In the concept of modern packaging, color boxes and color boxes have changed from product protection to product promotion. Consumers judge the quality of products by the quality of color boxes and color boxes. Therefore, whether the design of the color box and the color box can quickly attract the attention of consumers in numerous color packages has become the key to the success or failure of the design of the color box and the color box. It can be seen that the pre-press design and plate-making technology of color boxes and color boxes, as the key technology of pre-press technology, is beyond reproach. Its technical ability and level determine the market competitiveness of an enterprise. Its design and plate-making personnel can be said to be the "baby" of corrugated color box and color box enterprises. The conditions are excellent and the treatment is generous. It is the object of the same industry and is also the easiest to be "digged."
Design and plate-making are two completely different but closely related two processes or types of work, and can also be said to be technology. Below I will combine the pre-press design of color boxes and color boxes with the application of plate-making technology. Explain.
Prepress design technology of color box and color box layout
The design technique of layout is generally divided into original design and imitation design. In general, the following equipment is required for layout design work: a high-performance computer, supporting printers, scanners, and some also have color separation devices, and corresponding professional design software.
The original design of the layout, also called creative design, is a professional design company's layout design of the outer packaging carton according to the product performance and characteristics of the demanding enterprise. This layout design requires high technical level, professional skills and professional knowledge of designers. This kind of design is generally done by professional design companies, and enterprises rarely engage in this kind of design, but large carton packaging companies also have such professional designers for creative design. The key to the layout design of color boxes and boxes is color separation and printing dot control. The first is the pattern design and layout design. These two designs must highlight the characteristics of the packaged product, so that consumers can be deeply attracted by the outer packaging. This is also a kind of packaging design called " "Take care" design. The second is color separation, which must be determined according to the equipment and personnel technical conditions of the enterprise. If the company has several multi-color offset printing equipment, it can divide more colors, try not to use spot colors. On the contrary, it is less. Once again, the distribution of the dots must be determined according to the printing requirements and equipment performance, and the pattern appeal should be truthfully fed back to highlight the product characteristics and quality.
The imitation design of the layout, also called secondary design, is based on the original design. The basic design of the layout is unchanged, but only the individual patterns and fonts are adjusted. Some need to add related content. Such as adding QS safety signs. For example, when adding solid grain solid fermentation logos on wine cartons and cartons, the design of the carton layout needs to be adjusted and revised. This design technique is relatively common in carton production enterprises. This layout design method is also the most practical and useful for corrugated carton production enterprises.
The following describes the application of the secondary design technology. There are two ways to design the secondary layout. One is to ask the carton purchasing enterprise to provide the designed layout directly. After proofing, send out a clear sample and ask the carton purchasing enterprise to confirm and then make plate making and printing production; one is to provide the sample box by the carton purchasing enterprise. The layout designer of the carton manufacturing enterprise uses the scanner to save the pattern of the carton layout into the computer, which is stored in the computer. After color separation processing through professional design software, it is restored to the same layout design style as the carton layout pattern, and a sample is sent out to ask the customer to confirm. After the customer confirms, the carton production enterprise can make plate and print production. The above two layout design methods are common in carton production enterprises. Of course, the former method needs to be noted: because the design software used in the layout design in the early stage is compatible with the design software used by the carton enterprise Question, if it is compatible, the secondary design will be very fast and accurate; if it is not compatible, you need to pay special attention to the accuracy of the fonts and patterns. Remember to compare it with the original; for the design with dots, pay special attention to it. Changes in outlets. The author's company has had such a problem, and it has been solved many times.
Application of plate-making technology
Plate making is divided into the following types: manual engraving, laser engraving, flexo printing, lithographic printing (PS version), die-cutting printing The above plate-making technology is a technology commonly used in carton enterprises. According to the size of the enterprise, the plate-making technology used is different. Most small carton factories use manual engraving process technology, which has a low cost but requires relatively high engraving personnel. Nowadays, this plate-making technology is relatively rare, but it is still relatively common in some small carton factories in the Midwest.
Laser engraved flexible version (rubber version): In order to reduce production costs, some carton manufacturers use laser plate-making technology for the processing of some small batches of scattered orders. This plate-making technology is used in medium-sized carton manufacturers across the country. Both are relatively common. This plate-making method is more convenient. A computer and a laser engraving machine are required. During plate-making, a plate-making method will be adopted by the computer-designed layout.
