Some helpful tips in the printing process

Raster Image Processor (RIP) is similar to an automatic electronic translator and is an interpreter for Postscript. It can automatically convert the text images, lines and graphics arranged in the computer software into dot matrix information of digital images, and then send these dot matrix information data to the imagesetter, controlling the “yes” of the laser spot like a switch. "No", and mapped the results of the ranking to the film. The RIP is divided into hardware and software. The hard RIP is a hardware device. It is installed together with or connected to an imagesetter. The soft RIP is application software that is installed on a host computer connected to the imagesetter. At present, soft RIP has gradually replaced hard RIP.

Second, DPI (inches per inch)

A unit of measure for scanner resolution, printer resolution, and picture resolution. For example, a 600 DPI laser printer refers to a printer with a print resolution of 600 DPI and prints 600 dots per inch of length. The scanner resolution is also called PPI.

Third, lattice word, TrueType word, PS word

The dot matrix word is generally used for screen display, such as software menu text. The biggest problem with this type of word is its low precision, jaggedness after zooming in and out, and it cannot be used as a printed font.
TrueType words describe text outlines from graphic data such as lines, points, curves, etc. Using quadratic curves, a set of fonts can be used for both screen display and print fonts. Is the most widely used font.

PS words are also Postscript fonts. Just like TrueType, text lines are represented by graphic data such as lines and curves. The difference between TrueType and PS words is that: TrueType fonts are installed on the computer, and the same fonts are used for screen display and printing. The PS word is not the same. The PS word is loaded in the image filer's hard disk for final output. In the computer, the dot matrix word corresponding to PS is loaded for screen display. When the output computer sends the font code to the imagesetter, then the imagesetter looks for the corresponding PS word according to the font code.

Fourth, random outlets and traditional outlets

Random outlets are also known as FM outlets. For example, diamond outlets of Linotype Hell and crystal outlets of Agfa are FM outlets. Has the following advantages: The same dot size, but the uneven distribution, much smaller than the traditional dot. No dot line, no angle, the density of the point to show the shade of the image, not the size of the point. There is no misunderstanding of the angle and the interference of the network. Can faithfully present the detailed texture that traditional dots are not easy to express. At present, inkjet printers basically use FM mesh, and printing has not been widely used due to process limitations. Compared with FM network points, traditional network points can be called amplitude modulation network points. Has the following characteristics: the frequency (point spacing) is fixed, the amplitude (point size) changes, and produce different size of the network and grayscale. Since the amplitude modulation is fixed by the frequency, a fixed dot arrangement is generated, so there are restrictions such as the number of dot lines and the dot angle.

V. Mesh

Often used to comment on the clarity of a print, which is often referred to as the line number (lpi), is not the same concept as the DPI. For example, 150 lpi indicates that the image is divided by a grid consisting of 150 thin lines in horizontal and vertical directions per square inch of area. The finer the print, the higher the number of lines required.