For the prepress production department, laser imagesetters are the core equipment. Its role is to produce a film that is as good as possible. The price of a typical laser imagesetter is very expensive. However, most companies that own laser imagesetters cannot obtain the maximum profits from laser imagesetters, that is, they do not get as much from the laser imagesetters as they can get. They may have fundamentally wasted. Often an output center can't make up for the waste that it causes, because we don't have a very clear idea of ​​the maximum profit for a laser imagesetter.
Basically, to increase the production capacity of laser imagesetters is to increase more production per cycle instead of counting the work to be done and wasteful films. The purpose that we want to achieve is to reduce the waste of the film as little as possible while counting the completed work.
Of course, this is easy to say. However, actually increasing the production capacity of the imagesetter is a very complicated issue. And there is a need for more extensive and systematic inspections of staff operations. In fact, most laser image-setter manufacturers have recently increased the speed of their equipment to such a large extent that the laser imagesetter has not become a bottleneck in the production process. Therefore, the enhancement of the production capacity of the laser imagesetter is to ensure that the front-end work of the laser illumination does not cause the equipment to be idle. Faster laser imagesetters will not increase the productivity of laser imagesetters.
In particular, the imaged files are sent to the workstation before output. The operator then opens the job and outputs it to the imagesetter. Frequently, the operator is not well-coordinated when considering the size of the image and the complexity of the job. Therefore, the workstation is connected for several hours, waiting for the image to be downloaded while the RIP of the imagesetter operates slowly on the large color job. Worse still, all workstations seem to be connected, but the job is no longer delivered. The operator must take a long rest to wait until the next job.
There is an easy way to reduce the wait time for operators and there is no need to invest in additional hardware and staff. At the beginning of each cycle, each job was measured in its 1:10 download and imaging time.
* Consider the number of films to be exposed, and based on this number, the size of each page, and whether or not a tile is required. Also, determine in advance the number of colors that each page needs to be separated.
* Determine the page elements that reduce the RIP speed, including: the number and size of the graphic elements; the number and size of the color images; the number of rotated and distorted texts; the size and number of gradient effects; the use of spirals and fill effects; The number of EPS files placed; the number of font and font changes.
* Using this method, a letter-size page, if it has only text, has a level of 1 and is the simplest form of the page; if there are 16 tabloid or poster size pages, and the page has four-color jobs, Entering EPS files, gradients, and rotating texts will be rated 8 or 10.
Because our goal is to produce the highest possible number of jobs per cycle, using this system can measure the degree of effort of the operators. In the first part of the cycle, the simple job is sent to the laser imagesetter, and then the true full RIP process is maintained for an afternoon or night. In this way, we can enhance our ability to estimate the time for special file downloads and imaging. To help speed up this understanding process, we compare our estimates with the actual time spent downloading and imaging various jobs.
How can it be fast enough?
Estimating jobs in this way will help us determine whether the capabilities of laser imagesetters are equal to or better than our true production needs. Using the original operating speed of the equipment, calculating in a cycle, if the recording equipment keeps running, how many pixels can be imaged, regardless of the impact of RIP on imaging speed (If you do not know the original operating speed, you can ask the seller, Keep in mind that the operating speed increases as the selected resolution decreases. The fewer dots per inch, the faster the recorded image.
Compare this data with the tasks we need to complete in one cycle. For example, if the image that can be recorded every minute is a 20-inch film, then 100 feet per hour is recorded. If we have our own recording equipment and the production requirement exceeds 100 lb./hr, our production capacity will not meet the production requirement, so faster RIP will not help.
The kind of work we routinely do will determine to some extent how much speed we need for recording equipment. If our regular image job requires a very short RIP time, like black and white text, we need a recording device with an original running speed that matches or even exceeds our production volume. If you make a full-size page in four colors, the original speed of the recorder is slow, and it doesn't matter. Because no matter how fast the recording device, it must have a long idle time, waiting for the RIP process of the data.
New tools can help reduce waste. Adding more steps in the production process can increase the production capacity of the process. It seems counterintuitive, but doing so is actually significant. By using preflight preflight software (Preflight), print servers, OPI servers, and higher speed networks, we can reduce the re-run time and greatly increase the number of successful job completions in a single cycle.
