Sebis - Digital Press

This is much different from traditional imaging.

The single most significant difference is simple but the implications of this simple change are numerous and incredible. After conversion, many if not all applications, will not require preprinted forms. Documents will be printed with all colors and graphics that were part of the pre-printed forms on a blank paper roll and in a single pass.

Color graphics are now digital and can be dynamic.

For most statements and documents all of the color images, callouts, logos, etc. had to be static and part of the pre-printed form. When designing these applications, most providers adopted the Henry Ford school of options. To blatantly paraphrase: You can have all of the dynamic content you want as long as it's black (or for some applications a single highlight color). All color elements can now be dynamic. They can change from document to document and even from page to page. Since it's all digital, these color elements can be entirely dynamic.

Transaction content can use color.

Studies have shown over and over that the use of color improves comprehension. We use color to emphasize calls to action, past due statuses, changes from the last statement, etc. Small changes using digital color can now become part of the document.

Can't run out of forms.

There are no forms to run out of. The forms are transformed into digital elements printed on the document along with the document contents.

Can't use the wrong form.

Sebis quality control practices are world class. They include online checks and controls throughout the production process. But perhaps there is that little voice in your head hoping you never find out that the wrong pre-printed form was included in some document production run. All document elements are now part of the document and not part of any pre-printed form, the potential for this error is eliminated.

Ad-hoc inserts don't require printing, delivery, etc.

The digital press can produce additional or ad-hoc inserts such as a newsletter or flyer or the occasional extra form. There is no need to estimate usage and get the inserts printed and delivered. No need to pay extra insert charges either. These additional or occasional items will be printed right in line with the document. Bonus: Can't run short of them or waste the extras you needed to order because you can't be certain how much spoilage will occur or even exactly how many you needed.

Changes to forms can be done instantly.

No need to go to press, schedule delivery, wait, etc. A change to a document element previously part of a pre-printed form can be changed instantly.

Forms cannot become obsolete.

Changing a form version usually wastes the remaining forms inventory. Especially in a compliant environment where excess forms are a requirement for application continuity. Since all forms and pre-printed graphics are now completely digital, changes can be made to the elements with no waste whatsoever. The more dynamic the forms changes, the more savings you will experience.

Forms backers used for invoices are a good example. Changing some policy or terms or even a customer service phone number, hours of operation, etc. have resulted in the replacement of forms and the waste of on-hand inventory. This cost is gone.

Forms management will be easier.

Some of your management oversight and workflow will be reduced. You no longer need to track and monitor some of your inventory levels and order triggers. Getting recent quotes for replacement forms, thinking about order quantities? A good portion of your forms management is history!

No forms freight charges.

Freight charges can add from 3% to 10% to the cost of any form order. Even if the printing cost is exactly displaced, the freight charges you have been paying will provide cost savings.

What will this do to costs?

Total charges to print transactional documents will include the paper and full imaging provided by Sebis. Paper is charged based on the current prevailing commodity cost of paper. Total costs may decrease! Sebis waited until the total cost of print using this technology was very similar to the total costs (including pre-printed forms, paper, etc.) to existing costs.

Will the print quality be as good as offset or laser?

No two entirely different print technologies print the same exact image with precisely the same properties. Even among offset presses, variations in colors, inks, paper and presses result in different print properties. This will be no different. The Truepress will produce digital output that is a bit different than offset printing and the imprinting by a xerographic photoreceptor printer. In some cases, colors will need to be corrected. The Truepress is a CMYK device. When converting from offset, some re-work may be required. Some solids will look a bit different. Large solid black areas may look a bit less dark.

The resolution of a digital press, even one with 4 droplet sizes and up to 720x720 resolution will not precisely match the properties of an offset printed image.

The fact is though, that even if this is perceived as a disadvantage, the advantages vastly overwhelm the disadvantages.

Does this improve sustainability of the application?

All paper documents support sustainability. Paper is a recyclable and renewable resource. Because print-on-demand of any paper item reduces waste, less paper is used. The adoption of the Truepress does not alter the sustainability of the process.

Will this change postage rates?

This is really a paper weight question. Sebis will use paper that matches the thickness and weight very close to the current paper in use. Postage should not change in this process.

Does the Truepress print checks?

At this time, the Truepress will not produce checks. For check printing Sebis uses the latest i300 Cannon variable digital press technology that is MICR capable. Pre-printed check forms can be provided by the Truepress or current forms can be used. Check with your Technical Account Manager for any changes to check production.

Does the Truepress print ID cards?

ID cards forms and traditional 20-30 mil plastic ID cards and TESLIN based cards will continue to be printed on our existing fleet of color and ID card printers. ID card carrier forms will continue to be printed the same way they currently are.

