Digital Process System Technology Comparison

Beginning with DRUPA2000, digital process software has gradually entered people's field of vision and put into industrial applications. Several mainstream prepress software currently on the market include: ElecRoc workflow, Agfa Apogee PDF workflow, Screen Trueflow workflow, Creo Prinergy Connect workflow, Heidelberg full The meta Dimension workflow. The technical comparison of various process softwares is shown in the following table 1.

1 Founder flow before the flow

1.1 Core Technology and Structure

Founder ElecRoc process software is based on the following four main technologies: JDF, XML database, PDF, and the Internet. The first three have open standards, and they can choose different products to support them. The Internet expands the operating environment. A complete set of commercial printing lines has multiple roles: buyer, sales person, dispatcher, operator for each process, accountant, manager, delivery person, etc. They communicate with each other on the Internet through JDF.

The modules in the ElecRoc process are called processing components. Processing components can run on the Internet or on any machine connected to the Internet. Each station can explain JDF and take each one's needs. Included in the ElecRoc architecture is a control center that parses the description of the process in the JDF and passes the JDF document to the necessary processing components. The control center is based on the database. The main function of the database is to analyze the processing information of the jobs carried by the JDF, and dispatch the processing components to perform corresponding processing to complete a specific job. The flexibility of JDF allows ElecRoc to handle both distributed information and integrated ones. This means that when two processing units need to call the same result from one processing unit, the control center can split the JDF file into two and send it to two specific processing units. When a processing component needs to call results from two different processing components, the control center can also combine the two JDF results into one and send it to the processing component.

1.2 Main functions and features

The main functions of the Founder ElecRoc process include PDF standardization, folding, imposition, RIP, black-and-white printing, digital proofing, photo output, and computer direct plate making. It has the following features:

1) PDF-based hand-made imposition

PDF files that have been converted by the normalizer can be exported directly to paper patterns, or they can be folded. Compared to traditional folding workstations, the folding arrangement in the PDF process simply specifies the position of the pages on the large version, and does not actually merge the PDF page files into a complex large-format PDF file. This kind of folding is more convenient than traditional PS. In the PDF export process, the change arrangement can be changed at any time. Before the final output, the operator can make various changes to the contents of the PDF file without having to re-implement the layout. Because only the position information of the PDF file is recorded in the fold control file, it is not concerned about the specific content of the page described by the PDF file. In other words, the Fold Control file only records a link to the page without actually merging the pages. Thanks to this flexible folding method, the processed data of the smooth pre-press flow is highly modifiable.

2) Application of Tiff Downloader

Tiff Downloader (abbreviated as TDL) is an output product whose basic function is to send a raster file stored in TIFF format (after RIP) to an imagesetter or CTP device to form an exposed film or media. From the perspective of traditional RIP products, the function of TDL is basically equivalent to the device-driven part of a RIP product, but its greatest function is to completely separate the RIP process from the output process. The Founder Stream System uses its own TDL product, Eagle Blaster, which has powerful page-page functionality, output management, and device monitoring capabilities.

3) The interface design follows the user's operating habits and localization strategies.

As a workflow that is operated and managed on Internet Explorer, the setup and operation interface of Founder Changliu's Chinese language follow the habits of domestic printing industry users. It is easy to use and is not prone to error operations. Timely response and localized rapid support appear to be more advantageous.

2 Agfa Apogee PDF Workflow

2.1 Core Technology and Structure

The core components of the Apogee process include the Apogee Create PDF generation tool, the Apogee Pilot operating core, and Apogee PrintDrive, an efficient output management tool. The advantage of the Apogee PDF workflow is the integration of the original data preparation and the press control parameters into the prepress processing environment, thus enabling a seamless connection of the workflow. The technical path of this process is very clear, that is, creating PDF files during the design process, editing electronic worksheets, and standardizing files, spot colors, trapping, layout, and RIP output.

2.2 Main functions and features

(1) Generate a PDF file with Apogee Create. It is a powerful desktop publishing software designed for designers. Use it to generate independent and optimized PDF files that accurately reproduce the designer's creativity. It is a design software based on Adobe Extreme technology. It can easily convert files generated by programs such as PageMaker and QuarkXPress to PDF files, and through preflight inspection, the generated PDF files can fully meet the requirements for high-end printing. . Designers can quickly connect with publishers and printers by producing PDF files suitable for printing, so that all groups in the workflow are closely linked and truly “from think to ink”.

(2) Standardization. In the process, it mainly undertakes three tasks: converting the PS file into a PDF file, creating and editing a worksheet file, and outputting a PDF file according to the instructions of the worksheet. What makes the Apogee Pilot special is that it strengthens the Normalizer function to make it more accurate when dealing with spot colors, Pantone colors, patterns, Colorized TIFF, and multi-tone images.

(3) PDF RIP. It processes output files in real time, and the overall performance of the Apogee PDF RIP is excellent due to the increased processing speed and data exchange speed. Apogee PDF RIP automatically traps. PDF RIP also has a dot preview function, which can be previewed on the local or remote site, observe the "digital film" and check whether the trapping, folding, overprinting and other settings are correct. In addition, Apogee PDF RIP supports multiple screening methods, such as Agfa Balanced Network and Agfa Crystal Network (FM), and also supports ICC color management profiles. The built-in ColorTune color management module and ICC color management profiles ensure accurate color reproduction of digital proofs.

(4) Data output. The dot copy file, DCS file and TIFF file can be directly output on the PrintDrive without RIP processing, which greatly improves the work efficiency of the process. The Apogee process can implement the RIP after the big version function. PrintDrive also provides "last minute modification" function, which can modify the RIP processed page before output, which is of great significance for newspaper and magazine printing. As an output manager in the process, PrintDrive stores all pages and selects the appropriate device output as needed, which greatly improves the utilization of the output device. The OpenConnect option provided by Agfa can also be connected to a third-party manufacturer, RIP, to integrate the Apogee process with non-Agfa products and manage them in a unified manner. The PrintDrive's InkDrive option generates CIP3 files that transfer the ink delivery profile to the press, which greatly increases printing efficiency. (to be continued)