n P 9 n i 91 77 r *- 1/ J; * — x AGARD-AG-199 < d a: < < AGARDograph No. 199 A Guide to Reprographic Processes for the Small User by T. Hampshire DISTRIBUTION AND AVAILABILITY ON BACK COVER AGARD-AG-199 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (ORGANIZATION DU TRAITE DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD) AGARDograph No. 199 A GUIDE TO REPROGRAPHIC PROCESSES FOR THE SMALL USER by T. Hampshire The National Reprographic Centre for Documentation The Hatfield Polytechnic This report was prepared at the request of the Technical Information Panel of AGARD THE MISSION OF AGARD The mission of AGARD is to bring together the leading personalities of the NATO nations in the fields of science and technology relating to aerospace for the following purposes: - Exchanging of scientific and technical information; - Continuously stimulating advances in the aerospace sciences relevant to strengthening the common defence posture; - Improving the co-operation among member nations in aerospace research and development; - Providing scientific and technical advice and assistance to the North Atlantic Military Committee in the field of aerospace research and development; - Rendering scientific and technical assistance, as requested, to other NATO bodies and to member nations in connection with research and development problems in the aerospace field; - Providing assistance to member nations for the purpose of increasing their scientific and technical potential; - Recommending effective ways for the member nations to use their research and development capabilities for the common benefit of the NATO community. The highest authority within AGARD is the National Delegates Board consisting of officially appointed senior representatives from each member nation. The mission of AGARD is carried out through the Panels which are composed of experts appointed by the National Delegates, the Consultant and Exchange Program and the Aerospace Applications Studies Program. The results of AGARD work are reported to the member nations and the NATO Authorities through the AGARD series of publications of which this is one. Participation in AGARD activities is by invitation only and is normally limited to citizens of the NATO nations. Published January 1975 Copyright © Agard 1975 681.62:778.1:778.31 S> Set and Printed by Technical Editing and Reproduction Ltd Harford House, 7-9 Charlotte St. London, W1P 1HD SUMMARY The report provides detailed information on the various reprographic processes and systems available. The information is divided into the three main areas of reprography: Photocopying Duplicating and Printing Micrographics. In general terms the method of operation of the processes is provided and the various characteristics and application suitability are given after each process explanation, a summary chart is included in the Photocopying section. Mention is made of the required operator skills and comparative costings are provided for the Photocopying, Duplicating and Printing sections. In general the equipment illustrations are intended to show type rather than specific- company's product. Therefore a list of major international manufacturers of equipment is included after each section to provide a guide from where specific information can be obtained. RESUME Le rapport contient de renseignements detailles des diverses procedes et systemes reprographiques disponibles. II se divise en trois parties suivant les trois domaines importants de la reprographie: la Photocopie la Duplication et ITmprimerie la Micrographie. La mode d'emploi de chaque procede est decrite en general et les particularites et l'aptitude a l'emploi sont donnees apres chaque explication de procede - un diagramme sommaire se trouve dans la partie "Photocopie". On fait mention de la technique operationelle requise et les frais comparatifs sont donnes dans les parties "Photocopie" et "Duplication et Imprimerie". En general les illustrations doivent demontrer le type d'equipement plutot que le produit d'un fabricant particulier. Ainsi une liste des fabricants internationaux les plus importants est apportee a la fin de chaque partie pour fournir une indication des sources de renseignements specifiques. CONTENTS Page SUMMARY iij RESUME iji 1. EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS SELECTION 1 2. INTRODUCTION 1 2.1 Operator Skills 2 3. PHOTOCOPYING 2 3.1 Processes 2 3.2 Photocopier - Equipment and Materials Manufacturers 13 4. DUPLICATING 14 4.1 Spirit Duplicating 14 4.2 Stencil Duplicating 15 5. OFFSET-LITHO DUPLICATING AND PRINTING 17 5.1 Copy Preparation 5.2 Illustrations 19 5.3 Offset Masters 20 5.4 Collating 22 5.5 Binding 22 5.6 Papers 22 5.7 Duplicating and Printing Machine Materials - Manufacturers 23 6. MICROGRAPHICS 23 6.1 Flow Cameras 25 6.2 Planetary Cameras 26 6.3 Microfilm Duplication 26 6.4 Quality Control 27 6.5 Micrographics Equipment and Materials Manufacturers 29 7. COSTING 29 MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS ADDRESSES 32 A GUIDE TO REPROGRAPHIC PROCESSES FOR THE SMALL USER T.Hampshire 1. EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS