Before computer to plate printing, the process of reproducing images and text on pages was a time consuming process. But as computer to plate technology became readily available, the printing industry quickly found this helped to better streamline the process allowing for a faster printing speed, better accuracy and incredible results.

If one were to ask a print broker what they felt the biggest benefit was, it would be the improved workflow during the printing process. For computer to plate, you remove a generation of the image reproduction. This is because imaging plates can be done from digital files now instead of having to create a film and then having to take that film and burn the plates from it. This also helps improve the details on the image and the sharpness.

The next benefit is that plates suffer few to no defects, which are often caused by scratches in the emulsion, or the dust collecting on the film. This also eliminates the potential for image defects caused by film exposure and the processing of images.
Computer to plate also helps to significantly cut the costs and management of film, in addition to the processing process. This means when a customer works with a print broker, they can expect to save money and have an option with minimal impact on the environment, thanks to the reduced needs for chemicals.

There is also a reduction in the time spent waiting for an order after placing it with a print broker. Since printing plates can now be imaged faster and with more accuracy across the plate, most printing firms can anywhere from 50 – 200 or more plates produced per hour. This depends on a number of factors such as the size of the plate being created and the overall resolution of the images on the plate. This means fast and accurate production, which can even be left unattended so production can continue over the course of the night.

Additional benefits are available now, thanks in part to the UV inks now available. They include the following:

– UV ink cures immediately. There is no need to wait between pressings, so the printing process can be better streamlined.
– This process allows ink to be built up on a page, rather than being absorbed by it. Giving better finishes during the computer to plate printing process.

This means clear and defined images are possible during the printing process while dramatically reducing the wait time customers experience. Best of all, UV ink has no volatile organic compounds in it, which means there is no negative impact on the environment.

As you can see, one of the fastest and most effective advancements available in the printing process is the computer to plate printing process. If you want to have high quality work done quickly with an increased level of accuracy, make sure your print broker has the ability to produce your print jobs using this technology.

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