Talking about: The Development History of CTP Direct Platemaking Technology

CTP (Computer-to-plate) is a computer directly to the printing plate, is a digital printing plate imaging process. Technology emerged in the 1880s. This period is the initial stage of the study of direct plate-making technology. Therefore, during this period, neither the technology nor the quality of the platemaking industry was very mature. In the 1990s, the close cooperation between equipment manufacturers and printing manufacturers accelerated the pace of research and development of this technology, and reached a level of maturity and industrialization during this period. Thus, at the drupa printing exhibition in 1995, 42 kinds of CTP systems were exhibited.

This move immediately caused the printing industry to pay close attention to this technology. Between 1995 and 1997, many large-scale printing companies adopted the CTP system to implement the direct plate-making process. However, since the platesetter was still very expensive during this period, the use of the technology in various SMEs was limited. Promotion. During the period from 1997 to 1998, the price of direct plate-making machines drastically decreased, and the plates for direct platemaking began to mature and develop. Therefore, a large number of small- and medium-sized printing factories began to accept and use CTP technology. For the case of the printing factory, the developed machine format includes two pairs of open, eight open, and 16 open. According to statistics, in the United States by 1997, 65% of the large-scale printing companies (employees in more than 100) used CTP technology. According to the survey of the US printing technology authority GATF, from 1995 to 2000, the number of CTP systems installed and expected to be installed worldwide is as follows (including the CTP system used by the newspaper printing industry, including 8 on, off, and on) :

From this set of data, the speed of application of CTP is growing at a rate that is more than doubled every year. During the three years from 1995 to 1998, the growth rate was as high as 10 times.

The reason why CTP system can be popularized in the user group at such an astonishing speed, besides its good plate-making performance and the elimination of the advantages of film application, the expansion of the application scope of CTP technology is also one of the main reasons. At present, the direct plate-making machine on the market can be suitable for large-format, small-format printing size, single and double-color printing and four-color printing, newspaper printing and commercial printing and other needs. Therefore, it is very flexible to use.

Moreover, in recent years, the speed of development and improvement of plates has also been rapid. The sharp decline in the price of CTP equipment within five years has promoted the rise and development of the market. At present, the 8 boot has been reduced from the previous $400,000 to $150,000-$200,000, and the boot-up has also dropped to about $400,000.

US opinion polls: CTP is an unavoidable technological revolution that will replace photocopying technology, just as it was when an extension was replaced by an imagesetter five years ago.

At the NEXPO98 exhibition organized by the American Press Association in June 1998, a total of 11 companies exhibited their respective CTP systems. However, none of the influential manufacturers introduced new laser imagesetters and related technologies. This fully shows that all manufacturers are no longer hesitant about CTP technology and have entered a practical stage.