Handbook of Print Media

Frontmatter

1. Fundamentals

Abstract

Topical surveys on the significance and use of print media prove that the need for print media is growing worldwide. This is indicated by the fact that at the end of the millenium Time Magazine acknowledged the sociocultural significance of the invention and utilization of book printing and elected Johannes Gutenberg’s work as the most crucial event of the millennium. It is true that the age of electronic media has started; however printed information is and remains omnipresent.

Helmut Kipphan

2. Printing Technologies with Permanent Printing Master

Abstract

Offset printing is an indirect lithographic printing technology (see also sec. 1.3.2.3). Offset printing has spread markedly since approx. 1970 and has, to a great extent, ousted the letterpress printing technology which prevailed until that time. The offset printing technology is now the major printing technology.

Helmut Kipphan

3. Prepress

Abstract

The process of producing printed products can be divided into three parts: prepress, printing (press), and print finishing (postpress).

Helmut Kipphan

4. Computer to … Technologies

Abstract

Thanks to the opportunities offered by prepress digitization, in particular methods and procedures for providing images, text, and graphics of a page to be printed entirely in digital form, it has become possible to supply an entire page for print, or even a printing sheet containing several pages, as a data file.

Helmut Kipphan

5. Printing Technologies without a Printing Plate (NIP Technologies)

Abstract

This chapter is dedicated to printing technologies that do not require a solid printing plate (master) with a fixed image and that can basically produce successive pages with different printed images.

Helmut Kipphan

6. Hybrid Printing Systems

Abstract

Figure 6.1-1 provides an outline of the printing technologies (see sec. 1.3.1 and [6.1-1]). The diagram shows conventional printing requiring a master, as well as non-impact technologies, which operate without a master, printing on sheet or web material using the relevant inks. The printing press, as a component within the production process taking in prepress, press, and postpress, is equipped with suitable technology, as already explained in the previous chapters and sections.

Helmut Kipphan

7. Print Finishing Processes

Abstract

Finishing (postpress) is a segment of the print production flow in which the printed product is given its requested features of form and functions (fig. 7.1-1). The end products produced in the finishing process are therefore characterized by the design (shape) and the fun ctions that are determined by the information content.

Helmut Kipphan

8. Material and Data Flow in Print Media Production

Abstract

Figure 8.1-1 shows, in a simplified form, how the different areas of the production workflow of print media are linked together by the flow of materials and data.

Helmut Kipphan

9. Production Strategies for Print Media

Abstract

Sections 1.8 and 1.9 dealt with the great variety of printed products, applied business models, and the different aspects of management and costs. In this section the main technological possibilities and manufacturing concepts for the production of print media are described.

Helmut Kipphan

10. Comparison of Printing and Production Technologies for Print Media

Abstract

Figure 10.1-1 shows a summary of the production flow for the production of print media and in particular the interaction between prepress, printing (press), and finishing (postpress). The individual process steps are linked by the flow of materials and data. The logistics within the production flow for the provision of materials and data are of special importance.

Helmut Kipphan

11. Electronic Media and Multimedia

Abstract

Electronic media and multimedia include the latest developments in Internet, World Wide Web (www), and CD-ROMs. They also cover the more conventional forms of radio and television, the recording forms connected with them (recording and storage media), such as video and audio recordings, and computer-generated animation. Beginning with the description in sections 1.1.2 and 1.1.3, a transmission chain for electronic media and multimedia can be defined (fig. 11.1-1) that also includes print media as a part of the multimedia distribution of information.

Helmut Kipphan

12. Print Media and Electronic Media

Abstract

To a very large extent, communication in the business and private spheres takes place via print media and electronic media. Previous chapters have dealt with the different media and the relevant production techniques in detail.

Helmut Kipphan

13. Special Topics

Abstract

In the beginning there was the Solnhofen stone — stone printing. It is a touching story ofa laundry list that Alois Senefelder (1771–1834) wrote on the said stone in Munich for his mother since he had no paper at hand, thereby inventing “polyautography,” which later became known as “lithography.” It all sounds very improbable, but is actually historically authenticated. This was, however, only the final dramatic act in the longer history of the playwright and actor Alois Senefelder, whose real aim was the relief etching of a cheap letterpress printing form for his own use.

Helmut Kipphan

14. Appendix

Abstract

This short glossary contains only a small selection of important terms from the fields of technologies, production processes for print media, electronic media, communication, and information technology. A limited selection and description is given here of those terms which have been described in detail in the main section of the book; the index can be used to look them up.

Helmut Kipphan

Backmatter