The most advanced printing and platemaking technology in the world is CTP technology. CTP is the abbreviation of Computer To Plate. The Chinese translation is computer-to-plate, which refers to the process of directly outputting graphics and text to printing plates through computers. The Huarui brand naked inkjet CTP system refers to the direct output of graphics and text on the computer to the printing plate through inkjet printing; the reason why it is called "naked type" is because this type of plate material There is no photosensitive layer coated on the traditional PS plate, but a treated aluminum plate.
The content to be printed is typed by the computer to form a full page to be printed. The layout is color separated and screened through RIP software. The color separated and screened files can be transferred to the inkjet printer to print the required pages. The printed layout content is printed on the plate, and the printed plate is then baked at high temperature to form a printing plate that can be printed on the machine.
In this process, the computer can be a PC or a Mac; there are many types of RIP software currently on the market, such as Peking University Founder’s Century RIP, Bestcolor, Monte, etc., all of which are suitable for this set. system; the only inkjet printer that meets the printing characteristics is EPSON's large-format inkjet printer. Its machines of different formats can meet the production of printing plates from 16 open to full open; the actual baking temperature of the printing plate is 150℃- Between 165℃ and three minutes of baking, it can be matched with our company's special baking machine. There are also many models of baking machines on the market that meet the requirements.
The key technology of this system lies in inkjet ink and matching plates. These two key technologies are currently exclusively mastered by Beijing Pratt Technology and Trade Co., Ltd. in China, and both have obtained patents. National patent. Its inkjet ink is lipophilic and can absorb printing ink. At the same time, it prints onto the supporting plate with tiny particles, fine layers, and high resolution. With the RIP software and the resolution of EPSON large-format inkjet printer 2880*1440DPI, now It can produce printing plates up to 150LPI. At the same time, when combined with the printing plate, this ink has strong wear resistance after baking the plate for three minutes at an actual temperature of 150-165°C. Current experimental results show that the printing endurance of this printing plate can reach 150,000 prints. .
Compared with the traditional plate making process and the current mainstream CTP system, the main advantages of this CTP system are as follows:
1. The system cost is low; the entire system equipment is very expensive. Cheap (about 150,000-200,000 yuan), one-fortieth of the price of the current CTP system, and lower than the price of a laser imagesetter;
2. Low consumption cost; plates The cost and plate-making costs are quite low. The price of the folio version is close to 20 yuan, and the plate-making cost is less than 2 yuan. Its plate price is close to the traditional PS version and far lower than the current CTP plate price; but its plate-making price is The cost is much lower than the traditional plate-making process and the current CTP system;
3. The plate-making process is simple; compared with the traditional plate-making process, it eliminates the need for film production, manual imposition, printing, repairing and other processes , the entire prepress process is a digital process, and all prepress work can be completed on the computer, improving speed and accuracy;
4. Completely environmentally friendly; the film is eliminated, thus completely eliminating the need for phototypesetting serious pollution during the process. At the same time, it is a flushing-free plate and avoids the pollution problems that occur in the current CTP plate during the plate making process. It is a truly environmentally friendly product;
In other words, this set of The CTP system can save film and truly realize CTP. It can also achieve four-color overprinting of 150LPI, and the printing endurance can reach 150,000 prints. At the same time, the investment is very small, the operating cost is low, the process is simplified, the efficiency is improved, and it is more environmentally friendly. It is certain It will be recognized by the majority of printing colleagues, and it will definitely make a big difference!
Advantages of CTP plate making technology
CTP has many advantages, the most obvious ones are improving production efficiency, saving time and reducing production costs. However, the extent of the advantages that CTP can demonstrate is also related to the printing company's mastery of digital technology. There are many important factors affecting time and cost in the transition from traditional plate making to computer-to-plate making.
1. Significant economy
a) Simplified process flow. The CTP system reduces the process of film dispensing and printing in traditional processes, saving consumables and related costs.
b) Use traditional aluminum plates. In various CTP systems, special CTP plates are inevitably required, which are very expensive. The plate used in bare CTP plate making is a cheap conventional printing plate, which is the specially treated PS aluminum plate without photosensitive adhesive used in the current process. Compared with other CTP technologies, the bare version CTP system has a greater price advantage because it uses traditional aluminum plates and can achieve low-cost operation of production.
2. There is no need to output film, which improves the printing quality.
The bare plate CTP system inherits the advantages of the CTP system - there is no need to output film, and it can also realize computer-direct plate making. In this way, film materials and processing materials can be saved, and manual imposition time can be saved. Many users who use CTP have experience working with film printing. Without film, the printing quality of printed matter has been significantly improved, because the images and dots are not affected by the quality attenuation in the traditional pre-press process. The quality of the baked printing plate is better because 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 naked CTP plate making technology are the first-generation dots that are directly transferred to the printing plate. Their edges are clean and sharp and faithful to the original.
3. Quickly and stably integrate into the traditional plate making process
Since the bare plate CTP system still uses ordinary aluminum plates that are familiar to printing plants, producers can undoubtedly Maintain the original hanging board printing method. Printing companies do not need to worry about various problems caused by changes in printability, nor do they need to spend a lot of time and energy to complete the matching of plates and printing machines. Bare CTP technology not only simplifies the original lengthy process, but also retains traditional operating habits and printing suitability to the greatest extent, providing the best way to complete production tasks stably and efficiently.
4. Reduce printing debugging time and material loss
Since there is no need for printing plate positioning, the quality of the printing plate is better, and there is no need to re-make the plate due to inaccurate positioning. Avoid spending a lot of time proofreading when printing on the machine. As the entire printing industry has more and more short-run jobs, plate changing and machine debugging have become routine tasks. Reducing printing debugging time can significantly save time and cost. CTP plate making is more accurate than traditional analog plate making, so the waste of (damping) water, paper, ink and other consumables is reduced during machine debugging.
5. Simple operation
Customers only need to put the typeset graphics and text manuscripts into the bare version CTP system for output. After output, bake the version for 3 minutes and then it can be uploaded. Print directly on the machine.
6. Printing customers are more satisfied
Printing customers are more satisfied with printing production time, which means more timely delivery, saving customers more valuable time and reducing factory costs. Operating costs enable printing companies to take advantage of fierce market competition.