Since the advent of the desktop publishing system (DTP), the printing industry has been looking for new plate-making methods so that the high speed of the computer can be better reflected. One solution is CTP technology, which eliminates the need for film processing such as developing and fixing processes, and directly copies the digital graphic information obtained by computer processing onto the printing plate. An obvious shortcoming of this technology is that the plates used are expensive, which discourages many users who want to use this technology. CTcP technology is a technology that not only inherits the advantages of CTP, but also can continue to use traditional offset plates. The German company BasysPrint (BasysPrint) is the world ’s earliest manufacturer of the CTcP concept and the development of the CTcP plate-making machine. As early as the Drupa1995 International Printing Expo, the German company BasysPrint (BasysPrint) launched a prototype UV-Setter platemaking machine, demonstrating the use of UV light source to expose the new technology of traditional PS offset printing plates. At the Drupa2000 International Printing Expo, Germany ’s BasysPrint officially launched the UV-Setter series plate-making machine that uses traditional PS plates for direct plate-making. Since then, CTcP has boarded an epoch-making printing platemaking technology. The stage of printing history.
1. Introduction to CTcP Technology
CTcP is the English abbreviation for Computer to conventional plate, which refers to the computer-to-plate making on the traditional PS plate, which is a form of CTP process. The technology uses 360-450nm ultraviolet light source to digitally expose the traditional PS version. As far as the current situation is concerned, CTcP plate-making machines generally adopt two technical methods: one is digital screen imaging technology (DSI) based on numerical control micro-mirror device (DMD), and the UV-produced by German company BasysPrint The Setter plate-making machine series is based on this technology; one is the use of numerical control light valve to control the output of the laser fiber of the optical path to achieve exposure. The Dicon plate-making machine of Purup-Eskofot Company in Denmark uses this technology. Judging from the current development status, the CTcP plate-making machine adopting DMD technology by BasysPrint (Germany) has achieved remarkable results, occupying most of the market share of the CTcP plate-making machine market. Therefore, the working principle of CTcP will be introduced by taking the plate-making machine of BasysPrint as an example.
The core of the UV-setter series plate-making system of the German company BasysPrint is digital screen imaging technology and micromirror chip technology. Through the combination of the two, it has successfully achieved the high-efficiency imaging using ultraviolet light sources to generate clear dot images technology. The system uses an ultraviolet light source with a spectral range of 360-450nm. The specific working principle is: the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source is irradiated onto the DMD (Digital Micromirror Element) through the condensing light, and the DMD is refracted to form an image on the plate material.
The Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) was developed by Texas Instrument in the United States. DMD is the abbreviation of Digital Micromirror Device. This technology is also called "digital light processing technology". There are 1.3 million independently controllable low-light mirrors in the area of ​​2cm2. In the imaging process, the light irradiated on the micromirror is projected onto the plate material through the lens, or not projected, and is not exposed on the plate material, and finally an image composed of dots is generated on the printing plate.
Second, CTcP imaging characteristics analysis
In laser exposure, the circular pixels formed need to have overlapping edges, thus requiring more pixels. The UV-Setter series plate-making machine adopts square pixels to form square pixels of 10 ～ 28μm according to the resolution, and its clear edges ensure high-quality imaging effects. After exposure on traditional offset plates, the clear boundary between the exposed and unexposed surfaces guarantees extremely high copy quality even at high speeds. Square pixels can also ensure good imaging quality at low resolution.
For users, this type of dot means that even with a lower resolution, high-quality printing can be achieved. In practical work, the benefits of using low resolution are many. For example, the RIP time is significantly shortened, the amount of data processed is reduced, the memory of the computer system is saved, and the exposure speed is faster. For example, the number of screen lines for general high-end commercial printing jobs is 200 lpi and the resolution is 1500 dpi, then the square pixels are only 17 μm, so even with a lower resolution, CTcP can be used to obtain high-quality images.
3. CTcP technical advantages
CTcP has many advantages, the most obvious is to improve production efficiency, save time and reduce production costs. However, the extent to which CTcP can reflect its advantages also depends on the printing company's mastery of digital technology. The transition from traditional plate making to computer direct plate making has many important factors in terms of time and cost.
1. Significant economy
â‘ Simplified the technological process. The CTcP system reduces the process of film production and printing in the traditional process, saving consumables and related costs.
