In the traditional printing process, proofing is the first and very important part. Traditional proofing can undoubtedly achieve the closest effect to the final print, but neither technique is perfect. With the application of inkjet technology in the printing industry, digital proofing is gradually emerging, and with its short process and variable data, it has quickly become a powerful supplement to traditional proofing.
Here I will discuss with you the application and development prospects of digital proofing in the printing industry.
1. Purpose of Proofing
First of all, let's clarify the purpose of proofing, whether it is traditional proofing or digital proofing, there are the following three points:
1. Provide customers with standard approval proofs: proofs are the finished products of a professional plate-making company, and the signing of samples by customers marks the completion of the entire plate-making process.
2. Provide basic control data and standard color samples for printing: "Only customers can print on the machine after signing samples" is the principle of the printing industry to ensure the accuracy of the content and quality of the printing, and to distinguish between the responsibilities of the two parties. The basis for adjusting the printing environment.
3. Error check: Through the proofs, the quality of each pre-press process can be fully checked, and errors that exist or may appear in the printing are found, so as to correct them and reduce the risk of production. Therefore, proofing has the functions of finding errors in pre-press operations for users and printing units, providing various types of proofs for printing, and as a basis for reaching contracts with customers before printing. In short, the key to proofing is to simulate the printing effect, find errors in pre-press work, and provide relevant standards for printing.
Second, the shortcomings of traditional proofing
Traditional printing proofing, because the consumables used are basically the same as the final printed product, it is undoubtedly the closest to the printed product, but traditional proofing has its fatal disadvantages:
1. Proofing takes a long time. Because the process of traditional proofing is the same as printing, the only difference is the amount of printing. There are many processes before printing, such as RIP plate making, plate mounting, and ink replacement, which leads to a long time for proofing.
2. Not economical. On the one hand, because there is no reduction in the process, a lot of materials are consumed, on the other hand, when proofing, the yield is low, often it takes half a day or even many revisions to produce a sample.
3. Occupy more human resources. In general, traditional proofing requires at least two full-time staff, one of which must be a master level. Generally, a master who has many years of experience as a pilot is responsible for proofing.
3. The advantages of digital proofing
The appearance of digital proofing is based on the development of inkjet technology. When the color gamut of inkjet is greater than or equal to the color gamut of printing, in theory digital proofing becomes possible.
What are the advantages of digital proofing compared to traditional proofing:
1. Proofing is simple and time-consuming. With inkjet printers and color management software, it can restore more than 90% of the printed colors. It is easy to operate, just need to make a characteristic curve, and output a folio sample usually takes more than ten minutes to get it.
2. Strong color repeatability. Because the inkjet printer itself is relatively stable, the entire proofing process is controlled by the computer, which greatly improves the stability and repeatability of digital proofing, which is unmatched by traditional proofing.
3. Cost saving. Due to the simple digital proofing process, the resource consumption is very small, and the waste is very small, basically zero. Digital operation process, so there is no need for special personnel to operate, generally after a week of training can be competent.
Fourth, the principle of digital proofing
Because of its obvious advantages, in the field of commercial printing, digital proofing quickly replaced traditional proofing. So what is the principle of digital proofing? How is it implemented?
Color management for digital proofing can be summarized in three steps:
1. Linearization of printer base;
Basic linearization determines the physical characteristics of paper and ink, optimizes the total amount of inkjet and single-channel ink of the printer, finds the maximum ink holding capacity of the proofing paper, and provides the foundation and optimization characteristics for the creation of the printer paper profile , Thereby establishing the foundation of color management.
In fact, most inkjet printers are not in a linear output state. In addition to the advantages and disadvantages of proofing media, the maximum color density value can generally be obtained when the total ink volume does not reach 100%. Thereafter, even if the ink volume increases, the color The density will not change significantly, or even decrease.
This leads to the union of levels when making a profile, so basic linearization is critical to determine the maximum total ink volume and single-channel ink volume.
After the basic linearization of the printer, the part that exceeds the paper ink amount tolerance range will be ignored, and the remaining inkjet range will be evenly distributed in the chromaticity value, that is, the printed color patch is in the range of 0% -100% It is evenly distributed on the ink volume of 0% -X%, which shows a linear change in density. The profile obtained by a linearized printer would be more ideal than the level obtained without linearization.
2. Make Digital Proofing Paper Profile;
Based on the created linearization file and the measured ink volume, the printout is used to make color profiles for paper profiles, such as IT8.7 / 3, ECI2002, etc., and the profiles are measured and made in ICC software.
3. Match printer profile and printing profile.
After the above steps, only the best match between the specific printer and the media is done, that is, the maximum color gamut of the specific printer and media is known. To complete digital proofing, the maximum color gamut must be matched with the target color gamut. The target color gamut here can be the printer's own standard, or it can be an international standard, such as the ISO12647-2 standard, or the FOGRA standard, etc. The color difference between the two color gamuts determines how close the digital proofing is to printing .
V. Development direction of digital proofing
Previously, due to ink, the limitations of consumables used for inkjet were more prominent. Digital proofing can only be done with specific digital proofing paper, and cannot be printed on the most commonly used coated paper. The gap between the media has led to digital proofing and printed matter. There is still some distance, so digital proofing is only used more in commercial lithography, but less in the packaging and printing industry.
There are universal printing inks on the market, such as water-based universal inks developed by Hongsheng, which can be directly printed on coated paper with a heating device, and the vividness and firmness of the colors are ideal, which can fully meet the requirements of digital proofing. In addition, printer manufacturers are also accelerating the development of machines suitable for packaging proofing. For example, epson and mimaki have introduced machines that can print white ink, and some manufacturers use UV drying technology to meet the market demand.
In short, whether it is the "coated paper printing solution" using water-based universal ink launched by Hongsheng or the digital proofing realized by other inkjet methods, it will inevitably greatly promote the use of digital proofing in the printing industry and provide a long history of traditional printing. The industry injects new vitality.
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