The specific operation is: the engraving staff cuts the base plate according to the size of the design layout, places the base plate in the laser engraving machine as required, and positions it as required, the computer outputs the engraving instructions, and the laser engraving machine performs engraving. After engraving, the laser engraving machine prompts that the engraving personnel need to continue engraving, and then only need to change the base plate according to the above procedure and then operate. After the layout is engraved, the plate-making personnel need to clean up the layout and remove the unnecessary parts, and then the plate-making personnel will review the completed layout according to the sample, confirm that it is correct, and then hand it to the production unit for use or make a hanging version. If you make a hanging version, the plate-making personnel need to review the layout against the sample after finishing the hanging version, and then submit it to the production department for use. Otherwise, it shall not be put into production use.
Laser die-cutting plate: generally made by professional plate-making company. The advantages of this plate-making method are fast plate-making speed, high accuracy and relative durability. Disadvantages are slow tool change and high cost. Under normal circumstances, to make such a version, the carton enterprise makes the layout specification design according to the carton specifications, and transmits it to the professional plate-making company through the network. The personnel shall be handed over to the production department after review. Another way to make a die-cut version is to make it manually, draw a drawing through a computer, and manually cut the version. Manually enlarge the drawings on the base plate, use professional equipment for drilling and sawing, manually install the knife line and steel line, review and confirm after completion, and can be used by the production department after use. However, this plate-making method is inefficient, not durable, and prone to errors. Now, few companies use manual plate making.
Drying flexible version (resin version): design the layout through the computer, print out the sample and deliver it to the carton purchasing company for review and confirmation before making the plate. Use sulfuric acid paper or film to make negative film, cut the resin base plate according to the size requirements of the layout, cover the negative film on the resin base plate, and cover all sides with light-resistant objects to prevent overexposure and affect the normal use of the layout . After everything is ready, place the base plate in a dedicated plate-making machine for exposure. The exposure time is about 30 minutes. After completion, take the plate out and put it in a professional plate washing machine for cleaning. After cleaning, put it in the baking box for baking and setting. After setting, debonding treatment is required. After all this is done, a professional designer should review the layout, and if it is correct, it will be assembled or directly handed over to the production department for use.
Drying lithography (PS version): design and proofing by professional design and plate making companies. This proofing is color separation proofing, so that the carton printing company can keep the same ink color as the proofing when printing. Especially for multi-color printing and dot printing, pay attention to the control of dot and color sequence. Plate-making personnel should pay special attention to the control of exposure time and the cleaning of exposure equipment when doing lithography. When the plate-making personnel perform lithography, first clean the plate-making machine, keep the exposed surface clean, turn on the device and start it, take a base plate that meets the requirements and place it in the middle of the plate-making machine. Keep the positioning line according to the drawing rules of the printing machine and the previous rules, put the negative film (film) according to the position of the positioning line, and lay it flat on the flat plate. Close the plate-making machine and start the vacuum machine, set the exposure time, start the exposure device, and perform exposure according to the set exposure time (generally, the time is set between 20 seconds and 2 minutes, the specific setting time is determined by the plate making Personnel set according to the needs of the printing plate). After the completion, let the exposure device cool down automatically and then close, open the plate-making machine, take out the negative film and put it away, take out the lithography plate and put it in the developing machine for automatic development. After the development is completed, the plate is rinsed with clean water, and the platemaker trims the plate to remove dirty spots, dirty lines, etc., to facilitate printing and clean the plate, and hand it over to the production department after completion.
The above is a summary of the author's personal experience in carton production enterprises, referring to the current practice of domestic large and medium-sized carton production enterprises. In terms of specific operations, it is still necessary to do it according to the actual situation of the enterprise and the specific conditions of the plate-making equipment used. The current design and plate-making technology can be said to be changing with each passing day, especially some domestic professional design and plate-making enterprises have done quite well in one aspect of the design and plate-making field, becoming the leader in the design and plate-making industry. However, as a carton manufacturing company, it must be done according to the actual needs of its own enterprise in designing and making plates, and it must not be greedy. Of course, in order to meet the requirements of customers faster and improve the efficiency of design, some large and super large carton manufacturers can introduce professional proofing equipment. Usually, professional companies do it. This kind of cost is more suitable for enterprises. development of.