â‘¡Use traditional PS plates. In various CTP systems, special CTP plates are inevitably required, and their prices are very expensive. The plate material used in CTcP plate-making is a cheap conventional printing plate material, that is, the general PS plate material used in the current process. Compared with other CTP technologies, the CTcP system has a large price advantage due to the use of traditional PS plates, developing machines, and potions, and can achieve low-cost operation of production.
â‘¢The equipment is simple. The CTcP system uses UV-sensitive plate materials, so it can be easily operated in bright room conditions, and companies can also introduce the system without changing other operating environments before printing. Its light source uses ultraviolet lamps, and the lifespan has been increased to 2500 hours, and the price is less than 1/10 of the laser light source, so the operation and maintenance cost of the equipment is very low.
2. No need to output film, which improves printing quality
The CTcP system inherits the advantages of the CTP system ─ without the need to output film, the computer can also directly make plates. In this way, film materials and processing materials can be saved, and time for manual imposition is saved. Many users who use CTcP have the experience of film printing. After no film is needed, the printing quality of the printed matter has improved significantly because the image and dots are not affected by the quality degradation in the traditional pre-press process. The plate after printing is of better quality, because the influencing factors such as dust and scratches on the film no longer exist, and the positioning is more accurate. In short, the dots obtained by CTcP plate-making technology are the first generation of dots directly transferred to the printing plate, with clean and sharp edges and faithful originals.
3. Quickly and steadily integrate into the traditional plate-making process
Since the CTcP system still uses ordinary PS plates familiar to printing houses, producers can undoubtedly continue to use the various chemical solutions, developing equipment and punching devices in the original plate-making process to achieve a good plate-making system and Printing machine compatible. Printing companies do not need to worry about the problems caused by changes in printing suitability, and they do not need to spend a lot of time and energy to complete the matching work between plates and printing machines. CTcP technology not only simplifies the original long process flow, but also retains the traditional operating habits and printing suitability to the greatest extent, and provides the best way to complete production tasks stably and efficiently.
In contact with other prepress systems, CTcP also has its own unique features. All UV-Setter series CTcP platesetters are equipped with an open 1-BitTiff interface. No matter what equipment and workflow, as long as the output file is in 1-BitTiff format, it can be perfectly integrated with the CTcP plate-making machine. For printing companies, this means that operators can implement the digital platemaking process quickly and easily without additional investment. In addition, simple equipment and open workflow have more advantages for future maintenance and upgrades.
4. Reduce printing debugging time and material loss
Since the positioning of the printing plate is not required, the quality of the printing plate is better, and there is no need to remake the plate due to inaccurate positioning, avoiding a lot of time to proofread when printing on the machine. With more and more short-lived work in the entire printing industry, changing the plate and debugging on the machine have become regular tasks. Reducing printing and debugging time can save time and cost. CTcP plate-making is more accurate than traditional analog plate-making, so the waste of water, paper, ink and other consumables is reduced when debugging on the machine.
5. Simple operation
All UV materials (printing plates or proofing materials) can be operated in the bright room, and the blue-violet laser needs to be operated in a dark room, a weak light or yellow light source environment, which can easily print various specifications and sizes. It can also process multiple plates at the same time, and can be exposed multiple times on the same plate.
6. Printing customers are more satisfied
Printing customers are more satisfied with the quality of printing, and the production time of printing is shorter, which means more timely delivery, which reduces the operating cost of the factory, and makes the printing company take the lead in the fierce market competition.
7. Advantages of UV plate making directly
Exposure by UV light source of 360-450nm means that the conventional PS plate can be used in the direct plate-making process. This is a printing plate material used by printers for many years. It is familiar with its performance and processing procedures. The technology is mature and the PS plate is more thermally sensitive. CTP plate material and purple laser plate material are cheaper. PS plate is the most used printing plate material in the printing industry in the world. There is no need to train printing staff because they already know the performance of this plate.
Fourth, the current deficiencies of CTcP technology
Of course, the CTcP plate-making system also has its shortcomings that cannot be ignored. Although the CTcP plate-making system can realize computer-to-plate directly on the ordinary PS plate, the sensitivity of the ordinary PS plate is generally low, and the plate-making speed is not satisfactory. In order to cooperate with the promotion of the CTcP system, Agfa, Fuji, Kodak and other companies have successively launched a series of high-sensitivity plate materials, making the CTcP plate-making speed close to the thermal CTP plate-making speed. But in order to make CTcP more competitive, the plate-making speed needs to be further improved. In addition, DMD is the core component of the plate-making machine. In order to improve the resolution, the micro lens has been increased from the original 300,000 and 800,000 to the current 1.3 million. It can be seen that DMD is a very precise component, which gives it daily maintenance and maintenance Bring some difficulties. The failure of any micro lens will affect the imaging effect to a certain extent. Once the DMD has a major problem, it needs to be replaced, which not only affects the normal operation of the machine, but also costs a lot.
