Modern printing technology -- Opportunities and challenges

Due to the development and application of computer technology and information processing technology, the progress of printing technology has been greatly promoted, and the face of modern printing technology has undergone tremendous changes. These changes include:

1) The concept of printing is changing

The application of computer technology has subverted the concept of traditional printing technology.

The methods of printing have gone beyond the scope of the traditional four printing methods. In particular, non-contact digital printing methods based on inkjet are emerging. The concept of traditional printing has been far from covering the connotation of modern printing and information dissemination, and it is necessary to expand its connotation, study its trend, and track the rapid development of its technology.

2) Traditional printing has changed from the only way of graphic information transmission to one of the ways of graphic information transmission.

3) The development of pre-press system, CTP system and digital printing system has transformed the traditional analog manual platemaking, platemaking, and even printing operations into a fully digital (partly intelligent) process, greatly improving the efficiency of platemaking and printing, and ensuring the stability and reliability of graphic publishing quality.

4) The modernization of graphic output equipment and printing equipment (high integration, high degree of automation), so that the operation is easier (close to the fool), these changes make it easier to start a printing company.

5) Remote printing, on-demand printing, personalized printing, etc., is no longer just a concept, but is gradually being realized.

6) The carrier of information storage and reproduction is not limited to printed paper.

7) The principles of printing technology are applied in a wide range of areas of life and technology, but their contributions are not attributed to the discipline of printing. Such as the photographic plate of integrated circuits, is a typical printing. Such a large role, but ignore the contribution of printing.

4.2 Existing opportunities

The huge social demand and the development of information technology, electronic technology, new materials, precision equipment manufacturing and other related disciplines have made the research and development of modern printing technology active, and there are good opportunities for rapid development of printing technology and printing industry.

1) Establishment and development of pre-press graphic information processing system

The digital prepress system includes the whole process from the input of graphic information, to the processing of graphic information, and then to the output of graphic information, which constitutes a complete information system. Including text and graphics image recognition, image segmentation, data compression, data format conversion, graphic editing, color processing and other information processing of high technology, is a promising research field. The combination of printing technology and modern information technology will accelerate the transformation of printing technology, and sometimes it may produce major changes.

2) The development of printing materials promotes the change of printing process

Such as laser film recording materials, direct plate making materials, etc. They, combined with related equipment, have contributed to the development and progress of printing plate making process. Inkjet printing, digital direct imaging printing, thermal recording materials, electrostatic printing and other technologies also rely on the research of new materials. This field is also more active in research, which may lead to one of the breakthroughs in printing technology.

3) Full digital workflow, information management system and whole-process quality monitoring system.

It will play an important role in promoting the development of printing technology, improving management level and work efficiency, and changing the face of printing technology.

4) The interdisciplinary characteristics of printing engineering make it easy to produce innovative results.

Examples include the rise of Peking University Founder, the invention of frequency-modulation screening technology and electronic paper technology.

4.3 Challenges Faced

1) Confusion of subject orientation.

Printing engineering - need multi-disciplinary support, is a comprehensive interdisciplinary technology application system. It involves information science, communication science, color science, aesthetics, image science, material science, precision optics, precision machine manufacturing, graphics and image processing technology, and so on.

Because it is so comprehensive and the social demand is so large, there is confusion about which discipline is more appropriate to place it in.

2) The diversification of information dissemination methods (electronic publications, wireless mobile information services) poses serious challenges to the conventional concept of printing technology.

Radio and television: the disposable dissemination of information. No storable features, no reusability.

Electronic publications: storable and reusable, requiring auxiliary display (visualization) equipment.