How to Make Use of Kodak Versamark to Successfully Transform Color Variable Data Printing (3)

2. Recognize various tools

Once your team - the term team is meaningful - is set up, please make sure they have the right software tools. Please provide them with color digital printing training.

For document designers/graphics designers, they must be able to analyze and optimize images for color printing and require corresponding tools. We have prepared a series of software based on our customers' recommendations, as shown in Table 1. In addition, you also need to train document designers/graphic designers on how to use the software. Although there are other commercial color software and free software on the market, most of these softwares are not designed to manage CMYK images.

Table 1

The application developer/programmer must be able to use software that can directly support CMYK processing colors, or software that can be converted to CMYK through ICC files. Not all products provide the same level of support, so care must be taken when selecting application software to ensure that it meets production requirements. (Table 2 lists the products that support the Kodak Versamark Color Printing System.)

Table 2

3, training planning and preparation

First of all, we must make good use of the training and guidance provided by Kodak. Complying with the recommended steps will help the smooth transition of color printing. Once the system is up and running, all training will enter the schedule.

a. Production operators will receive 3 to 5 days training on system operation. This training covers all the skills necessary for production operations. In addition, for different post-press equipment, relevant suppliers of the equipment will provide relevant guidance.

b. Document designers/graphic designers and application developers/programmers will receive 3 to 5 days of training on color management. This training will guide the relevant staff on how to optimize graphics and images for the printing system. For this training, the participants will be able to process the sample on site and make training as practical as possible.

c. Although some customers do not require follow-up training, we still provide such training. This training is particularly important after the equipment has been put into operation for a few months, or after employees change jobs.

d. During the training phase, users can explore the time required for the print job. If your team is fully trained and has some experience in preparing data sources, you can appropriately reduce the expected time for printing.

4, test printing and evaluation

During the design or trial production phase, the team should first carefully analyze the current job and then convert the job into a production document that can be printed on the color printing system. This phase is repeated every time a new job is created, and is therefore an excellent opportunity to test the effects of repetitive color print jobs. The key to testing is to figure out the potential for long-term printing of the V-Series printing system, which will be obtained through simulated small-scale printing.

We often say that the first "customer" of the printing system is the post-press equipment. When printing at full speed, it is impractical and undesirable to perform any manual operations in production. Therefore, we strongly recommend conducting on-site drills for each step in the production environment to ensure that the team is familiar with each step from data creation to post-press insertion.

Only after such drills can we ensure that there are no flaws when printing large-scale jobs for the first time. For new users, it often takes several months before the production is put into production to repeat production trials.

5, create production operations

After the design and testing phase is over, the team can create production jobs. If the job is to be printed multiple times with variable data, please optimize the color in the early stage. This work will bring great advantages. If the job is only printed once, the revision of the execution phase can be appropriately reduced.

Like any project, the more time you spend in the preparation phase, the easier it is to obtain the desired result and the higher the quality. This truth is also suitable for users to transform color digital printing. To make sure that you have prepared for the transformation of color digital printing, please use the section at the end of this document. Are you ready? The list carefully checks every step of the work.

Last thought

This guide is intended to introduce the steps required to implement color-variable digital printing and the skills that people should have; however, if the article does not involve your marketing and sales department, it will appear incomplete. Whether your business can develop rapidly depends on whether the personnel of these two departments fully recognize the advantages of color variable digital printing and whether they are willing to promote the value of color variable data, especially for personalization and targeted. print. Kodak's market staff has extensive knowledge and experience in color digital printing and will be able to provide you with sales training and assistance.

In order to help you successfully transition to color digital printing, we do our best to provide detailed information in this guide, but omissions are still inevitable. For additional information, or for any assistance, contact your Kodak Versamark sales representative.

common problem

Q. Which Kodak Wanmark System Controller do you recommend?

A. This depends on the user's workflow and color application in the user's printing. (Please refer to "Production Workflow Solutions for Monochrome and Process Color Printing".) If the user is currently an AFP center only and variable color content is limited, then we recommend the CS300 system controller. This is Our IPDS controller; however, if there is a large amount of variable color content in the application, we recommend the CS410 system controller, which is our IJPDS controller.If the user currently has a large number of AFP monochrome jobs, occasionally four colors For jobs, the CS340 dual controller may be the best choice, and for the PPML, PDF, and POSTT, the CS600 will be the ideal controller.

Q. Can I use my current application software?

A. Kodak Versamark cooperates with a large number of software companies to provide comprehensive support for our CS300, CS410 and CS600 controllers. These companies have a wide range of software products and markets cover North America, Europe and Asia. If your software vendor is not on the list (see the Production Workflow Solution document), contact Kodak Versamark. In this case, you may need to replace your application software to take advantage of all the features of the V-Series printing system.

Q. Do I have to change my application to print four colors?

A. With the right reorganization software, colors can be added to monochrome applications without changing the application. For example, a user may add digital preprinted forms to the original data, add colors to the signs, add colors to the text, and even add images.

Q. What skills do my employees need to transition to four-color printing?

A. In this document, we have introduced the main skills that employees should have. The most important thing is that employees must have teamwork. The document designer/graphic designer must work closely with the application developer/programmer responsible for creating the application. If these people do not work in one place, they must maintain good communication so that they can quickly resolve the issue and make timely changes.

Q. What tool does Kodak Wanyin provide for our transition to color printing?

A. In order to help users smoothly transition to color printing, Kodak Versamark offers two main products: Color Toolkit and Color Proofer. These two products are designed to help users effectively manage the process of adding color. The color kits have color matching tools, and the color proofer provides previews of the final prints, eliminating the need for users to send samples to the V-series presses. Another important advantage of these two products is that Kodak Versamark color experts can provide color-related training.

Q. Can I use my existing paper for four-color printing on Kodak's system?

A. As described earlier in this document, paper is an important factor in determining the final color quality. Ordinary commercial paper usually reduces the quality of color printing, but it is still a suitable substrate for some applications. If the printing customer needs brighter, more saturated colors, then the processed paper will need to be used. Kodak Versamark's paper specialists can help you choose the right paper.

Q. How long is the learning curve of Kodak technology?

A. This depends on several factors. Do you have inkjet or color printing experience? Has the transition to variable data four-color printing been supported by the company? It is entirely possible to complete the learning curve within a few months, but only if the infrastructure is ready. This document describes the major issues that need to be considered in the transformation of four colors. If you take full notice of these issues, then the transition will be very fast.

Q. How can I quote for four-color digital variable data printing business?

A. This question is not easy to answer because it involves a lot of factors. However, Kodak Versamark Marketing staff can provide you with guidance because they have a more complete understanding of the entire state of the digital, digitally variable data printing industry. Four colors have proven to create significant value for the document, and this added value will be an excellent reference for your product pricing.

Q. Does Kodak Versamark provide sales and marketing training?

A. Kodak Wanyin's account manager will work with the user to arrange various trainings for the user's sales staff and market personnel.