The rapid development of computer technology, laser technology, and materials technology has made the popularization and application of computer-to-plate technology (CTP) a reality. In fact, the concept of direct platemaking has long been proposed. The emergence of a digital platesetter named Eocom in the mid-1980s has allowed computer-to-plate technology to evolve from concepts to actual products. The development of CTP technology can be seen through the two Drupa exhibitions in 1995 and 2000. CTP has become an indisputable fact as a development trend. According to statistics, in 2000, the world had about 5,000 direct plate-making systems. It is expected that the number of domestic CTP platesetters will reach about 20 this year, and the popularity of CTP is only a matter of time.
Review of CTP Technology The domestic computer-to-plate technology research has not started late. In 1983, Peking University identified the computer-to-plate system (including plate material) as a key research project of Peking University. Has been the state's financial support, in 1989 to complete the development of the prototype, in 1995 and completed a fully automated planar scanning CTP system. In addition to the platemaking machine, Peking University’s Physics Department also includes a composite PS plate, and has also conducted research on light sources. Institutes such as the Institute of Photographic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Printing Science and Technology of China also conducted research work on silver salt type plates in the 1980s. The Institute of Photographic Chemistry at Beijing Normal University has also started research on thermal plates very early.
The meaning of the term "computer-to-plate" for CTP platesetters and plates is extensive. The CTP in the broad sense includes a computer equipped with related typesetting/imposition software, a raster image processor (RIP), a platesetter, a plate processing processor, a digital proofer and related software, and a corresponding printing plate. Therefore, the CTP contains many independent technologies, and only when they cooperate can the ideal result be achieved. The narrow sense of the CTP mainly refers to the direct platesetter, plates, and processing equipment. Due to the interdependence of technologies such as plates and platesetters, early studies (such as Peking University) usually included plates, platesetters, and related processing equipment.
The core principles of CTP technology are reflected in the process of plate making. The basis of printing quality is also the plate making. Therefore, the plate making machine is the core of the entire CTP system.
At present, the mainstream of computer-to-plate is the use of laser scanning, which uses a suitable laser light source to scan the RIP after the dot-matrix image onto the printing plate (to generate lattice latent images or images). Laser scanning The design of the platesetter, especially the selection of the light source, is closely related to the plates used.
According to the mechanism of image formation, the direct platemaking grids used for laser scanning can be divided into two major categories: first, photosensitive plates, composite plates consisting of silver salts and conventional PS plates, silver salt diffusion plates, and photopolymerization. The second category, thermal plate, is divided into two systems: direct thermal and light and heat.
For different plates, the design of the CTP platesetter should consider the use of suitable light sources. The available laser sources for the photosensitive silver salt plate are red laser diodes of around 650 nm, frequency-doubled YAG lasers of 532 nm, and argon ion lasers of 488 nm. And the newly emerging 410nm violet blue semiconductor laser. Laser sources commonly used for thermal plates include 830 nm infrared semiconductor lasers and 1064 nm YAG lasers. At the same time, consideration should also be given to the selection of a suitable mechanical structure, whether it is an external drum type, an internal drum type, or a flat panel type, as well as the requirements of the targeted market, including parameters such as speed, resolution, automatic edition, or manual edition.
Current status of domestic development of CTP technology The research of domestic silver salt-type direct plate materials is represented by Prof. Chen Ping of the Institute of Photographic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. According to Prof. Chen, current resistance to Indian forces can reach 100,000 impressions. The study of the thermal plate was represented by Prof. Yu Shangxian of Beijing Normal University, and the test conducted with the Second Glue has been successful. In addition, the photopolymerization study also achieved results at the Shanghai Institute of Printing Technology. It was also identified this year and is ready for small-scale production. At the same time, a research group headed by Zhang Qingqiu, a researcher at the Institute of New Technology of Beijing Institute of Graphic Arts, is also studying a thermal ablation type plate and related equipment.
Currently, the units that are currently engaged in the development of laser scanning CTP platesetters include Xiamen Peking University Huatong High-tech Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Peking University Huatong) and Hangzhou Eastern Communications Corporation's Electronic Equipment Department (hereinafter referred to as Eastern Communications).
