A screen mask inspection device inspects a screen mask including a screen opening that forms a printing pattern, and includes: an inspection control device that detects solder position information of a solder paste printed on a substrate via the screen opening, and based on the solder position information, determines whether a quality of printing using the screen mask is good or bad, the solder position information being based on an amount of positional misalignment of the solder paste actually printed on the substrate relative to a predetermined reference position.

A method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for altering a digital image for a printing job, the method comprising receiving a requested printing job including the digital image, performing a segmentation on the digital image, extracting values of properties for a segment of the segmented digital image, determining, based on the extracted values of the properties for the segment, whether the segment of the digital image should be altered, and altering the segment of the digital image when it is determined the segment of the digital image should be altered, a resulting altered digital image being transmitted to a printer for printing.

A method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for altering a digital image for a printing job, the method comprising receiving a requested printing job including the digital image, performing a segmentation on the digital image, extracting values of properties for a segment of the segmented digital image, determining, based on the extracted values of the properties for the segment, whether the segment of the digital image should be altered, and altering the segment of the digital image when it is determined the segment of the digital image should be altered, a resulting altered digital image being transmitted to a printer for printing.

A printing apparatus applies ink to a surface of a printing plate in the shape of a predetermined pattern and then transfers the ink to a substrate. The printing apparatus includes: an image recording section that applies the ink to the surface of the printing plate; a plate surface observation unit that acquires information about the surface of the printing plate; a storage section that stores information about a reference shape serving as a reference of the surface of the printing plate; and a determination section that compares the information about the reference shape stored in the storage section with the information about the surface of the printing plate, which is obtained by the plate surface observation unit, and determines whether or not the surface of the printing plate to which the ink has been applied is present in a predetermined range of the reference shape.

A method for the determination of print parameters of a printing machine, particularly a flexographic printing machine, comprises the following steps: First, a print form (12) is provided and mounted on a print cylinder (14). Then, at least one high-resolution image of the surface of the print form (12) is recorded by means of a 3D camera (18). On the basis of the at least one high-resolution image a height profile of the print form (12) is determined and then a simulated print image is calculated on the basis of the height profile and an initial set of print parameters. Finally, optimized print parameters are determined by checking and/or varying the print parameters of the initial set. For this purpose, a simulated print image is calculated again after the print parameters have been varied. In addition, a test stand is specified on which such a method can be carried out.

An image processing apparatus controls an operation of a printer apparatus that prints an image on a sheet being attachable to skin. The image processing apparatus includes: an image acquirer that acquires a skin image; an image analyzer that extracts, from the skin image, a discolored region differing in color from surrounding skin by at least a predetermined level, and color of the surrounding skin; a print type determiner that determines, based on at least one of color and size of the discolored region, a print type that includes at least one of use/nonuse of a base material containing a white pigment, a particle shape of a print material used in the printing, a scheme of the printing, and use/nonuse of lamé powder; and a printing controller that outputs, to the printer apparatus, image data having a content of printing a print material in the surrounding color, on a region corresponding to the discolored region in the sheet, and controls an operation of the printer apparatus according to the determined print type.

The invention relates to a method for checking a printing cylinder for defects in an engraved cylinder surface of the printing cylinder, comprising the steps: capturing a first and at least one further digital image of a cylinder surface of a printing cylinder by means of an optical capture unit, wherein the cylinder surface is cleaned before capturing the at least one further image, comparing the digital images each with a digital engraving master of the printing cylinder, the comparing comprising: determining deviations between each of the digital images and the digital engraving master, and checking the determined deviations for matching deviations between the digital images,
wherein a pseudo defects is concluded if no matching deviations between the digital images have been detected when comparing, and wherein an engraving defect on the printing cylinder is concluded in the case of matching deviations. Furthermore, a corresponding arrangement is described.

A device for measuring elevations of a surface of a rotary body embodied as a cylinder, roller, sleeve, plate or flexographic printing plate for graphic industry machines includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device for contactless measurement which is part of or integrated into a mounter for printing plates. The measuring device allows the printing forme to be measured and analyzed to check mounting quality and to detect diameter differences. The measuring device preferably further includes a reference object, such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if desired, a further second motor for adjusting the measuring device and/or the reference object in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides a fast way of measuring the elevations, such as flexographic print dots, with great accuracy.

A method operates a flexographic printing press. The flexographic printing press includes a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder. At least one parameter of the flexographic printing press is set. The sleeve is marked with an ID, the ID is detected in a flexographic printing unit of the flexographic printing press or in the flexographic printing press. Data saved in association with the ID are transmitted to the flexographic printing unit or to the flexographic printing press, and the data are used when the parameter is set. In this manner, a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is obtained. In addition, the method provides further automation of the printing process.

A method of operating a flexographic printing press having a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder, and an impression cylinder, includes adjusting contact pressure between the printing cylinder or the flexographic printing cylinder and the impression cylinder by motor. The adjustment is made in an automated way as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme or data computationally derived therefrom. A cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is thus provided. In addition, the method advantageously provides further automation of the printing process. A flexographic printing press, a flexographic printing press system, and a flexographic printing forme or sleeve for a flexographic printing forme are also provided.