Digital prepress process for the company itself

At present, the prepress digitalization process and the use of CTP have entered an accelerated period. The use of CTP and digital processes can increase production efficiency, ensure product quality, and provide an efficient management model.

At present, the main file format of the process is classified on the domestic and foreign markets, which are mainly divided into two types: pre-RIP and post-RIP. The structural classification of the process is mainly integrated and split. But no matter what kind of process, it is inseparable from the interpretation of the file and the ability to generate a large version, as well as equipment integration capabilities, that is, a high degree of integration of the hardware and software environment to achieve digital, systematic production. At present, the mainstream digitalization process is PDF/JDF (intermediate document is PDF, process control is JDF). Pre-press and post-press equipment are integrated and managed to digitally control the production process.

The process of foreign prepress companies includes the Apogee Apogee workflow, screen Huizhi workflow, Kodak Prinergy workflow, and Heidelberg Gypsophila workflow. The domestic digital flow is based on Founder Flow.

Agfa Apogee Workflow

The Apogee process pop components include: PDF creation tool Create, operation core Pilot, and efficient output management tool PrintDrive. Designers use Create to generate a PDF file and use it to generate an independent and optimized PDF file that accurately reproduces the designers' creativity. It is a design software based on Adobe Extreme technology that can convert files generated by programs such as PageMaker and QuaricXPress to PDF files and make pre-flight checks to make the generated PDF files fully meet the requirements for high-end printing. The Pilot has a normalizer feature that makes it more accurate when dealing with spot colors, Pantone colors, patterns, CokMzedTIFF, and multi-tone images. ApogeePDFRIP can automatically perform trapping processing. You can preview the outlets. You can preview or observe the “Digital Film” on the local or remote site to check whether the trapping, folding, overprinting and other settings are correct, but the direct laser printing output is more troublesome. The efficiency is low. In addition PDFRIP supports a variety of screening methods such as Agfa Balanced Network and Agfa Crystal FM Network, and also supports ICC color management files. You can print the dot copy file, DCS file, and TIFF file directly on the printer. The Apogee process can implement the RIP after the big version function. Printurive also provides "last minute change" function to modify the RIP processed page before output. This is of great significance for newspapers and magazines. As an output manager in the process, the Printerive can store all pages according to the appropriate device output to be selected, which greatly improves the utilization of the output device.

Screen Huizhi Workflow

Trueflow workflows use a web browser as an interface, compatible with PC and Mac platforms, and can be fully digitalized from the original dot scanning, prepress processing, color management, digital proofing to direct platemaking integration. Use Adobe interpreter. Effectively process PDF file formats and employ job tickets to control prepress work such as automatic preflight, OPI, trapping, imposition and proofing output. In the Trueflow workflow, multiple tasks can be effectively managed by setting up job tickets and hot folders. Using the imposition work ticket can enable file preflight, trapping, and imposition. The TNCHOOW workflow supports a variety of file formats and can receive and output the industry's major standard file formats such as PDF, PS3, TIFF (Grayscale, RGB, CMYK) and EPS can also receive RIPedPS, RIPedPDF, RIPedEPS, PJTF and Copydot files. The screen uses proprietary trapping technology to provide greater trapping capability through center-enlargement, thickback, and drop-density trapping options. The Tnwflow workflow supports the "ROOM" (Once, OutputMany) function. That is, files can be output on multiple devices by being processed by RIP only once. Once RIP has completed the same raster data can be used repeatedly, the output size, resolution and output device can be changed, and even one page can be changed. Also, the cost of this proofing is higher and the efficiency is lower when directly driving laser printing.

Kodak Prinergy Workflow

Prinergy is a complete PDF workflow management system. Based on Adobe Extreme, PDF and Job Ticket Formats (JDF), workflow processing plans and job ticket processors enable high-speed, automated page pre-checks and PDF normalization. The tasks of color management, trapping, true color proofing, imposition, layout proofing, film/plate output, and file management.

Prinergy can not only print pages or layout soft proofs but also directly transfer the transferred files to the output device or the printer's color space. Prinergy's standardized processors convert pre-press data into outputable PDF files and perform a series of page pre-checks to monitor source files. PDF and PS files can be directly accepted by the workflow. Cf/LW or Tiff/IT files can be imported via CEPSlink. The normalizer in Prinergy optimizes the input file into a page-independent PDF file to check for the presence of high-resolution images and fonts.

Automatic trapping includes a job ticket. When the file is converted into a single PDF page, trapping is performed immediately. The trapping effect can be previewed directly on the screen. After these processes are completed, a page-independent PDF file containing images, fonts, and traps can be generated and an intuitive small preview image can be generated. VPS can be used to generate screen virtual proofing effects, and then the PDF page can be output to various color printers through color management. Color proofing.

