Can digital proofing really replace traditional proofing?

For this question, we should answer from the perspective of how to replace digital proofing with traditional proofing as soon as possible, even if it is based on counter-evidence. Well, as previously analyzed, among the many factors that hinder the promotion of digital warfare, understanding issues is the key. Let us start from here and look at what experts, service providers, and printer representatives have said.

Wei Yaping (General Manager of Beijing Datong Digital Printing Co., Ltd.): Digital proofing is such a development trend. Its technology is also constantly maturing. Prepress digitalization is the future direction of development. But now, just as when the desktop was first launched in 1992, many people in the industry disapproved, including many printing experts who also believe that desktops cannot replace traditional ones. Like electricity, people need time to test the new thing in digital proofing. It also requires a process for its development. We should look at the problem with a development perspective. Digital proofing has its own strengths, especially in terms of overall cost and flexibility over traditional proofing. And it has good stability, saving time and convenience. It should be said that it is a trend, there will be a market, and the promotion is critical in the printing plant.

Meng Zhiwen (General Manager, Beijing Welling Color Printing Co., Ltd.): Customers are our God. To meet their requirements, we must be able to catch up. The customer recognizes this. Under normal circumstances, digital proofing is not good at catching the color, we are not good to explain to the customer, Datong company's proofs, in color, we can catch up.

Li Jiaxiang (Director, Printing Products Laboratory, China Institute of Printing Science and Technology): We must first recognize that color is the last of the five characteristics of the evaluation sample. It should not be the main one; the customer's sample is not printed. The sole purpose of proofing. To assess the importance of proofing, that is to say, from the pre-inspection process, to provide reference proof for printing. For the user to sign the three aspects of a comprehensive understanding of proofing, from the tone range, gray balance, level reproduction, clarity and color to comprehensive evaluation of the five aspects of proofing. And to make it meet these conditions. There are also technical issues that need to be addressed to allow the results of digital proofing to be equated with the results of simulating traditional proofing, including hue, including dot structure. However, due to different processes and different materials used, this is still an idea that cannot be fully realized.

Jin Yang (Associate Professor, Department of Printing and Packaging Engineering, Beijing Institute of Graphic Arts): In the last issue of the Journal of Printing Technology, I made a summary of the situation of digital proofing equipment. Now it seems that the equipment has not changed much, only in performance. Some improvements, such as: Scitex's Iris new inkjet printer resolution increased from 300dpi to 600dpi (due to the use of continuous tuning FM amplitude modulation technology can actually obtain 2400dpi output effect), other improved performance Mainly in color management. As far as Datong's use testing is concerned, it is evaluated from the perspectives of color matching, tone level, and detail restoration. In summary, digital proofing equipment can already display richer information.

Li Jiaxiang: The technical maturity of digital proofing is actually a relative concept. Datong's example shows that it has basically adapted to 80% of the market requirements in addition to beautiful pictures. And beautifully printed effect. For offset printing, it is only an accidental phenomenon, not an inevitable phenomenon. Therefore, there is no need to have excessive process requirements for digital proofing.

Xu Shizhen (Senior Engineer, China Institute of Printing Science and Technology): The advantage of digital proofing is that traditional proofing can't be replaced. It can be said that there is a bright future. And in the application, it has also found some technical shortcomings that it is not suitable for printing proofing, which is relatively easy to improve. The key is still to know the problem. Perhaps the printing factory can make some adjustments in the process.

Guo Jialin (Deputy Director of Beijing Foreign Language Printing Factory): There is a difference between digital proofing and traditional proofing. However, traditional printing has its own problem with the dot gain rate, so the difference is relative. The promotion of digital proofing is a necessary solution to match the digital development trend of printing technology. For our printing companies, we need more programs like this to allow us to arm ourselves, catch up with the requirements of the development of the times, and strengthen our market competitiveness. Although digital proofing technology is worthy of promotion and application, there are also experts in the theoretical research certification applicable test, but to allow users to accept, to make the market accept, but also need to create a market, train customers, use successful examples to persuade users to reach A consensus on digital proofing. As Li Jiaxiang said, after recognizing the insufficiency of digital proofing, it is not necessary to delve into technical details, but there must be consensus. Furthermore, we must ask the relevant agencies that have established the printing quality standards to provide us with convenience. It is of course best to be able to relax the standards.

