CTP Make an Informed Decision

• Photopolymer: These emulsions can be imaged with both visible light and UV light, and their processing chemistry is more environmentally friendly than silver-based emulsions. The downside of photopolymer? Slightly lower image quality and higher energy requirements to image the plate.

• Thermal: This was the first coating used on platesetters, and it still dominates the CTP landscape. It uses heat to image the plates, and offers good image quality, daylight handling, bakeable plates for long runs, and the option for a chemistry-free workflow. The downside? Imaging a thermal plate takes a lot longer (and uses far more energy) than the other two plate coating types. Thermal platesetters are generally more complex and expensive than other types. But if you want the best image quality combined with long job runs and the option to go chemistry-free, thermal is the way to go.