Abstract

Xeikon is a digital printing system that sends digital files directly to the press, thus eliminating film and plate processing. Technically, Xeikon is a web-fed press using electrophotographic technology to create information that is trans ferred to the substrate. From a marketing perspective, it is one of the preferred choices for on-demand, variable-data, and short-run printing because it has been proven to be an economical process than traditional offset. In the current printing process, the digital file is prepared as a postscript file and transferred to the Xeikon server and Xeikon Raster Image Processor (RIP) respectively. The computer section at the Xeikon RIP will RIP the file and image the information on the photoconductor drum. The information is then trans ferred to the substrate. Conventionally, the digital file can be changed to improve the tone reproduction in order to make the image suitable for each job. However, the file will be transferred back to the prepress workstation and sent back through the RIPping process. Another possible way to improve the tone reproduction of the image is the adjustment of the dot gain setting in the RIPping process without changing the native digital file. The benefits of this process could include: - Reducing the bottleneck in prepress - Minimizing prepress variables - Protecting customer file integrity Subsequently, this study examined how varying the dot gain setting in the RIPping process can improve the workflow of the Xeikon digital printing sys tem. The printed targets, produced from varying the dot gain setting at the pre press workstation (conventional workflow) and at the Xeikon RIP (proposed workflow), were compared the tone reproduction, dot gain, solid ink density, and gray balance. The time usage of each workflow was also measured. And the sample images were evaluated by a group of 20 observers. The results indicated that varying the dot gain setting at the Xeikon RIP saved the production time. Meanwhile, they showed the different output qualities in terms of tone reproduction, dot gain, and gray balance but the same in terms of solid ink density. However, the image evaluation result showed that the observers accepted images from proposed workflow rather than those from con ventional workflow.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Digital printing presses--Quality control; Electronics in printing--Quality control; Color separation--Quality control

Publication Date

8-1-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Print Media (CIAS)

Advisor

Cummings, Twyla

Advisor/Committee Member

Freckleton, Marie

Advisor/Committee Member

Goffin, C.

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: Z249.3 .V3 2000

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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