Continuing the success story: Innovative Kodak CTP solutions for any printer

This year, as Kodak celebrates the 30th anniversary of thermal plate imaging, the importance of computer-to-plate (CTP) for the printing industry remains undiminished. Offset printing is still the most predominant process in the print market even as digital printing continues to gain popularity and complement offset in today's "and era" of print.

However, offset platemaking faces completely different challenges today than it did three decades ago. As run lengths continue to decline, more plates need to be imaged in less time and with consistently high quality. It is also important to minimize errors and waste and to transform platemaking towards more automation for achieving greater efficiency and cost savings both in prepress and in the pressroom.

With over 26,000 platesetters sold since 1995, Kodak is one of the largest CTP manufacturers in the world with a comprehensive portfolio ranging from 4-up and 8-up to VLF (very large format) and XLF (extra-large format) platesetter models. At the heart of Kodak's CTP offering remains the unique KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology, which provides the highest level of accuracy, stability and reliability for extraordinary tone and color consistency throughout the press run. SQUARESPOT delivers 10,000 dpi imaging for commercial printing and 5,000 dpi imaging for newspaper printing to provide the most precise imaging. Features such as dynamic autofocus, automatic temperature compensation and geometric compensation contribute to the uniquely stable image produced by SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology. Furthermore, redundancies in the SQUARESPOT Thermal Head ensure imaging can continue, even if a laser diode fails.

Given the changes in the market environment, a high plate throughput is essential in addition to imaging quality and stability. To meet the demand, Kodak has continuously increased the productivity of its MAGNUS, TRENDSETTER and ACHIEVE Platesetters, but has also significantly reduced power consumption and maintenance requirements. For example, the KODAK MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter with T-speed Plus option can output a plate every 42.9 seconds. This gives it a throughput of up to 84 plates per hour, making it the world's fastest CTP system in the B1/8-up size category. And when it comes to energy savings, current Kodak platesetters consume up to 93% less power than comparable devices from competitors.

In the VLF segment, the new KODAK MAGNUS Q3600 Titan Platesetter stands out as the most versatile CTP machine on the market. It offers high productivity and reliability for 4-up, 8-up, and VLF plate imaging. Another innovative solution is the KODAK MAGNUS Q4800 Platesetter, the world's largest CTP device, which is capable of imaging XLF plate sizes up to 1,600 x 2,870 mm for 96-page web offset presses.

Advanced automation is the key to increasing overall efficiency by substantially reducing manual intervention and minimizing errors. CTP automation from Kodak provides virtually operator-free platemaking while significantly reducing costs. Kodak offers a range of options available for fully automatic plate loading and unloading. Printers can choose a solution best tailored to their business needs. For instance, Kodak offers options such as Single Cassette Unit (SCU), Multi-Cassette Unit (MCU), Single Pallet Loader (SPL), and Multi-Pallet Loader (MPL) for the MAGNUS Q800 Platesetter. The MPL for the MAGNUS Q800 can hold up to 3,200 plates in up to four different sizes, enabling plate imaging without human intervention over very long periods.

In the VLF and XLF size sectors, Kodak has implemented CTP automation solutions of extraordinary dimensions. With its custom-configurable XLF pallet loading system, the MAGNUS Q4800 Platesetter provides online capacity for up to 4,800 plates in up to eight different sizes. The MAGNUS Q3600 Titan Platesetter allows MPL configurations, which can even hold up to 7,800 plates online for automatic loading.

In addition, automation can be supported by the remote control and analytics capabilities of the KODAK Mobile CTP Control App. It allows plateroom operators to monitor up to 10 KODAK platesetters from anywhere on mobile devices. The app indicates whether the CTP device is working or stopped for any reason, plus detailed information such as current job, jobs in the queue, active plate cassette count, event history, and more.

The trend towards greater sustainability and more eco-friendly practices in printing has gained momentum. Switching from traditional wet processed plates to KODAK SONORA Process Free Plates, with which all Kodak platesetters are fully compatible, is an attractive option here.

SONORA Plates reduce costs both in prepress and in the pressroom. They improve sustainability and help reduce turnaround times by eliminating chemical plate processing and the associated consumption of energy, water and plate processing chemistry. SONORA Plates are simply imaged in a fully automated CTP process and can then be taken straight to the press, where they ensure faster and more reliable makereadies with less waste.

Finally, it is worth pointing out that Kodak is the only company in the world that designs, develops, manufactures, sells and services the complete solution: thermal platesetters and related automation solutions, cutting-edge printing plates and innovative, future-proof workflow software platforms. This means printers of any size and business focus can get a complete, integrated solution from Kodak from a single source. That is why they can be certain the various solution components are carefully and precisely matched so that maximum reliability and performance are guaranteed.

With over 1.1 billion plates imaged over the last 30 years, Kodak remains committed to leading with game-changing CTP and plate technology solutions that drive progress and empower printers to profitably grow their business in an ever-changing industry.

^{© Kodak, 2025. KODAK, ACHIEVE, MAGNUS, SONORA, SQUARESPOT and TRENDSETTER are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.}