Once the file has been processed, Prinergy can perform PDF proofing and imposition processing. Once the PDF imposition mode is specified, the screen can be soft proofed, proofed, or output to a film or platesetter. There is also no laser. Print proofing costs are higher.

Hyde Holds Starry Star Workflow

Gypsophila is a modular, highly flexible and practical PDF digital workflow for Heidelberger's company's output devices. As an important part of the RIP operating system, the Startech process software provides a variety of screening methods, such as irrational screening systems, high-quality screening systems, FM screening systems, and line screening technologies that can increase the level of detail of printed products. Avoid producing traditional printed plum blossom spots. The Linearization Manager module is integrated in the Starry Flow process. Users can set linearization data and printed dot gain data based on the printed materials and the characteristics of the press.

The Gypsophila workflow can both interpret PDF files and PS files. It has rich features such as PDF file preflight, trapping, digital proofing, color management in RIP, and OPI. It can also be combined with SignaStation imposition software from Heidelberg. Output a variety of layout files. Its color management in RIP uses Heidelberg CMM technology to complete color conversion based on ICC files. Since these conversions are based on the final printed material and the characteristics of the press, it is very effective for supporting color management in digital proofing. In addition, the RIP internal color separation function of the Gypsophila process can output composite color files, trap designs, and preview the final effects. The trapping parameters can be stored and modified by job tickets.

Founder Business Edition

The process of domestic prepress manufacturers is mainly represented by Founder Chang Liu. The Founder Changliu Digital Workflow System is an example of a digital workflow developed independently by Peking Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. It is specifically designed for the actual production environment of the special printing industry such as output center, book printing, commercial printing, packaging and printing, and securities. Borrowed to be developed. The use of new open standards, advanced databases, and Internet technologies has accelerated the process of printing across the entire Chinese network. Founder Changliu adopts the latest JDF format developed by the CIP4 organization as an electronic work ticket to transfer job parameters throughout the entire process. Standardized operations such as trapping, screen preview, color management, digital proofing, hand-to-hand imposition, hanging net, and film Or plate output, database archiving, job tracking, data statistics and other processing, Founder smooth flow processing Chinese powder has unparalleled ability, and design large version of the hand, you can automatically control the Chinese vertical and horizontal.

In this way, in actual production, information is transmitted through complete Chinese information, which reduces the risk of asymmetric information in production. In addition, the smooth flow can directly drive laser printing (black and white and color) and digital proofing equipment, whether it is a small page or a large version can be printed out by John, to achieve proofing, high output efficiency. Low production costs. Compared to several of the above-mentioned hand-holding efficiencies, the free-flowing doubling efficiency is high, the generation speed is only a few seconds and the last-minute modification can be easily realized.

For a large-scale book printing and printing factory in China, Fang Zhengchang's digital workflow can be tailored to the layout process of a large-scale book printing company. In the printing of large-scale book printing and printing plants, due to the cost issue, the CPS platemaking scheme has not been fully considered at this stage. The traditional photo-composing machine is still in normal use and the software used for pre-press typesetting includes the Adobe series in addition to the Fangzheng version and Feiteng. The result of Word's typesetting software is to be processed in the digital process and output through the traditional phototypesetting. This modular design is to meet the needs of the transition from CTF to CTP. In addition to adopting the latest PDF/JDF/PJTP technology, Founder Chang also developed a professional hand-to-hand imposition software that complies with the layout requirements of Chinese text books according to domestic imposition standards, making it easier to make complicated Chinese versions of Chinese-language editions. In addition, the results of the imposition can be intuitively checked by direct browsing and can be directly out of the laser printing and digital proofing equipment. Through the transformation of Founder, it is possible to achieve a seamless connection between the old system and the new system.

In the face of numerous digital processes, how to choose the type that is suitable for the enterprise itself should pay attention to the following issues.

l. Whether the software can adapt to the specific nature of the Chinese language environment can solve the complexity of the Chinese typesetting environment.

2. The quality of the process at the customer's site is affected by many factors. The process engineer needs a full range of services to enable the customer to really use it. The software supplier's after-sales service is very important.

3. The current rapid development of prepress technology and the redevelopment and upgrading of digital processes are the vitality of software.

4. The digitization process in foreign countries must also take into consideration the soundness of Chinese-speaking and the popularity of professional terms, and also consider the cost of retraining.

5. Coexistence of new and old equipments When introducing new systems, consider the interfaces of the old equipment. When selecting the digital process, consider the openness of the digital process. Save equipment and human resources.

In short, through the above comparison, the author believes that the choice of digital workflow is mainly based on the platemaking process that is suitable for their own companies, but also whether the process has localized Chinese, strong compatibility, open interface, domestic R&D and service, and personalized development. and many more. Of course, the key is to improve the traditional process, increase production efficiency, and choose a suitable process.

Reprinted from: Printed Today