Matching paper towels and towels printed proofs

Flexographic printing has made great progress in recent years, but its prepress technology seems to be slow to shoot. Among the most distressing problems is the matching of proofs for water-absorbing substrates. Below, we will take a look at how this article helped us find a solution.

Flexographic prints have undergone a transition from simple printing with one color or two colors to complex four-color printing, a historic leap forward! However, its prepress technology did not keep pace with this development. Porous substrates, printing speeds (up to 2700 fpm), the amount of ink needed, and the width of the rollers are still plaguing printers. Among them, the main problem is that printers are often not matched by proofs provided by the sales department.

Is it the responsibility of the sales department to provide the production department with a copy of the same sheet that can be matched in printing? Or does the production department constantly strive to match unrealistic goals in order to ensure the high quality of the product, so that both departments suffer from failure and frustration? In fact, the final quality of printed matter is the result of collective cooperation between the marketing department and the production department, as well as suppliers and packaging processing plants.

Corporate feedback

I consulted the production expert Julie Vusich, manager of the tissue printing department at Pptlatch. Asked about the situation before the end of the production process. How about the sales of paper towels? What are the design parameters? In the past, how well did the printed product match the proofs confirmed by the customer?

Vusich replied: "The designer's task is only to design in the early stage. The responsibility of the color separation staff is to adjust these designs to suit printing. At present, it is not a good method to send proofs to the packaging and processing staff in printing. As all the initial prints are more than the number of prints, it is very important to make the same prints."

She further said: “Sample proofs have value only if they are consistent. If companies can create standards, then customers will have more confidence in production. These standards will continue from proofs to the entire printing process. If there are no standards, we You need to get print approval from the Marketing Department and/or the Customer Department."

Terry Gibbar, production manager at Potlatch's Lewiston, has a different perspective. When asked if a proof submitted by a marketing department can be matched under normal circumstances, he said: "Proofs are just a guideline, and we can't match their color, brightness, or proofs (shown on a glossy proof sheet.) Proof.) We need to make trials and establish standards for each new design, which is very expensive and time consuming."

When asked about the standards mentioned by Vusich, Gibbar said: “It is very valuable to set precise goals for fingerprint printing. Samples should not be bright artwork, but should reproduce what people are looking for in prints. "He also thinks that persistence is the cornerstone of production.

Eclectic approach

Based on feedback from these companies, let's look at production. Some people in the company often see paper towels as being packed rather than products that require special printing. Designers want to use color to enhance the effect - many bell colors, more than the printer can handle. They want to design works that will make them feel perfect. They use brushes or computer monitors instead of printers. To be honest, they didn't realize or care about printing problems. Looking at a good sample on the monitor may not be perfectly converted to print. For many years, the width of the cylinder and the specification of the substrate have been a problem for all flexographic printers.

The marketing department will bring these designs to customers, which can be printed or not. Marketing staff sell designs and concepts. They do not sell prints. This is our description of their work.

Then, after seeing the proofs, the customer confirmed a design that could not be printed with a flexo. However, the proofs did not accurately reproduce the inks and substrates to be used, so that the proofs confirmed by the customer became unrealistic goals in the printing.

In the past, all flexographic printers have experienced the same thing: they will not print or match offsets with proofs before the actual proofs are presented to the customer. Most flexographic printing plants have now changed this process. Flexographic printers in the superabsorbent printing sector need to do this.

At present, they are taking a compromise based on the same design that the customer has already identified and the unrealistic combination. In order to achieve better printing, this is a change that must be made - but this does not change too much. Those proofs that have been changed will no longer match with customer confirmation proofs and printed proofs. For print companies, the easier thing to do is to match the design manuscripts and tell the designer: “This is what the customer recognizes!”

Matching printing results with proofs is not just a function of printing, ink, roller or plate. To understand the printing process and the possible outcomes of a tissue, you must know how all aspects of the printing are combined! It is also important to distinguish and prove these forecasts before they are accepted by the customer.

How to proceed

The matching samples sent to the tissue printer are usually of the same type as the labels and the flexographic printing house. Even so, their substrates, roll width, ink and printing conditions are quite different. Why?

I can't tell you why, but I can tell you how the workflow works. It's not a new model, but a new application of a pattern that is often used in flexographic printing.

Determine the capacity of the press under real production conditions.

Determine the quality of the industry standard.

Collaborate with the prepress department to find out the special needs of flexographic and superabsorbent substrates.

Choose an accurate proofing method that can reproduce the true printing ability.

Ensure that the above factors remain stable during the printing process.

A stable approach guarantees the desired effect of printing, including compromises in the proofing process.

Julie Vusich's goal in marketing is to increase turnover and market share with high quality products, superior value and attractive design.

For paper towels and towel packaging plants, I can give this advice: You need a first-rate design, do not reduce the standard. Please follow the production process. You should look for more and better solutions from suppliers, and actively participate in seminars and discuss with others about ways to improve your company's growth!



Source: China Public Venture Network