Comparison of traditional and digital writing applications

The development of digital copying

With the development of computer-to-plate (CTP) technology in recent years, the industry generally believes that this technology will inevitably replace the existing filmmaking process, but its development has been hampered. Because the use of film processing process can still provide a certain degree of flexibility for manual modification, such as typos or local version and so on. In the case of imaging directly on the plate, all imaging data cannot be lost. Otherwise, the full-page layout needs to be re-exported. In other words, the CtPlate is more strictly required than the computer-based CtFilm. A reliable digital workflow to properly handle the production process from designer to printer. Therefore, the most controversial issue is not whether it is possible to use lasers to create high-precision outlets directly on plates, but whether there is an acceptable digital workflow to replace the existing production methods. In the entire process, it needs to be considered: digital writing, computer imposition, production efficiency, flexibility of modification, cost, trapping, and issues from the film. Here we introduce the requirements and techniques of digital writing.

Comparing Digital Copying with Traditional Copying

When referring to the effect of digital writing, the traditional drafting is generally used as a benchmark for comparison. Although such a comparison is a matter of course, it is often very easy to omit the benefits of some of the functions provided with digital copywriting. We will divide the three major areas below, including quality, cost, and effectiveness, and try to objectively compare the differences.

Quality effect

Color simulation force - Since the traditional drafting machine is also using ink to image, theoretically it can express the color gamut is very close to printing. In terms of digital copying, some devices can use similar color inks similar to ink components, and the performance of color gamut is also very similar to printing. However, regardless of the cost of ink and machinery (general equipment in the 550,000 to 1.65 million Hong Kong dollars), depending on the format and accuracy may be. Other common color printers, such as ink jet or thermal sublimation, are more plentiful in color gamut than printing ink, and the cost is very low. The key lies in how to use too rich color gamut to simulate the color gamut of printing inks, which depends entirely on individual manufacturers' color management technology.

Net Flower Simulation Capability - Traditional drafting in this area has absolute advantages. Because they use the same set of film printing and printing. For digital copying, if you want to simulate nets, on the one hand you need to invest more than one million yuan to purchase high-precision equipment. However, the effect of the exchange is not very consistent with the actual printing effect. For example, the accuracy of digital drafting machine is 2000/3000 dpi, and the accuracy of the image-setter is 2400/3600 dpi. The web flowers created by both are completely different. Most of the devices on the market that can simulate nets can only meet the visual requirements of customers.

Stability - Because traditional drafting machines use manual ink and adjust the pressure, the effect is very unstable. The insiders have the experience that the same set of films are taken out and the effect is usually not the same. Digital writing is automated imaging and can be very stable. Of course, if the equipment quality is not good, such as the ink head is often blocked, it will cause instability, but the more stable equipment on the market is not difficult to find.

Reliability - Traditional drafting uses a film that is consistent with printing, and is highly reliable. Digital drafting can be divided into three levels on this issue: (1) If the RIP for outputting the draft is completely different from the RIP of the final platemaking system, the reliability is low; (2) RIP such as the output of the draft Same as the build system, but need to be reprocessed separately before imaging, so that the reliability is higher; (3) If you can use the same set of data that has been processed by RIP for proofing and plate making, the reliability is very high. . Because in addition to human factors in the entire process, the most likely opportunity for operational differences is the RIP calculation. The three methods mentioned above are all available in the market and users must pay special attention.

Cost-effectiveness

Investment costs - In this respect, traditional drafting is far inferior to digital drafting. Because the calculation of the same production capacity, such as the completion of two sets of four-color four-color printing in one hour, the traditional equipment investment will require four groups of drafting machines, supporting the printing version, processing equipment, plus the required staff With a large factory building, the investment amount is about 2.2 million Hong Kong dollars. The investment in digital writing can be between 330,000 and 1.65 million Hong Kong dollars, depending on the requirements for quality, while the additional labor is close to zero. In terms of material costs, the cost of paper and ink for traditional drafting is very low. The higher is the plate and syrup. For digital copying, an open format is around HK$22-165, depending on the individual printer. In general, the return on investment in digital writing (at a certain level of quality recognition) can be much higher than traditional writing.

Performance

Production speed - On the surface is the imaging speed of digital drafting, and the printers on the market can complete a high-quality facing page in 20 minutes. The traditional drafting, regardless of its size, does not include time for imposition, printing, and stencil printing. It is generally 30 to 40 minutes for a single manuscript, but this is only a comparison of the production of a manuscript. When it is necessary to produce more than one color draft, the difference in speed between the two is closer.
A variety of simulation capabilities - mentioned above, most of the digital printer can express the color gamut is richer than the printing ink. The rich color gamut coupled with the cooperation of good color management software enables digital copying not only to simulate the effects of prints but also to simulate other production effects such as screen printing, digital printing, inkjet posters, and even simulation The performance under high-speed rotary presses can better meet the increasingly diversified output needs of the market. The most common example is a set of advertising designs that need to be promoted through different media.

Multiple format capabilities - In addition to simulating the color effects of a given output medium, a full-featured digital copying system can also automatically adjust the color of images in files to meet the needs of different outputs so that operators do not need to make manual changes. Truly automated workflow. The features of the above two digital writings are all lacking in traditional drafting.