Frank Cox wrote: > On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 13:31:08 +0800 > Craig Ringer <craig at postnewspapers.com.au> wrote: > > >>Do you mean that you're printing a page that >>you then use to make the plate (like the POST used to do with the >>imagesetter) ? > > > No, the plates are directly printed on the laser printer. The plates are > sheets of thin plastic material, just a bit thicker than regular paper. > The "active side" is purple. You run the plate through the laser printer > and put what you want on it, then you pull the plate through a chemical > bath in a tray similar to that used to put up wallpaper. After that, > strap 'er into the press and roll 'em. > > At least, that appears to be the procedure to me. I have seen it done > several times now, and it looks like that's all there is to it. >
Well, you learn something every day. That's cool. I'd be interested to know what the process is called if you find out, just so I know what it is if I run into it again. Being able to use a laser printer instead of a platesetter and/or imagesetter must do wonders for the initial hardware cost. I just hope the plates don't cost too much and have a long enough life. Anyway, while I don't have any HPs at work anymore I do have another genuine Adobe PS3 based printer, so I'll have to see how Quark does its halftoning in PS. -- Craig Ringer
