Computer-to-plate (CTP technology)

Author: Lü Xinguang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-25
Features: Computer-to-Plate (CTP) is one of the major trends in the development of printing technology in the first decade of the 21st century. It refers to the process of directly outputting digital pages from a computer to printing plates. This technology not only eliminates the need for traditional prepress processes such as laser exposure outputting film and manual assembly and plate making, saving intermediate links' equipment and materials, avoiding the drawbacks of dot loss, deformation, and stretching, but also reduces the loss of color and layers. Additionally, it shortens the time for ink tone adjustment, registration adjustment, and water-oil balance during the printing process, significantly improving product quality and work efficiency.
This book is divided into six chapters, systematically elaborating on the extension and connotation of the complete digital workflow, covering aspects such as image acquisition, the basic working principles of CTP systems, the digital workflow of CTP systems, CTP plates, and digital proofing. It comprehensively introduces the equipment, processes, materials, technologies, and techniques of CTP systems. This book can serve as a teaching material for relevant majors in universities and colleges, such as Printing Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Electronic Publishing, and Electronic Information Engineering. It is also suitable for technicians engaged in printing, plate making, design, packaging, and information processing.