Future Star - "Green" Film

When last year's magazine first reported about the dry film process, only PoLaroid Graphics Imaging (PGI) was able to provide its commercial products. Others, such as Imation and Kodak, only indicated that they would soon have products available. Imation's related products use far-infrared laser tube imaging, which is reliable and has a long life. Currently, the company is carrying out relevant market assessment work and it is estimated that it will soon be seen. At that time, Imation will combine ECRM, Ultre and Saturn to offer its custom 2- or 4-page dry film imaging machines.

The biggest advantage of dry film imaging is that it does not require the exposure and stencil process of traditional film, and it does not require a developer. Naturally, it also eliminates related equipment and operations, and, most importantly, it can be imaged without any chemicals. It is extremely beneficial to environmental protection and can be called "green" imaging technology.

In addition to meeting the requirements of environmental protection printing companies, dry film imaging machines also provide great convenience to design companies and advertising media organizations that require direct indoor imaging because they can be directly connected to laser printers to form an office automation unit. Equipment.

For a general printing company, dry imaging can also show the advantages of traditional wet imaging – that is, it can increase production and reduce costs, instead of considering the material purchase fee, as well as the traditional wet version. There are problems with the use and maintenance of other equipment.

ECRM prepares to produce a dual-material imager that can use both common silver salt photographic materials and Imation's new dry film imaging. In addition, it is also preparing to retrofit existing VR36 or VR45 equipment to make it suitable for this type of dry film imaging. According to executive officer Rick Sizzle, the principle of dry film imaging is the same as that of conventional wet film imaging. The only difference is that the required imaging laser energy is different, and the dry film is relatively high. "So," he said, "the optical imaging system of the dry imaging machine can be changed without having to make any changes, as long as a filter is added, it can be applied to the traditional wet imaging requirements."

Sai Angel also said that their 2Press or 4Press can be used for dry imaging with only minor changes. Because of this change "only one laser head needs to be replaced and the energy is not very high."

Kodak is promoting its Direct Image in Japan, and it is preparing to join Screen's TE-R 1070 production machine to enter the US and European markets through Imprinta.

In fact, Kodak had already opened up some battlefields in Europe long ago, such as Dutch Drukkerij Hoogcarspel Beemster Company. This company has been using Direct Image for a year, completed 120 jobs and used 3,700 meters of dry film.

Drukkerij Hoogcarspel Beemster's customers are located in the entertainment, pharmaceutical, automotive, apparel, publishing and other industries. Its typesetting system consists of screen-based TaigaSPACE, a dedicated Apple Computer and advanced scanners produced by Linotype-Hell. HP's large-format laser printers are used as prepress proofing equipment. Imation's Rainbow and Matchprint are routine for wet proofing, and Kodak's Direct Image and the screen's TE-R 1070 together form the company's film output system.

The company's director, Rolf Dussett, said that the most important feature of this film output system is good quality, strong point-to-point and wide application, suitable for various plate-making equipment. In addition, the entire system does not need to add other equipment, spending little time and money. No chemicals are needed for use, and there is no feeling of discomfort when filming, imaging, or imaging. "In the beginning, we bought the fourth day and put it into use. So far they have been like that. We haven't used or adjusted or maintained it. It's not unusual." He praised.

In terms of operation, he said: “They are just like traditional films, and there is no problem in storing, installing or using them with other films. Even the scratches are exactly the same as traditional films. The difference is that of Direct Image. The color is green and that's it."

The main reason for the promotion of Rolle's company to select Kodak Direct Image was that the Dutch government had enacted laws on environmental protection, and the company also considered environmental issues internally. Just like this, it has taken Kodak a crucial step, because digital products are the main direction of development for Kodak in the future. The products including its thermal imaging plates and color verification are all around this. A product with a dominant ideology. According to Kodak, its Direct Image is primarily targeted at mid- to large-scale printers, helping them abandon traditional film and chemical methods, and ultimately achieve a comprehensive digital CTP technology for the prepress workflow.

Users who pay more attention to the quality of the environment are also Kodak's customer base. It also produces related imaging output devices for them. The high-speed MGCS GX-3600, jointly launched with Marsushita Graphics, is a product for the Japanese press. It has sold more than 50 sets in Japan, but it has not yet been covered in other parts of the world.

Polaroid claims that there are about 160 companies worldwide using its DryTech products. Europe is 60%, the United States is 30%, and the other 10% is Asia Pacific.

Interestingly, Germany uses more DrySetters imaging machines than any other country, about 46, which may be related to it being the hometown of Linotype-Hell, because Polaroid's DryTech film was only available with Linotype-Hell's Drysetters a year ago. The imager is bundled.

Now it's different. Polaroid has also started to collaborate with Creo, Gerber and Scangraphic. According to the introduction of Polaroid's Johannes Duffy, Creo is most likely to be the first company to enter this market because its Trendsetter platesetter can be used for dry film imaging with only minor modifications. Scangraphi exhibited an original model in Seybold, Frankfurt, in November last year, but it has only recently launched its Scantext Futuro machine at the Khanoi CeBit.

This new model is equipped with a far-infrared laser, which is very convenient for future upgrades, whether for CTP or proofing.

Four companies in the UK have used DryTech film, Beacon Press in Uckfield, Creative Print in Wembley, Marstan Press in Bexleyheath and Mercury print in East Sussex.

According to the Linotype-Hell company, Mike Wenner, the government’s waste disposal law is the main reason why printing companies consider using dry film imaging. Other factors such as the stability of production and the automation of operations have also played a certain role. Promote the role. Last month, their company held seminars with Litho Supplies and Polaroid specifically on DryTech's dry film and waste disposal laws.

The good image quality, stable operation, and simple operation are the main characteristics of DryTech DryTech films. In addition, being able to effectively save production costs is also another advantage. According to Duffy, the traditional wet-image imaging material costs 9.43 pounds per square meter. All related processing costs, such as chemical configuration, development processing, cleaning, and chemical discharge, are about 3.96 pounds per square meter, so the entire wet version The total cost per square meter of imaging is £13.39. If DryTech film is used, there will be no other related incidental fees for material costs of only £10.05 per square meter.

From this perspective, stable, high-quality, easy-to-use and cost-saving are the main features of dry film technology. It gives us no reason not to believe that users will not increase, but also believes that at the Impinta exhibition in June, There will be more and better similar products.