Nothing is worse than finding some images or fonts lost on output. Therefore, what we can do is to avoid the chance of such problems, so as to greatly increase our efficiency.
The imagesetter's operator opens the file in the local software and can help check for missing or obvious errors and correct errors. So this inspection method is very careful and stable, but it will waste a lot of time. Moreover, this method has some flaws that can be found when checking is not a minor problem; this method is not available for Postscript files. Although many production centers do this, it is also very difficult to ensure that all required fonts exist in workstations or RIPs, especially for placed EPS files. The application file can tell us what font is used in the document, but it will not tell us what font is used for the placed EPS file.
Now that there is software for preflighting before output, it can help the operator overcome these problems. These program inspection software checks the PS file and allows us to view the rasterized page on the screen.
For example, Adobe Systems Inc. and Montreal-based Ultimate Technographics Inc. provide compressed preflight software. Adobe's PrePrint Pro allows users to rasterize files and view raster images on the screen. We can check the image linking of DCS and TIFF files and check the font usage. Ultimate's Flight Simulator is actually a Adobe CPSI2 RIP in a desktop system. Rasterized files can be browsed using Photoshop and plug-ins included in Flight Simulator.
Moreover, Autologic now offers APS-PreFlight, a pre-check software model for laser imagesetters that was developed in conjunction with Merritt, Mobile, and Alabama systems. With APS-PreFlight, the rasterized image can be seen on the screen or automatically resized and output to a proofing device. If there is a PS error in the file, it will print out the wrong point and allow the user to more easily see the location of the defect.
If we use QuarkXPress file imaging, there are several preflight Xtention worth using. The Bureau Manager software, released by Xchange, scans PS files to check the fonts and graphics required for imaging, and checks the fonts in the placed EPS file. This program also includes a customizable report generator, so we can print a report of this document and error report. The Magpie program was also developed by Xchange. It was used to find all images, fonts, and hue-colored documents and print reports. This Xtension can copy all linked images, reports and files to another folder for archiving or processing.
The role of this preflight software is to take some time to test the file before it is sent to the production workflow. This is of great significance. Of course, the longer and more complex the documents, the more time it takes. But for very simple jobs, it should also be used. Using good preflight software, we can directly remove the faults in many files before exporting to a laser imagesetter.
Exporting files to the laser imagesetter. Of course, the files are ultimately exported to the software slice, so using the correct film is also a key step to a successful job. To reduce costs, many output centers use common software and consumables. So the question is whether the materials used are reliable. If the result is reliable, it may be available. Unbranded films may have different quality each time they are purchased. Therefore, a job seems to be very good this month, and it may not be the next month. If we use ordinary films and materials, we must always check the output to calibrate our laser imagesetters more often to ensure the quality of the final output. Also, the laser imagesetter and the developing device are often cleaned and the developing solution is updated. In addition, maintain close contact with laser image-setter manufacturers or sellers to maintain the correct working environment of the equipment.
Also, make sure that the laser imagesetter and developer equipment are handled in an absolutely normal and good working condition. There are a few problems with these devices that may cause waste and reduced efficiency. Moreover, from the perspective of optimizing the operations of the imagesetter, regular calibration of the equipment is a critical issue. A good calibration state should ensure that our device produces the correct film density. Some output centers calibrate the equipment at the beginning of each cycle. This cycle can be one day, one week, or one month, and any time you change materials. We should use calibration test strips provided by the manufacturer or produced by third parties such as X-Rite and RIT to calibrate the equipment. The test strip used matches the work we did. For example, if most of our work is to output black-and-white images, we can use the required test strips.
Every time we add chemicals to the development equipment, or change chemicals and materials, we must carry out testing work. When changing from software to paper, it is also tested. If we use a normal film, we will test each time we use a new roll film until we can ensure that the quality of the film used each time is the same.
After the job image is developed, it is checked before it is sent to the customer. See if there are some very obvious problems, such as scratches, missing words, and missing images. And the density of the film is tested to ensure that the user can use it normally.
For a particular color, such as the company's logo tone, is very important to the user, then this is the operator should pay attention to the issue, and it is different from just matching color samples. Similarly, for image quality, the goal should be to match the actual image printed on the real press, not just the abstract test match sample.
