DIGITAL PLATE TECHNOLOGY -- Platemaking Loses a Step

A number of the plates that have been introduced are positioned as "chemistry-free" rather than being truly processless. They require some type of post-imaging process—such as water rinse, wiping or gumming—before going on-press.

Another caveat to the story is that several technologies are still yet to be commercialized. At Drupa, there were claims and counter claims made about which plates were commercial products, working solutions (in beta testing) or simply technology demonstrations (alpha or even pre-alpha).