Imagesetter and platesetter are compared in DTP work

The imagesetter and platesetter are the two protagonists in the DTP work environment. They are often mistakenly referred to as imagesetters and obviously not suitable because the full name of the imagesetter is a phototypewriter. Its English is phototy, pesetting machine, phototypesetter, photosetter, filmsetter, etc. If a Chinese person mentions an image-setter, when the translator can't think of an imagesetter, it can easily be translated into a photosetter. This can cause misunderstanding. Let's say that there is a clear concept in the photo-composing machine, that is, relying on the word template to make the text be captured on film or printing paper, and then take the print. Therefore, translating imagesetter into an imagesetter is obviously mistakenly reducing its efficiency to the level of the imagesetter.

The origins of imagesetters really come from the typeetters that use the special images of the imagesetter. With this symmetry, derived from the text, graphics, images and other collections together after the screen output, a new type of output device, and the formation of a unique supply and demand market. Some people call it an image output machine, it is not appropriate, because the word output machine is a generic concept, the output itself does not indicate the process, only the results of the job, say a lot of similar devices can be called output machine , such as printer, copier, etc., and the setter and the output does not correspond to the meaning, poor reproducibility.

In terms of structure and mechanism, imagesetter and typesetter are completely different. Not only can they deal with text, but also can process images, photos, etc. Not only does the exposure and delivery mechanism have improved significantly, but the dot generation technology has also been correspondingly improved.

Specifically, the typesetter should be translated into a text typesetting machine, which uses the flat transmission method to expose the photosensitive material, and exposes the photosensitive material while one side exposes it. This has the disadvantage of poor registration accuracy and can only be used for black and white text. deal with. However, imagesetter has been developed to output four-color separation films. The solution is to expose the inner side of the inner drum when it is stopped, so no inaccurate situation will occur. Later, we introduced an external cylinder-type imagesetter. The photosensitive material is wound on the outside of the drum to receive exposure, and can output high-precision four-color separation film, which improves the accuracy and stability. Not only has it undergone great changes in its internal structure, but it can also be seen from its new features and appearance that it is very different from the image-setter.

According to the above situation, the understanding of the imagesetter should be: using the document data obtained in the page description language, the equipment for high-precision film imaging. Taking into account its technical connotation and taking into account the correspondence between Chinese and foreign languages, it is considered that translating imagesetter into an “image integrator” is appropriate. Because the term "integration" has been widely adopted in electronic physics, it has the meaning of bringing together text, graphics, images, and photos. It is possible to integrate the content of setters, that is, images with different tones, to express a full image on high-precision film, and to express it from Chinese to English.

In the other protagonist of DTP's work environment, platesetter is not synonymous with plate and photosetter. Translating it into a printing plate photosetter is obviously inconsistent with the facts. Imagine having a printing plate, but also according to the arrangement machine what to do? Phototypesetter machine is the production of the use of the bottom plate, and in principle there is no direct relationship with the printing plate, from the Chinese standard, the use of printing plates to modify the imagesetter is not appropriate. In addition, the platesetter is completely different from the photosetter in terms of its structure or appearance, and it has nothing to do with the role or placement of the photosetter in the DTP work environment. In fact, platesetter is a relative of imagesetter. In terms of mechanism, it is divided into inner scan mode, outer scan mode, plane scan mode, and inkjet mode. The film used on Imagesetter is replaced on the platesetter by the plate for the printing plate. The plate is based on paper or polyester, ie, directly on the paper base or the polyester base plate. Formed on the layout of the text, graphics, images, India and India are 1 to 20,000 prints.

The process of imaging on the plate is based on the infrared photothermal or ultraviolet photothermographic direct imaging relationship, and it should be translated into a relatively clear imaging machine. The finished product it obtains is versioned, thus freeing itself from the concept of an undersetter.

Europe and the United States have already promoted the integration of DTP and CEPS technologies, and Japan has followed suit. The CEPS mentioned here refers to color electronic

Prepress Engineering System (ColorElectronic prepress System)

Let us briefly introduce the technical integration of the two.

CEPS is an electronic platemaking system with a high degree of image processing capabilities. The use of CEPS in the DTP operating environment can significantly improve image quality. After the two have been merged, it is for effective work. First, in CEPS, a plate scanner was used to decompose high-quality images and undergo revision. Then hand over the low-resolution data to the user. Please arrange for the layout. The version of the designed data is sent to the CEPS to convert the low resolution image to a high resolution image. Because the image processing is processed on the CEPS, it is necessary to re-edit the CEPS when using the spliced ​​data.

In order to perform the fusion operation in accordance with the above, it is necessary to make some adjustments to the size of the photo at the time of color separation. At this time, it should be noted that in the operation, once the image is modified with application software other than the layout design software, the original image must not be replaced, that is, the low-resolution data is used to draw the layout, and the layout design software can also be used to zoom in and out. Shift and so on.

However, the change in the image magnification causes deterioration of the image. Therefore, it is desirable to solve the problem within the range of 80% to 120%. If you need to go beyond this range to zoom in and out, you need to redo the color separation. In addition, when the image is converted, if the file name is not named as the same as the original data and file name, it cannot be converted. Therefore, the file name cannot be arbitrarily changed.

At the time of receiving the manuscript, the low-resolution image files used must be saved in the same folder as the compiled files. The following may wish to illustrate the technical environment of DTP and CEPS fusion, as well as to clarify the role and position of the imagesetter and platesetter in this environment. It can be concluded that they should be given an appropriate title. (Text/Ding Yi)