Peking University Huatong is a joint venture between the Department of Physics of Peking University and Huatong International Investment Group in 1997. It specializes in the development and marketing of CTP technology. The computer-directed plate-making project hosted by Peking University Huatong was included in the national key engineering experimental project in 1998. The BH-3000 computerized platemaking machine developed by the company uses external drum scanning. It is an artificial upper and lower version of the semi-automatic platemaking machine. Its mechanical structure and processing technology have reached the highest level in the current domestic processing conditions. Relying on Peking University’s Physics Department, Peking University Huatong has a strong optical technology advantage. The scanning light source of the BH-3000 plate-making machine is modular. For different plates, the light source can be replaced. At present, laser diode light sources with a wavelength of 650 nm are used, and multi-fiber close-packed imaging is performed using optical fibers. Lithostar and other red light plates of Agfa are used as the plate material. The entire system scan resolution is 1524dpi, 2540dpi, 2794dpi three. The maximum scan size is 980mm x 740mm. Repeatability accuracy is better than ±5μm. The fastest platemaking speed is 20 sheets/hour (1524dpi, maximum format). Can basically meet the needs of some users.
Peking University's BH-3000 direct platemaking machine produced a Beijing Foreign Language Printing Factory during the intermediate engineering experiment of the Beijing Foreign Language Printing Factory. The samples were printed on a computer-aided plate (16 format book, 16-page coloring book) and the 9th issue of Weaponry Knowledge. The magazine's color pages have been approved by customers. The ninth issue of the "Weapons of Knowledge" magazine has a print output of about 200,000 copies and is already available on the market. The system passed the scientific and technological achievements appraisal organized by the Ministry of Information Industry on November 21, 2000. This self-designed, self-developed direct plate-making system in China is of great significance for popularizing CTP technology in China and developing the pre-press technology and equipment industry.
The disadvantage of the BH-3000 type platesetter is the darkroom operation, which is related to the use of red plates. At present, Peking University Huatong Company is cooperating with the corresponding plate materials, and actively develops an infrared scanning system suitable for thermal plates, and a violet laser scanning system for silver plates with a sense of sensitivity. It is believed that this problem will be solved by then. For the issue of speed when used in newspaper printing, Peking University's Huatong Company is actively improving mechanical devices and developing specialized models for newspaper printing.
Eastern Communications is a major manufacturer of phototypesetting machines in China and has made great contributions to the development and popularization of laser photocopiary systems in China. In the development of CTP platesetters, Eastern Communications has also invested considerable energy and has been supported by the State Economic and Trade Commission. Due to many years of experience in the production of laser imagesetters, Dongfang Communications has unique advantages in mechanical processing, and has thus cooperated with Beida Huatong in the development of electromechanical parts of CTP platesetters. Eastern Communications's CTP system is also an external drum scan, the biggest difference is the use of argon ion laser, 8-channel acousto-optic modulation light source, plate material is DuPont plate. For this reason, the scanning speed of the final system has yet to be further improved. It is reported that Eastern Communications has begun to develop a fully automatic plate-making machine.
In addition, with the development of inkjet printer technology, inkjet CTP has also appeared at home and abroad. Inkjet plate making Internationally, there have been Polytron's piezoelectric elements CTP (using liquid ink), Alice's CTP system (liquid ink), and Hitachi's solid ink jet CTP. Currently, Shenyang Boji Technology Development Co., Ltd., Beijing Sitong Investment Co., Ltd. and Prospect Group provide such products. The core component is the inkjet print head. The above-mentioned domestic products are all using EPSON's inkjet heads. The foreground company's image scanning device uses the EPSON STYLUS PRO 9000 inkjet printer directly. The four-way and Boji scanning devices are used. EPSON inkjet head conversion, resolution can reach 1440dpi × 720dpi. It usually takes about 10 minutes to scan the release version. By overlaying a thin middle layer on the ordinary PS plate, Boji solves the problem of dot affinity on the plate material, and can print the ink dot on the ordinary PS plate, which greatly improves its practical value.
The inkjet CTP system is cheap, so there will be a certain market. Due to its fixed resolution and speed, the ink jet method is suitable for the printing of low-grade image prints, which cannot be applied to high-end printing or applications with fast speed requirements.