Future laser imagesetters will do our best to configure our system as the most powerful system available today. So you may buy another RIP or add workstations and staff. However, adding any unnecessary configuration will result in wasted funds and reduced productivity. Once you have a good workflow, it will be easier to determine when to add what configuration.
The most from the laser imagesetter
Basically, to increase the production capacity of laser imagesetters is to increase more production per cycle instead of counting the work to be done and wasteful films. The purpose that we want to achieve is to reduce the waste of the film as little as possible while counting the completed work.
Of course, this is easy to say. However, actually increasing the production capacity of the imagesetter is a very complicated issue. And there is a need for more extensive and systematic inspections of staff operations. In fact, most laser image-setter manufacturers have recently increased the speed of their equipment to such a large extent that the laser imagesetter has not become a bottleneck in the production process. Therefore, the enhancement of the production capacity of the laser imagesetter is to ensure that the front-end work of the laser illumination does not cause the equipment to be idle. Faster laser imagesetters will not increase the productivity of laser imagesetters.
In particular, the imaged files are sent to the workstation before output. The operator then opens the job and outputs it to the imagesetter. Frequently, the operator is not well-coordinated when considering the size of the image and the complexity of the job. Therefore, the workstation is connected for several hours, waiting for the image to be downloaded while the RIP of the imagesetter operates slowly on the large color job. Worse still, all workstations seem to be connected, but the job is no longer delivered. The operator must take a long rest to wait until the next job.
There is an easy way to reduce the wait time for operators and there is no need to invest in additional hardware and staff. At the beginning of each cycle, each job was measured in its 1:10 download and imaging time.
* Consider the number of films to be exposed, and based on this number, the size of each page, and whether or not a tile is required. Also, determine in advance the number of colors that each page needs to be separated.
* Determine the page elements that reduce the RIP speed, including: the number and size of the graphic elements; the number and size of the color images; the number of rotated and distorted texts; the size and number of gradient effects; the use of spirals and fill effects; The number of EPS files placed; the number of font and font changes.
* Using this method, a letter-size page, if it has only text, has a level of 1 and is the simplest form of the page; if there are 16 tabloid or poster size pages, and the page has four-color jobs, Entering EPS files, gradients, and rotating texts will be rated 8 or 10.
Because our goal is to produce the highest possible number of jobs per cycle, using this system can measure the degree of effort of the operators. In the first part of the cycle, the simple job is sent to the laser imagesetter, and then the true full RIP process is maintained for an afternoon or night. In this way, we can enhance our ability to estimate the time for special file downloads and imaging. To help speed up this understanding process, we compare our estimates with the actual time spent downloading and imaging various jobs.
How can it be fast enough?
Estimating jobs in this way will help us determine whether the capabilities of laser imagesetters are equal to or better than our true production needs. Using the original operating speed of the equipment, calculating in a cycle, if the recording equipment keeps running, how many pixels can be imaged, regardless of the impact of RIP on imaging speed (If you do not know the original operating speed, you can ask the seller, Keep in mind that the operating speed increases as the selected resolution decreases. The fewer dots per inch, the faster the recorded image.
Compare this data with the tasks we need to complete in one cycle. For example, if the image that can be recorded every minute is a 20-inch film, then 100 feet per hour is recorded. If we have our own recording equipment and the production requirement exceeds 100 lb./hr, our production capacity will not meet the production requirement, so faster RIP will not help.
The kind of work we routinely do will determine to some extent how much speed we need for recording equipment. If our regular image job requires a very short RIP time, like black and white text, we need a recording device with an original running speed that matches or even exceeds our production volume. If you make a full-size page in four colors, the original speed of the recorder is slow, and it doesn't matter. Because no matter how fast the recording device, it must have a long idle time, waiting for the RIP process of the data.
New tools can help reduce waste. Adding more steps in the production process can increase the production capacity of the process. It seems counterintuitive, but doing so is actually significant. By using preflight preflight software (Preflight), print servers, OPI servers, and higher speed networks, we can reduce the re-run time and greatly increase the number of successful job completions in a single cycle.
Nothing is worse than finding some images or fonts lost on output. Therefore, what we can do is to avoid the chance of such problems, so as to greatly increase our efficiency.
