Digital proofing and traditional proofing should choose which?

The difference between each, the following is a comparison of digital proofing and traditional proofing, you look at it.

One, the quality of the effect

Color simulation ability - because the traditional proofing machine is the same as the use of ink to image, theoretically it can express the color gamut is very close to the printing. And digital proofing, some equipment can also be used to approximate the ink composition of the color ink, the color gamut of the performance is very similar to the printing. However, regardless of ink and machine costs are very high (generally equipment in the 500,000 to 1.5 million between, depending on the format and accuracy). Other common color printers, such as inkjet or thermal sublimation, which can express the color gamut are richer than printing ink, and the cost is very low. The key is how to use the overly rich color gamut to simulate the gamut of printing ink, which depends entirely on the color management techniques of individual manufacturers.

Screen flower simulation ability - this aspect of the traditional proofing has a definite advantage. Because they use the same set of film with the printing plate. And digital proofing to simulate the screen flower, on the one hand, to pay more than a million dollars of investment to purchase high-precision equipment, but in exchange for the effect with the real printing effect is difficult to be consistent. For example, the digital proofing machine precision is 2000/3000dpi, and phototypesetting machine precision of 2400/3600dpi, both created by the net flower is completely different. Most of the equipment on the market can simulate the mesh flower can only meet the customer's visual requirements.

Stability - because the traditional proofing machine is the use of human hands under the ink and adjust the pressure, so the effect is very unstable, industry insiders have this experience: this is the same set of film were taken out to proofing, the effect is usually not the same. Digital printing is automated imaging, can be very stable. Of course, if the quality of the equipment is not good, such as the ink head is often clogged, can also cause instability. However, the more stable equipment on the market is not difficult to find.

Reliability - traditional proofing with the printing of the same film, high reliability. Digital proofing on this issue can be divided into three levels of consideration:

a. If the output proofing RIP and the final plate system RIP is completely different, then the reliability of low;

b. If the output proofing RIP and the same system of teaching film, but the need for imaging before the re-processing of a separate time, so that the reliability of a high;

c. If you can use the same set of data has been completed by the RIP processing as a

C. If you can use the same set of data that has been processed by the RIP as proofing and plate making, the reliability will be very high. Because in the whole process in addition to the human factor, the most likely differences in the operation of the RIP is the operation of the above mentioned three ways, the market are available.

Two, cost-effective

Investment costs - in this regard, the traditional proofing and digital proofing compared to the obvious very poor. Because of the same production capacity, such as an hour to complete two sets of folio four-color proofing, the traditional investment in equipment will be 4 groups of equipment to engage in the machine, supporting the plate, punching equipment, plus the required staff and a large plant, the investment is about 2 million yuan. The investment in digital proofing can be 30-1.5 million RMB, depending on the quality requirements, while the additional labor is close to zero. In terms of material costs, the cost of paper and ink for traditional proofing is very low, and a higher proportion of the cost is for plates and potions. For digital proofing, a folio sheet costs about RMB 20 to RMB 150, depending on the individual printer. Overall, the return on investment for digital proofing (at a certain level of quality recognition) can be much higher than traditional proofing.

Three, performance

Production speed - ostensibly digital proofing imaging faster. Universal printer on the market can be done within 20 minutes to complete a folio layout of the same quality. And traditional proofing regardless of size, not including collage, plate and punch time, a single type of proofing action, generally takes 30 to 40 minutes, but this is only a comparison of the production of a proof. When you need to produce more than one color proof, the two speed of judgment is closer.

Multiple Simulation Capabilities - Most of the digital proofers mentioned above are capable of expressing a richer color gamut than printing inks. The rich color gamut, coupled with good color management software, so that digital proofing not only simulate the effect of print, but also can simulate other production effects, such as screen printing, digital printing, inkjet posters, etc., and even simulate the performance of high-speed rotary presses, and more to meet the increasingly diversified output requirements of the market. The most common example is a set of advertising designs that need to be publicized through different media.

Multi-format capabilities - In addition to simulating the color effects of an output medium, a complete digital proofing system can automatically adjust the color of the images in the archive for different output needs, so that the operator does not have to manually modify them, and the workflow can be truly automated. The above two digital proofing features are the lack of traditional proofing.