About a decade ago, the entire printing industry was still looking forward to avoiding the arrival of the CTP era. After experiencing initial confusion and confusion, printers are now able to choose the right product for their various plates and platesetters. Some plates are not completely unprocessed. They need to be washed with an imaged syrup or developed with a fountain solution on a printing press. However, these plates are also environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
The resistance-free printing force of the current plate-free printing plate can reach 100,000 printing. Ray Cassino, Head of Prepress Products at Heidelberg, said: We first saw the rapid promotion of chemical-free processing technology in the quadruple printing plant. He attributed the rapid development of this technology mainly to their small size.
Jack Wiethoff, global manager of digital printing at Kodak’s Graphic and Imaging Group, said: “We are specifically designed to deal with small to medium-sized printers. He added that although Kodak currently offers two types of violet laser plates, they still insist that thermal plates are a good choice for most customers. In the following, we will focus on some of the latest thermal-free CTP technologies that are free of process and chemical-free flushing, as well as the emerging violet laser plates.
Agfa
Agfa's: Azura (chemical-free processing plate system has been put into use since 2003 in November 2004, has been used in more than 300 printing and prepress companies around the world. As the Agfa thermal CTP plate making machine The only solution, : Azura plates can now also be used with a number of brands of platemaking machines, such as: Screen PlateRite, Kodak's Trendsetter and Lotem, Luscher's Expose, and Heidelberg's Topsetter and Suprasetter and so on.
Susan Wittner, Agfa's marketing manager, explained that Azura is not a closed system. It can be used on any platemaking machine. Users who already have thermal CTPs can also get rid of the pain of handling plates, using Azura plates on their own platesetters. In short, Azura printing plate does not require you to prepare special equipment for it. Azura (Green Star Edition) is a granular anodic alumina thermal plate that uses the patented ThermoFuse technology to form images without chemical treatment. People only need to take a clear step after the plate imaging to enhance the contrast. In addition, Azura plates can also be processed in daylight.
At Ipex, Agfa will launch a new generation: Acento and Palladio quad- or B2-format CTP systems. Users can upgrade the Acento II E system to a more productive Acento II S system. The new roller balancing system enables it to be used in a variety of small format printers. Acento II is said to generate thermal digital plates at 830 nanometers of laser light, with plate sizes ranging from 12.75 x 14.56 inches to 25.98 x 32.67 inches, enabling small and medium-sized commercial printers and packaging plants to print high-quality printed images. Edition production requirements.
Fuji / Enovation
The Brillia HD PRO-T process-free thermal plate introduced by Fujifilm on PRINT 05 is now in beta (software) and will be officially launched on April 1, 2006.
In addition, Fujifilm is also developing a non-ablative chemical-free processing plate made of a photosensitive resin. This product is expected to meet with everyone in 2007. It will have many features of Fujifilm's existing LP-NV plate, such as the ability to print with UV inks and solvent inks without drying; Excellent resistance to printing and can be handled under yellow safety. It is said that the development of this product mainly depends on the commercial application of high-energy violet laser technology.
Fujifilm's new process-free plates are based on a new high-definition plate emulsion layer technology that enables the performance of the new plate during the printing process to basically match Fuji's existing CTP. Plates remain the same. The Brillia HD PRO-T is compatible with most thermal (830 nm) platesetters and can clearly reproduce 1% to 99% dot at 200 lpi resolution or 300 lpi resolution Mixed- and FM-screened images, which are non-ablative plates, can have a latent image that makes it easy for people to inspect after imaging. When used on the press, the Brillia HD PRO-T plate is smeared with ink and fountain solution, and only a small amount (similar to a traditional PS or CTP plate) can be used for full speed production. status. MultiGrain technology also enables it to achieve the same ink balance as Fuji's existing CTP plates.
It is said that the exposure of Brillia HD PRO-T plate is similar to that of Fuji's existing thermal plate, which is about 120 mJ/cm2, so its production speed can be consistent with the existing plate. This plate has a 100,000 impression of resistance and can meet the needs of most commercial printers and can be processed in daylight.
Brillia HD PRO-T plates can be used on a variety of platesetters, but it is best to use Fujifilm's Dart and Javelin thermal CTP devices.
Fujifilm's quad Dart series thermal platesetters, Dart E and Dart III, rotate drums at a maximum speed of 1,000 rpm. With a 32-channel laser diode exposure head, the Dart III can output 20 four-page plates per hour at a resolution of 2,400 dpi. The Dart E has a 16-channel laser diode exposure head, so it can produce ten identical plates per hour. Dart III claims to be able to produce larger format plates, and it is suitable for medium-sized printing plants.
Dart E was also released on PRINT 05. It can be used in conjunction with a processless plate, and is suitable for print shops that have used CTP technology for the first time, because it is relatively inexpensive, with less than $90,000.