2. Digital Printing Technology13
Digital Printing Technology

3. Learning Objectives
Explain how digital processes have affected the graphic communications industry.
Compare digital printing technologies.
Explain the practical uses of variable data printing and distributed printing.
Recall the purpose of digital asset management systems.
Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of digital printing.
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4. Digital Printing Overview
Digital printing technology
Eliminates time-consuming and costly preparation of film, plates, and inks
Provides customers with options that bring professional printing closer to desktop
Reduces number of workflow steps, making process simpler and more productive
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5. Digital Printing Overview
Digital technology is used to:
Create text
Capture or create images
Create printing plates
Apply ink or toner
Major technologies include:
Electrostatic technology
Ink-jet printing technology
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6. Direct Imaging (DI) Computer-to-press system
Eliminates production steps and variables normally associated with offset processes
Provide good image quality and reduced environmental footprint
Reduces makeready time and improves productivity
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7. Digital Workflow Creation of text and images
Importing text and images to create page layouts
Imposition and sheet assembly of laid-out pages
Platemaking and printing based on sheets on DI press
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8. Digital Workflow
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9. Digital Printing Methods
Ink-jet printing is most common
Other types:
Electrostatic printing
Ionography
Magnetography
Dye sublimation
Thermal transfer
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10. Ink-Jet Printing
Uses digital data to control streams of droplets of ink or dye
Mostly variable data printing of single or spot colors
Three classifications
Desktop
Large format
Grand format
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11. Types of Ink-Jet Printers
Thermal ink-jet printers
Use electrical current, heat, and nozzle to transfer ink to substrates
Piezoelectric ink-jet printers
Use piezocrystals
Continuous ink-jet printers
Use continuously circulating flow of ink
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12. Types of Ink-Jet Inks Aqueous inks Solvent inks UV-curable inks
Withstand high temperatures without affecting chemical makeup of ink
Solvent inks
Have ingredients considered to be high in VOCs
UV-curable inks
Lack of VOCs
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13. Volatile Organic Compounds
Chemical compounds that emit vapors at normal room temperatures
Short term exposure to VOCs can cause:
Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat
Headaches, dizziness, or nausea
If using products containing VOCs, follow all safety instructions
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14. Types of Ink-Jet Printheads
Fixed-head ink-jet printer
Built-in printhead
Printhead can be refilled when ink runs out
Disposable head ink-jet printer
Cartridge is replaced when ink runs out
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15. Electrophotography Most often seen in copiers
Most systems accommodate wide range of papers
Some are being used to produce content and contract proofing, including final output copies
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16. Electrophotography
( owned by Austec Data Inc. dba Tecstra Systems)
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17. Ionography Used mainly for single- or spot-color printing
Used for high-volume and variable data printing
( owned by Austec Data Inc. dba Tecstra Systems)
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18. Magnetography
Image is converted to magnetic charge on drum that then attracts magnetized toner
Faster than other types of systems
Commonly used for:
Single- or spot-color printing
Barcodes
Other types of variable data printing
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19. Dye Sublimation Type of thermography
Ribbon made of panels of CMY pigments pass over heater
Pigments become gaseous and are transferred to substrate below panels
Ink is dry as soon as it is done printing
Panels cannot be reused
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20. Thermal Transfer Type of thermography Similar to dye sublimation
Printers use different ribbon for each color
Used mainly for one-color printing
Newer systems have multiple ribbons of different colors
Commonly used for color proofing
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21. Digital Printing Applications
Variable data printing
Distributed printing
Digital asset management (DAM)
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22. Variable Data Printing
Enables quick and easy content changes at several points within print run
Basic template of printed material has certain sections designated as changeable fields
Produces customized and personalized materials
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23. Distributed Printing
Electronic files are sent through WAN to be printed near point of distribution
Using color management systems at both ends of process helps ensure color consistency
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24. Digital Asset Management (DAM)
Tasks include:
Downloading data
Processing data
Organizing data
Storing data
Transmitting data
Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
Data includes:
Design files
Templates
Images
Font files
Databases
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25. Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Printing
Digital presses offer quick turnaround times, greater flexibility, and cost-effective printing for short color runs
Eliminating much of traditional press preparation reduces overall cost of short color runs
Most digital presses do not produce high enough quality
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26. Electronic Media Waste
When computers and other types of electronics are thrown out, they become e-waste
E-waste is fastest growing cause of toxic waste in United States
Toxic chemicals found in e-waste can consist of lead and mercury
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27. Review What is direct imaging (DI)?
