A Good, Long Run

Meanwhile, violet laser platesetters, used to image metal plates, have surpassed their thermal counterparts when it comes to price. Tonkovich says thermal platesetters use hardware-heavy external drum technology to rotate the drum (to which the plate is fixed) at speeds reaching 1,000 rpm.

The internal drum technology used in violet platesetters, on the other hand, does not require this level of mechanical operation and is therefore less expensive to manufacture. Additionally, the lasers themselves often differ widely in price, violet lasers being the less expensive of the two. (Violet lasers boast a longer life cycle, as well.)