NozzleBlack - RIP ?  

※ Direct inkjet on film with screened dot

     NozzleBlack-CTF uses actual dots from original RIP-1 –bit data, preserving dot patterns, screening

     and dot gain calibration.

※ Producing top quality “dot”formation

     Oru RIP provides powerful controls of image on inkjet printer for high quality dot formation with

     foundation of its analytical engine so the software can producc very fine and solid hard dot up to 

     175 Lpi  1%.

※ Flexible output with any width of printer

     Allows user to choose substrate in any size between range from 406 mm to 1118 mm. the size depends

     on printer model chosen.

※ Simple operation with “Mac” platform

     We run on Apple Mac computer which is easy to use. Powerful. Compatible, stable, secure, easy for

     installation and configuration.

※ Dot gain calibration for all kinds of printing

     Can setup individual calibration curve to suit different dot gain required by the press, adjustment

     can be done easily in the RIP for any curves.

We provide RIP + Film +Ink in best quality

Font thickness is changing?

Size precise in tolerance?

    ONLY WAY FOR HIGH QUALITY CORRUGATED BOARD PRINTING

               NO MATTER HOW ROUGH and TOUGH IS THE SURFACE 

F-Bak 福 貝 克 印 刷 用 襯 墊 @flexoCushionBack For superior quality flexo printing only Forever use / Stable supply / Reasonable price @flexo® air-cushioned material is an advanced open-cell polyurethane that provides ultra-stable elastic cushioning for flexo printing. We offers ultra-high quality cushion back that allow you to work with very fine, vibrant patterns and dots on some of the roughest substrates. F-Bak materials can be used for printing on film materials, labels and corrugated paper to improve registration accuracy and ink transfer, reduce dot gain and ink streaks, reduce plate deformation, and enable finer line printing also reduces stress and absorbs impact on flexographic printing plates. @flexo Cushion Back extends board and gasket life + Get higher print quality + Achieve stable compressible performance in compressible mounting systems More information on this site: Cushion Backs - Flexo Inkjet Prepress Technology CTP inkjet image on flexo plate - Flexo Inkjet Prepress Technology (flexotech.com.tw) ※ Standard specification : 3.05mm x 112cm x 30.5m Available from stock other sizes will be confirmed on quantity of your order. FLEXO TECHNOLOGY INC. No. 433-1 Hua Cheng Road. Hsin chuang New taipei Taiwan TEL : +8862-85221125 FAX: +8862-85221530 flexotec@ms32.hinet.net

CTF inkjet vs Photo film

A matured new application for film making

(Up to 175 lpi 1% dot reproduction good for color jobs)

Hilson Huang / NozzleBlack CEO

Although CTP (Computer To Plate making) is widely used in offset printing  industry for years, but it is not all of the offset printers are using this CTP system. Conventional offset printing machine still needs to make positive film first for PS plate image exposure. How can these conventional offset printers are able to enjoy this new digital inkjet technology for their plate making especially when photo film is facing termination and price of it is getting higher and higher day by day due to fewer and fewer photographic film manufacturer in the market.

By using photo film, the expensive investment of equipment such as image setter, film processor are too huge a sum for them to put in, though second hand CTP machine retired from offset is cheaper but it is facing another problem: termination of production and discontinuing supply of parts ... which means not only no more hardware maintenance but also any after service is available.

This will be a nightmare for all existing photo film users which they have to face in near future before it is too late. Fortunately, due to new technology of inkjet nozzle development with improved RIP software for fine dot reproduction the inkjet film making is ripe and mature for the industry now. Users only have to do more adjustment of their mind that black image is no longer to be made by photographic film any more.

No more developer, no more fixer (no chemicals) with no expensive investments for equipment as well as maintenance and electric power consumption, most important advantage is that due to use of no chemical it is very green and friendly to our environment.

Case 1

There is an offset printing factory YF in Tainan which is in the south part of Taiwan, they relied on outsourcing of film to make PS plate for their Roland 200 / Roland 700 and Komori S40 printing machine. Now they are using NozzleBlack inkjet printer making their own film with NozzleBlack PS-RIP software since beginning of 2014, doing wonderful jobs in big size (and the size is accurate in registration) at very low cost for their routine works, the boss is very happy with this inkjet film making system.

