The Great (Digital) Plate Debate

Providing still more defense of thermal's longevity, O'Rourke compares thermal's proven track record with other "vaporware" products, as he calls them, that made their tech-demo debuts at DRUPA. For example, he cites flaws in the concept of spray-on polymers: Instead of eliminating steps, spray-ons add steps, he claims. "You have to A) spray it on the printing press, B) cure it, C) image it, D) clean it, E) print it and F) clean the press again to maintain its pristine surface. That's six steps versus the two steps of thermal.