CTP System Status and Development Direction

The openness, digitization and networking of graphic processing systems have become the basic features of today's electronic prepress systems. The CTP (Computer-to-plate computer-to-plate) wave has set off in the global printing industry.

Direct plate making technology is a plate making technique that directly transfers digital or page edited in an electronic prepress processing system (CEPS) or a color desktop system (DTP) to a printing plate.

* In terms of materials, photographic film and its processing chemicals are eliminated;

* In the aspect of craftsmanship, film exposing and rinsing, revision and printing, etc. are omitted;

* In terms of equipment, the darkroom and film exposure equipment are eliminated;

* In terms of efficiency, it reduces costs and saves time and space;

* In terms of quality, the quality of image transfer has been significantly improved, reducing environmental pollution.

The CTP system adopts a new concept of physical imaging technology to completely get rid of laser generation and the use of photosensitive materials. It uses ink jet equipment to directly print out the required graphics and text on film, paper, and PS layouts, reducing the number of image transitions. 100% transfer, no content loss, direct output large format, no imposition, revision.

The CTP system not only has the functions of direct plate making and direct proofing, but also has some features of direct inkjet printing. Its standard components are:

CTP plate-making machine (EPSON PRO 9000) + special printing software + special consumables

It uses the Epson styls pro 9000 color inkjet plotter as an output device, supplemented by special printing software and special consumables to form a CTP system, and realizes the increase in the performance of output devices to meet the special requirements of the printing industry.

Acceptable special film, special PS plate and plain paper to complete the format output (split version + BO1118mm). Its performance characteristics are as follows:

(1) 6 picoliter drop control technology:

(2) Intelligent drop conversion technology:

(3) Micro Piezo Technology

(4) 6-color quick-drying ink:

Chinese operation interface, suitable for Windows95/98/NT, Mac platform, support network capabilities, fully compatible with Postscript Levedll, and compatible with Peking University Founder typesetting system, can be directly on the Apple and the PC to send a variety of software production layout, such as PageMaker, FreeHand, Quarkpress, Illustrator, CorelDraw, Word, Founder Feiteng, and Wes.

The printing software has a good and feasible data interface, simple operation, high quality screening (up to 175 lines), powerful and comprehensive, fast interpretation and task queues, imposition, preview and other functions. When large-format output is available, the film width and layout width can also be automatically calculated, output in the most provincial way, and the small version can be automatically converted into large-scale output, and the imposition layout can also be manually controlled.

Dedicated CTP film and PS plate are coated with special treatment. The Present Situation and Development Direction of CTP System

1. The CTP (Computer-to-plate computer-to-plate) wave has set off in the global printing industry. The era of digital printing has come. The CTP technology has become an inevitable development trend of the pre-press industry. Compared with the color desktop that emerged in the mid-1980s, CTP technology has become an inevitable trend. The system (DTP system) has made great progress. It can be said that it is yet another technological revolution in the printing industry.

The computer-to-platemaking technology will bring significant social and economic benefits, in an effort to achieve China's printing "threeizations" goal, that is, digital prepress printing, printing color high-speed warp, various automation after printing, and vigorously drawing on foreign advanced technology, promotion and application CTP technology is imperative.

2. Since 95'Drupa, computer platemaking technology has developed rapidly and is maturing. Whether it is flat plate, inner drum or outer drum type direct plate making technology, no matter what kind of outlets, regardless of the use of silver salt version or thermal version, have reached a practical level, in improving the printing quality, yield, reduce costs , improve efficiency and other aspects have great advantages.

According to the United States Printing Technology Foundation (GATF) publishing statistics on the international major printing and publishing technology: CTP technology ranks first in three consecutive years, by the end of 1997, there are about 31 manufacturers in the world to produce 63 different types of direct plate-making equipment. Including the famous Oppennikov-Heidelberger company, Barco, Agfa, Saturn, Bulford, DuPont - Howson. In 1996, 55% of the top 100 printing companies in the United States used the CTP system. To date, more than 2,700 CTP systems have been installed worldwide. According to Seybold, the predecessor magazine of the United States, it is estimated that by the year 2001, 4,000 CTP systems will be assembled around the world. CTP technology has been widely developed in the fields of commercial printing and newspaper printing in many developed countries and has entered the mature stage of practical application. With the decline in the prices of CTP machines and CTP plates, laser imagesetters will gradually be phased out, and the soft version will decrease year by year.

3. In recent years, CTP technology has also developed in China. Since 1997, China Institute of Informatics has held several CTP technical seminars, and for the first time at the 1998 Beijing International Electronic Birth and Multimedia Exhibition. A comprehensive and systematic introduction of various types of CTP equipment has played a positive role in its promotion and application. Following the introduction of a CTP system by Beijing Standard Press in 1996, Yangcheng Evening News was introduced in May 1998. Beijing Daily has completed its experimental application in the near future. There is also a company in China engaged in the localization of CTP systems and plates. Work, but still remain at the same level of imitation of foreign equipment, there is still a certain distance from the actual application.