Electrophotography in commercial printing: publications on demand
Mark W. Fleming · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1992
Although electrophotography has been used extensively for years in copying, desktop and department printing, and certain in-plant printing operations, this non-impact printing technology has only recently found applications in high-volume commercial printing of products such as books and documentation. Several factors have influenced the growth of electrophotography in commercial printing: (1) the gradual reduction in electrophotographic printing costs achieved through increased equipment reliability, high productivity, and economies of scale and learning, (2) the increasing availability of electronic pages in standard, device-independent formats such as PostScript, (3) increasing standardization and connectivity of electronic printing systems, and (4) steady increases in electrophotographic print quality. As a result of these technology advances, electrophotography has begun to complement offset as a demand printing option in certain markets and product categories. The successful applications of electrophotography in commercial printing exploit the value of demand printing along three primary dimensions: (1) time management, (2) customization, and (3) inventory management. This paper will illustrate these value dimensions, using several examples of products produced electronically. Finally, the author will review the critical factors pacing the evolution of electrophotographic demand printing in commercial printing over the next few years.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.