In the field of print production in China's newspaper industry, computer-to-plate (CTP) technology and digital prepress technology are increasingly used. The newspaper CTP system needs to need digital work flow and what kind of work flow? The author here is to make an analysis.
Newspaper CTP: Cheng also failed process flow
The workflow is like the heart of the CTP system. A complete computer-to-plate system should include a set of excellent and applicable digital workflows. Many users on the CTP, one-sided consideration of the CTP equipment technology type, exposure speed, plate costs, but ignored the purchase should be the overall CTP system and services, in fact, whether it is thermal CTP, or photosensitive CTP, Can meet production needs. Excellent system integrators and service providers should stand in the position of users and solve problems for users, so that the supply and demand sides can achieve a win-win situation. Therefore, it is an important mission for the newspaper industry CTP system supplier to provide Chinese users with a Chinese cultural newspaper workflow.
As we all know, the current installed capacity of China’s newspaper CTP has more than 40 units, but it does not bring much comprehensive benefits to newspapers and the usage rate is not high. Some people may give many reasons, but did not carefully consider how to improve their own conditions before the CTP, such as work plans, layout, digital proofing, the network environment and other factors that affect the effectiveness of the CTP. The application of CTP technology not only eliminates the need for film, printing, and other processes, but also makes the combination of printing and printing more closely before printing.
A complete computer-to-plate system solution should have the following elements: digital prepress environment, CTP equipment, media, and workflow. Lack of any of these will greatly reduce the effectiveness and advantages of direct platemaking. The first thing the newspaper adopts for CTP is to improve the timeliness. If it costs money to buy expensive equipment, it only wastes the timeliness of the first few editions. The workflow of a computer-to-plate system for newspapers should solve the problem of flexible and automated production from typesetting to plate-making, that is, the definition of upcoming publishing operations; the establishment of imposition plans, the template of custom imposition processes, and the monitoring of all job activities; Helps operators and management systems quickly monitor the entire publishing status. Not only meet the needs of local printers, but also meet the needs of off-site printing sites to help newspaper printers increase productivity and sales.
The work flow is a management system that ensures the normal operation of the computer-to-platemaking system. The various equipment, data and information involved in the direct plate-making system can be coordinated and run smoothly, and various resources can be fully utilized. The maximum performance of the system is an indispensable part of the complete CTP system solution, and it is also the most easily overlooked part of the user. It is worth mentioning that users must pay attention to the distinction between newspaper work flow and commercial work flow when choosing a workflow.
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Taking a look at the workflow adopted by domestic newspapers using CTP systems, Uniflow's self-developed process flow software developed by Tsinghua Unisplendours is unique. Its professional design not only has good openness and powerful functions, but also it is very convenient to use. It can handle automatic processing quickly and accurately, and the whole process is unimpeded. At present, several well-established newspaper printing houses in China have already experienced its extraordinary quality.
Uniflows can better interface with newspaper publishing data and can automate newspaper production plans, remote editions, group editions, layout information, plate post-processing equipment management, and minimize manual interventions. The overall efficiency of pre-press work in newspapers has been greatly improved, allowing newspaper users to transition to computer-to-plate production methods in the least amount of time.
The main features of Unifkiws are as follows:
1. Uniflows is a workflow system designed for newspaper printing. It automates the production process from layout input to output printing. Not only has the efficiency of newspapers been effectively improved, but the mistakes caused by human operations have also been avoided.
2. Uniflows uses the post-RIP format to run the entire workflow, making the stability and controllability of the system more consistent with the laws of newspaper production.
3. Uniflows represents a completely open technology trend. In terms of input, Uniflows reported almost all accepted file formats, including RIP systems from Founder, Huaguang, Harlequin, Adobe, etc. From the standpoint of output, it can connect almost all output devices.
4. Uniflows is a client/server digital workflow with a database server.
5. Uniflows uses an advanced modular design concept with a fully configurable system architecture to meet different production requirements. Uniflows can range from a simple local single-site system to a large multi-site transmission network. Newspaper customers can make reasonable configurations based on their production.
