Application and Thinking of Digital Workflow

Digitization and networking has become the trend and direction of development in the publishing and printing industry. Digital printing, digital workflow, CTP, PDF, JDF, and cross-media publishing have become hot topics in the industry. Digital workflow has become one of the current trends. Great highlights.

The digital workflow integrates the three processes of prepress processing, printing, and post-press processing into an inseparable system based on digital production control information, so that the digital graphic information is completely and accurately transmitted, and finally processed into a print. Finished product.

The generalized digital workflow includes two parts: graphic information flow and control information flow. The basic tenet of the digital workflow is to incorporate various control information in pre-press processing, printing, and post-press processing into computer management, using digitally controlled information flow to link the entire printing production process.

The digital workflow yesterday

In 1995, 26 prepress, printing, and postpress companies in the world jointly established the International Cooperation for Integration of Prepress (Press and Postpress), an international cooperation organization dedicated to the implementation of integrated computer control of prepress, printing, and postpress processing. ), meaning "prepress, printing, post-press integration international cooperation." The main purpose of the organization is to study and formulate some standard formats, and to improve the quality of prints, reduce costs, and increase production efficiency with the concept of data-based process flow. The establishment of CIP3 has effectively promoted the formation and application of digital workflows.

In early 1999, the four members of the CIP3 Association Heidelberg, Manroland, Agfa, and Adobe jointly developed the first version of the JDF and established the JDF Alliance. On July 24, 2000, the JDF Union and the CIP3 Alliance reached an agreement to join CIP3, adding the word "Process", thereby establishing the CIP4 (International Cooperation for Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress) Association, and the JDF's intellectual property rights Also directly transferred to the CIP4 association.

On Drupa 2000, the digitized workflow was stirred up and became a hot topic in the industry. However, there were few process products at the time, and most of the processes were only for prepress equipment, but were also provided by major prepress equipment suppliers. They were technologically imperfect and lacked completeness. Therefore, most people only digitized the workflow. Accepted as a brand-new concept, it does not fully understand its connotation, nor does it fully recognize its role. Therefore, at the time, the digital workflow was not really promoted and widely used. It was so in foreign countries, and even more so in China. During the four years from Drupa 2000 to Drupa 2004, the digitized workflow has gradually matured and improved, and its application has become more extensive.

Digital workflow today

In Drupa 2004, digital workflows have come to life with a new look. Propaganda force is far greater than 4 years ago, its technology is more mature, and many new concepts and functions have been added. The process products are rich and colorful. There are more than 80 manufacturers. Not only major equipment manufacturers have their own process products, but also many The three-party independent provider's process products also have domestic developers' Chinese interface process products. Today's digital workflow has been elevated to a new level and has entered a practical stage.

The application of digital workflow in foreign countries is better than in China, and the scope of application has expanded from prepress to printing and the entire postpress work cycle. In the past two years, dozens of companies in China have also used digital workflows. Some of them have introduced the process products provided by the manufacturers along with the purchase of imported equipment. The other part has been the introduction of foreign or domestic work processes, although most Used only for prepress systems, but it does play a big role in their respective companies.

1. Application of digital workflow in Beijing Xinhua Printing Factory

Beijing Xinhua Printing Factory is a large-scale state-owned printing company and is mainly engaged in book printing and post-press processing business. In order to meet market demand, further increase production capacity and prepress technology level, improve production efficiency, improve job management, and expand online business, Xinhua Printing Factory introduced a PDF digital workflow in November 2003. After one year of operation, the effect has been good. It has completely replaced the previously used RIP and plays an important role in Xinhua Printing.

2. The role of digital workflow in Beijing Xinhua Printing Factory

Summarizing the digital workflow in one year of operation of the Xinhua Printing Factory, we believe that it has the following features and advantages.

(1) Easy to operate, easy to learn and use. This process is a pure Chinese interface that is easy to understand and grasp at a glance. After a week of training, we have mastered its use and basic maintenance skills, and soon put into production after installation and commissioning.

(2) Regulate the prepress process. Prior to the introduction of the process, there is a dedicated print driver for black and white proofing, a dedicated RIP for the photo output, and a dedicated driver and color management software for digital proofing, which is now managed uniformly by the process. Various files are processed through the normalizer. Specification, the formation of PDF files, and then sent to different output devices according to different requirements.

(3) Improve production efficiency. The work of the original machine is relatively simple. When processing a file, other files must be queued up. Now, many machines have a flow system installed. The explanation and processing work can be distributed to different machines. The output device can be continuously Output greatly improves work efficiency.

(4) Ensure production quality. Because different files are unified and standardized, the system will automatically check for errors and prompt alarm prompts. In addition, PDF files generated after specification can be color-separated or previewed, which greatly reduces the occurrence of errors before output. Guarantee the consistency of various proofs and film output, so as to ensure the quality.

