Pre-Press - Computer-to-plate

Don't send your plates out to be imaged; do it yourself. Find out how—and why—to invest in computer-to-plate technology. For Manager Pat McCord, going computer-to-plate (CTP) was an option that made sense. Before purchasing an A.B.Dick DPM 2000, his in-plant at Asgrow Seed Co., in Parkersburg, Ind., outsourced its negatives to make paper plates at $16 to $18 a pop—a pretty hefty price for a shop with only two full-time employees. By comparison, the DPM 2000 produces poly plates at $2 each, McCord says. And instead of sending out 200 to 300 negatives—and risking quality problems and decreased cycle time—the in-plant

If you want to be taken seriously by customers, you have to provide sharp, accurate images. Calibrating your imagesetter helps you do that. Running an uncalibrated imagesetter is a sure way to lower the quality standards of your in-plant. With a little diligence and the right tools, though, you can be sure that when you ask your imagesetter to produce a 20-percent dot, it delivers exactly that—not a 16- or 23-percent dot. A calibrated imagesetter will prove your expertise and ensure your dependability. In addition to providing accurate tints, a properly calibrated imagesetter helps avoid blown out highlight and clogged shadow dots in your