Chunichi Shimbun Co. Ltd. publishes seven newspapers with printing plants at each location. In order to share data and to improve quality and efficiency of operation among these newspapers, we promote the digitization of advertising.

Chunichi Shimbun promotes the digitization of advertisements which have been an increase in color ads. We were concerned about just how well beautiful color could be reproduced from drafts at each of the plants. The remote proof system has been introduced to solve this problem.

The remote proof system uses a line to transmit color proof data for color ads that have been processed at headquarters. This means that each of the plants can accurately proof the color. And the important role is played by the printer which prints out the color proofs. It would not be an overstatement to say that the performance of the printer influences the performance of the overall system.

Our company has been doing remote proofing for editorial articles and stories since 1991. And until July 2001 we were using a dye model printer made by Company A. However, since the dye ink significantly increases running costs, we felt that a dye model printer was not good for advertisement proofing which requires numerous sheets to be printed out.

Also, the printing took too much time. We decided that it was just too much to print out all of the editorial color on the same printer, and therefore required a different printer for color advertisements.

The remote proof system went into operation in 2002. At first we were using the Epson large format printer Epson Stylus Pro 7500. This machine was good because it could reproduce color at high precision, with output that was very similar to final printing. For advertisement proofs in color, the color draft that the client sees must be the same as the color of the actual printing. We don’t want to present the advertiser with something that will not satisfy them. From this perspective we are quite satisfied with the proofing on the Epson Stylus Pro 7500.

The print speed has gotten a lot faster. In about 4 minutes, we can print out one A2-size newspaper page that used to take us over 20 minutes. And there is fewer breakdowns. Since we can print quickly on two machines using roll paper, we can work 4 or 5 times faster than before. And the operability is also good.

What people want is a news-like version of advertisement. The concept of color advertising will now start to change. Let’s say, for example, that there is a certain event being held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Well then, what happened on Friday would appear in the morning edition of the following day, which will result in an increase in the number of people who attend the event on Saturday and Sunday. The fun of the event does not come across in black and white. It is only through the use of color that the reader gets a true feeling of being there. Newspaper advertising is about to be changed by the remote proof system.

The company was established in 1942. It publishes 5 major newspapers, among others. The total circulation is 4.39 million. Since our motto is to "publish locally based articles and stories," we are very careful to adapt our articles and stories to each individual locality.

Chunichi Shimbun Web Site: http://www.chunichi.co.jp