CTP Technology and Prepress System (I)

The focus of the early CTP production process was mainly on the prepress system, which involved the digital workflow from the front-end device to the platesetter. However, the scope covered by today's CTP workflow has been extended from the front-end equipment to the printing press, and even extended to the post-press process, achieving a high degree of integration of the printing production system and integrated management and control of the production process. In this highly integrated production system, the traditional prepress, printing and postpress processes are connected by a computer network (+ digital media) as a whole (systematic seamless connection), and all kinds of equipment and equipment are used as integrated systems. Components are managed and controlled centrally at the system level, and all production information and product resources are seamlessly transmitted, exchanged, and shared among the various components of the system. Digital workflow and management will become the necessary conditions and the key to the operation of CTP technology.
Traditional workflows are based on physical media (eg, color separation films, photo films, proofs, plates, etc.), transportation, and warehousing. Each link (operational process) in the production system is based on physical media. Processing and processing are the objects, and transportation and physical media are the links connecting different links. The visual appearance of physical media provides a convenient medium for quality control. However, the digital workflow is not the same. All production information and intermediary products are digitally transmitted, processed, and stored between the various components of the system. Digital networks and digital media such as optical disks, optical disks, hard disks, etc. become connected systems. The link to components no longer exists in visible physical media in traditional workflows. The prepress system passes the registration data and the statistical distribution data of the layout ink images to the printing press through the CIP3-PPF format PPF: Print Production Format to achieve the automatic registration and pre-setting of the ink amount, and also to the automated cutting and binding equipment. Transmission of product size, cutting line and folding line position data to achieve complete automation of printing operations and digital, integrated network management of the entire process of printing production.
The digitalization and networking process of the printing production system did not stop at the printing production system itself. It has begun to extend to both ends of the printing production system. The business entrances and product storage, circulation, and sales represented by ordering, planning, and design are represented. Sales representatives such as sales have been integrated into the management of the system, and gradually formed a digital network and digital media as a link, including business planning and even the overall corporate management, production organization, scheduling, coordination, monitoring, management and marketing management data Huge information system. From a technical point of view, the components of this huge network system may be different brands of equipment, equipment, and systems from different vendors. Therefore, standardization (standardization of data formats, standardization of communication interfaces, etc.) becomes a smooth operation of the system. The key to data flow, exchange and sharing without failure.
The digital production process has led to the full integration of the production process. Network transmission and digital media have replaced the traditional visual physical media and storage and transportation methods. This will not only change the production and management methods of the printing/publishing industry, but also may lead to changes in the entire industry's business and operating models, opening up a new era. In this huge information system, each link will generate and receive a large amount of information and data. Between each link, the system and the system must exchange huge amounts of information and data at any time. Therefore, the management and effective use of information/data in the production process and system as a whole, as well as quality inspection and monitoring, face new challenges and problems.
The same set of data may be called on different links or may be output in different forms and need different adjustments. Even if it is called or output in the same way, because of the difference in equipment, different brands or the same brand, but different time equipment, you also need to make the necessary adjustments to the data. (To be continued)