EDITOR'S notebook

Aside from that continuing development, Drupa also delivered on the new product front. New computer-to-plate (CTP) devices boasted higher speeds and greater process automation. Key developments included more powerful lasers (up to 60mW) for violet imaging and wider adoption of grating light valve technology for thermal imaging. Alternative screening systems captured attention at the Agfa, Creo, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, Screen and EFI booths. There was a host of processless digital plates as well, some on the market and others yet to be released. In addition, the quest for online proofing to some day (soon?) serve as customer contract proofs continues its forward march. And, as a future technology demonstration, Mitsubishi showed an off-line, reusable plate imaging system that could conceivably cut aluminum plate consumption by 95 percent.