Poor Man's CTP Rich in Benefits

Fortunately, manufacturers were offering small-format CTP options more so than ever before. Even so, the move to CTP was a cautious one. It didn't take much research, though, to realize that polyester CTP was our most affordable option.

Taking the Plunge

We asked several vendors to supply us with imaged plates that we could test on our presses. In 2004, after a number of experiments, we purchased a Kimosetter 340 from Kimoto Tech and its corresponding RIP. Influencing the decision most was a low startup cost (about $3500.00), an environmentally friendly chemical-free workflow and the fact that the unit uses a thermal transfer ribbon instead of toner to image the plate. This eliminated the problem of toner scatter during the imaging process and toner flaking while on the press.