CTP development prospects For the application of CTP technology, CTP platesetter and plate are inseparable. Regarding the issue of using silver salt or thermal plates, the author believes that both have their own advantages and will have their own markets. Therefore, they will remain coexisting for quite a long time. However, which type of media will be domestically produced first, it may occupy a relatively large market share and even determine the application of the entire CTP technology in China. This also poses a challenge to the development unit of the plate making machine, that is, the production machine must be able to adapt to the development and application of the plate.
On the one hand, the development of plate-making machines should be in close cooperation with the plate material production units. On the other hand, flexible design schemes should also be adopted. Modular interchangeable optical systems should be used. According to the development of plate materials or the needs of customers, the installation of photosensitizers should be selected. Light source for CTP plates or thermal CTP plates.
In addition, the number of domestic printing manufacturers, the demand is also diverse, the requirements for speed, resolution and resistance to India are different. The domestic plate-making machine development units should develop series machines for different situations. In particular, in the face of competition from foreign direct plate-making machine manufacturers, we must give full play to our own advantages and strive to occupy the mainstream in the mid-to-low range machine market, and also occupy a certain share in the high-end machine market.
Looking at the development of CTP in China is both happy and worrying. We are pleased to note that the domestic market is huge, and the development of CTP platesetters represented by Peking University Huatong and Dongfang Communications has achieved gratifying results. We have our own products. Great progress has been made in the development of plates. The concern is that although there are few varieties of domestic CTP platesetters, there is no mass production of plate materials, which reflects the current domestic investment in CTP technology and market maturity. In the face of strong competition from foreign manufacturers, etc., it is not possible to further increase investment and improve the level of research and development.
From the perspective of domestic development, there is currently no unit that can complete all work including CTP platesetters, plate material development and production. In the face of these problems, domestic CTP technology development units must cooperate closely. This kind of cooperation should not only stop at the level of mutual help, but also link everyone through the economic ties of cooperative development or investment.
In fact, what really pushes CTP technology to maturity is the demand for high-quality printing in the printing market, and the need to accelerate the digitization of printing processes and reduce production costs. Of course, there are far-sighted investors, persistent engineers, and an innovative environment. In short, we are looking forward to the vigorous development of China's CTP technology. (Peking University Huatong Hi-Tech Industrial Co., Ltd. Kan Cantao) (From "Printing Technology" 2001 2)
Review of CTP Technology The domestic computer-to-plate technology research has not started late. In 1983, Peking University identified the computer-to-plate system (including plate material) as a key research project of Peking University. Has been the state's financial support, in 1989 to complete the development of the prototype, in 1995 and completed a fully automated planar scanning CTP system. In addition to the platemaking machine, Peking University’s Physics Department also includes a composite PS plate, and has also conducted research on light sources. Institutes such as the Institute of Photographic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Printing Science and Technology of China also conducted research work on silver salt type plates in the 1980s. The Institute of Photographic Chemistry at Beijing Normal University has also started research on thermal plates very early.
The meaning of the term "computer-to-plate" for CTP platesetters and plates is extensive. The CTP in the broad sense includes a computer equipped with related typesetting/imposition software, a raster image processor (RIP), a platesetter, a plate processing processor, a digital proofer and related software, and a corresponding printing plate. Therefore, the CTP contains many independent technologies, and only when they cooperate can the ideal result be achieved. The narrow sense of the CTP mainly refers to the direct platesetter, plates, and processing equipment. Due to the interdependence of technologies such as plates and platesetters, early studies (such as Peking University) usually included plates, platesetters, and related processing equipment.
The core principles of CTP technology are reflected in the process of plate making. The basis of printing quality is also the plate making. Therefore, the plate making machine is the core of the entire CTP system.
At present, the mainstream of computer-to-plate is the use of laser scanning, which uses a suitable laser light source to scan the RIP after the dot-matrix image onto the printing plate (to generate lattice latent images or images). Laser scanning The design of the platesetter, especially the selection of the light source, is closely related to the plates used.
