Digital layout application

Not so long ago, page layout was still a manual job. The effects of registration, layout adjustment, and compensation all depend on the operator's eyesight and manual skill level. Nowadays, graphic layout has been completely completed by a variety of typesetting application software, which provides the end user with accurate control and high flexibility.

Software developers strive to provide solutions for various types of layout requirements. Arranging documents in different formats or even different binding styles on one printing plate is often encountered by printers. Whether it is digital printing, commercial printing or packaging printing, the challenge for developers is how to make the software more powerful while keeping the software easy to use.

The various digital layout applications currently on the market can be divided into two major categories: desktop publishing software and production process publishing software.

Desktop publishing software

Desktop publishing software refers to software designed for desktop digital prepress processes. In the prepress workflow, desktop workstations generate PS files, organize them, and print them. Most desktop publishing software allows users to store configuration information as job templates, such as page order, binding, layout adjustment, and so on. Equally important is the ability to store plate template information, including form identification, plate control objects, color patches, and other marks. All typesetting objects must be able to be stored and recalled when printing.

Postscript in front of Postscript

Many digital typesetting softwares compile various digitized pages after generating the PS file. However, some of them are generated after the typesetting. There are two major companies of this type: ALAP Limited and DK&A Prepress.

ALAP Imposer: This is a typesetting software for QuarkXPress Xtension. It is also to typeset before generating PS files. This typesetting scheme can handle Quark files, PageMaker files, PS files, TIFF files, and PDF files. Also in the layout process, icon-sized pages can be used for previewing, and all template information can be exported and archived. However, INposition is designed for the publishing market because all the pages in the book are the same size.

Generate a PS file after typesetting

For small printers, the “all-in-one” workflow before choosing to generate Postscript files is the best. In a typesetting software, an operator can preprocess, repair, typeset, and output a file. However, for large printers, this situation is less than ideal. Because they found that letting an employee skillfully complete an operation can maximize the role of each employee. This streamlined approach allows imposition crews, plate-making staff and photographic staff to perform their respective functions in various positions, such as trapping and typesetting. The typesetting software that generates the PS file and then makes the layout is very suitable for this kind of work. There are many examples to prove this.

Dynagram DynaStrip is a full-featured typesetting software that can handle PS, EPS, TIFF and PDF files. The software fully embodies the developer's understanding of the printing industry. Users are prepared to collect individual documents on a light-transmitting imposition stage, a feature that allows traditional prepress workers to be trained quickly, such as imposition staff. The DynaSl interface in DynaStrip software fully reflects the difference between software developers maintaining the soft version and other software. For example, before performing head-to-head layout, each individual page must be rotated and renumbered.

Quite Imposition also has some features that can compensate for the displacements that occur on a single page, with the ability to accurately link the sun.

Production process group software can replace desktop publishing software that is part of the type of workflow management program layout software. The pre-press process management solutions provided by many developers include job tracking, trapping, typesetting, and job archiving. The greatest advantage of this type of process is that there are changes or corrections made at the end of the prepress production phase. Modifying an individual page in a large, aligned PS file requires reprinting and re-RIPing all files. In contrast, a page change in the production flow grouping software only needs to reprint the page, and then the changed page is placed back in the large version. In addition, this type of process scheme can reduce the network congestion caused when large files are transferred from one working point to another. Finally, all the processing will be performed on a server workstation, and the user's desktop workstation can handle other tasks.

Agfa Apogee: Agfa Apogee is capable of accepting PS and PDF files. The digital workflow scheme consists of three main parts: Apogee Pilot, Apogee PDF RIP, and PrintDrive system. The typesetting on the Apogee Pilot is the control center of the entire system. Starting from Apogee Pilot, using ScenicSoft Preps to provide independent PDF page access flexibility, it also strives to provide users with ease of use. Using this interface to handle simple publications can be done within ten steps, and standard methods can also be used to handle more complex jobs.

The software can discharge pages of different sizes or bindings on one plate, can compensate for margins, and can accept Preps and Presswise template files. In addition to this, the software also has a version conversion function, so it can produce a multi-purpose application of an object or data. This is useful for printers who wish to output different versions of the same job. For example, the price in a postmark or direct mail advertisement.

ScenicSoftPreps: The latest version of Preps from ScenicSoft can handle the layout of PDF pages. Declares "PDF in, PDF out" (processing PDF files, output in PDF format). Preps does not convert PDFs to Postscripts during the layout process, and always retains the overall consistency and predictability of the PDF file. The result is to open a typeset PDF file with Acrobat software before outputting the job. In addition, PDF, Postscript, EPS, TIFF, and DeltaList files can be typeset in the same Preps job. For Mac users, Applescript support can be used, where the encoding can be used to automatically generate many features.

