How to Make Use of Kodak Versamark to Successfully Transform Color Variable Data Printing (I)

Practical guides for data centers and direct mailers

Open any of today’s industry magazines, where you can find articles about variable data printing or color digital printing. In addition, many magazines also create high value-added personalization and color that these technologies can create for your business and customers. The application is described in detail. The development of variable data printing and color digital printing can be described as one of the best developments. You have even had close contact with color variable data printing. For example, the manual that you are currently reading is printed using this technology. The number of observers and consultants supporting color digital documents and 1:1 marketing in the industry is increasing day by day, and the figures related to digital printing of variable data also reflect this positive change (see the Digital Speaking chart).

Although there have been numerous publications on the advantages of "into digital" and color digital printing, there are few practical data on how to convert monochrome variable data printing to four-color variable data printing.

Kodak Vantage has more than 10 years of experience in developing color variable data printing solutions. During this 10 years, Kodak has created continuous inkjet technology for the pioneers of color digital printing. From system selection to installation, from training to first-time production, we always work side-by-side with our customers. It is with this in-depth collaboration that we can recognize the key conditions for a successful transformation of color variable data printing. Our Dacheng Group experience has developed this set of application guidelines, hoping to help your company successfully transition to color variable data printing.

This guide aims to provide practical information for the data center and direct mail companies to help them stand tall and co-ordinate the overall situation and ensure that everything is ready and smoothly transformed. Based on the Kodak Versamark V-Series printing system, the guide introduces the reader to the basic concepts of the workflow, and then divides the process into five simple but often overlooked steps. This guide also provides practical guidance and suggestions such as “common questions” and “are you ready?”. The information in this guide also provides a reference for its sister manual, Production Workflow Solutions for Monochrome and Process Color Printing.

Kodak color digital printing process

Kodak Versamark's variable data color digital printing system adopts continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology, on-demand inkjet (DOD) technology and printing of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors, making the printing color gamut reachable. The width of offset printing technology such as color printing. This system is controlled by the computer at the same time, and there are a large number of system controllers and post-printing options.

With the introduction of the V-Series printing system, Kodak Versain has set a new standard for large-scale production of variable-data prints: today, printers can easily manage the entire process from ordinary paper to final print output. Sex completed production, large-scale variable data color printing. Printers no longer need to pre-print, just add digital input functions to the application software that created the prints.

The new process created by Kodak Versamark combines the traditional printing process that is responsible for preprinting with the application software that processes and formats variable data for printing. Kodak has established a good relationship with leading variable data printing software providers, plus Kodak Versamark's patented color management tools, as well as integrated, standard layout and image analysis/processing software, will create fluency for printers. Variable data color digital printing production process. The result is obvious. First, the user can cancel the current preprinting process, and can add four-color content, logos, and images according to marketing requirements.

The following three figures illustrate the differences between the traditional production process and Kodak's production process (Figures 1, 2), and the close relationship between printing manuscripts and application development in the new model (Figure 3).

The tools used in different fields are often specially designed for this particular area. In the creation of simple forms, there are a large number of traditional design tools available on the market. Such software does not require operators to have artistic design skills. However, if the complex forms are often completed by designers or professional form designers, they often use software such as QUARKXPRESS, INDESIGN, ILLUSTRATOR, and PHOTOSHOP.

Figure 1 - Traditional Production Process

Correspondingly, application developers can certainly use the above software to design a form, but the created form often lacks rich colors and complex design elements. Often designers use QuarkXPress or InDesign to design rich tables that are then imported as templates into application software.

Figure 2 - Kodak Wanyin Production Workflow

VX5000 printing system

Often, a particular job needs to be completed by a specific expert with that skill. If the user uses less color, the application developer can complete the entire application without the help of the designer. However, due to the increasingly demanding color requirements of the marketing department, more and more colors need to be added, and manuscript design and color addition are best accomplished by designers who have been trained by the Kodak Versamark Color Tool and other standard software.

In order to adapt to more and more data formats, Kodak Versamark provides various application software for the above tasks, covering document layout (variable text, barcode, graphics and images), print stream generation, conversion and processing, job proofing, etc. Various functions, in addition to providing additional support through third-party software. These software products will ensure that users fully manage their production workflows. (For details, see Step 2, “Recognizing Various Tools”) and Table 1: List of Software for Graphic Designers in Designing, Formatting, and Processing Graphics and Images, and Table 2: Variable Data Color Digital for Supporting V-Series Systems Printing function series software.)

Figure 3 - Print Production Cycle

Kodak Versain also offers process color inks developed and tested on Kodak's color digital printing systems. In addition, we also recommend suitable papers to users based on a large number of ink tests on the substrates. At each step of the production process, we also provide customized on-site training for color management and system operation.