Waterless printing, which developed rapidly in the 1990s, is now stagnant. Waterless printing has developed for 30 years and has experienced several novelty, successes, and disappointments. Currently waiting for a new stage of development. Many printers do not have much knowledge of waterless printing technology. In fact, this process is a process in which printing is low cost and high quality. However, there is currently no industry consensus on the value of waterless printing, the potential for maximum process improvement, and the long-term potential of the technology. The expectations of printers and the adaptability of waterless printing vary greatly depending on the process used. Basically, there are three kinds of plate making methods: 1) using UV-exposed analog or traditional plate-making technology; 2) direct-printing platemaking techniques like those used in Heidelberg's Speedmaster DI and Omni Adast 700 digital printing systems; 3) computer direct Plate Making (CTP). First look at the waterless printing of the analog platemaking method. In the mid-1960s, waterless printing was conceived as a process of printing without water. In the 1970s 3M (now Imation) was introduced as a lithographic dry offset press. Next, a smooth thin silicone rubber coating is applied to the surface of the plate so that the specially designed ink does not stick to it. In the early printing plates, pure aluminum partially absorbed the ink. Now, the imaging part absorbs ink by polymer resin. In 1972, people began to realize the importance of temperature control in the waterless printing process. The biggest difference between waterless sheet-fed printing and web-free printing is the temperature-controlled ink system in web printing. The 3M company made an effort to study the process and investigated whether the company was willing to invest in an additional temperature controlled ink supply system, but in 1977 it gave up on this achievement. In the same year, Toray introduced a positive waterless printing process. The company has developed the process for nearly 20 years and has developed and refined a negative-working plate to meet the needs of the U.S. market. In the early 1990s, convenient waterless printing began to succeed in the U.S. market and peaked in 1995. The disadvantages of negative-working plates are exposed and hinder the development of this device. While most web printers continue to experiment with the waterless printing process, most U.S. printing companies are turning to other advanced technologies, such as digital presses and press automation. The shortcomings of Toray negatives for the operation of printing plates still exist, but the company believes there are no problems with the supply of plates and the installation of new equipment. Waterless printing has not been brilliant again. About 100 to 120 US printing companies now use waterless printing technology, which is 20% lower than in 1995. There are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 waterless printing equipment worldwide, and Japan and Europe are the main areas of use. The users of this technology are attracted by its advantages, such as high printing color quality, low dot gain rate, and high ink density in this case, short preparation time, less waste and good color durability. Many waterless printing advocates have succeeded, arguing that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of this process and do not understand why someone rejects it. In the early days of waterless offset printing, it was customary that waterless processes were primarily a means of maintaining the stability of the offset printing process. Its main objective was to reduce labor and material costs. In the development process, people gradually found that waterless printing can achieve higher screen lines (300 lpi to 500 lpi). By the 1990s, this high quality became the main advantage of waterless printing, and the cost of waterless printing was still the main issue of debate. Those who are skeptical of waterless printing still believe that special high-quality products have a very small market share and thus have less profit. Companies that use pure waterless printing have effectively saved their possessions, and companies that only use waterless printing in part are not only difficult to make the printing process perfect, but also do not save money. It is this difference that determines the ability of printers to provide high-quality products to the market for high yields. Most waterless printers believe that the ability to produce high-quality prints can increase their position in the market, leading to an increase in the total amount of prints. The skeptics believe that the market for such high-quality products is extremely small and difficult to sell, so there is little profit. Another problem is that the development of waterless printing has led to the use of temperature control devices in the usual sheet-fed offset printing, thereby improving the quality of the offset printing. For example, in a survey of the 1970s, it was found that controlling the ink fountain temperature can greatly reduce dot gains. In this way, waterless printing has created its most powerful competitor - temperature-controlled lithography. At least half of the Heidelberg presses are equipped with a temperature control system, and most commonly used single-zone temperature control systems. However, if the printing company wants to operate a waterless version, these systems can be improved to a multi-regional structure. All MAN Roland 40-inch and larger sheet-fed presses are equipped with a temperature control system. And 85% of the company's sheet-fed paper machines are temperature-controlled printing presses. Whether it is waterless printing or general printing, controlling the temperature can improve the quality of prints. Under the same color separation conditions (the same number of screen lines), the printing quality of the waterless printing process is higher. Because waterless printing can guarantee higher ink density and lower dot gain. Water in general printing has other characteristics such as ink emulsification. Emulsification provides lubrication for ink transfer and assists transfer of ink from plate to blanket and from blanket to paper surface. It also allows evaporative cooling and helps in cleaning. Dirt and elimination of ring white spots. Whether ordinary printing or waterless printing, the temperature control device is clearly becoming a standard accessory in sheetfed printing, especially when the printing press runs fast and generates a lot of heat, so the difference between the two printing processes Getting smaller and smaller. The printing industry has entered the digital age. In 1995, Heidelberg introduced the QuickMaster-DI press, which integrates Besstek's Pearl imaging system. The imaging device arranges the thermal laser diodes directly on the surface of the printer and the dry, waterless version. This small hybrid image digital printer is highly automated and integrates prepress processing and speeds up to 10,000 PE/hr. Prints a sheet of paper with a maximum size of 18 x 13 inches. Because Quickmaster-DI does not include a partitioned temperature control system, the operating temperature range of the ink must be considered when using inks. Presstek has now upgraded the Omni-Adast equipment to a larger 19 x 26 inch joint digital duplexer. The device is equipped with a single zone temperature control device for printing components and a zone cooling system for cooling the imaging head. Multi-zone temperature control devices for individual print components are also available as an alternative. Most businesses that buy these presses realize that they are buying a comprehensive system that can be used for both waterless printing and general printing, but it is because of the comprehensive nature of these devices that people will buy these devices instead of Because of the fact that it can be used for waterless printing. Print Com estimates that there are about 700 digital imaging presses installed and operating worldwide, and about 200 in the United States, which exceeds the number of conventional waterless presses. Most digital imaging presses operate at least once a day, while most conventional waterless printers operate in waterless printing only half the time. Presstek has been successful in the direct printing market and is now launching the Pearl Dry printing plate on the anhydrous CTP market. The printing plate can be imaged on Presstek's own CTP system, the Peardsetter platesetter, and can also be imaged on Creo and Gerber equipment. . Although only Presstek launches new products in the current waterless CTP market, other manufacturers will definitely compete. Kodak Polychrome's anhydrous CTP equipment is also expected to advance. At Print 97, Polychrome introduced the Quantum NAW CTP plate, a negative-operated, non-etched, temperature-sensitive, non-watermark version with photosensitivity wavelengths from 830nm to 1064nm. In short, the best prospects for waterless printing are in the direct printing section, and these direct printing presses show a moderate and continuing trend of acceleration. At least for now, it seems that the real market for waterless printing is still an alternative process to ordinary plain printing using film-making. However, there is no breakthrough or waterless offset printing process that can make a huge revolution in waterless printing. However, waterless printing still has significant advantages, and it surpasses ordinary plain printing in high quality and most effective printing production methods and will continue to be applied. However, the real development of waterless printing also depends on its development in direct technology. The waterless printing process may still be an unattractive process. However, waterless printing is a technology that every printer should understand.