Method and apparatus for forming color proof

Abstract

A color proof formation method includes the steps of bringing a first color separated film original mounted upon an original mounting table into tight contact with a photosensitive material fixed upon a mounting table, and exposing the film original; separating the photosensitive material mounting table from the original mounting table; replacing or exchanging the first film original upon the original mounting table with a second color separated film original; and bringing the second film original into tight contact with the photosensitive material. The steps are repeatedly performed a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof. There is also disclosed a color proof formation apparatus including a suction unit for forming a suction groove, for bringing the film original and the photosensitive material into tight engagement with each other, between the film original mounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table while the film original mounting table and the photosensitive material mounting table are close to or in contact with each so that the film original and the photosensitive material are brought into surface contact with each other, and for evacuating the air interposed between the film original and the photosensitive material so that the film original and the photosensitive material are in fact brought into tight contact with each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A color proof formation method, comprising the steps of: placing a first original film at a predetermined position upon an original mounting table;   fixing a color photosensitive material at a predetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mounting table, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independently movable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical mode between an upper position and a lower position, when said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lower position such that said color photosensitive material is substantially vertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table from said lower position to said upper position such that said color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   exposing said color photosensitive material through said first original film by means of a light source;   lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table from said upper position to said lower position so as to separate said color photosensitive material mounting table, with said color photosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting table with said first original film disposed thereon;   replacing said first original film disposed upon said original table with a second original film while said color photosensitive material is retained at said predetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mounting table; and   repeating said steps of elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table, exposing said color photosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table, and replacing a predetermined original film with a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material and the film original are brought into tight contact with each other by suction. 
     
     
       3. A .[.method according to claim 1, wherein:.]. .Iadd.color proof formation method, comprising the steps of: placing a first original film at a predetermined position upon an original mounting table: fixing a color photosensitive material at a predetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mounting table, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independently movable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical mode between an upper position and a lower position, when said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lower position such that said color photosensitive material is substantially vertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table from said lower position to said upper position such that said color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   exposing said color photosensitive material through said first original film by means of a light source;   lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table from said upper position to said lower position so as to separate said color photosensitive material mounting table, with said color photosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting table with said first original film disposed thereon;   replacing said first original film disposed upon said original table with a second original film while said color photosensitive material is retained at said predetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mounting table;     wherein .Iaddend.a halftone original is inserted between one of said original films and said color photosensitive material during exposure.Iadd.; and   repeating said steps of elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table, exposing said color photosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table, and replacing a predetermined original film with a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof.Iaddend..   
     
     
       4. A .[.method according to claim 1, wherein when said mounting table and said original table are separated from each other,.]. .Iadd.color proof formation method, comprising the steps of: placing a first original film at a predetermined position upon an original mounting table:   fixing a color photosensitive material at a predetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mounting table, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independently movable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical mode between an upper position and a lower position, when said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lower position such that said color photosensitive material is substantially vertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table from said lower position to said upper position such that said color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   exposing said color photosensitive material through said first original film by means of a light source;   lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table from said upper position to said lower position so as to separate said color photosensitive material mounting table, with said color photosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting table with said first original film disposed thereon and shielding the light sensitive material from light using .Iaddend.a light-shielding member .[.shields the photosensitive material from light.]..Iadd.;   replacing said first original film disposed upon said original table with a second original film while said color photosensitive material is retained at said predetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mounting table; and   repeating said steps of elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table, exposing said color photosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table, and replacing a predetermined original film with a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof.Iaddend..   
     
     
       5. A .[.method according to claim 1, wherein:.]. .Iadd.color proof formation method, comprising the steps of: placing a first original film at a predetermined position upon an original mounting table: fixing a color photosensitive material at a predetermined position upon a color photosensitive material mounting table, which is separate from, disposed beneath, and independently movable with respect to said original mounting table in a vertical mode between an upper position and a lower position, when said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed at said lower position such that said color photosensitive material is substantially vertically aligned with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table from said lower position to said upper position such that said color photosensitive material fixed upon said color photosensitive material mounting table is disposed in tight contact with said first original film disposed upon said original mounting table;   exposing said color photosensitive material through said first original film by means of a light source;   lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table from said upper position to said lower position so as to separate said color photosensitive material mounting table, with said color photosensitive material fixed thereon, from said original mounting table with said first original film disposed thereon;   replacing said first original film disposed upon said original table with a second original film while said color photosensitive material is retained at said predetermined position upon said color photosensitive material mounting table;     wherein .Iaddend.one of said original films is covered by means of a transparent material during exposure.Iadd.; and   repeating said steps of elevating said color photosensitive material mounting table, exposing said color photosensitive material, lowering said color photosensitive material mounting table, and replacing a predetermined original film with a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof.Iaddend.. .Iadd.   
     
     
       6.  A color proof formation method, comprising the steps of: (i) fixing a color photosensitive material at a first predetermined position on a color photosensitive material mounting table by a first sucking means;   (ii) placing a first original film at a second predetermined position on the color photosensitive material so as to bring the original film into contact with the color photosensitive material;   (iii) covering the original film and the color photosensitive material with a light-transmittable cover sheet;   (iv) fixing the cover sheet by a second sucking means so that the original film and the color photosensitive material are brought into tight contact;   (v) exposing the color photosensitive material through the cover sheet for printing the original film on the color photosensitive material;   (vi) replacing the first original film with a second original film;   (vii) repeating said steps of placing the original film, covering with the cover sheet, fixing the cover sheet, exposing the color photosensitive material, and replacing the original film with a successive original film a predetermined number of times so as to form a color proof, while the color photosensitive material is retained at the first predetermined position on said color photosensitive material mounting table by the first sucking means. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and the second sucking means can be independently controlled. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. In the method of claim 6, further comprising the step of determining the predetermined position of the original film by a position determining means before the step of placing the original film on the photosensitive material. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the position determining means is a position pin bar. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The method of claim 8, wherein the position determining means is operated under roomlight conditions during the steps of fixing a color photosensitive material and replacing the original film. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. In the method of claim 6, between the exposing and replacing steps, further comprising the step of moving the color photosensitive material mounting table with the color photosensitive material away from the original film so as to separate the original film from the color photosensitive material. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The method of claim 6, wherein the color photosensitive material mounting table is movable between an upper position and a lower position in a vertical direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. In the method of claim 12, after the step of fixing the color photosensitive material, further comprising moving the color photosensitive material mounting tables to the upper position so as to contact the original film. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. In the method of claim 12, between the exposing and replacing steps, further comprising moving the color photosensitive material mounting table to the lower position so as to separate the photosensitive material from the first original film. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The method of claim 14, wherein, after the color photosensitive material and the original film are separated from each other, a light-shielding member shields the color photosensitive material from light. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The method of claim 6, wherein the first sucking means and the second sucking means use a vacuum pump. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. In the method of claim 6, before the exposing step, further comprising inserting a halftone original between one of the   
     
     
        original films and the color photosensitive material. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The method of claim 3, wherein the photosensitive material and the original film are brought into tight contact with each other by suction. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The method of claim 4, wherein the photosensitive material and the original film are brought into tight contact with each other by suction. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The method of claim 5, wherein the photosensitive material and the original film are brought into tight contact with each other by suction. .Iaddend.