The Format of Things to Come

"PPF files from prepress are fed into a computer running our CPC 32 interface. The data is converted to the format required by the press and then sent on, either on a solid-state flash memory card, or preferably directly over a network connection. The press operator then pulls up the file, presets the ink keys to the correct profile, and is ready to continue the makeready—with ink profiles that are already perfect." Dowey says by eliminating the plate scanning operation, printers can expect to save four to five minutes per print unit at startup, and reduce turnaround as makeready can begin before plates are in hand.