prepress workflow can track the entire communication process to ensure that there are no errors. Customers and prepress operators can also have online, real-time discussions about a document, eliminating any productivity issues. It only takes a few minutes for the customer to sign the sample, and then it can be printed immediately, which can greatly reduce the reject rate.

 

5. Management of pre-press workflow

In previous prepress workflows, specific live item information was not stored with the file, but was recorded on a separate sheet of paper and stored in a file cabinet or other non-consolidated database. Every time a live piece is corrected, all data and historical data must be collected manually before the live piece can be reproduced and printed. In today's new prepress workflow, the communication process and the whole process of the prepress process can be easily controlled thanks to the use of a database. In the packaging and printing industry, this is generally referred to as "workflow management", which will greatly improve the profit margin of packaging and printing companies.

 

Workflow management has many advantages: reduced "handover time" during shift changes, which reduces labor costs. The operator can now see the entire history of the live part processing at any time, and can also embed all previous notes and instructions in the file, and no longer have to hold tedious production meetings before each shift operator starts work, and no longer have to pass on documents and their individual notes. Now, the staff of each shift simply need to browse the reports generated by the database system, they can understand all the requirements and conditions of the live parts, and within minutes they can start production again.

 

When complex and time-consuming operations are completed (such as entering the corresponding copy information into the integrated database, which can be used as a reference for special tasks such as screening, color management, trapping, etc.), the process plan has been developed in advance, so the error rate can be greatly reduced.

 

In the prepress workflow, the integrated database also includes some other advantages:
1. List management reports and reduce the time required for preparation and recording of materials.

2. Connect the current workflow with a common workflow to drive the phototypesetter, proof press and plate making equipment in the company.

3, while enjoying the advantages of "workflow management", adjust the current investment orientation through leverage to reduce expenditure.

4, for production planners and schedulers to provide an electronic way of bulletin board, like the traditional bulletin board, can also arrange production, and can update the production progress in real time, monitor and control all output equipment queue, but also in different workflow management export (or import) live parts.

 

6. How long will change take?

"Will the Internet change the packaging prepress industry?" For prepress companies and packaging and printing companies, the answer is yes, and the question now is: "When will the prepress industry change?" In fact, it is currently changing the packaging and printing industry.

 

In 2001, the packaging prepress system will apply these changes brought about by Internet technology. Why are these changes so important? In the packaging industry, due to the integration of prepress in recent years, the prepress workflows used by prepress platemaking companies can be said to be varied, and various workflows combined constitute a very complex mix. Previously, the only option to find a universal workflow solution was to invest a large amount of money in new equipment and training operators, but in most cases this was not possible because we had to deal with and work with a large number of old image files that needed to be used in the old workflow. In the past, this would have meant that prepress companies had to work hard to manage so many workflows to keep the workload balanced among different printing companies.

 

The Internet network workflow based on PDF file and database system provides an efficient and low-cost solution for the packaging and printing industry, and can link companies with companies through a common and standardized PDF file. At present, this prepress tool has begun to be sold on the market, which can solve the problem of too large cost. It is the perfect combination of creating change, driving the industry forward and improving the overall economic strength of the business, no matter how you think about this technology, there is no denying that this is really exciting news in the packaging and printing industry.