Thermal CTP Plates For Professional Printing

2025-04-29

Thermal CTP (Computer To Plate) technology is an important part of the modern printing industry, especially for professional printing environments that pursue high efficiency and high quality. This technology allows imaging directly on the printing plate without the use of film, which simplifies the workflow and improves production efficiency.

Product date of thermal ctp plates for professional printing including:

- Format range

Mainstream size: 1030×800mm (folio), 745×660mm (quarto)

Special needs: support customized cutting (such as packaging printing needs to adapt to special-shaped sizes), the maximum format can reach 1160×940mm.

Thickness range: 0.15-0.4mm (adapt to different printing pressure requirements, thicker plates are more durable, and thinner plates are conducive to high-screen printing).

- Spectral sensitivity

Wavelength range: 800-850nm (mainstream thermal CTP laser wavelength), needs to match the platemaking machine light source (such as Kodak CTP plate matches 830nm laser).

Exposure energy: 120-140mJ/cm² (the platemaking machine power needs to be adjusted according to the plate sensitivity to avoid underexposure or overexposure).

- Resolution and dot

Screen count: 200-300lpi (ordinary printing), high-end demand can reach 350lpi (such as commercial posters, albums).

Dot type: supports amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM), and the minimum size of FM dots can reach 20μm (the equipment needs to support high-precision laser heads).

Thermal CTP plates for professional printing usually have the following characteristics:

- High resolution: It can provide very fine image quality and is suitable for printed products that require high-definition output.

- Good stability: During the printing process, the plate can maintain stable performance to ensure color and image consistency during long-term operation.

- Strong print durability: It can withstand a large number of printing times, reduce the frequency of plate replacement, and improve production efficiency.

- Environmental protection: Many modern thermal CTP plates are designed with environmental protection requirements in mind, such as reducing chemical treatment processes or using more environmentally friendly materials.

- Fast imaging: Due to the use of thermal technology, this type of printing plate can complete the imaging process in a shorter time, which helps to speed up the entire printing process.

When choosing a suitable thermal CTP plate, it is also necessary to decide based on specific printing needs, such as the type of printed matter, the expected number of prints, and the specific requirements for color reproduction.

Recommended typical application scenarios of thermal ctp plates for professional printing:

- Commercial printing (picture albums, posters)

Specification recommendations: 1030×800mm format, 300lpi screen count, 20μm FM dots, and a print life of 150,000+ prints.

- Packaging printing (paper boxes, labels)

Specification recommendations: Customized special-shaped sizes, UV ink compatibility, a print life of 80,000+ prints, and mechanical scratch resistance.

- Rotary printing (newspapers, magazines)

Specification recommendations: 1160×940mm large format, a print life of ≥200,000 prints, and fast development (development time ≤25 seconds).

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