Every company has an unwritten rule about production: The key to production is not how to get the job done—that's what we're talking about every day—but what you're willing to do to get what you want to pay back.
This is a cost-effective relationship. If the method steps are too complex or take too long, then it is not worth the effort and investment; if you add 5-10 minutes to the quality control of each job, tell others the quality is more or less With improvements, many people will say that it is not worth doing. This is a principle that many companies using FM (FM network) can achieve results.
Why do some companies use the new screening technology to be successful, and some companies will fail? Is it necessary to change the ink or blanket at the same time when changing the screening method? Is the new screening technology better for lithographic presses or rotary presses?
Early in the advent of FM screening technology, it brought a major breakthrough in printing technology, making printing easier with its uniform size of outlets. Later, the implementation of the AM (Amplitude Modulation Plus) High-Carrier Network also brought more choices to the printer. FM images can be used together with CTP images to counter the problem of dot gain, and improvements in inkjet proofers have made FM proofing possible.
Although FM screening technology seems to have many advantages, some companies still prefer the traditional screening system. For example, many Heidelbergers use Irrational Screening (irrational network technology) in multiple screening technologies.
There are also some users who prefer another screening technology. The second generation is called "second-order" FM screening. The first-order stochastic screening technology uses the same dot size and the dot pitch is variable; the second-order stochastic screening uses the method of variable dot size in traditional half-color fading technology, but at the same time, the dot spacing is also variable, thus solving the problem. The problems left by the first-order screening technology.
More than 1,000 companies have used Creo's Staccato screening solution, which has been recognized as the best FM screening technology. However, there are also users of mixed screening solutions who believe that their methods are equally effective.
Paresh Patel, a prepress specialist at Shapco Printing, said: “We use Creo's Trendsetter platesetter and Heidelberger Satin screening technology because we like the Heidelberg Print-Ready front end system. I don’t think there is much between Staccato and Satin. The difference is that both technologies are licensed by Global Graphics (an OEM RIP supplier). I have observed under a 100x magnification and found that the two outlets are very similar."
For a long time, Creo has been claiming that their square dot imaging technology and the Staccato FM screening technology can bring printability, consistency and stability to the printer and the designer, so sometimes at the customer's The print job requirements will also specify the use of these two technologies.
Wayne Eddins, the prepress executive at Gateway Press in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, told us: “We tried random grid technology after installing CTP equipment. We had received a government department In India, it listed the use of Creo's Staccato screening technology in the production instructions. They had achieved great success in sales, and we had to use random screening technology for production printing. So we used Rampage. The company's first-order stochastic screening technology."
Another appealing aspect of FM screening technology is its ability to reduce the amount of ink used. Gordon Pritchard, Creo/Kodak's marketing manager, said: "FM screening technology will make your printing production more consistent and wider color gamut. Even if customers don't care about the dot, but the printer You can use this to reduce your labor costs, because the color adjustment time for Indo-Print is reduced, and you can also get bright colors on non-premium paper.
At the Techalert conference a few years ago, Mr. John Lind, research director of the PIA/GATF (American Printing Association/Printing Technical Committee) explained the savings theory: "Assuming $1.25 per pound of ink, the speed of the press per hour. 60,000 prints, eight hours per shift, 166 pounds of ink to be used for random screening, saving $196. Three shifts per day will save $180,000 in ink per year."
New screening technology
Esko's HighLine Screening is a small dot AM screening technology that reproduces finer details. The company's Andy Redman said: "HighLine Screening is not hybrid screening but full AM screening. Dithering is used in highlights and shadows. Everything else is normal AM points." HighLine Screening Screening The algorithm allows the user to output a high number of screens at a resolution lower than conventionally required. For example, a resolution of 2400 dpi can output 423-lpi.
Fuji Co-Res is a new AM AM screening technology that also allows users to output high-line counts with low resolution. The product is currently distributed by the Enovation Graphic Systems company. Fuji says that Co-Res can also bring high resolution to the printing company, but it does not have particles in the middle tone or need to increase the control of the process, and because the technology combines traditional The halftone screening technology, so its dot can be used for Fujifilm's FinalProof halftone proofing.
According to Steve Suffoletto, a researcher at RIT, if you want to use an easy-to-use production process or follow a previous production process, then you'd better choose AM screening, followed by hybrid and finally random screening; but if From the perspective of printing stability, you must first select FM screening, followed by hybrid and finally AM screening.
There are also some manufacturers that offer hybrid screening technologies. Screen USA launched Spekta screening technology that combines second-order FM and traditional super cell screening.
In the 1-10% highlights and the 90-99% shaded areas, the Spekta screening technique uses fixed-size dots to change the density of dots by changing the density of the dots; while in the midtones of 10-90%, The tone is reproduced by changing the dot size as in the case of screening. Creo also introduced a similar screening technology called Maxtone. Originally, this technology was invented for flexible packaging printing, and the technology can now be used in any printing process.
Agfa described its Sublima screening technology as XM or cross-modulated. Sublima screening technology can be used for 240lpi or 340lpi print jobs.
Two manufacturers that do not currently use hybrid screening solutions claim that they are actively purchasing patents. Because the patented hybrid screening technology is well-protected, it is still a big problem.
Process control
Why do some printing companies that use FM achieve results and some companies have trouble with process control? From the feedback I once gave to printing companies, it can be concluded that those who focus on process control and know how to process testing are more likely to succeed.
Blayne Jensen, system manager at Lorraine Press in Salt Lake City, United States, said: “We believe that if we want to use random screening for screening production, it is necessary to have process control and process monitoring. We spent two years To master process control technology.†The company started using the Agfa Crystal Raster 12 years ago and has always been the standard.
To successfully use FM screening technology, the printer must be calibrated. Dennis Ryan, Heidelberg's prepress production manager, described this calibration process to us:
"Print the ruler on the paper, print at a regular density, find the smallest dot that the press can print, record the dot size, and draw a calibration curve. Usually the color separation is done and the individual color curves are drawn."
The PareshPatel from Shapco Printing Company uses a single pixel size. He believes that chemical agents are critical. “The most important aspect of FM screening technology is the control of the process, especially the plates and chemicals. We check the chemicals every few days and check the “one-pixel†of each plate. If there is an underexposure, the plate becomes black; if it is overexposed, it will turn white. If we detect any changes, we will go check the chemicals. In 99% of cases, the concentration of chemicals is not enough."
Even with the control of the process or quality, some companies have to change their processes. Gary Samuels, a shareholder of Pictorial Offset in New Jersey, USA, said: “When you adopt a new technology, during the testing phase, you are sure to go through two or more attempts. We find that we have done tests and improvements. Lead to new problems with ink characteristics."
Brandt has used Agfa's hybrid XM screening technology: Sublima has been around for almost a year. Mr. Marc Brandt, the company's manager, said: “We have been performing color quality control for many years and it has helped our process conversion. We have changed the ink to XX-treme ink for this purpose.â€
Source: Bison