Basic introduction of digital printing

First of all, we should understand the definition of digital printing: digital printing is to record digital graphic information directly on printed materials for printing. In other words, the input is a digital stream of graphic information, and the output is also a digital stream of graphic information. What needs to be emphasized is that it is printing on demand, and plateless printing is a discipline parallel to traditional printing.

Digital printing process: the printing process of digital mode also needs to go through original analysis and design, graphic information processing, printing, post-press processing and other processes. , but it just reduces the plate making process. Because in the digital printing mode, a digital stream of graphic information is input and output. Compared with DTP system in traditional printing mode, the output mode is different. In the traditional printing mode, graphic information is output and recorded on film, while in the digital printing mode, digital graphic information is directly recorded on printed materials.

Development of digital printing: According to authoritative survey data, by 2007, the number of color digital printing companies will increase by 23%, and the growth rate of color digital printing equipment will exceed 56%. Judging from the competition among printing enterprises, compared with some enterprises that can't carry out post-press processing in the market, digital printing enterprises with efficient binding equipment can provide more comprehensive services in the whole workflow from printing, post-press processing to delivery with faster delivery time and lower cost. In this way, the saving of time and cost in the whole process becomes a powerful competitive weapon. In the field of printing, CTP contains the following four meanings:

(1) direct plate making by computer: plate making directly by computer, which is often referred to as "off-line direct plate making".

It was originally developed from direct plate making by photography. All plate-making equipment adopts computer-controlled laser scanning imaging, and then forms printing plates through developing and fixing processes. This technology converts characters and images into numbers, eliminates the intermediate medium of film, and reduces the quality loss and material consumption in the intermediate process.

(2) Computer to printing machine: directly from computer to printing machine, which is often referred to as "plate making directly on the machine".

It is to install the printing plate on the drum of the digital printing machine, and then output the graphic information directly to the printing plate through the laser beam controlled by the computer, and then start printing. At present, this printing plate can record pictures and texts, but it cannot be erased. It can only be used once.

(3) Computer to paper/printed matter: directly from computer to paper or printed matter.

Computer-to-paper conversion is equivalent to inkjet printing, that is, the computer controls the inkjet head to directly spray tiny ink droplets onto the paper to form graphic information.

Computer to Print is equivalent to a laser beam controlled by a computer, which directly outputs graphic information to the "printing board", so that printing can be started.

(4) Computer proofing: get the proofing directly from the computer, that is, digital proofing.

Digital proofing is an important link in the process of digital control in prepress field, and its purpose is to test the quality of printed matter and the degree of customer's confirmation of printing effect. Because of its low price and high efficiency, digital proofing is gradually replacing some traditional analog proofing.

Generally speaking, CTP technology refers to computer-to-plate technology.