(5) Flexible folding function. For printing companies that mainly use book printing, saddle stitching, and fine and paperback printing, the function of folding is particularly important. The process includes the folding of common books and periodicals, as well as complex and special hands-offs, as well as packaging-specific hand-holdings, which greatly facilitate the demand for the layout output.

(6) Easy to transfer online. The generated PDF file has the characteristics of embedded graphic, reliable, open, and suitable for network transmission. It can easily transmit the file to the customer for proofing and printing through the network, and can also receive the customer's file from the Internet for output. After the introduction of the process, Xinhua Printing also launched an online output business. At the same time, the advantages of PDF also facilitate the preservation of "digital film".

(7) Broaden business scope. The process can handle documents produced by commonly used platemaking software, Founder software and office software, and files in PS, EPS, TIF, PDF, etc. Files that were previously difficult to process are now easier. For example, if a customer uses a file made with Adobe InDesign CS software (which is rarely used in the country), it cannot be processed with traditional methods. The output of the file can be successfully completed using a digital flow.

(8) It has good openness and compatibility. The system can be connected to different manufacturers and different models of production equipment, can be installed on the PC and MAC machine can be used. It has created conditions for the introduction of CTP equipment for Xinhua Printing.

The digital workflow has played a role in the Beijing Xinhua Printing Factory. Other companies that have applied digital workflows have also received good results to varying degrees. Today, people in the industry have begun to understand and understand the digital workflow and realize the practical significance it brings to production. Many printing companies have begun to use or are preparing to use digital workflows.

Digital workflow tomorrow

Although the digital workflow based on JDF has gradually matured and improved, but overall, it is still in the stage of enlightenment, and its application has not yet been popularized. Even enterprises that use processes often only apply some functions in the process. Some companies The digital workflow has not been fully recognized and accepted, and its technology and performance have yet to be further strengthened and improved. Therefore, the adoption and development of digital workflow requires a process. As Martin Bailey, chairman of CIP4, said, I look forward to another 5 In 10 years, JDF is truly automated and fully interoperable. Therefore, in the coming years, the digital workflow will be the development direction and trend of the printing industry. In the next few years, it will be more effective, more mature, more popular, and more effective. The process must have a bright future.

Thinking about digital workflow

In today's hot-spotted digital workflow, as a person in the industry, as a user, we should conduct objective analysis and calm thinking. I have raised several questions for personal consideration for your reference.

Think I: How to Evaluate Digital Workflows

So many manufacturers are vigorously promoting their digital workflow and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Manufacturers, academics, and customers each have their own set of standards, but the most important one is the customer's standard because the customer is the ultimate user. In my opinion, as of today, the processes of various companies have gradually matured and improved, and they have their own characteristics. There is no need to evaluate whether they are good or not, and the key is to see which process is more in line with the actual situation of the company. Businesses bring greater profits.

Think twice: whether to purchase a digital workflow

Digital workflow is a very good technology product, but not every company needs to purchase and use it. It must not be fashionable, and it must be judged and decided based on its actual situation. For example, an output center only needs a set of RIPs, and if it costs tens of thousands of yuan to buy a dedicated RIP and imposition software, why should it cost more to purchase a digital workflow? In addition, to consider whether it is urgent to buy now, if it is not too urgent, it is better to wait for a period of time. With the passage of time, the performance of the process will be more complete, and the price will be cheaper.

Reflection 3: How to choose a digital workflow

First, decision makers or key technicians must be fully familiar with the content, role, and advantages of the digital workflow. Second, they must have a comprehensive understanding of the company's production processes and process flow, and have a clear idea of ​​how to use the digital workflow. There is a clear goal on what to achieve; then, examine the different processes and see which process is more cost-effective to meet your actual requirements. For example, companies with more foreign businesses must consider the requirements of foreign companies. Foreign companies have their own standards for the requirements of digital workflows. In addition, press printing is different from commercial printing, and the selection criteria will be different. Finally, after-sales service is also an important inspection criterion.

Therefore, companies must comprehensively consider various factors when choosing a process, and choose a digital work flow that suits their own business characteristics. At the time of purchase, it can be purchased in modules, gradually upgrading and adding modules according to actual needs.

Think four: How to play the role of digital workflow

The digital workflow is a systematic project, not a single product. It is closely related to each production process and production equipment. The original production process must be adjusted to adapt to and comply with the requirements of the digital workflow. The digital workflow is only a tool, and it is ultimately up to the people to complete it. Therefore, the quality of the relevant personnel is also particularly important. Good management personnel and excellent technical personnel are required, as well as serious and responsible operators. For example, the output of press-to-fight layouts has very important practical significance for subsequent printing, but if human errors occur during the imposition, it will cause great losses. Therefore, operators must be responsible and good. Printing process knowledge. Now, the application of digital workflow is still relatively single and one-sided (mostly applied to prepress systems). In fact, it has very powerful functions. It is only that we have not found and used it. This requires us to continue to research and explore repeatedly when using it. And experiment, accumulate experience, tap potential, and maximize its role. In addition, when applying a digital workflow, you should also