Heidelberg Quickmaster DI
This overview is intended to provide some insight into what makes the Quickmaster DI different from other presses. Keep in mind that preparing your project correctly saves time and money.
You don't have to be an expert on printing technology to do business with Premier Digital Printing. Our graphic designer and/or pre-press technician is willing and able to handle the details for you at a fair price.
What is the Quickmaster DI?
The Heidelberg Quickmaster DI is a digital offset press that directly images the plates right in the press (Direct Imaging).
What is Direct Imaging and how does it work?
Direct Imaging (DI) forges a link between digital prepress systems and the well-known offset printing process. DI technology makes it possible to transfer digital text and image data straight into the press without any intermediate analog steps such as camerawork, film development, and assembly. With Direct Imaging, thermal plates that dispense entirely with chemical processes are simultaneously imaged in precise register right in the press with the aid of cutting edge laser technology, whereupon they are immediately ready to print in outstanding offset quality. With its seamless digital workflow, innovative DI technology excels by eliminating time-consuming operations, reducing the consumption of materials, and significantly shortening makeready and overall job turnaround times. And it accomplishes all of this without sacrificing the high quality inherent in the offset process.
What are the advantages of the Quickmaster DI?
The Direct Imaging technology of the Quickmaster DI enables fast production of short color runs in accustomed offset quality with aminimum of work. It therefore precisely meets the fastgrowing demand for smaller editions, up-to-the-minute content, low storage costs, on-demand printing, and the ability to precisely address different target groups. The possibility of providing jobs to customers "just in time" and making lastminute changes leave nowishes unfilled. To sum up: Direct Imaging offers extremely fast makereadies and job turnaround together with flexibility and accustomed offset quality.
What applications is the Quickmaster DI suitable for?
The Quickmaster DI is particularly well-suited for printing short color runs of between 200 and 5,000 copies. Applications include A3 posters, complete business forms from calling cards to company sticks, brochures, and folders.
What ensures the high print quality?
Various mature components interact to ensure a high quality standard of offset printing. The printing units are equipped with unique plate cylinders, each of which holds an integrated plate cassette. It is mainly automatic changing of the plates that ensures such fast makereadies. After the plates are changes for a new print job - without requiring any intervention by the operator - all four plates are simultaneously imaged in precise register.
Imaging is done at a resolution of 1,270 dpi, optimized for a screen ruling of 150 lpi. Immediately after laser imaging, the plates are ready for printing. The job-specific ink profile is calculated from the RIPped data and relayed for presetting the inking. Ink fountains with 12 ink zones each permit precise adjustment of inking for each motif.
The dry offset process used in the Quickmaster DI offers not only fast makereadies and more reliable process monitoring and control, but also crisper halftone dots for sharp image reproduction and more brilliant colors. In addition, the temperature control unit (included as a standard feature) guarantees constantly good print quality, even on long runs. Fully automated handling and optimum harmonization of all involved steps make sure that the Quickmaster DI turns out superb offset quality.
What stocks and inks are suitable for the Quickmaster DI?
Providing services calls for versatility - particularly in the market for short color runs. The Quickmaster provides the required flexibility for this, permitting the use of a wide range of stock weights and grades from thin 0.06 mm label paper to Chromolux board 0.3 mm thick. Preprinted and prefinished materials such as envelopes are also easy to print on the Quickmaster DI.
The Quickmaster DI is also flexible where formats are concerned; it handles everything from four-color postcards to A3+ posters. The largest printable sheet measures 340 x 460 mm, and the smallest 89 x 140 mm. All intermediate sizes are also possible.
How environmentally friendly is the Direct Imaging process?
The Direct Imaging process is exceedingly environmentally friendly and economical too. The approach of directly imaging plates in the press gets rid of film and developers. It also eliminates having to expensively dispose of required chemicals and heavy metals. In addition, the fast makereadies typical of the DI process reduce paper waste.
Here's how to prepare files for trouble-free printing:
Page Layout Data
- • Define the page size for the document. The maximum size is 13" x 17 3/4" (includes bleed).
- • Set the trimming for 1/8".
- • Trap objects with 0.144 points.
- • Specify the correct position and direction of all folds.
Images
- • Scan line images at 1240 dpi or higher.
- • Scan half-tone images at 300 dpi.
- • Turn, scale and trim images before you import them into your document.
- • Convert all images to CMYK. If you separate RGB images in Adobe Photoshop, use our ICC Profile for the DI on the Toppan website. For best results we recommend a max density of 95% for black and a total area coverage of 340%.
- • Set the image frame background color to white.
- • Create blends in Photoshop and use the noise filter to prevent steps, a setting of 2 or 3 should be sufficient. Do not save any screen information and separation curves in your Photoshop documents.
- • Save the Images as follows:
- • PC images as TIFF.
- • MAC images as EPS or TIFF.
- • Half-tone images as EPS or TIFF.
- • Do not place PICT files.
- • If you save QuarkXPress pages as EPS data and place them in another document, please include the QuarkX Press pages and all the data required for this page.
- • Import images at 100% or lower.
- • If you have imported graphics from FreeHand, enclose the original FreeHand document.
Fonts and Lines
- • Include all the fonts used, including those used in illustrations.
- • Select a font from the font menu. Do not use any style options from the Apple Macintosh.
- • Define lines using precise dimensions. Define hairlines as .25pts.
- • Define all color names uniformly and use CMYK both in your graphics and in your page layout program.
- • Supply either a color proof, a composed laser proof with color breaks marked, or a black and white laser proof with individual markings for each color separation. The hard copy should be at 100% size.
- • Add 40c 30m 30y to large black areas to achieve richer color and a higher gloss.
Small to mid-size print runs used to mean compromises and trade-offs. If you wanted speed, you sacrificed quality. If you wanted high quality, you paid the price in time and cost. And if you wanted content variations within a single run, well ... forget it.
With Digital Offset Printing from Premier Digital Printing, you don't have to compromise any longer.
Offset quality. Print on demand speed and flexibility.
Digital Offset Printing opens up new dimensions in print communications:
- • Even small press runs have the look, precision, and richness of traditional high quality offset printing.
- • Variations within a single run are easy - different language versions, content that varies by target audience, and contact information customized for each of your offices, for example.
- • Production direct to press from your Mac or PC files - it's almost as easy as sending a file to a laser printer. And print preparation takes just a few minutes.
- • No film or plate production costs.
- • Accommodates full 13" x 17 3/4" (includes bleed).
- • Accommodates a wide range of paper weights, from 60lb text to 12pt cover
Consider the possibilities.
Just think of what you can do using digital Offset Printing from Premier Digital Printing.
Ad reprints, customer newsletters, shipping labels and small stickers, posters, CD booklets, video cassette inserts, invitations for events and workshops, stationery from letterhead to business cards, sell sheets, folders, slipcases, circulars, and more.
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