Welcome Koen Van de Poel Chairman Origination&Prepress CIP4 Technology Agfa Tutorial Foster City Prepress and Gray boxes

Today’s Agenda Creating the Ticket Gray Boxes Stripping Output: Proofs, Plates, Ink key settings ICS Press<>Prepress

Position Print Manufacturing Customer

Estimating Production Planning Production Controller Prepress Controller Press Controller TrappingImageSetting ProoferA PlateSetterB MIS SW Device Controller HW Device Legend

Creating the Ticket

Known at Creation Info available when MIS creates prod. ticket administrative and job info product nodes (part structure) and layout: binds info to sheets Imposition?, number of pages number of colors for each sheet side processes: gray boxes

Missing Some info is often missing when the job is created because: Content (PDF) arrives later PDF is needed to extract Spot color names Number of content pages for Cover often doesn't match description: 2 pages are combined in one

Introduction to Prepress

Steps in Prepress Creative part Prepress preparation (page level) –preparing content files ready to RIP obtaining content files –preparing imposition Production prepress (sheet level) –RIP –Proofs –Plate making and Preview for ink key

Workflow PrePressPreparation Gray box ImpositionPreparation Gray box Plate Making Gray box

Prepress Preparation Goal: no errors or interactions in prepress production part (except mapping colors) Steps for content (not in order) –obtaining content files (Asset Transfer) –conversion from native to standard formats –trapping –creating production quality standard formats –preflighting / fixing files –page proofs / approvals

Imposition Preparation Activities needed to create a description of where the pages and marks need to go on the sheet resulting in the Layout

Production prepress Controlled environment –nearly fixed processing times –few operator interventions/errors if well prepared –scheduling possible for plate making Includes Imposition Proof –often needed before starting plate making –internal or external (takes extra time) approval

Parts Brochure BodyCover Black&White Color 16 pp 2x 8 pp Product Process Prepress

Building a Workflow

Gray Boxes Easy way to let MIS define what prepress should do –PrePressPreparation, ImpositionPrepreparation –PlateMaking, xxProofing MIS provides –input : available job info, more or less detailed –output: detailed info (sheet structure, plates, components) Prepress operator (or defaults) will fill in remaining details

Drawing

PrePressPreparation Gray Box

In/Out PrePressPreparation In –indication of nr of pages can be different from what prepress needs Out –populated RunList

Snippet Node …>

Snippet Input RunList

ImpositionPreparation Gray Box

In/Out ImpositionPreparation In –Stripping resources –If not available, operator intervention Out –Completed Layout –References to Marks

Stripping High-level imposition related information from MIS to Prepress avoids redoing imposition 3 times: –Estimating –Production planning –Prepress allows bi-directional communication: prepress updating imposition info

Sample: Stripping Sheet Pages / Cells BinderySignature

FoldCatalog Describes how the sheet will be folded Needed for Pagination CIP4 spec has Fold Catalog list

Stripping details Depending on MIS and prepress capa. –Rich Stripping info All gutters/margins specified Gripper / color bar / no image area specified –Shallow Stripping info FoldCatalog / NumberUp ‘Cut’ boxes or just nr of boxes

Snippet ImpoPrep Imposition: folder with 6 pages folded using F6-1, WorkAndTurn

Snippet Layout

PlateMaking Gray Box

In/Out Platemaking

In –Media (plate) –Colors –RunLists document (content) marks –Layout Out –Ink key setting preview (PPF or PNG) –ExposedMedia (plate)

Snippet PlateMaking … … … …

Proofing Variations Hard copy or soft proof Page or Imposition Content <> Contract proof May include Approval

Interoperability Conformance Specs

Summary Specifies a subset that MIS MUST generate Specifies a subset that Prepress MUST consume or report back Updated to JDF 1.3 and released summer ‘07 Certification procedure end ‘07 Samples at JDF Samples folder

ICS details MISPRE Level 1: MIS 2 Prepress –basic jobs MISPRE Level 2 –more complex (stripping, versioning) PRECP: Prepress to Conventional Printing –Nearly ready, not much changed Future: Link to (hybrid) digital printing

References JDF 1.3 spec MIS-Prepress ICS 1.3 MIS-Prepress Samples on CIP4 site –Minimal, (Proof)PlateMaking –Complex (multi part, ConvPrint) Proofing Application note

Prepress is not a press

Prepress is not a press! Objects sheet level job parts (cover, body) for pagination Media: paper <> plate –Plates consumption not tightly tracked (waste) –Limited plate variations, usually tied to Press –Plate pairing: combining planned plates Device –Platesetter and proofer linked to plate size –Platesetter + processing often unattended

Prepress operators One prepress operator handles multiple jobs simultaneously; no detailed tracking Sometimes separate operator PDF preparation Duration: may take several days (waiting for content) May start on job before JobID assigned May make job modifications

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