Graphic transformations and animation effects, 3D, zoom and deformation effects-these very compelling things are still far away from our daily lives. This application that makes plastic printers profitable is based on the use of raster film. But there must also be accurate and reliable printing press technology. One of the printing machines that can provide these necessary prerequisites in KBA's product range is KBA Metronic's Genius 52UV.
Many of us remembered them in our childhood: pictures of people who can wave a hand or blink an eye. This is usually just a simple image change (variable image) that implies the movement or action. However, in the past few years, the raster printing technology has undergone revolutionary changes. Amazing multi-level images can be composed of 16 levels at the same time. They deceive the human eye perfectly, and can convey the impression of a movie continuous shot or perspective painting. Three factors have made these recent developments possible, and they play a decisive role in the quality of modern raster printing:
* Fine-structured lens sheet * Precise preparation of digital image data with the help of special software * Printing machine capable of producing vivid high-precision images with perfect registration.
How raster printing works
Grating technology uses optical laws. "Lenticula" comes from Latin, meaning "little lens". A grating sheet is composed of a number of very fine lenticular lenses arranged side by side on the entire sheet (Figure 1), and the shape of the lens is such that their focal plane is exactly on the back surface of the film. Typical raster film has 40 to 130 lens lines per inch (15 to 50 lines per centimeter).
In short, a light beam emitted from any specific point on the focal plane is refracted by the shape of the lens and forms an approximately parallel beam. Therefore, the observer sees only a small part of the image behind the lens. For example, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, only blue stripes are seen, and therefore only the blue image part is seen in the entire picture. However, if the observer changes their perspective, the blue image disappears and is replaced by the green image, and so on.
This effect can be developed to place several different images or versions of images behind a single lens. In order to achieve an image sequence with four separate elements (line A in FIG. 3), for example, each element must be accurately divided into stripes with the same width as a single lens (line B in FIG. 3). Here, it is important to make the number of stripes in each original image the same as the number of lenses in the array. The width of this reconstructed "striped" image is naturally four times the actual single image. Therefore, it must be compressed to a quarter of its width, so that each group of bars can be precisely under one and the same lens (line C of Figure 3). All in all, this is an extremely complex process that can only be completed by modern software and the trained eyes of an experienced printer.
An example of Genius52UV
KBA Metronic's Genius 52UV provides a flexible and effective printing machine to meet the requirements of printing on innovative substrates such as raster film. Holger Volpert, director of KBA Metronic AG, regards this press as a high-performance tool for special markets with potential for development:
"Genius52UV can perfectly meet all the requirements of printing companies that want to complete small to medium-volume creative jobs with excellent quality and low cost."
Once the final raster image is calculated, it is printed on the back of the transparencies. Holger Volpert, the original sales director in charge of printing technology, understands what users care about in daily practice: "For raster printing, absolute accuracy is the decisive requirement. Since there is no ink key in the ink supply device of Genius52UV, the ink supply will always remain stable. In addition, the overprinting system guarantees that the printing plates can be installed automatically and accurately. Therefore, there are very few scraps at startup. This is an important reason when using expensive materials such as raster film. "
Since the number of prints is often very small in the small format field, low consumption and rapid print preparation are necessary conditions. On the Genius52UV, an operator can complete the replacement of jobs in just seven minutes. The compact Genius52UV with an area of ​​only 12 square meters can be used for UV-curable inks for economical and practical waterless offset printing, which can achieve excellent printing quality on very non-absorbent substrates with thicknesses ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.
Attractive new market
Raster printing gives the image depth and motion. In this way, printed products use raster film to achieve something that is becoming more valuable today: they grab people's attention. Whether it's used for advertising, exhibitions, or merchandise promotion, the list of possible applications has no end. Raster images are especially effective for labels, advertising pictures, brochures, packaging, decoration, and many other products. Their eye-catching special effects can attract positive responses from very different target groups. But this kind of dynamic image can be more than just a carrier of decorative impression, a variety of information, functional description, detailed view, etc. can be loaded into a raster image.
HolgerVolpert is convinced: "For decades, German-made technology has enjoyed an excellent reputation. Now, this position will surely be consolidated in a globalized market. We can only succeed if we understand the market needs lastingly and closely. And if we use our innovative power to develop sustainable potential, what we need is creative and fantasy strategies. Genius52UV allows us to see a lot of opportunities, while further enhancing KBA Metronic as a strong and powerful in the printing industry The reputation of a loyal partner. "
HUZHOU JIHAO NONWOVENS FABRIC CO.,LTD , https://www.jihaononwovens.com