Drukfilms

Drukfilms is a Dutch term that refers to films used in the printing industry, especially in the prepress stage of offset and related printing processes. The plural form drukfilms is used in Dutch; the singular is drukfilm.

Historically, drukfilms were photographic films or transparencies produced from artwork or color separations. They served to capture the image and to transfer it onto printing plates, through exposure and chemical processing in a darkroom. They were part of the workflow that preceded or accompanied plate making in traditional printing.

With the advent of digital prepress, computer-to-plate technologies reduced the need for physical films. As a result, the use of drukfilms has declined in modern commercial printing, though they remain in use in archival reproductions, some specialized workflows, and in regions with limited digital infrastructure.

Types include positives and negatives, black-and-white or color, and various film emulsions designed for different printing processes. Handling requires careful storage away from light and chemical processing steps for development and editing.

See also: prepress, offset printing, color separation.