This big size printer operate with NozzleBlack PS-RIP special and fine image forming technology can accept HQ-RIP with 1 bit TIFF signal through ink drop control from Adobe in order to distribute ink accurately on film in accordance with the size directly. The size can be from A4 to 1118mm in width and limitless in length.

Case 2

SH is a plate trade shop in New Taipei city, they have relied on out sourcing of the negative film for a long time so they have paid much more attentions to the inkjet CTF. But the fact they have seen is that when the printer works smoothly, it is good, but once it break down there comes the problem and almost has to stop for a long time. The reason is that most of the system sold in the market:

printer / RIP / ink / film always happen different problem and separately, there seems no one is integrated all together in a package. 

Mr. Su, the boss with his wife they want very much to have their own CTF system for film making. Now they are having the concordance from a vender who supply with RIP / Ink / Film which are all certificated by the printer maker,

When Mr. & Mrs. Su are enjoying the quality negative as good as photo film with high opaque black density made by them self, meantime they are also enjoy the wonderful after sales service from the printer dealer for they are using all the materials certificated by the manufacturer. Now they do not have to worry about printer out of order or break down at all.

Case 3

WG co. is a color label printer especially for electronic field which is a most quality demanding printing job of 175 lpi and 1% reproduction in label industry, due to heavy investment of a digital CTP equipment and peripheral machine, they do not want to invest so much.

RIP of NozzleBlack is created by a group of engineers who have at least 20 years of practical experience of color separation and screening who knows what are the difference and important points for an inkjet film user from the beginning when they organize the software in addition to the fine dot reproduction and sharp image. The boss Mr. Tsen is very happy with the results of negative made by inkjet printer now.

In Korea

Most inkjet film maker in Korea are using SC-T3050 printer for the job, they use RIP software buying from market by which the opaque density is OK can be used for certain jobs but they find:

1.    Fine image and small dot could not be reproduced precisely so that still could not be used as good as photographic film and substitute it. The inkjet film quality have to be improved and to be accepted at least as good as a film from image setter otherwise it will be no potential at all.

2.    As mentioned the black density is enough for exposure, but the problem is that about 50% of the exposure UV was absorbed by the prima coated on the film in order to receive black ink well, therefore they have to prolong the exposure time 2 or 3 times than photo film but still failed sometimes for the fine image areas.

At the beginning of 2014, Korean dealers visited us for the purpose of improving their inkjet film quality for more black density and pursuit finer reproduction up to 175 lpi 1% dot for the highlight area of label printing.

Now even flexible packaging flexo and gravure printers start to use our RIP-PS and consumables.

In Japan

Many people in Japan use PX-H9000 PX-H7000 and PX-H6550 printer with RIP capable for color separation and screening with 100% single black ink cartridge, the opaque density is acceptable but find the font is changed especially when the character is small and critical, changes in height and thickness of font happen in big character as for corrugated printing maybe not a problem but could not be accepted by photo film users for it was never happened before. Dealers in Japan is very eager to find a good RIP for this purpose in order to be able to print 175 lpi 1% dot reproduction with unchanged font and stability in big sized film.

In Osaka area, there is an user they measure length of every inkjet film by using the scale on the width of the printer to check for the accuracy then make plate. This is proving that both multi-color registration and size stability is as good as photo film.

The cost of inkjet film making can save you about USD 7.00 - 8.00 per square meter (total inkjet film cost is 50-60% of photo film), say if you make 12 m2 film everyday it will save you USD 25,000.- in a year, thus you will have the printer investment returned in half a year. In addition to the PS plate making, multiple usages such as photopolymer / hot stamping / flexo / vanish / embossing and screen printing all after print converting jobs can be also applied. At the end of 2014 YF company has invested a 2nd system for the growing demands. This is proving that inkjet film making is satisfactory and the era of digital film making by inkjet is really opening.

                                          Questions and Answers ( Q&A)

                                                         NozzleBlack CTF-175 /133 / 85

1.      How is CTF-175 inkjet film system created?

Since LaserBlack enhance has been created by Flexo Technology Inc. in 2006, we have about 20000 units used all over the world satisfactorily, some of the users are requesting for a new method to make bigger size negative film with fine resolution and good enough black density for their plate making.

After it, there are so many CTF system to print on film in the market with special ink and special treated film as negative film. It is however, in many cases if the density is good the resolution can’t be so fine, if resolution is good the opaque density is not enough for plate making i.e. not reliable and stable.

