Printing FM on older newspaper printing plants in Pinas

WORKFLOW wrote:

Hi Larry,
No, you can even use FM screening on a CTF, on an ECRM CTP and any brand of CTF or CTP. It will depend on what type of job you want to have Staccato.
If I have a poster job (assuming no repeat order) to be run on a single press machine -- then I can bravely say that I can print it using FM screening on my old Dolev 800 CTF with Harlequin RIP. The adjustment to be made is on the prepress side (specially the tonal calibration curve on the RIP). The pressman has to be advised also on what to expect during make-ready.
If you a have a packaging job (with repeat orders) to be run on a single press machine... you must have a CTP. You can do it on a violet CTP but with more effort on the process control.

Hi Workflow. Everything you mentioned is correct especially on commercial production. In fact you will have bigger gamut if your paper is as per the specs.

But we're skeptical if it will be successful on our poorly maintained newspaper presses. The reason why we have reservations is because we know the horrible state of the web offset presses, press materials and prepress devices used by MOST newspapers back home. We know this for a fact. Our prepress team consists of former prepress supervisors from 4 different news dailies and 1 former prepress supervisor from United Graphics who joined us not so long before.

We humbly think by starting quality improvements on the prepress (and not the other way around) will bear no fruit. Why?

Let's say we go back to our former employers and they decide to replace their CTFs with CTP (FM), naturally, our job will be to calibrate the presses and compensate the dot gain on the RIP. Compensate to where? What is the reference?

Since we were the 2nd printing plant globally to be ISO certified in newspaper printing (naks!).....siyempre naman, we will choose ISO 12647-3. hehehe...

Here's one problem. The Intended Press Curve as per the standard specify the 40% file to be 66% dot on paper. 80% file should be 94% dot. The standard specifies 26% TVI on the midtones (ECI recommends 28%).

By going FM on these ailing presses and substandard paper the expected TVI will be more than 35%. That means 40% file will be more than 75% dot already, then the 80% file will be more than 95%. Please bear in mind that the standard also specifies that the 90% dot shall have details. That's where we're concerned of. It's going to get plugged.

For a number of years we've worked on these presses, on their internal processes, with its production people....which explains our skepticism since we have had first hand knowledge of its flaws.

With newer presses, more press control systems like ink presetting, auto register and better dampening system, better ink and paper quality, faster press speed, thinner ink film thickness, etc....FM is not an issue. If Manila Bulletin or Star decide to go Thermal, and FM, at least their presses, process and people....are ready. But for older printing plants deprived of the most basic necessities.....it will be a headache.

It is possible to have a successful implementation if they start improvement and maintenance projects from the press side first and then back. But highly improbable if they opt the other option.

One can go Thermal and immediately implement FM on these ill-maintained presses but it will hardly match the original files from the customers, moreover, match an ISO contract proof. That's for sure.

Only a salesman would say FM won't create problems on these presses.

Our humble thoughts.