In the past few years, I have analyzed the demand for proofing in all aspects of production and found that the user's requirements for proofing have gradually changed from a single simulated printing result to today's requirements for proofing to achieve a variety of functions. Reasonable and more efficient proofing tools. Here we review the development history of printing proofing:
-Before the 1970s: Proofing completely using a printing machine-In the 1970s: Proofing in a mainstream printing proofing machine-In the 1990s: the emergence of digital device proofing-2000: The rise of digital proofing based on ICC, the birth of remote digital proofing at the same time Great development.
-2003: Digital proofing entered a mature period. Form a comprehensive proofing / proofing system with multiple proofing methods. As a more convenient proofing tool, the paperless proofing method (screen soft proofing) has begun to attract attention.
-2005: The comprehensive proofing system has become very mature; the concept of paperless remote proofing has emerged, and it has been widely accepted in the developed countries in Europe and the United States and entered the production process.
-2006: Paperless remote proofing developed rapidly in European and American countries and became an indispensable part of the comprehensive proofing system. China's printing industry began to accept paperless remote proofing, and industry organizations began to promote this new technology.
Throughout the development history of proofing, we can see that high-quality, low-cost, efficient and convenient proofing / proofing system has always been our goal, and a comprehensive proofing / proofing system has gradually become the mainstream of the industry. We can also see that in addition to the quality and efficiency of proofing, the quality and efficiency of the proofing process have also been greatly improved. The emergence of paperless proofing and remote proofing provide two sets of solutions, which largely meet the needs of users for high quality, low cost, high efficiency and convenience.
Paperless proofing
The paperless concept of proofing is relative to the traditional paper media proofing concept. Generally speaking, paperless proofing refers to the process of using high-quality computer monitors to reproduce proofs and achieve proofing, also known as screen proofing, soft proofing or virtual proofing. There are two requirements here: one is that the display must comply with the color standards for printing production. At present, display manufacturers such as EIZO, Sony, and Apple have been able to provide high-precision displays that meet the printing standards; the second is that the samples displayed on the display must meet the production quality control. Standard, using the ICC feature file, we have been able to solve this problem easily. Compared with the traditional paper media proofing, the characteristics of paperless proofing can be summarized as:
1. High efficiency. Due to the use of computers to control high-precision displays to output proofs, we can achieve proofing operations in an instant. Its convenience and production efficiency have been greatly improved.
2. The skill requirements of the operator are very low. Compared with the paper media proofing operator, the paperless proofing operator only needs to have basic computer operation capabilities.
3. Production "zero" cost. Paperless proofing exists in the form of electronic files. It does not require paper, ink and other consumables. The output sample does not require human and material transportation, nor storage room. In addition to power consumption and equipment depreciation, the production cost of paperless proofing is almost negligible.
However, due to the habitual reliance on traditional paper media proofing, users have a lot of skepticism about using the display to complete the proofing process. To sum up, there are mainly problems in these aspects: the display is a luminous body, and the traditional sample is a reflector; whether the display can reproduce the printed colors after correction; there are individual differences between the displays. At present, paperless proofing is mostly used for simple layout proofing and text proofing. The good news is that a few forward-thinking companies have already begun exploring this technology and have entered the trial stage.
Remote digital proofing
Remote digital proofing is also not a new concept. It is relative to the traditional stand-alone local proofing and is currently based on paper media. Simply put, remote proofing solves the problem of remote proofing of the same job, and there are already many solutions that can be implemented. For example: using PDF and high-speed network transmission of nested ICC feature files and high-precision color inkjet output devices, we can already efficiently achieve the proofing output of the same job in different places. Strict color management system and accurate equipment calibration process can ensure high sample quality. Remote proofing is an ideal off-site proofing output method, which has several obvious advantages:
1. High efficiency. The use of high-speed network transmission proofing documents, and unified correction output equipment, remote proofing can achieve high-efficiency proofing output from other places, saving off-site transportation time.
2. high quality. Using modern color management technology and high-precision color output equipment, to ensure the quality and consistency of the proofs output from different places.
3. low cost. Compared with the local proofing off-site transportation method, remote proofing saves transportation costs.
At present, medium and high-end customers and large and medium-sized printing plants have already highly recognized this proofing method. However, the remote digital proofing based on paper media has not achieved the same efficient remote proofing function, and the cost will be doubled due to the increase in the number of proofs; at the same time, the appearance of multiple sheets in different places makes the quality management difficult, even Contract disputes arise.
Paperless remote proofing
Simply put, paperless remote proofing refers to a new proofing solution that uses paperless proofing technology to complete functions including remote proofing, proofing, and proofing. The paperless remote proofing system should have the following conditions:
1. Meet the quality standards of printing proofing. As a proofing system, the first thing is to be able to simulate and reproduce the printing results.
2. Paperless proofing. Through computer color management, using high-precision monitors to output proofs to achieve paperless proofing process.
3. Remote proofing. Proofing files are transmitted through a high-speed network, and simultaneous paperless proofing output of the same job is realized in a different place.
4. Remote proofing / signing. Through high-speed network transmission and sharing of proofing files, the process of annotation, re-proofing and signing of the same job can be realized in different places.
In addition, since all the proofs exist in electronic form, the paperless remote digital proofing should also have cross-platform (Windows and Mac OS) electronic proof storage management function, client end annotation and signing authorization function and proof authorization Upload, download and other functions.
Paperless remote proofing not only combines the advantages of paperless proofing and remote digital proofing, but also effectively overcomes the shortcomings of these two methods from a technical perspective. The first is to ensure that the monitor meets the printing color standards: multiple monitors of brands such as EIZO, Sony, and Apple have obtained SWOP and are certified to display the printed color space correctly; screen correction tool manufacturers commercially provide advanced color correction instruments such as Green Up to i1, etc., the color difference between the screen and the printing standard is controlled within deltaE2 that the human eye can distinguish. Secondly, the use of illuminants to output proofs is an improvement to a certain extent. The proofs are very little affected by the ambient light source, and are no longer affected by other environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Individual differences in displays are inevitable, just as there are differences among individuals in other proofing devices. Test data shows that the individual errors of high-precision displays can be smaller than paper proofing output devices. Because the same proofing job is used for output, proofing and signing, paperless remote proofing can effectively overcome the trouble caused by the difference of multiple sheets. However, like traditional digital proofing, paperless remote proofing does not perform well when simulating special spot colors (such as metallic colors), and lacks the function of simulating special processes for packaging and printing.
I remember that the digital proofing entered China a few years ago, and users were skeptical about using non-printing methods to simulate the printing results. Today, it is difficult for us to find a printing factory that does not accept digital proofing. Strengthening strengths and avoiding weaknesses, a comprehensive proofing system has become the mainstream, and technological progress has brought us benefits. Paperless remote proofing has also gone through a process from recognition to acceptance in the West, but the time is much shorter. Due to the outstanding innovation in proofing / annotation-re-proofing-signing method and the production characteristics of high quality, convenience and low energy consumption, paperless remote proofing has become an essential part of the comprehensive proofing system in the United States. As a printer of Time Magazine, Brown Printing Company, a well-known American printing company, has a deep impression: the biggest benefit brought by paperless remote proofing is that it no longer needs to be placed in branch printing factories across the United States as in the past. There are several different proofs for the same job, but the workshop must print according to the proof they have never seen in the magazine. At the same time, the degree of automation of production (mainly referring to the proofing process) has been greatly improved.
With advanced screen display technology and color management tools as guarantees, paperless remote proofing will surely add luster to the development of the fast-growing Chinese printing industry.
Ningbo Vinny International Trading Co., Ltd , http://www.vinnystationery.com