Computer-to-plate (CTP) technology appeared in the 1880s. This period is the initial stage of the study of direct plate-making technology. Therefore, during this period, neither the technology nor the quality of the platemaking industry was very mature. In the 1990s, the close cooperation between equipment manufacturers and printing manufacturers accelerated the pace of research and development of this technology, and reached a level of maturity and industrialization during this period. Thus, at the drupa printing exhibition in 1995, 42 kinds of CTP systems were exhibited.
This move immediately caused the printing industry to pay close attention to this technology. Between 1995 and 1997, many large-scale printing companies adopted the CTP system to implement the direct plate-making process. However, since the platesetter was still very expensive during this period, the use of the technology in various SMEs was limited. Promotion. During the period from 1997 to 1998, the price of direct plate-making machines drastically decreased, and the plates for direct platemaking began to mature and develop. Therefore, a large number of small- and medium-sized printing factories began to accept and use CTP technology.
The plate making system is a comprehensive multidisciplinary technology industry. It includes precision machinery and optical technology, electronic technology, color digital image technology, computer and software technology, new type plate and material technology, automation technology and network technology. The automatic production system is yet another major technological revolution in the contemporary printing industry.
Digital proofing --- CTP's right arm
Digital Proofing is a key technology that supports CTP workflow-based printing of an overall digital workflow. It not only involves customers but also affects the printing shop. Digital proofing technology is one of the hot technologies in the prepress industry in recent years. The so-called digital proofing is to print the page (or print) data produced by the color desktop system and output proofs directly through a color printer (inkjet, laser, or other methods) without any form of simulation to check the image pages of the prepress process. Quality, providing reference proofs for the printing process, and providing users with the basis for confirming the printing of signatures. This kind of digital proofing technology is not simply printing color samples, but through complex color management software, so that the output proofs can reproduce the matching proofs, including paper, ink and printability, etc. similar.
The progress of the times stems from the needs of users
The starting point of digital proofing is the establishment of the 1993 International ICC Conference. It is specific to the country and it is about 1995. Due to the short time of China's application of the color desktop system and the low digitization of the printing industry, and the weak function of the ICC color management software, digital proofing has not received much attention in the initial stage of promotion in China. However, in just six years, the application of digital proofing in China has made great progress. From the beginning of the stone throwing, to the faltering of the mid-term promotion, and now widely accepted, no one will be surprised at the pace of development in the Chinese market. Looking back at this process, we can conclude that digital proofing has brought to China not only clear results, fast speeds, and true colors, but more importantly, it has brought us a market driven by advanced technology. The idea of ​​meeting customer needs.
Hewlett-Packard, a world-leading global supplier of solutions for computing, imaging and services, has unique advantages in the printing field. Hewlett-Packard has designed and developed HP DesignJet to meet the different needs of the printing and publishing markets. 5000, Hewlett-Packard "photo hand" HP DesignJet 10ps/20ps series, HP DesignJet 1000 and other digital proofing products, break through the constraints of many years of hardware manufacturers plagued the limitations for the development of digital proofing in China paved the way. It is with the help of hardware manufacturers represented by Hewlett-Packard Company that digital proofing can make great progress in six years.
In addition, as the largest share of the printing market in China is offset printing, digital proofing technology first breaks through offset printing. Beijing now has prepress companies with digital proofing as the mainstay, and its business volume is still growing. For example, Shangpin and Shenglanhong have demonstrated that digital proofing technology has been accepted by the printing industry. For example, St. Rainbow Co., Ltd. has become one of the first users of digital proofing technology. It purchased a full-format digital proofing machine from Hui Designjet 5000, completely changing the current working status. Digital proofing machines can not only be used as a tool to replace the traditional proofing, but it can also be widely used in every process of our production to help the company conduct internal quality management. Now, dozens of direct plate-making systems have been introduced in China, and digital proofing equipment is a necessary part of the digital proofing system. It is expected that with the popularization of direct plate-making techniques, digital proofing technology will develop rapidly in the field of offset printing. However, digital proofing technology is not only applicable to the field of offset printing. It is also applicable to gravure printing and flexo printing. It should be said that gravure printing and flexographic printing are more difficult, the cost of plate making is higher, and rework is more likely to occur. The damage caused is also greater, so it is urgent to solve the problem of digital proofing. Gravure printing and flexo printing are mainly used for packaging and printing. The law of color reproduction is different from that of offset printing. It has some special features, and it often uses spot color printing, which has higher requirements for the color of digital proofing and is more difficult. It may be very difficult to completely simulate the proofing effect of gravure printing and flexo printing. There are still some technical problems that need to be solved, but if you can actually simulate 80% of the proofing workload, reduce the scrap once or twice, and digitize the proofs. You can get very good economic benefits.
The application of digital proofing is due to the constant updating of products
For our output center and printing factory, proofing is an indispensable and important part. In the face of the current market competition and the intensification of investment risks, we also require that we pay attention to various aspects such as investment return and risk. Proofing products on the market are numerous and every manufacturer owns their own branded products. However, as the world’s leading global supplier of solutions for computing, imaging and services, Hewlett-Packard has a unique advantage in the printing industry. For example, HP DesignJet 5000, the all-around champion of HP, a production-grade product, can know Why Hewlett-Packard can shake the wind in this area.