Preps can layout pages of different sizes or bindings on one printing plate, and also has compensation function for network applications. The user can create a corresponding correction for each press or combination of each press and paper. Cutting data that supports CIP3 can be exported to Polar cutters, automating cutting tasks from job to job. Preps has its own method of handling a variety of digital process solutions. The Agfa Apogee PDF production system uses Preps as its typesetting tool, just as Saatchi uses Preps on Brisque's digital front end.

Ultimate Impostrip: First introduced in 1989, Ultimate's Impostrip software is the first commercially available software for typography of PS files. Impostrip is an excellent piece of software that can be used as part of an ON-QOPI, trapping, or typesetting solution. Impostrip is compatible with over 150 typesetting software, including software that supports PDF, EPS, TIFF, and Postscript files. With the Impostrip full-splash scheme, pages of different file formats or sizes can be arranged on a single plate.

Impostrip also features Origami capabilities. The Origami feature uses a "visual folding model" that is useful for very complex folding methods. When the electronic folding is over, page layout is also ended. Impostrip employs a client/server architecture in which a single-page PS file can be typeset on a server controlled by a client workstation over a network, and the MarkView tool is used to preview numerous tags.

Quite Imposition: This is a typesetting software for Adobe Acrobat launched by the British company Quite. Use the plug-in in Quite Imposition software to layout a separate page in a PDF file and finally get a complete PDF file. However, this row of Preps on the stand-alone page serves as an interface for placing files in the client server environment. In the output process, a composition control file (ICF) defined on the desktop with Preps is merged with each individual page after the RIP. Previewed pages can be previewed in Brisque before final proofing, output film, or plates.
Heidelberg Prepress Signastation: The Heidelberg Prepress Signastation typesetting software must run on Windows NT as a stand-alone workstation or as part of the Prinergy process. Signastation can handle PS, PDF and DeltaList files. This system is combined with WYSIWYG in the layout process, allowing the operator to determine if the page placement position, labeling position, etc. are correct. After the typesetting is completed, Signastation can generate a Print Production Format (PPF) which contains information such as cutting, folding, and page layout. The information in the PPF file can be used later in the production process to initialize the folding and cutting machines.

Make the right choice

There are several layout elements that must be considered when choosing a suitable system. The first is to find products that can adapt to your current process. At the very least, this is the most effective method. You only need to invest in typesetting software and workstations. Simply put, if your current process can still work, don't change it.

Perhaps the process you have at the moment is not effective. If this is the case, then look for a system that can implement trapping, layout, output, and job archive management as part of the overall process plan. Most of these systems are expensive, but they can be purchased separately.

The operator must have a basic understanding of the printing press, paper and binding, otherwise the typesetting scheme cannot be effective. Software training alone is not enough, and only by combining digital layout solutions can these basic knowledge be effective.

The future of typesetting software

How will the printing industry develop in the next few years? Here are some predictions.

1. There will be more packaging software for packaging: The packaging industry uses a wide variety of control tags, so it is necessary to use a software that can adapt to die-cut data, and at the same time be able to implement page nesting and hybrid assembly.
2. Ability to further support PDF: Publishers of typesetting software have started to provide PDF support for PDF files. They can always maintain PDF files during the typesetting process rather than switch them back to PS. PDF files are reliable and predictable and can be output to different devices at different resolutions. Around PDF, large manufacturers have all developed a complete flow system and will continue to improve it.

3. More use of the client/server environment: Many typesetting software developers are aware that removing the typesetting software from the desktop workstation and using it on the server can result in a more efficient process. Enables users to remotely typeset jobs on client workstations over the network. Transferred through the server file. Click the "Print" button and the customer's workstation is immediately liberated.

Group version, then RIP, output. On the Apogee Pilot you can use low-resolution previews of good-looking pages, as well as high-resolution previews on the PrintDrive system.

Barco Fast Impose: Barco's FastLane Next Generation is a prepress process that accepts PS, PDF, TIFF/IT-PI, and PDF/X-1 files. After all the input files are converted to a Barco format (similar to PDF), typesetting is performed. Using FastImpose software will generate a layout work plan file, which is directly connected with the Barco page. FastImpose can be used to bind different documents in the same printing plate. It can process different versions of the job. It can infinitely enlarge the image and preview the image in high resolution to achieve soft proofing.

Cortron's Impose-X: Runs in a client/server environment and is dedicated to processing pages connected to processes