Computer to Plate (CtP) is fast becoming the norm in litho plate making. This is a trend driven by the need to produce better quality printed products faster and at less cost. The magical formula in this new technology is a fully digital pre-press workflow. ``CtP is not just a corridor to profit but also prestige, provided we configure accordingly,`` explained Pranav Parikh, CMD, Technova Imaging Systems. Parikh was giving a presentation on viability of CtP in India at Mumbai on Friday evening, organised by Mumbai Mudrak Sangh. The occasion was also a part of the year-long, country-wide golden jubilee celebrations of All India Federation of Master Printers.
World over CtP has caught on quickly in the printing segment. Commercial segment of USA and Newspapers in Europe have completely gone CtP. Invariably most large magazines, service bureaus, commercial printers and newspapers in China have adopted CtP. We have just a handful of CtP in India. There are 60 in China against 20 in India. Figures revealed that in 1994 there were just 99 CtP but by 2002 it rose to 4276. And it is estimated to climb upto 20,000 by 2005.
The seminar defined mediocrity as a sin in today`s competitive scenario. And threw light to reasons why many new innovations gets throttled because of this attitude in our country. CtP (Computer-to-Plate) is not new to the printing industry is India. But it is still to catch-up in the market. As of now the cost of films and conventional PS plate is similar to consumables cost in the CtP. The printers using the conventional CtF (Computer-to-Film) are unwilling to recognise the many colours that gets seen in the new technology digital printing.
``I now see colours I have never seen before. Today or tomorrow we all have to go CtP, then why not today?,`` asks P Narendra, Pragati Print Arts, while participating in the panel discussion. Other panelist who participated in the discussion where Kagesh Patel from Patel Printing Press, Sandeep Vaidya from Karemi Infotech, Sanjay Panchmatia from Shivang Creations and Druman Mohandas from JD Graphics.
The panelists voted for CtP giving out its advantages over the conventional CtF in terms of workflow, quality output and ROI. The seminar closed on the conclusion that the attitude of our current technology shy market has to evolve in order to reap benefits from the latest that technology has to offer.
There were also BMPA, MMP, MSTB Printers Binders Association and members of AIFMP present here.
