DIGITAL PLATES & PLATESETTERS -- Two Steps Forward

Earlier this year, the current Anthem plate was qualified for use on the Creo Trendsetter Quantum thermal platesetter product line. The plate previously had been certified only for use on Presstek's own Dimension product family.

Creo Inc., in Burnaby, Canada, continues to assert that it is committed to the development of thermal imaging technology exclusively. Image quality is one of the benefits touted by the manufacturer, and reportedly is enhanced by its SQUAREspot thermal imaging heads. According to Creo, the technology is an enabler of FM (frequency modulated) screening with very small dots. It has announced support of 10-micron spots with its Staccato FM screening software. Benefits of the technology are said to include improved color stability on-press, reduced need for use of spot colors, and elimination of halftone rosettes and resulting screening moiré.