The process of sending digital files directly to press without use of traditional offset or computer-to-plate processes or chemistry.
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28. Review What are two types of thermography? How do they differ?
The two types are dye sublimation and thermal transfer. Dye sublimation printers use a ribbon of panels of colored solid pigment. Thermal transfer printers use a different ribbon for each color.
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29. Review What is variable data printing? What is it used for?
A type of printing that enables quick and easy content changes at several points within a print run. It allows customized and personalized materials to be produced.
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30. Review What is digital asset management?
The protocol and resources established to handle all digital files and data.
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31. Review What are three advantages of digital printing?
Quick turnaround times, greater flexibility, and cost-effective printing for short color runs.
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32. Continuous ink-jet printer
Aqueous inks
Inks that are based on a mixture of water, glycol, and dyes or pigments.
Continuous ink-jet printer
Printer in which a continuously circulating flow of ink through the printhead is maintained while the power is on.
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33. Digital asset management (DAM)
The protocol and resources established to handle all digital files and data.
Digital printing technology
Any reproduction technology that receives electronic files and uses dots for replication.
Direct imaging (DI)
The process of sending a digital file directly to a press without the use of traditional offset or computer-to-plate processes or chemistry.
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34. Distributed printing
A system of digital printing in which the electronic files for a job can be sent anywhere in the world, through a wide area network (WAN), for output. Commonly used for localized editions of newspapers and magazines.
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35. Dye sublimation Electrophotography
A type of thermography that uses heat and pressure to change solid dye particles on a ribbon into a gas to produce an image on a substrate.
Electrophotography
Printing process that uses a drum coated with chargeable photoconductors, dry or liquid toners, and a corona assembly to produce an image on a substrate.
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36. Electrostatic printing
A printing method that uses the forces of electric current and static electricity. It is commonly found in office copying machines. Machines capable of producing copies in multiple colors have become common in recent years.
Ionography
Printing process that uses an electron cartridge, a nonconductive surface, and a magnetic toner to produce an image on a substrate.
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37. Ink-jet printing Magnetography
A direct-to-paper technology that uses digital data to control streams of very fine droplets of ink or dye to produce images directly on paper or other substrates.
Magnetography
Printing process that uses a drum, magnetic toner, and high pressure to produce an image on a substrate.
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38. Piezoelectric ink-jet printer
Makeready
The process of preparing a press for printing a job.
Piezoelectric ink-jet printer
Printer in which a piezocrystal is charged to cause pressure, which forces droplets of ink from the nozzle.
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39. Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
A type of data management system in which the data is managed and maintained externally. Clients access the data on demand using system-specific software and an internet connection.
Solvent inks
Inks that have a main ingredient of a solvent that evaporates and produces VOCs.
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40. Thermal ink-jet printer
Printer in which the ink is superheated to form a bubble, which expands through the firing chamber, forcing ink out of the nozzle.
Thermal transfer
A type of thermography that uses heat and pressure to change solid dye particles on multiple ribbons into a gas to produce an image on a substrate.
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41. Variable data printing
UV-curable inks
Inks that are forced onto the substrate, then subjected to UV light to be polymerized.
Variable data printing
A digital printing process that enables quick and easy content changes at several points within a print run. The “on the fly” imaging resident allows customized and personalized printed materials to be produced.
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