Guo Yujing (vice factory director of Beijing Xinhua Color Printing Factory): The application of new technologies needs the support of corresponding standards. With standards and products that meet standards, customers may not even recognize it. And our printing factory must face the user directly, must satisfy the user's request. After all, there is a difference between digital proofing and traditional proofing. It is hoped that the quality standards will include new content when it is formulated, so as to avoid actual printing, although careful and hard to chase, but there are still discrepancies, users can not accept. In addition, demonstrations and promotions will be held several more times to allow users to understand that this difference exists.

Wei Yaping: We opened a meeting on June 2 and invited a lot of people in the industry, many of whom are our customers, introducing them to digital proofing. A lot of people came and I never expected everyone to pay so much attention. After this, there are some customers in succession, every day, but not many. For example, 10 sets of excellent use of traditional proofing, 2 sets of digital proofing can be compared. We give them a very objective, what kind of digital proofing, what kind of not suitable, not that digital proofing is not suitable, but our equipment is not suitable for digital proofing, talk about its pros and cons, such as small Words will be blurred. Therefore, we also tell the truth to customers. We recommend that they use traditional proofing for printing beautiful pictures; for short time requirements, the accuracy is not very high, similar to advertising and the like, we recommend that they use digital proofing. In fact, it is also for the user to choose. I think 60% of the people are acceptable. What they pursue is not the original restoration but the actual effect. What we need to do is this one, and we must give full play to our strengths. Next, we need to carry out the printing factory's certification and business promotion, and hope to propose some reasonable comprehensive cost reduction solutions for color periodical clubs.

Hu Yi (manager of Beijing Ribon Printing Co., Ltd.): As a representative of the Caibao Printing Co., Ltd., I personally think that digital proofing is worth promoting, because the printing press requires a short period of time, and digital proofing can just meet this requirement. For a costly color film proofing, it becomes even more applicable. However, there are also some technical problems. For example, some advertisers will provide a single film, and they need to get it directly to the printing factory. In order to adapt to digital printing, it can also be scanned and combined with other content. But this again involves a proofreading problem. So we still can't go digital proofing so quickly.

Wang Bingyi (Beijing Baihua Color Printing Co., Ltd. Technical Department): We have similar problems in actual printing. We need to make a large version in the formal printing. This requires proofing so that customers can check the page order. Digital proofing does not have this content. of.
Guo Jialin: For the situation that digital proofing can't meet the demand on the web, you can use the large format color inkjet for inspection layout. Use small, high-accuracy proofing equipment to inspect colors, content, outlets, and more.

Xie Tiesheng (Technical Department of Fine Color Printing Co., Ltd.): This is like any contest between traditional and new things. It takes time. As long as the technology matures and has a certain market, it is naturally accepted.

Wei Yaping: Digital proofing has its own market positioning. Many people have a misunderstanding about digital proofing. They are using digital proofing equipment to compete for the traditional proofing market. I think this is in comparison with the strengths of others with their own shortcomings. Will definitely lose. Should open up their own suitable market. The practical application I saw in Hong Kong was to use variable digital printing with Xerox digital technology. For example, the fixed content on the form is printed first, and some of the content on the form is variable, and each one is different from each, and then digital proofing is used to print a copy of different contents. This is the traditional printing machine. What can't be done is to compete for such a market, not to compete with traditional printing for the traditional market.

It can be seen that the domestic digital proofing market is still in the stage of exploration, a stage where users and even merchants and printing companies can take digital proofs to reveal their suspicions. How long does this section go? Let us also come to "chew pistachio, and then fill the bowl of tea. Whoever is right, we must ask everyone."