SELECTION There are several basic rules or principles in purchasing for and equipping a reprographic centre. Unfortunately only too often the major difficulty is to decide exactly what the centre will be required to produce. Many times too much emphasis is placed on "quality of copy" and always a practical decision must be taken. Equipment must be selected that can be maintained by the manufacturer or agent, he must be able to supply at very short notice adequate supplies of materials to cope with the "job required now, not tomorrow". The ideal situation arises when the reprographic requirement for example of production and quality level is known — then equipment can be selected to do that job; at this stage the possible bonuses of other work which can be done on the selected "machines" must be assessed, because these "bonuses" can sometimes save extra purchases or even extra staff. The "services" to the equipment must be checked, e.g. water supply for film processes and power supply for machines above normal 13 ampere loading. Many reprographic machines consume large volumes of paper which has to be stored and transported within the centre both before and after machining. Practically all the major manufacturers and suppliers of reprographic machinery have customer relations departments, these services should be used to the full. "When in doubt ask"!! is a good maxim. Always beware the man who has something cheaper than the normal rate - check his product very thoroughly. Wherever possible buy or rent equipment that uses a range of consumables so that these supplies can be purchased at the best rates from a range of suppliers. It is always good policy to get to know of other reprographic centres, much product information can be exchanged and quite often the essential of practical experience outside the suppliers showroom can save time and money, plus sometimes the embarrassment of buying the wrong product. 2. INTRODUCTION The processes, uses and applications of reprography can be divided into three main groups: — Photocopying Duplicating and Printing Micrographics and it is under these three headings that this report is compiled, despite the fact that some overlapping of process does exist e.g. xerography being applied to both photocopying and duplicating and the use of some photocopying processes for the production of duplicating masters. The ever increasing use of reprography in all aspects of government and commercial life arises due to the needs of better communications. There is a constant need for economy and accuracy, the days of a typist preparing 1 + 6 copies on her typewriter are an action of the past, the office that received copy numbers 4, 5 and 6 was liable to make mistakes i.e. accuracy was lost due to poor legibility. At the same time as we look for accuracy it is essential that we look for, and retain economy, and in many instances where reprography is part of the communication system the economy factor starts with the answer to the question — "Can I read it"? Many reprographic processes and applications concern transient documents especially in the area of photocopying and here a second question arises "Do I need to go to the station in a Rolls Royce"?. At times the extra cost of extra quality is not justified and where wrongly used can have a great effect on the economic use of reprographic services. The installation of centralized reprographic services for organizations can lead to some financially accountable savings, for example the better use of equipment is usually possible, it is often possible to produce a cheaper end product by combining two processes on a production job and at the end the "cost per copy" which on many occasions is the yardstick can be reduced. But when considering centralized services take into account the hidden costs, staff time going to the central service, the messenger or internal postal service, the possible waiting time of staff, all these hidden costs affect the cost per copy and are often referred to as the convenience factor in arriving at costs. When selecting reprographic equipment and processes, equipment should be chosen to meet the known need, having done this another look should be taken at the selection to see what bonus applications are possible. For example in choosing a photocopier the fact that a particular one will make visual aids in the form of overhead projector transparencies or perhaps duplicator stencil come in the area of bonus factors. 2.1 Operator Skills The degree of skill required for operating reprographic equipment varies from nil in the case of some photo­ copiers e.g. those sold by Rank Xerox, to a reasonably high level when offset litho machines are used for colour printing. It is fair to state that for operating some photocopiers, duplicating machines and microfilm cameras training is usually required, the main characteristic of an operator should be common sense. To train a photocopier operator takes no more than a half day, a spirit or stencil duplicating operator a maximum of two days, an offset litho duplicator operator a week to ten days depending on the complexity of the machine.