According to the mechanism of image formation, the direct platemaking grids used for laser scanning can be divided into two major categories: first, photosensitive plates, composite plates consisting of silver salts and conventional PS plates, silver salt diffusion plates, and photopolymerization. The second category, thermal plate, is divided into two systems: direct thermal and light and heat.
For different plates, the design of the CTP platesetter should consider the use of suitable light sources. The available laser sources for the photosensitive silver salt plate are red laser diodes of around 650 nm, frequency-doubled YAG lasers of 532 nm, and argon ion lasers of 488 nm. And the newly emerging 410nm violet blue semiconductor laser. Laser sources commonly used for thermal plates include 830 nm infrared semiconductor lasers and 1064 nm YAG lasers. At the same time, consideration should also be given to the selection of a suitable mechanical structure, whether it is an external drum type, an internal drum type, or a flat panel type, as well as the requirements of the targeted market, including parameters such as speed, resolution, automatic edition, or manual edition.
Current status of domestic development of CTP technology The research of domestic silver salt-type direct plate materials is represented by Prof. Chen Ping of the Institute of Photographic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. According to Prof. Chen, current resistance to Indian forces can reach 100,000 impressions. The study of the thermal plate was represented by Prof. Yu Shangxian of Beijing Normal University, and the test conducted with the Second Glue has been successful. In addition, the photopolymerization study also achieved results at the Shanghai Institute of Printing Technology. It was also identified this year and is ready for small-scale production. At the same time, a research group headed by Zhang Qingqiu, a researcher at the Institute of New Technology of Beijing Institute of Graphic Arts, is also studying a thermal ablation type plate and related equipment.
Currently, the units that are currently engaged in the development of laser scanning CTP platesetters include Xiamen Peking University Huatong High-tech Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Peking University Huatong) and Hangzhou Eastern Communications Corporation's Electronic Equipment Department (hereinafter referred to as Eastern Communications).
Peking University Huatong is a joint venture between the Department of Physics of Peking University and Huatong International Investment Group in 1997. It specializes in the development and marketing of CTP technology. The computer-directed plate-making project hosted by Peking University Huatong was included in the national key engineering experimental project in 1998. The BH-3000 computerized platemaking machine developed by the company uses external drum scanning. It is an artificial upper and lower version of the semi-automatic platemaking machine. Its mechanical structure and processing technology have reached the highest level in the current domestic processing conditions. Relying on Peking University’s Physics Department, Peking University Huatong has a strong optical technology advantage. The scanning light source of the BH-3000 plate-making machine is modular. For different plates, the light source can be replaced. At present, laser diode light sources with a wavelength of 650 nm are used, and multi-fiber close-packed imaging is performed using optical fibers. Lithostar and other red light plates of Agfa are used as the plate material. The entire system scan resolution is 1524dpi, 2540dpi, 2794dpi three. The maximum scan size is 980mm x 740mm. Repeatability accuracy is better than ±5μm. The fastest platemaking speed is 20 sheets/hour (1524dpi, maximum format). Can basically meet the needs of some users.
Peking University's BH-3000 direct platemaking machine produced a Beijing Foreign Language Printing Factory during the intermediate engineering experiment of the Beijing Foreign Language Printing Factory. The samples were printed on a computer-aided plate (16 format book, 16-page coloring book) and the 9th issue of Weaponry Knowledge. The magazine's color pages have been approved by customers. The ninth issue of the "Weapons of Knowledge" magazine has a print output of about 200,000 copies and is already available on the market. The system passed the scientific and technological achievements appraisal organized by the Ministry of Information Industry on November 21, 2000. This self-designed, self-developed direct plate-making system in China is of great significance for popularizing CTP technology in China and developing the pre-press technology and equipment industry.
The disadvantage of the BH-3000 type platesetter is the darkroom operation, which is related to the use of red plates. At present, Peking University Huatong Company is cooperating with the corresponding plate materials, and actively develops an infrared scanning system suitable for thermal plates, and a violet laser scanning system for silver plates with a sense of sensitivity. It is believed that this problem will be solved by then. For the issue of speed when used in newspaper printing, Peking University's Huatong Company is actively improving mechanical devices and developing specialized models for newspaper printing.
