Presstek CTP Benefits

Compact, reliable CTP solutions . . . without the hassles.

GATF Intertech Technology AwardPresstek's Dimension Series of CTP systems and Anthem thermal plates have been awarded a Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) InterTech Award.

The new Dimension CTP Excel systems and chemistry-free thermal plates are designed and optimized as an integrated system, resulting in higher productivity, cleaner operation, and lower cost – it's truly a smarter way to print.

Dimension Excel CTP The easy-to-use Dimension Excel Series platesetters are designed to increase overall plate production throughput and pressroom productivity. Based on Presstek's ProFire Excel thermal imaging, the system provides all the reliability, versatility, speed, and quality that printers—especially mid-size and smaller shops—require from their CTP investment. Productivity is improved by automating key steps and by eliminating time-consuming prepress procedures; more jobs are completed in the same amount of time. Dimension Excel platesetters are available in four-page and four-page models.

  2-page models 4-page models
  225 Excel 250 Excel 425 Excel 450 Excel
High Productivity - 17 plates/hour   Yes   Yes
Standard Productivity - 11 plates/hour Yes   Yes  
Profire Excel imaging - 16 micron spot size Yes Yes Yes Yes
Top load and unload plate handling Yes   Yes  
Top load/rear unload plate handling   Yes   Yes
Plate pre-staging (load next plate while previous is still imaging)   Yes   Yes
Optional automated washer/stacker system   Yes   Yes
Helical write mode - wider range of supported screen angles (moiré reduction) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Optional high resolution set-up enabling support of high resolution screening Yes Yes Yes Yes
Optional three cassette fully automated plate loading system   Yes   Yes

For larger presses, the 8-page Dimension800 utilizes ProFire imaging technology and it is one of the most compact and efficient eight-page platesetters available.

Leaf Image Environmentally Friendly
Presstek is committed to making the offset printing process as environmentally friendly as possible, and the Dimension Series demonstrates the results of that commitment. Using a chemistry-free, thermal ablative process, daylight safe Anthem Pro® plates are imaged directly from a print-ready file and require no baking, gumming or chemical processing. A simple water wash is all that is needed after imaging to prepare plates for on press.

Waterdrop Image Consistency and repeatability
With a direct path from digital file to imaged plates, you will eliminate the variables and inconsistencies that occur when using conventional processes. A Dimension CTP workflow yields a high level of consistency, without the deviations in image quality associated with emulsion variances, processor condition, chemical imaging, exposure problems, and environmental changes.

Sky Image Daylight-safe operation
Imaging plates in normal room lighting eliminates the costs, space consumption and special provisions required for safe-light darkroom conditions.

Chemistry-free platemaking
Presstek CTP is chemistry-free. Besides eliminating processing chemistry, Presstek Anthem Pro plates require no gumming, baking, or special cleaning fluids. Just rinse with water after imaging, and you are ready to print.

Low cost of ownership
Presstek CTP lowers costs in the short-run, and the long-run. The savings in time, materials and labor mean lower overhead in your platemaking operations.

As the pressure on printers to increase efficiency and speed continues to grow, understanding costs incurred in getting plates from the platesetter to press becomes increasingly important. CTP Platemaking: Understanding the Real Costs, a white paper by J Zarwan Partners, will assist printers in developing a clear picture of costs actually incurred during the platemaking process.

Small footprint
The Dimension Series has a small footprint for minimum use of valuable floor space. When using Presstek's Anthem Pro plates only a simple rinse with water is required, this cleaner is only 5 feet long – that's 2 to 5 times shorter than processing equipment associated with other plate making systems.

Model Length x Width x Height
Dimension225/250 Excel
Dimension425/450 Excel
58" x 33" x 58"
146cm x 83cm x 146cm
Dimension800 73" x 33" x 50"
185cm x 84cm x 127cm
Anthem Cleaner 60" x 40" x 37"
153cm x 102cm x 94cm


Superior productivity
The Dimension Series is engineered to add capacity to your shop that easily keeps your presses running. The chemistry-free workflow, fast imaging time, and high-resolution output improves pressroom productivity by automating key steps and eliminating many time-consuming prepress procedures; resulting in more jobs being completed in the same amount of time. At 2540 dpi the Dimension225/425 Excel and Dimension800 images up to 11 plates/hr; while the higher productivity Dimension250/450 Excel systems image up to 17 plates/hr.

Faster roll-up and makeready
Presstek thermal plates provide faster roll-up and makeready, greater ink/water latitude, and less chemical consumption on press than conventional offset plates and other CTP plates.

Compatibility
Presstek thermal plates accommodate a wide range of industry standard inks, fountain solutions, and addition/deletion compounds.

Anthem
Anthem Pro

Easily integrated into existing workflows
All popular RIPs and prepress workflows are supported with automated conversion of 1-bit TIFF bitmap files for output and standard interface hardware and protocols, and CIP3 compatibility.

Easy operation
Dimension CTP systems are designed for maximum ease-of-use. Requiring far fewer steps to produce plates, your entire platemaking operation is streamlined.

Streamlined workflow
With the fewest steps from RIP to press, Presstek CTP can produce more plates at lower cost – without chemistry. On press, Presstek thermal plates provide fast roll-up and run lengths to 100,000 – without baking.

Anthem Chart

The Dimension and Dimension Excel CTP systems bring precision, reliability, versatility, productivity and quality required for your CTP investment, with the added benefit of environmental responsibility.

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Presstek … A Smarter Way To Print