Does the Truepress print books?

The Truepress significantly adds capability to Sebis book production. Book blocks can now be black and/or full color. Covers will continue to be produced the same way. The Bedford Park location has added a 4-clamp Quadramax II perfect binder, bringing book perfect binding capacity up to 1200 per hour. The Cleveland location has acquired the Standard Horizon BQ260 bringing its perfect binding capacity to 250 books per hour.

Some forms are perforated. How will this be handled?

The Truepress includes dynamic perforation. This was another requirement we waited for. The Truepress line can produce simple and complex perforations. Perforations can be horizontal or vertical or both. Only the pages that require the perforation will get one. This remarkable capability eliminates the added expense of adding the perforation to the pre-printed forms.

As you can see, this single device adds extraordinary new capabilities and simplifies the production of transactional documents. These two things rarely occur at the same time.

Digital vs. Offset

Offset printing is more a chemical process than a computer process. In an offset job there are four rollers that have etched metal plates on them. These four rollers typically represent the CMYK you hear about. C = Cyan, M = Magenta, Y = Yellow, K = Black. (K is used to avoid possible confusion as Blue) The paper runs through these four (or more) rollers at lighting fast speeds and "offsets" the image from the plate to the paper. Print quality, registration and color matching is the result of electronic monitoring and largely dependent on the skill of the pressperson in charge of the job.
A digital press like the Truepress 520 digitally processes each and every page image and “RIP”s it into a very complex bit map or array of dots. Each dot is selected from the same CMYK colors the offset press uses. And each dot size is selected from one of four possible sizes. The processor that does all of this also uses a profile based on the paper being used. This processor is aware of every paper used in Sebis inventory.
The important point to this is that the processor will arrive at the exact same dot pattern every time. A specific profile is created for each job that is run. That profile is automatically selected when the job is run. The processor is trusted to utilize the same profile resulting in the same color outputs every time. If desired, variations can be made by changing paper profiling and making adjustments to the profile of that job. But these changes would be intended.

Duplexing Integrity

To insure the accuracy of front-side back-side document integrity, the print engine generates and prints a high resolution barcode on the waste area of every front side image. At the point of imaging the back side of the same page, this bar code is read and processed to insure that the back side image is being placed on the correct sheet.

Print Head Specifications

Truepress Jet 520 Inkjet heads and their output
Quality standard specification
Uniformity of density
C,M,Y / dD= < 0.05 Bk / dD= < 0.10 (100% coverage)
Linearity : 70micron

720 x 720 dpi imaging

The Truepress Jet520 utilizes the highest resolution of any single-pass inkjet digital printing system – 720 x 720 dpi. This makes it suitable for just about anything, including the output of barcodes, which must be output at high resolution to work properly.

Registration

4 color plane: 70micron
Both sides: 300micron

Print Quality Monitoring

Unevenness is often cited as a problem when using multiple printheads. The Truepress Jet520 features built-in quality control scanners, reading a printed test chart and automatically correcting for any problems. There is no fluctuation in temperature at the inkjet heads during the run as is common with toner based fusing elements that cause color fluctuation. The Truepress Jet 520 maintains precise print quality throughout the run. The unit is also designed to use special techniques to prevent problems with jammed nozzles. The Truepress Jet520’s automated printing quality monitoring ensures consistent, high-quality results throughout each job as the system prints.

High Registration Accuracy

Printing can be carried out with the aid of preprinted registration marks, marginal punches or registration marks created for use as a reference in order to maintain print registration. Related registration marks on the front and the back side of each sheet ensures front-to-back registration and accuracy. A sensor monitors the paper feed; if the paper starts to come out of proper alignment, the EPC roller tension is automatically adjusted to compensate, so that the paper is fed correctly at all times.

Monthly Calibration

Once per month, a full color calibration is performed. The press runs a predetermined set of color swatches and scans them using its built-in scanning analyzer. Any corrections to print-head characteristics are made and stored in memory.

Piezo/DOD Inkjet Head

The Truepress Jet520 features the reputable Piezo Drop on Demand (DOD) inkjet heads manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation. The piezo elements in these inkjet heads change shape according to the voltage applied, which enables extremely fine control of the ink drops ejected from the inkjet head. This grayscale technology generates extremely smooth gradations.

Single-Pass Production Precision

The inkjet heads are mounted in a single-pass multiple-head array, which enables extremely high printing precision. The distances between the inkjet heads for each color, as well as the distances from the inkjet heads to the media are short, ensuring exceptional color-to-color registration.

Color Matching

ICC profile

Fast, Accurate document and print production in Full Color!

Fast

Colors

Accurate