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What does Computer-to-Plate (CTP) mean?
Computer to Plate (CTP) is an imaging technology that facilitates the transfer of digital images generated in a computer directly to a printing plate. Prior to the advent of CTP, the technology used was computerized direct film (CTF), where the image output was passed to photographic film and the output film was then used to make printing plates. This process was similar to darkroom photography. CTP technology helps eliminate all darkroom processes and is therefore cost-effective. CTP is a much faster process compared to film printing, so the productivity of printing is much higher.
Computer to Plate (CTP) is an imaging technology that facilitates the transfer of digital images generated in a computer directly to a printing plate. Prior to the advent of CTP, the technology used was computerized direct film (CTF), where the image output was passed to photographic film and the output film was then used to make printing plates. This process was similar to darkroom photography. CTP technology helps eliminate all darkroom processes and is therefore cost-effective. CTP is a much faster process compared to film printing, so the productivity of printing is much higher.
Cornetta explains Computer to Plate (CTP)
CTP technology is based on the construction of the phototypesetter and the light source that is exposed to the printing plate. There are three different types of construction:
- Inner Cylinder
- Outer Cylinder
- Flatbed typesetter
There are two types of light sources: UV lamps and laser diodes. For laser diodes, the energy and wavelength depend on the type of plate used in the system. It is widely used in the newspaper and magazine printing industry.
CTP offers several advantages over other conventional printing processes. The biggest advantage is the removal of film generation and chemical use layers. CTP improves the quality of the output, as the intermediate films used in other methods may have scratches or other problems. However, there are some disadvantages to the CTP process, the biggest being that the image must always be in a digital format, requiring the creation of an entirely new plate if any corrections are needed. Overall, however, CTP is favored for its faster process and cost-effectiveness.
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