A printing method includes determining a master machine setting by using a master substrate, printing a first test print including test fields, and using a first combination of printing fluid and master substrate, recording test fields of the first test print, and computationally determining and storing a first setting value for a first machine setting as the master setting. Printing a print job is prepared by changing the substrate to a second combination of printing fluid and substrate, printing a second test print including test fields, and using the second combination of printing fluid, substrate and master setting, recording the test fields of the second test print, and computationally determining and storing a second setting value for a second machine setting, the second setting value defined relative to the master setting. The print job is printed by using the second combination of printing fluid, substrate and second machine setting.

A method of operating a sheet-fed printing press includes storing various print jobs and/or associated setting values and process steps in a memory device to set up the printing press upon a job change. A computer implements or suggests settings or process steps of the printing press for a print job based on the job data of a print job and/or as a result of inputs by the operator. Before or immediately after a print job is completed, the computer generates a query requesting inputs that determine if the same print job requires further passes and if so, which passes are required and, based on the information input therein, implements only those settings on the printing press and/or initiates or suggests only those process steps that are necessary for the subsequent pass of the sheets that have already been printed.

A device including a computing unit that is adapted to read a pattern of transfer portions to be realized by means of a printing process prior to operation of the device and to evaluate various options as to input of at least one foil web to the device and reuse of a length of foil web in the device so as to determine that option involves the most efficient use of the foil for realizing the pattern, so that output is obtained that is suitable to be used for realizing optimal control of the device.

A method for the dynamic printing process calibration of a printing press includes determining a calibration dataset for the colored halftones of the process colors, determining a calibration dataset for the gray halftones of the process colors, determining a weighting factor for the two calibration datasets as a function of the original print and calculating a combined calibration dataset from the two determined calibration datasets, with reference to the weighting factor. The calculated combined calibration dataset is applied to the calibration of the printing process of a printing press.

A device including a computing unit that is adapted to read a pattern of transfer portions to be realized by means of a printing process prior to operation of the device and to evaluate various options as to input of at least one foil web to the device and reuse of a length of foil web in the device so as to determine that option involves the most efficient use of the foil for realizing the pattern, so that output is obtained that is suitable to be used for realizing optimal control of the device.

An inspection apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a first image, a registration unit that generates a second image in which multiple first images are continuously arranged based on the first image if the received first image meets a predetermined condition to register the second image as a sample image, a reader that reads a read image, and an inspection unit that inspects a print based on the sample image and the read image read by the reader from the print resulting from formation of an image on a sheet by an image formation unit.

A printing press for security printing has an Orloff offset printing unit comprising a plurality of stencil cylinders which can be inked, in each case, by an associated inking unit, an ink-collecting cylinder which interacts with the plurality of stencil cylinders, an Orloff plate cylinder which interacts with the ink-collecting cylinder, a transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder which forms a printing point with the transfer cylinder. At least the transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder in the thrown-on position is included by a first printing unit section and is mounted in or on a first part frame. The ink-collecting cylinder is included by a second printing unit section and is mounted in or on a second part frame which is different from the first part frame. The first and the second part frame can be moved optionally into a first relative position with respect to one another, which forms a working position, and into a second relative position with respect to one another which forms a maintenance position. In the maintenance position, a space is formed between the first and the second printing unit section and/or between the first and the second part frame, which space ensures direct access at least to the ink-collecting cylinder, to the Orloff plate cylinder and to the transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for changing a printing forme and for starting production.

A method for inspecting a print image in a digital printing process, with image data from images to be printed being available in a pre-printing stage in the form of a digital proof, includes the steps of generating a reference image representing the desired printing result; recording digital live images of printed images; comparing the live images with the reference image; before the print process, searching the digital proof for distinct points in the image to be printed, selecting such points as reference points and determining coordinates thereof, and rendering and saving the digital proof as a reference image; and after printing has started, for each live image, finding the reference points in the live image, calculating a coordinate transformation which converts the reference points of the live image and reference image into one another and comparing the live image with the reference image after applying the coordinate transformation.

A method for printing a marking on a golf ball includes arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, matching a reference position on the plate to a reference position on the golf ball, transferring the ink from the printing plate to a pad, and transferring the ink from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the marking. The pattern includes an etch corresponding to the marking, wherein the etch differs from the marking in a manner dependent on the position of the marking on the golf ball. The marking that results on the golf ball is a linear marking, and a centerline of the linear marking lies entirely within a marking plane that is not a centerline plane of the golf ball, and wherein the edges of the marking are parallel with the marking plane.

A method for printing a marking on a golf ball includes arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, matching a reference position on the plate to a reference position on the golf ball, transferring the ink from the printing plate to a pad, and transferring the ink from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the marking. The pattern includes an etch corresponding to the marking, wherein the etch differs from the marking in a manner dependent on the position of the marking on the golf ball. The marking that results on the golf ball is a linear marking, and a centerline of the linear marking lies entirely within a marking plane that is not a centerline plane of the golf ball, and wherein the edges of the marking are parallel with the marking plane.