The advantages of the digital workflow

When slow manual stages are eliminated from the production process, the throughput becomes faster, and both quality and accuracy improve. The job can no more change in the press room, and scratches – which so easily used to appear on the films – will hurt us no more. The tonal range of an image is wider than before, particularly in light tones, as the screen dot is created directly on the printing surface. The total cost will be lower, as there are no expenses for films and their development, and the workflow is more efficient, when the completed sheets are imaged directly on the plate or the cylinder.

The proofs are more identical with the final print result than before, as it is possible to calibrate the proofers according to the printing method; it is even possible to create the proofs on the printing paper, when necessary. Cromalines were nice and beautiful, it is true – but rarely they told the reality of the final printing result!

Digital work is also very ecological and user-friendly: fussing about with stinking and poisonous chemicals is a thing of the past; also there is no ecologically harmful silver to be disposed of any more.

In the new method, the responsibility on the validity of the job is shared more evenly between the printer and the client. In practice, this means that the printer has few options to correct the files, if they do not comply with what has been agreed upon. Therefore it is more important than ever to agree upon working methods. This booklet is created to facilitate co-operation between the client and the printer.