DIGITAL PLATESETTERS -- Growing by Twos and Fours

There are a couple of other metal platesetting systems with distinctive features that half-size shops may also want to consider when making the move to CTP-based production.

Esko-Graphics offers the Plate-Driver 4, which features the option to field upgrade among a choice of lasers and to an eight-up (31.5x42.3˝) format. The internal drum machine's imaging system can be configured with violet (30mW), thermal (1,064nm), FD-Yag or argon-ion lasers. It supports a maximum plate size of 26.8x31˝ and a range of resolutions up to 3,200 dpi.