Digital color proofing (below)

Dye dye sublimation proofing technology has the effect of approximately continuous tuning because this imaging method can change the imaging pulse width, changing the number of sublimation transfer dye molecules in a wide range, ie, each pixel has a very wide tone reproduction The range (256 steps, even higher) is an imaging technique that is dual modulation of (pixel) area and (ink film) thickness. Therefore, although the dye sublimation proofing system generally does not have very high resolution, for example, a few hundred DPIs, it can still obtain color proofs that are similar to continuous adjustment effects. This feature and advantage establish the solid position of dye thermal sublimation imaging technology in digital color proofing. Although the inkjet system has much room for improvement in terms of quality (especially resolution), the imaging process is simple and it is particularly suitable for applications in different formats, especially large-format and even large-format proofs. At present, the output speed of most devices can reach 10 to 18 per hour/full color, which basically meets the requirements for quick proofing. In this field, there are Kodak Polychrome Graphics's Approval XP4, DuPont's Digital Cromalin, and Fujifilm's Luxel Final Proof 5600.
The biggest advantage of electrophotographic technology is that it can directly use the same substrate and coloring agent (pigment) as the actual printing. The color rendering characteristics and texture of the proof are very similar to the actual printed matter, but they are also faced with poor resolution and large-format difficulty. The problem is mainly located in the small and medium-sized proofing market. The hot wax transfer technology has a similar aspect to the dye sublimation technology. It involves the transfer of the color former from the ribbon to the image receiving medium. However, the hot wax transfer technology involves the transfer of the pigment layer, which is very similar to the ink in the printing process. The separation of ink film, not the transfer of dye molecules. Therefore, it is difficult to implement multi-level modulation of pixels by hot wax transfer, which is similar to the area-modulated binary imaging system.
The advantage of hot wax transfer is that it can use the same pigments as the actual printing, and it can be directly imaged on the actual printing substrate, which is very similar to the electrophotographic system. The color silver salt photographic system is characterized by the use of color photographic paper as the final image medium. The three laser beams (R, G, and B beams) of different hues are used to give the red, green, and blue colors of the color photographic paper. Layer exposure, color development and fixing process to obtain color images (samples). This kind of proofing method has very good color quality, but due to the use of dye rendering agent and special photo paper, there is a certain gap between the color rendering characteristics and texture and the actual printed matter, and the cost of color photo paper as a consumable is very high. Expensive, large-scale applications have considerable difficulty.
CTP is the inevitable result of the digitization and network development of the printing industry technology and will become the main force in the 21st century printing production technology. CTP technology is a complete system that involves both equipment and equipment as well as system control and management. This is often overlooked and it is believed that CTP production can be achieved as long as CTP equipment and corresponding consumables are purchased. Complete digital environment is a necessary condition for realizing CTP production. The supporting digital process and quality management system are the key to whether CTP can fully exert its effectiveness.
The emergence of CTP technology provides the best tools and solutions for the current diversification, short versioning and personalized/on-demand development of printing and related markets, and will become the basis for printing industry technology in the era of networking and information technology. CTP technology is not only a perfection of the traditional printing industry technology, but will change the production, management, and even business model of printing and related industries to a large extent, creating a new business opportunity and market. Whoever first mastered the CTP technology has won a magic weapon to win in the fierce competition.