Abstract: A communications system, with a network, is usable to transmit at least image data to at least one illuminating device. The illustrating device illustrates a printed image location in a printing machine. A network is provided for the control and/or monitoring of the printing machine. A network for the communication of data to be processed in a pre-printing stage is also provided in that pre-printing stage, which prepares that image data. These two networks are connected to the same signal line or transmission link or are each constructed identically, with respect to their data transmission properties. The communications system, with the network, can control or monitor a printing machine having a number of sections, with at least two of these sections having a section controlling device. These section controlling devices are connected to the network, and control or monitor their respective sections. The network has the same data transmission properties in each of these sections.

Abstract: A printed image is produced at least one printed image location using a printing machine with at least one illuminating device that produces at least one printed image at a number of printed image locations. These respective printed images belong to the same page of a printed product to be produced by the printing machine. This page of the printed product exists in the form of a file containing image data before it is produced as the printed image. That file contains image data of all of the printed images of the page of the printed product. A raster image processor is aligned with each printed image location and converts only image data of the printed images of the page of the printed product into raster data, with that printed image being assigned to a respective printed image position. A network is provided for use in the electronic communication of at least image data. Each raster image processor is connected to this network by an interface which receives data.

Abstract: Data of at least one component of a printing machine, that comprises several components and at least one communications network, is stored. Data from one of these components, and which characterizes that component, is stored in a memory unit which belongs to that component, and which memory unit is linked to the communications network. The printing machine may have at least two different control levels that are hierarchically organized. The data from the at least one component may be provided on a lower-order control level. It is transmitted from its memory unit to at least one of the printing machine components on a higher-order control network. The data so transmitted is linked, during its transmission, to the next higher-order control level, with local information regarding the arrangement of the components transmitting data in their respective control levels.

Abstract: Data of at least one component of a printing machine, that comprises several components and at least one communications network, is stored. Data from one of these components, and which characterizes that component, is stored in a memory unit which belongs to that component, and which memory unit is linked to the communications network. The printing machine may have at least two different control levels that are hierarchically organized. The data from the at least one component may be provided on a lower-order control level. It is transmitted from its memory unit to at least one of the printing machine components on a higher-order control network. The data so transmitted is linked, during its transmission, to the next higher-order control level, with local information regarding the arrangement of the components transmitting data in their respective control levels.

Abstract: A printed image is produced at least one printed image location using a printing machine with at least one illuminating device that produces at least one printed image at a number of printed image locations. These respective printed images belong to the same page of a printed product to be produced by the printing machine. This page of the printed product exists in the form of a file containing image data before it is produced as the printed image. That file contains image data of all of the printed images of the page of the printed product. A raster image processor is aligned with each printed image location and converts only image data of the printed images of the page of the printed product into raster data, with that printed image being assigned to a respective printed image position. A network is provided for use in the electronic communication of at least image data. Each raster image processor is connected to this network by an interface which receives data.