CtP
In our CtP department we inspect your print data intended for offset printing. This inspection is very important because the range of errors contained in PDF files may still be quite considerable (for example low image resolution, font errors, overprinting, etc.) and the majority of these errors result either in lower-quality printed materials or, in the worst case, materials that are worthless altogether. In the data supplied in PDF format (see How to prepare data) we will check that objects and letters are correctly inserted, we verify the quality and colour of the images, and for demanding colour overlaps we apply trapping. Before starting the printing press we will prepare a preview of the sheet assembly in electronic or printed form (plotter) for your approval, so that the correctness of the content is verified. If you wish, we will produce certified proofs of selected pages to verify the print colour. We will satisfy even the most demanding requirements for precision and raster quality. At Z STUDIO your data is proofread by professionals.
We give your documents the following care:
- Plotter – Before starting the printing press, we will prepare from the data you provided (see How to prepare data) a preview of the sheet assembly, a plotter (in a 1:1 ratio), so that you can check the printed content. The document is approved by you, or our graphic designer responsible for preparing the inspected data, by signing the plotter print. This inspection may also be performed electronically: We will send you a preview of the sheet assembly by e-mail after RIP in PDF format. You can easily make corrections, in Adobe Acrobat Reader for example, which can be freely downloaded here. You can send your print approval directly by e-mail.
- Certified proof – In accordance with the international standard ISO 12647-2:2004 we will provide you with a proof print for a high-fidelity simulation of the final colour rendering in the PDF print document supplied to you. This is called proofing. Every proof is checked using a spectrophotometric probe and given a certification label for quality inspection.
- Exposure – We produce printing plates using a modern thermal technology in B3 and B2 formats. The European brand printing plates we use enable us also to render very fine rasters (up to 250 lpi) or second-generation stochastic rasters. These demanding technologies are available to you on request.
- Photography – On request we can prepare photographs in formats up to A2 on professional-quality Epson Semigloss photographic paper. By transferring your photographic data from AdobeRGB on to this paper (using proprietary ICC linearization profiles) we achieve fantastic colour rendering of the resulting prints.
Technical facilities
- Proofing and data assembly - Heidelberg Prinect PrePress Manager workflow (preflight and normalisation), Signastation (assembly), Adobe Acrobat Professional + PitStop Professional 9.
- Proofing equipment – Epson 4880 ink printer controlled by RIP Heidelberg MetaDimension. We use the same colour management in RIP for proofs and exposure. For measuring the proof on EFI 6225FX calibrated paper with a width of 36 cm we use ColorToolPro software with an X-Rite iO automated spectrophotometric probe. The result is a certified proof of the highest quality provided with a calibration wedge and a certification label with the values of the measured Delta-E deviations.
- Printing of proofs – Canon iPF600 large-format ink printer / plotter (maximum format A1).
- Raster image processor – Suprasetter A75 thermal imagesetter with auto plate loader and internal perforation. The maximum plate format for exposure is 605 x 745 mm.
Raster image processor
Proofing equipment
Proof measurement with spectrophotometric probe