Eastern Communications is a major manufacturer of phototypesetting machines in China and has made great contributions to the development and popularization of laser photocopiary systems in China. In the development of CTP platesetters, Eastern Communications has also invested considerable energy and has been supported by the State Economic and Trade Commission. Due to many years of experience in the production of laser imagesetters, Dongfang Communications has unique advantages in mechanical processing, and has thus cooperated with Beida Huatong in the development of electromechanical parts of CTP platesetters. Eastern Communications's CTP system is also an external drum scan, the biggest difference is the use of argon ion laser, 8-channel acousto-optic modulation light source, plate material is DuPont plate. For this reason, the scanning speed of the final system has yet to be further improved. It is reported that Eastern Communications has begun to develop a fully automatic plate-making machine.
In addition, with the development of inkjet printer technology, inkjet CTP has also appeared at home and abroad. Inkjet plate making Internationally, there have been Polytron's piezoelectric elements CTP (using liquid ink), Alice's CTP system (liquid ink), and Hitachi's solid ink jet CTP. Currently, Shenyang Boji Technology Development Co., Ltd., Beijing Sitong Investment Co., Ltd. and Prospect Group provide such products. The core component is the inkjet print head. The above-mentioned domestic products are all using EPSON's inkjet heads. The foreground company's image scanning device uses the EPSON STYLUS PRO 9000 inkjet printer directly. The four-way and Boji scanning devices are used. EPSON inkjet head conversion, resolution can reach 1440dpi × 720dpi. It usually takes about 10 minutes to scan the release version. By overlaying a thin middle layer on the ordinary PS plate, Boji solves the problem of dot affinity on the plate material, and can print the ink dot on the ordinary PS plate, which greatly improves its practical value.
The inkjet CTP system is cheap, so there will be a certain market. Due to its fixed resolution and speed, the ink jet method is suitable for the printing of low-grade image prints, which cannot be applied to high-end printing or applications with fast speed requirements.
CTP development prospects For the application of CTP technology, CTP platesetter and plate are inseparable. Regarding the issue of using silver salt or thermal plates, the author believes that both have their own advantages and will have their own markets. Therefore, they will remain coexisting for quite a long time. However, which type of media will be domestically produced first, it may occupy a relatively large market share and even determine the application of the entire CTP technology in China. This also poses a challenge to the development unit of the plate making machine, that is, the production machine must be able to adapt to the development and application of the plate.
On the one hand, the development of plate-making machines should be in close cooperation with the plate material production units. On the other hand, flexible design schemes should also be adopted. Modular interchangeable optical systems should be used. According to the development of plate materials or the needs of customers, the installation of photosensitizers should be selected. Light source for CTP plates or thermal CTP plates.
In addition, the number of domestic printing manufacturers, the demand is also diverse, the requirements for speed, resolution and resistance to India are different. The domestic plate-making machine development units should develop series machines for different situations. In particular, in the face of competition from foreign direct plate-making machine manufacturers, we must give full play to our own advantages and strive to occupy the mainstream in the mid-to-low range machine market, and also occupy a certain share in the high-end machine market.
Looking at the development of CTP in China is both happy and worrying. We are pleased to note that the domestic market is huge, and the development of CTP platesetters represented by Peking University Huatong and Dongfang Communications has achieved gratifying results. We have our own products. Great progress has been made in the development of plates. The concern is that although there are few varieties of domestic CTP platesetters, there is no mass production of plate materials, which reflects the current domestic investment in CTP technology and market maturity. In the face of strong competition from foreign manufacturers, etc., it is not possible to further increase investment and improve the level of research and development.
From the perspective of domestic development, there is currently no unit that can complete all work including CTP platesetters, plate material development and production. In the face of these problems, domestic CTP technology development units must cooperate closely. This kind of cooperation should not only stop at the level of mutual help, but also link everyone through the economic ties of cooperative development or investment.
In fact, what really pushes CTP technology to maturity is the demand for high-quality printing in the printing market, and the need to accelerate the digitization of printing processes and reduce production costs. Of course, there are far-sighted investors, persistent engineers, and an innovative environment. In short, we are looking forward to the vigorous development of China's CTP technology. (Peking University Huatong Hi-Tech Industrial Co., Ltd. Kan Cantao) (From "Printing Technology" 2001 2)
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