| CT what? | | | | Then came the blinding flash of the obvious. |
| Computer-to-plate technology (or CTP) allows the | | | | Many decided to employ printing sales people and |
| printing file to be etched directly to the plate from the | | | | grow a print broking arm to the business. |
| computer without the need for negatives, film | | | | After all, every single one of their customers to whom |
| processing or plate processing. | | | | they were supplying graphic design were having their |
| The process effectively cuts out three steps in the | | | | printing done at a printing company, as they had been |
| platemaking process. | | | | doing for eons. |
| CTP has been around now for a number of years | | | | A golden opportunity arose...for those who saw it |
| and following it's appearance, a significant number of | | | | These days, many pre-press houses do very little |
| pre-press bureaus found themselves in the unenviable | | | | bureau work having replaced this portion of the |
| situation of having to replace a large portion of trade | | | | business with print broking however some still supply |
| business. | | | | plates to printers. |
| Many graphic design houses (or pre-press bureaus) | | | | But, there is a down side to this technology. |
| provided a pre-press service to printers who did not | | | | Since the technology was introduced, some printers still |
| have the equipment to perform the task themselves. | | | | rely on pre-press houses to supply the plates. The |
| The printers would send the artwork files to the | | | | problem arises when the printer needs to replace a |
| pre-press houses who would output the files to film | | | | plate for an urgent job or when printing after hours, |
| (negatives) and in some situations, output the plates as | | | | and the pre-press bureau is closed. |
| well. | | | | In the past they would simply grab the negatives from |
| After CTP was introduced, many printers decided to | | | | the file and 'burn' another plate. |
| purchase CTP equipment primarily because it was | | | | So the job is either lifted or they make a phone call |
| much easier and simpler to operate than outputting the | | | | & try to coax someone from the bureau to jump |
| negatives, running them through a film processor then | | | | in their car and make another plate. |
| a developer then burning the image to a plate. | | | | A logical way to go. |
| The graphic designer employed by the printing | | | | There were a few however that 'went to the wall' |
| company could simply send the graphic file directly to | | | | because they could not see what was happening or |
| the CTP unit and it would process a plate ready for | | | | refused to accept what was happening. |
| printing. | | | | They viewed CTP as innovative but not as a threat. |
| Many pre-press houses were hit hard by this | | | | They just could not see how it was going to affect |
| technology as trade work represented a significant | | | | their business. |
| portion of their business. | | | | With change comes opportunity... for some! |