@flexo RD team was thinking more than that: a new technology can inkjet fine resolution up to 175 lpi 1% with black density up to 3.50 and most important is always stable for production in order for colorful label, offset, flexo and gravure printing.

2.      What are the advantages to use NozzleBlack CTF-175 inkjet printer?

a.      Do not have to use photo-film any more so as to save the developing equipment.

b.      Get your film by one click only, no more engineer is required. Anybody can make it.

3.      How is the resolution and density from a NozzleBlack CTF-175 inkjet printer?

The opaque density is 3.50 which is good enough for any platemaking and as good as a photo film from an image setter with chemical developing processor.

4.      Is the black image will fade / disappear and afraid of water?

The black image printed of negative area is dry up immediately with heater after print which will never fade away and disappear.

By using our double-side coated film it is not fade away or spread and will not melt with water.

5.      Shall we use special ink for CTF inkjet printer?

Yes, our NozzleBlack ink is a super-black nano ink with a very thin layer to reduce the cost of ink consumption but still keep a high black opaque density to block the UV light during exposure.

In many countries like in Taiwan, our super black ink is certificated and accepted by EPSON policy, therefore the maintenance and after-service will be taken care by EPSON originally . (Please ask your domestic Epson dealer.)

6.      How about ink consumption and print speed of a NozzleBlack CTF inkjet printer?

Ink consumption of our CTF is 10-20 ml per m2 printing depends on the black area of image to print. (80 to 95% black area.)

Print speed is 1 – 3 m2 per hour i.e. 20 - 60 min. per m2 depends on the model and RIP settings.

7.      How about the fine resolution can we achieve?

Color separation and screening jobs can be done by our RIP software. Fine screen dot can be done up to 175 lines per inch which is good enough for any kind of plate making for printing.

Depends on software, our RIP PS can make small dot up to 175 lpi 3 % ,while by using our RIP SS can reproduce 175 lpi 1% finest dot for the small appearance of high light areas for color label printing by letterpress printing press from which the result is like printed by a digital plate.

Skilled engineers are not required any more for color separation / dot shape / ruling and angle all can be set by RIP software from the computer.

8.      What kind of computer shall we use for this system?

Both of these two RIPs are operated by Mac computer which has been proofed in half a century showing the reliability and stability in prepress room already.

9.      Any toxic or hazardous chemical used on the ink.

We use water based ink which is environmentally green and friendly, non-toxic and not harmful to human.

10.    What kind of working place shall we need?

An air-conditioned room is good for this precision printer which is making film and making plate at the same time for you, needs a clean, cool and dry place to work.

11.    Where can we buy the ink and film? Any shipping problem?

Our super black ink is packed in a ink cartridge of 700ml which available from us and our dealer, it can print 10-20 m2 of black image (80-95% black). Without any problem of shipping ink to you at all.

You may buy double-side coated film is also from us or from your local dealers. 

Please note other inks is not recommended for your printer to prevent block and damage of nozzle head.

12.    Can we use any other ink to print?

No, you can not use any other ink for the channel and nozzle head make be blocked and damaged easy.

13.    Black ink will dry quickly right after print?

Yes, after print there is a heater for drying up the ink quickly to prevent ink spread in order to keep fine image and dot area clean and clear so as to dry up the image completely.

14.    Can we use any other film to print?

Using any other film may cause problems as not good in registration or not stable during image printing.

15.    What plate making can use CTF-175 inkjet film?

No matter it is a positive or negative film, our CTF film can be used for color label printing especially for the reproduction of high light small dot area, offset, letterpress, flexo and gravure all kinds of printing for good result as a film from an image setter.

16. Shall we adjust CTF-175 inkjet printer frequently?

As mentioned the CTF printer will clean the nozzle head frequently and automatically once you have set up the conditions and running smooth according to your production, it is not necessary to readjust the printer at all.

17.    Any tips to print film quickly for my plate making?

A. Always to print following instruction and training from our engineers. Do not use any ink other than our products which will block ink channel and damage nozzle head.

B. Plug in power all the time CTF printer will clean frequently and automatically, which will keep the head in best condition to print.

C. Paying more attention to ink cartridge to see if it is enough to do your daily job for mass production.  

In case of any more question, please do not hesitate to let us know. We will be happy to answer all the questions for you.

www.flexotech.com.tw  flexotec@ms32.hinet.net