CTP Technology to Promote Digital Printing Development (I)

The Computer to Plate (CTP) technology emerged in the 1980s and is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing areas. CTP refers to the process of digitally processing the layout information and outputting it directly to the printing plate. It requires a complete digital environment, supporting output devices and plates, and a brand-new management concept. It is a contemporary printing industry. Another major technological revolution.

CTP technology accelerates digital printing process
The CTP-based digital workflow is an inevitable trend in the development of the printing industry. With the development of CTP's breakthrough technologies, modern printing has achieved digital workflow from manuscript design to postpress processing. From this exhibition, it can be seen that almost all CTP equipment suppliers not only provide brand new CTP equipment and plates, but also put forward their own prepress workflow solutions. Agfa launched the latest version of Apogee X3.0 workflow management software; Fujifilm also demonstrated its Print Engine technology based on JDF and Adobe PDF; Heidelberg's Prinect Prinect workflow can meet commercial printing and industrial Requirements of the printing and packaging printing market, etc.; Screen Company has launched the "Wisdom World" and "Huizhi 3" workflows. The "Digital Printing Workflow before Founder Chang" launched by Fangzheng, a domestic provider of prepress digital workflows, is a perfect match with Fuji Xerox laser CTP systems, the world's fastest and most precise.

The characteristics of modern CTP technology
CTP technology combines digital printing technology with traditional offset printing technology. Today's CTP technology has the following advantages:

The equipment is diversified, the operation is simple and user-friendly, and the size of the plate can be output from the four open, the open, to the full sheet;

For multiple-use platemaking requirements, combined with multiple laser heads, the plate can be efficiently and stably output.

Combine digital workflow, provide more highly automated functions, and humane management of the entire workflow;

Equipped with the most advanced automated workflow software, with higher RIP speed and stronger RIP function, saving output time;

Through CIP4, the full-scale ink channel data is directly generated and transmitted to the printer, shortening the time for color recovery, reducing over-printed paper, and greatly increasing the actual usage rate of the printing press;

Using special screening technology and high-fidelity printing, the output can be selected between the FM network, AM network and hybrid network. The screening mode can output images without artifacts, and the detail reproduction is good without rose spots, moire or hard jumps. RIP and image reproduction have no effect, improving the color stability of the print.

Modern CTP technology combines the prepress, printing, and postpress links to ensure the overall printing quality.

CTP technology not only involves technological innovation, but also brings a new digital management concept.

The environmentally friendly CTP free plate management technology can avoid or reduce the use and emission of a large number of chemical liquids and truly realize green printing.

Overview of Current Situation of CTP Market Application at Home and Abroad
At present, there are about 50 manufacturers around the world that produce more than 80 CTP systems. The total installed capacity in the world has exceeded 20,000 units. In the mature markets for CTP technology in Europe, America and Japan, most large and medium-sized companies have already invested in the CTP platemaking system, and small-scale printing companies will also enter the application stage. The CTP is global. The penetration rate will increase with each passing day. In the domestic direct-printing market, foreign brands have an absolute advantage. Agfa first brought CTP equipment to China. Creo is another winner in China's direct plate-making equipment market, occupying the largest part of the newspaper and packaging CTP market, respectively. Market.

1. CTP equipment manufacturer
At present, the mainstream of CTP equipment production market is photosensitive CTP, thermal CTP, and CTcP technologies. Violet laser equipment has the advantages of fast plate making speed, long lamp life, etc.; thermal-sensitive equipment has advantages such as good image quality; CTcP is a CTP technology that can continue to use the traditional low-cost PS plate. At present, the laser is mainly based on the violet laser CTP technology, such as the Krause Company; the typical representatives of the thermal CTP are Kodak Creau, Lausanne, and Presstek. They locate their products on the 830-nm thermal CTP, and the device specifications are correct. Open to 4 open and extended specifications. In addition, Agfa, Screen, Fujifilm, etc. provide both thermal and photosensitive CTP devices. The supplier representatives of CTcP equipment using the traditional media are Bessie and Esko.

2. CTP Plate Technology
Since the wavelength of the CTP laser source is very strict, the range of the photosensitive wavelength is very narrow. Therefore, the imaging exposure of the CTP requires a very high requirement for the photosensitive layer of the plate. The corresponding coating process and production cost of the CTP plate have also become more complicated and expensive than the common PS plate that has been popularized earlier. Domestic products commonly used by Agfa, Kodak Polystar, Fuji Starlight, and American ECRM, are mainly silver halide diffusion transfer, photopolymerization, silver salt emulsions, and polymer compounds. Spray mask type, thermal type. Among them, there is a large selection of heat-sensitive CTPs. There are hot-melting, thermal-eroding, photo-etching, heat-crosslinking, and degradation-type printing plates. There are both direct imaging and indirect imaging through the mask. .

3. Domestic involvement in CTP companies
Peking University Huatong, Stone, Hangzhou Corey, Shenyang Boji, Dongfang Communication, and diversified electrical equipment are the domestic manufacturers that have developed and produced CTP equipment. However, both in terms of popularity and influence, they are all separated from international famous brands. Far away. Kodak Poly Lighting, Fujifilm, Agfa, and Creo have successively built factories in China to produce CTP plates. Among them, Creo cooperates with Sichuan Juguang Printing Equipment Co., Ltd. in China to produce torch-heated positive chart version; users of Lekai Group's second film factory have launched the CTP version of Huaguang Brand's thermal positive chart with independent intellectual property rights; Chi Fang Group has made three CTP technology patents, breaking through the monopoly of foreign CTP, the newly developed thermal CTP plate is very good anti-alkaline, high resistance to India, and good network reducibility. However, the domestic CTP plate brand is still relatively small, and the index and performance of the plate have a certain distance from the import.