Automatic inspection of printing plates or cylinders

A system for preprinting inspection of a surface of a printing medium comprising:

• (a) means for acquiring an image of the surface of said printing medium or a portion thereof, and for converting said image into a digital representation, said digital representation being a digital real representation of said surface or portion;
• (b) means for acquiring a reference representation, which is a virtual digital fault-free representation of said surface or said portion;
• and
• (c) means for comparing between said digital real representation and said reference representation and for providing a first output signal in the case of a mismatch and a second output signal in the case of a match.

A method for preprinting inspection of a surface of a printing medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) acquiring an image of the surface or a portion thereof, digitizing the acquired image whereby a digitized real representation of the surface or the portion thereof is obtained;
• (b) comparing said digitized real representation with a digital reference representation, said digital reference representation being a virtual digital fault-free representation of said surface or the portion thereof;
• and
• (c) providing either a correct indication output signal where there is a match between said digitized real representation and said digital reference representation, or a fault indication output signal where there is a mismatch between said digitized real representation and said digital reference representation.