Purple laser technology / thermal technology who floats

In the past five years, CTP technology has been widely used in the graphic arts industry, and the topic of CTP has also changed: people no longer discuss whether to use CTP technology, when to introduce CTP and what kind of technology Become the focus issue. So there is a question: Which CTP technology is best suited?

CTP technology is a technology that is expected to replace the current printing plate imaging method. In the 1990s, the printing industry used a large number of internal drums with a purple Arg-Ion laser. This technology was used by the drupa exhibition in 1955 with the FD-YAG laser. Imaging system replaced. Subsequently, an external drum type thermal imaging system using a light emitting diode (wavelength of 830 nm) was introduced, and it became a mainstream technology for a short edition of printing service since 1 998, and produced a significant impact on the inner drum imaging technology. However, newspapers still prefer to use internal drums. Platform-based visible light imaging system and occupy 90% of the market share. At the drupa exhibition in 2000, the drum imaging system with 405nm violet diodes was revived and the thermal technology was defeated in the short-run printing field. During this period, Germany’s BasysPrint also established its own market position with a platform-based imaging system using UV lamps. This plate-making system also applies to traditional printing plates. Now, Esko-Graphics and Escher-Grad claim to have introduced similar imaging technology. Will this CTcP (computer to traditional printing plate) technology make greater progress at Drupa 2004? ? We will wait and see.

Both technologies have their advantages

Each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages. The thermal technology is known for its stable process, low plate making cost, wide adaptability to the plate making machine and printing plate, but for the small format job and newspaper printing, the imaging head is too expensive, and the thermal printing plate is There is also a lack of competitiveness in the newspaper sector. According to reports, Creo, a leader in the sporadic print market, will introduce a new type of thermal imaging system in 2004. Whether there will be a major breakthrough in thermal plates will continue to be a hot topic of concern because this will be the key to the development of thermal technology in the area of ​​small format printing.

Low-cost violet laser diode

For low-volume printers and new CTP users who do not want to invest in costly solutions, the low-priced violet-light diode platemaking system is very attractive. With Fuji and Lastra's polymer materials, the range of applicable plates is gradually expanding. Agfa has just launched the Violet N91, and there will be more new purple printing plates in the future. However, violet technology often fails when competing with thermal technology. Because so far it only applies to a limited number of printing plates, and the plate making costs are high and the process stability is poor. However, this situation will not be maintained because many new technologies have been launched. We should pay special attention to it at the drupa exhibition in 2004. The third technology in the CTP field is digital imaging technology for traditional UV printing plates (PS plates). This technology has only been successfully demonstrated by the BasysPrint company, but its resolution and production capacity have been the same since 2002. There have been great improvements and improvements. Although CTcP technology can not do everything, its quality performance has been quite competitive in many aspects. The current production capacity of CTcP is not too high. It can produce 115 plates per hour. This needs to be further improved, but it is a good choice for newspaper companies.

Some progress in other aspects of CTcP technology will also be seen at Drupa 2004. Many manufacturers are trying to replace the UV lamp with a high-power laser (BasysPrint and Esko-Graphics are using UV lamps) to realize the dream of digital imaging of traditional plates. AlfaQuest is currently leading the modernization of FasTrak, followed by Escher-Grad and Perkin Elmer. However, they must be able to apply to a variety of UV printing plates, and the cost of the lasers and printing plates used can not be too high, or they simply do not show advantages.

No technology can dominate

It must be admitted that no imaging technology has been proven to be the dominant technology in the entire printing market today, or it will become the dominant technology in the foreseeable future. In contrast, visible light laser imaging technology and thermal imaging technology have established themselves in the offset printing market, and they each occupy half of the world. The CTcP technology for traditional printing plates has just been established in the market, and it is still unknown as to how much market share it will occupy in the future. Other technical solutions, such as inkjet platemaking systems (sces Jetplate), are still in their infancy and still need further verification. The development of CTP technology has undergone so many technological innovations in just 10 years. This tells us that we should continue to pay attention to those new technologies with potential.

Small print companies should give priority to factors

So far, CTP is mainly used in large-scale printing companies, and the imaging and printing format is generally 70cm x 100cm or more. This is a fact that cannot be ignored. However, 80% of the printing companies in various countries are small-scale printing factories with a printing size of less than 50cm x 70cm. So far, these small printing plants have been deterred from investing heavily in CTP systems. Which technology will become dominant in the future CTP market is still unknown. In addition, regardless of which technology must ensure "the most efficient mass production." For small-scale printing companies, participating in the drupa printing exhibition is not only the best opportunity to investigate the possibility of CTP investment, but also the quickest way to obtain the latest information and information, especially regarding the polyester version imaging technology and direct image offset printing machine. Information on the development of the situation. The final question can only be: when to invest in a CTP system and what kind of technology is most appropriate. For this reason, decisions must be made regarding the company or the company itself, such as printing requirements. Expected quality and integration of work processes. The suitability of an automated system must take into account the labor costs of the imaging system and the number of plates used. In addition to investment costs, material and service expenditures should also be included, as these will typically exceed investment costs after 5 years.

Recommended value for money

Due to the increasingly difficult operation of the CTP price, the system is also more complicated and lacks relevant experience. Therefore, the printing company can hardly make the best decision on its own. It is now a very popular practice to ask relevant experts for advice and guidance. In today's CTP field, quality assurance. Quality control and proofing. The standardization of imaging and printing has become a particularly important issue. Suppliers of quality control instruments and control processes such as UGRA/FOGRA. System Brunner. Bundesverband Druck und Medien and major manufacturers of measuring instruments are now the objects of special interest for CTP manufacturers.

CTP makes FM printing possible

Whether offset printing products can stand out in the fierce competition depends on whether FM screening technology can provide them with a reliable market competitiveness. Therefore, this is also a focus issue. From the technical point of view, due to the improvement of the FM network algorithm and the increasingly stable performance of the CTP system and the printing plate, CTP FM screening becomes possible. However, the successful application of frequency modulation technology also requires the breakthrough of "digital welding" technology, which requires improving the accuracy of fine dot network data and using color management. Achieve continuous process control and fully safeguard the ink balance of the printing process. If you master these major technologies, there will be no more obstacles to using FM technology. Includes Christal Raster (Sublima). Staccato, Esko-Graphics (Monet,
Vendors such as Samba, Harlequm and Screen (Spectra) are now rolling out their second-generation FM screening or hybrid screening systems. Printing companies using FM technology should also introduce the superiority of the technology to customers.

Seeking information overview

When printers invest in CTP systems and choose their own technical solutions (including imaging systems, processing devices, workflows, and plates), they must make a comprehensive overview of the various technologies and products available on the market. The current development trend must be clearly understood because CTP technology is still undergoing continuous development and changes. the easiest. The convenient and quick method is, of course, to personally visit the drupa exhibition in Düsseldorf in 2004.