New Corrugated Prepress Developments - Enhancing Print Quality and Efficiencies, 1992 Corrugated Containers Conference Proceedings

Kevin C. Haggerty--The prepress practice is a dynamic and progressive field. New technologies are improving communications among package buyers, trade shops and converters, driving print quality to higher and higher levels -- from the simplest to the most complex graphics -- shortening lead times, and enhancing cost and production efficiencies.

Three recent and important prepress developments for the corrugated industry are the availability of customized electronic prepress design systems, thin photopolymer printing plate technology and pin registration.

Electronic prepress is enabling trade shops, converters and package buyers to electronically communicate with one another to ensure job accuracy and quick market turnaround. Such a system also increases productivity and produces higher quality, first-generation graphics. In addition, users can accrue savings in films, chemicals and materials since only one final set of films is generated per job.

Photopolymer thin plates, measuring 155 mils and under, offer converters enhanced imaging characteristics, reduced dot gain, and greater plate thickness uniformity and durability. Trade shops also benefit from faster plate processing time and improved graphics quality and image detail.

Among the most significant benefits of pin registration are improved image fidelity, reproduction quality and reduced mounting time.

An integrated package production process incorporating these technologies adapted from the wide-web market could lead to comprehensive, long-term quality advancements and greater market opportunities and profits.