The imagesetter's operator opens the file in the local software and can help check for missing or obvious errors and correct errors. So this inspection method is very careful and stable, but it will waste a lot of time. Moreover, this method has some flaws that can be found when checking is not a minor problem; this method is not available for Postscript files. Although many production centers do this, it is also very difficult to ensure that all required fonts exist in workstations or RIPs, especially for placed EPS files. The application file can tell us what font is used in the document, but it will not tell us what font is used for the placed EPS file.
Now that there is software for preflighting before output, it can help the operator overcome these problems. These program inspection software checks the PS file and allows us to view the rasterized page on the screen.
For example, Adobe Systems Inc. and Montreal-based Ultimate Technographics Inc. provide compressed preflight software. Adobe's PrePrint Pro allows users to rasterize files and view raster images on the screen. We can check the image linking of DCS and TIFF files and check the font usage. Ultimate's Flight Simulator is actually a Adobe CPSI2 RIP in a desktop system. Rasterized files can be browsed using Photoshop and plug-ins included in Flight Simulator.
Moreover, Autologic now offers APS-PreFlight, a pre-check software model for laser imagesetters that was developed in conjunction with Merritt, Mobile, and Alabama systems. With APS-PreFlight, the rasterized image can be seen on the screen or automatically resized and output to a proofing device. If there is a PS error in the file, it will print out the wrong point and allow the user to more easily see the location of the defect.
If we use QuarkXPress file imaging, there are several preflight Xtention worth using. The Bureau Manager software, released by Xchange, scans PS files to check the fonts and graphics required for imaging, and checks the fonts in the placed EPS file. This program also includes a customizable report generator, so we can print a report of this document and error report. The Magpie program was also developed by Xchange. It was used to find all images, fonts, and hue-colored documents and print reports. This Xtension can copy all linked images, reports and files to another folder for archiving or processing.
The role of this preflight software is to take some time to test the file before it is sent to the production workflow. This is of great significance. Of course, the longer and more complex the documents, the more time it takes. But for very simple jobs, it should also be used. Using good preflight software, we can directly remove the faults in many files before exporting to a laser imagesetter.
Exporting files to the laser imagesetter. Of course, the files are ultimately exported to the software slice, so using the correct film is also a key step to a successful job. To reduce costs, many output centers use common software and consumables. So the question is whether the materials used are reliable. If the result is reliable, it may be available. Unbranded films may have different quality each time they are purchased. Therefore, a job seems to be very good this month, and it may not be the next month. If we use ordinary films and materials, we must always check the output to calibrate our laser imagesetters more often to ensure the quality of the final output. Also, the laser imagesetter and the developing device are often cleaned and the developing solution is updated. In addition, maintain close contact with laser image-setter manufacturers or sellers to maintain the correct working environment of the equipment.
Also, make sure that the laser imagesetter and developer equipment are handled in an absolutely normal and good working condition. There are a few problems with these devices that may cause waste and reduced efficiency. Moreover, from the perspective of optimizing the operations of the imagesetter, regular calibration of the equipment is a critical issue. A good calibration state should ensure that our device produces the correct film density. Some output centers calibrate the equipment at the beginning of each cycle. This cycle can be one day, one week, or one month, and any time you change materials. We should use calibration test strips provided by the manufacturer or produced by third parties such as X-Rite and RIT to calibrate the equipment. The test strip used matches the work we did. For example, if most of our work is to output black-and-white images, we can use the required test strips.
Every time we add chemicals to the development equipment, or change chemicals and materials, we must carry out testing work. When changing from software to paper, it is also tested. If we use a normal film, we will test each time we use a new roll film until we can ensure that the quality of the film used each time is the same.
After the job image is developed, it is checked before it is sent to the customer. See if there are some very obvious problems, such as scratches, missing words, and missing images. And the density of the film is tested to ensure that the user can use it normally.
For a particular color, such as the company's logo tone, is very important to the user, then this is the operator should pay attention to the issue, and it is different from just matching color samples. Similarly, for image quality, the goal should be to match the actual image printed on the real press, not just the abstract test match sample.
Future laser imagesetters will do our best to configure our system as the most powerful system available today. So you may buy another RIP or add workstations and staff. However, adding any unnecessary configuration will result in wasted funds and reduced productivity. Once you have a good workflow, it will be easier to determine when to add what configuration.
The most from the laser imagesetter
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