V. Application of CTcP
At the Drupa2000 International Printing Expo, CTcP is still a conceptual product, and its quality, speed, and price are far from other technologies. But after 4 years, this equipment has become more mature, the speed has been greatly improved, and the price is more reasonable. At Drupa2004 International Printing Expo, as the pioneer of using traditional plate materials for computer direct plate making, BasysPrint has made great progress in imaging technology. At this exhibition, it exhibited various CTcP systems, such as UV-Setter1132, UV-Setter N546, UV-Setter531, UV-Setter736, and UV-Setter731e, which were plated in the traditional PS version, and launched DSI2 technology. Make the fourth generation UV-Setter series plate-making machine have higher imaging precision and faster speed. After being tested by FOGRA, it is believed that the output resolution of the UV-Setter system plate-making machine of Bisheng Graphic Arts is very good. For example, the UV-SetterN546 platform plate-making machine specially developed for newspaper industry plate-making adopts DSI2 technology, its exposure speed is increased by 40% -60%, and the plate-making speed reaches 120 sheets per hour. This new imaging technology is very good Solved the need for higher speed in newspaper industry plate making.
The main products of Bisheng Graphic Arts' UV-Setter plate-making output machine include: UV-Setter 5 series, UV-Setter 7 series, UV-Setter 11 series and UV-Setter N series. The design of UV-Setter 5 is a four-part specification for commercial, packaging, and book printing. Their maximum exposure size on traditional PS plates and printing materials is 690 × 940mm; the design of UV-Setter 7 series is a folio format that can be used for Commercial, packaging and book printing, their maximum exposure size on traditional PS plates and printed materials is 940 × 1150mm; UV-Setter 11 series is the only plate-making machine in all UV-Setter that can handle a size of 1580 × 3207mm , Can also process multiple plates at the same time (for example, two folios, 700 × 1000mm); UV-Setter N series is designed to solve the newspaper printing scheme, all the targeted newspaper formats can be exposed (maximum size 940 × 690mm).
Once the CTcP technology appeared, it was immediately sought after by the printing industry. In just a few years, German Bisheng Graphic Arts has installed 530 UV-Setter systems worldwide. Among them, there are about 135 units installed in the UV-Setter 5 series, about 280 units installed in the UV-Setter 7 series, about 50 units installed in the UV-Setter 11, and about 65 units installed in the UV-Setter N series.
The CTcP plate-making machine of Bison Graphic Arts Co., Ltd. has entered the Chinese market since 2003. After more than a year of market recognition and verification process, the CTcP plate-making machine of Bisheng Graphic Arts Co., Ltd. has gradually gained recognition and love from Chinese customers. It showed good and strong sales momentum. At the beginning of 2005, CTcP plate-making machine has been ordered by Baosteel Group, Yonghong Printing Group, Junsi Group and other large well-known enterprises. On the basis of its long-term experience in using CTP, Yonghong Printing Group purchased 9 CTcP plate-making machines at one time after contacting Bisheng Graphic ’s CTcP equipment, which shows the attractiveness of CTcP plate-making machine in cost and other aspects. . As of May 2005, sales of CTcP plate-making machines in China had exceeded 20 units in 2005. Because CTcP can reduce plate-making costs and improve plate-making efficiency, thereby improving the competitiveness of printing plants, I believe that CTcP has great potential for application in China.
Update his shoe collection with our latest range of boys` footwear. Our shoes complete his look in style. Smart sandals complete his suave occasion look and adorable sandals inspired by his favourite characters, keep him cosy at home or outside. With our wide range of boys' footwear you`ll find a huge choice of sandals that is stylish and supportive for little feet. Ideal for wearing with all their summer outfits and very handy to take in their case on holiday.
Boys Sandals,Boys Black Sandals,Little Boy Sandals,Sandals For Boys
TAISHAN YUEXIN GROUP , https://www.yuexingroup.com