Pre-Press - Computer-to-plate

CTP can substantially slash the amount of time, labor and money needed to complete an offset job. by Mike Llewellyn Michael George is a very busy man. Whether he's meeting with customers, flying to trade shows or solving any number of daily crises in the in-plant, he's always looking for a way to get a little more time. George is director of Villanova University Graphics, a 13-employee shop tucked away on the second floor of Galberry Hall in a far corner of campus. Operating in what was once a house, the in-plant is its own storm of activity, and it's in a constant race

Is there a CTP device in your future? To get the scoop on CTP, we asked the experts a few questions. Their answers will help you decide. Sharing their expertise on computer-to-plate topics were: • Mark Vanover Marketing Director of Advanced Solutions, Creo Inc. • Marc Johnson Product Line Marketing Manager, Off-Press Products, Presstek • Jeff Hopkins President, basysPrint • Stu Gallup Director, Digital Systems Marketing and Product Planning, A.B.Dick Co. • David Furman Agfa Product Marketing, CTP • Peter Vanderlaan Product Development Manager Electronic Imaging Hardware Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Graphic Systems Division . What advantages does a computer-to-plate device have over

Even as platesetters flourish, many in-plants are sticking with imagesetters. We asked several in-plants why they chose the imaging technology they use. by Bob Neubauer With so many printers turning to computer-to-plate technology, why are some in-plants sticking with imagesetters? We decided to ask a few managers. Providing their comments were: Mike Schrader -Printing & Publications Manager -Mercury Marine -Fond du Lac, Wis. -15 in-plant employees _________________ Dan Kovalsky -Director Print & Digital Media Services -Constellation Energy -Baltimore, Md. -22 in-plant employees _________________ Charlie Tonoff -Manager Corporate Printing Services -Highmark -Camp Hill, Pa. -20 in-plant employees _________________ Sticking With

Computer-to-plate systems can reduce your expenses and increase your productivity and quality. Find out if CTP belongs in your in-plant. Computer-to-plate (CTP) technology has changed drastically over the last two years. The cost of digital workflow systems has dropped dramatically, becoming more affordable to even small in-plants. One benefit of this is the increased availability of thermal CTP systems and printing plates. A completely digital workflow may seem limiting, but in truth it offers just as many options as a traditional or computer-to-film process. Using digital technology will allow you to use polyester or metal plates or, if required, print out onto film.

While digital solutions seem to be the answer to more and more problems, for many in-plants imagesetters are still the best bet. IF YOU think everybody's gone digital— think again. While it is indisputable that computer-to-plate (CTP) solutions are the wave of the future, right now there is still some productivity left to be squeezed out of analog-based technology (read imagesetters). Granted, CTP devices can be fantastic additions for in-plants who already use digitally based systems, but if you aren't already digital—watch out. Building the infrastructure, persuading clients to provide digital files, learning how to imposition on a digital device and learning

Going computer to plate has saved in-plants time and money while speeding up production and boosting efficiency. Find out how you can benefit. Up until last year, Rutgers University Mail and Document Services handled prepress pretty much the way it always had. Whenever an offset job came through its doors, the 15-employee in-plant went straight to its 3M camera to shoot negatives. Then, last year, an opportunity arose. "We were re-tooling the department and we had a decision to make," says Jesse Rambo, director of the New Brunswick, N.J.-based in-plant. That decision resulted in the installation of an A.B.Dick Itek DPM2000 platesetter to output

Scitex hosted a gathering of international journalists recently at its headquarters in Israel and introduced a range of new technologies. If the sight of a Scitex Lotem 400V thermal platesetter perched on a dry, lonely bluff near the Dead Sea doesn't stir your interest, then perhaps the image of an Eversmart Jazz scanner tucked inside a dimly lit cave in the side of a mountain may turn your head. These were just two of the surprises that Scitex unleashed on a crew of international journalists that converged on the company's Herzlia, Israel, headquarters recently. Not only did the company show off its operations—and

Going direct-to-plate can save you time, material costs and labor expenses—especially when using polyester plates. Are you ready to move your shop forward? Employee turnover is a regular challenge for Dave Hager, print shop supervisor at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers, Conn. Since Osborn is a medium-security facility, inmates are moved continuously throughout the system. This leaves little time for a learning curve. "We have a high rate of turnover and a constant flux of new inmates with no experience," Hager explains. This problem was resolved in the prepress area when Hager purchased an A.B.Dick Digital PlateMaster (DPM)2000 CPS. "We can train an

Want to bring polyester platemaking or film production in-house? Check out the latest imagesetters that will help you bring home the savings. In-plant managers who have brought film and plate work in-house have been thrilled with the time and money they save. No more expensive outsourcing—and no more waiting around for work to arrive from the outside. If this sounds good to you, maybe it is time your shop brought in a new imagesetter. Here's what vendors are offering. The Tanto 5120 imagesetter from Screen (USA) is an entry-level CTP device. The eight-page unit is able to provide direct-to-plate digital imaging on flexible, polyester

Polyester plates are helping many in-plants bring computer-to-plate technology into their shops, saving them time and money. The addition of computer-to-plate (CTP) technology is saving in-plants money. It eliminates the expense of outsourcing film or plates, a savings that is passed on to customers. In addition, in-plant employees are learning a more advanced way to go to the press, furthering their skills and increasing their value to the organization. At St. John Health Systems' in-plant, located in Warren, Mich., polyester plates are produced using an imagesetter, saving the shop money over outsourcing to a service bureau, as it did until two years ago.