CTPplattojen

CTPplattojen are plates produced with computer-to-plate technology in offset printing. The technology images plates directly from digital data without the use of traditional film steps. CTP plates are lithographic plates—often aluminum with a photosensitive layer or polymer-substrate plates—that are exposed by a laser in a plate-imager. Depending on the chemistry, imaging can be followed by developing or be processless. After imaging (and any necessary processing), the plates are mounted on the press and used to transfer ink to paper.

There are several CTP plate families: thermal plates, which require a heat-exposure laser; violet (blue) plates, which respond to violet lasers; and other chemistries. Thermal plates generally offer high sensitivity and wide tonal range; violet plates may be simpler and more forgiving in some environments. Processless plates reduce chemical usage further but may require specific press and lighting conditions. CTP plates typically provide better dimensional stability, sharper dot reproduction, reduced makeready time, and lower waste compared with film-based workflows.

History and impact: The technology began to replace film-based prepress in the late 1990s and has become standard in many commercial, newspaper, and packaging operations. Adoption is driven by demand for faster make-readies, consistent color, and environmental considerations. The term CTPplattojen is thus representative of modern plate technology in offset printing.