CTF→CTP→ CTS
Keep on development and creation with
total solution and technology service
45 years in flexographic prepress field (since 1974), started from flexo and letterpress plate making consumable and equipment, from small to big, from liquid photopolymer FlexoBag to solid plate, from solvent washout to water washable, from negative film to plate materials. Flexo Technology based in Taipei Taiwan has gained reputation in the global market as well as keep on developing and creating new method, new applications for flexographic industry.
LaserBlack Enhancer was the first idea and product before inkjet printer was not using so popular at beginning period of 21 century. At that time laser printer was commonly used as a print our instrument as well as it was the most clean and clear image can be printed for art workers after layout for film reproduction by using process camera. The laser prints on film was not opaque enough for plate exposures due to the particles of toner was not fine enough to array closely enough in order to avoid the gap in between when show up the image.
The enhancer actually is a simple coating machine to apply an even layer upon the laser printed material by using a water based solution to melt the toners over the print and the image will not spread out with no or very less dot gain but gaining the black density x3 up to 4.50 optically measured by transmission densitometer. This was the most cost economic way of negative making from consumable and equipment sides for every office was using laser printer to print their documents at that time.
LaserBlack Enhancer was so widely used in the decade over the world only the size was limited to A4 and A3 because there was not so many bigger size laser printer in the market even if have it the price was so expensive that nobody will buy it to make film. Customer’s demand for the big size film made us to keep on researching the inkjet printer with ink and film for use economically and in substitution of photographic film which is apparently will disappear in the earth soon.
Due to experiences with laser enhancing system fortunately it is easy for us to develop new methods of film making by inkjet printer as long as we can find proper printer, proper ink, proper film and proper software able to RIP the dot precisely and to do the color separation job by only a click without experienced engineer any more. Thanks to the technical innovation, new inkjet printers with finer reproduction and less cost effective investment to make film by inkjet printer as good as a photo film from an image setter and the cost is less than a photo film. The dream is coming true.
To follow up a victory and press the attack, CTF (Computer To Film) is well accepted for the printing industry to make film good for plate exposure.
Now we are thinking far more than this. To think of using no film, no vacuum. We have to concentrate much more on making image directly on plate (any plate), we are now able to print image upon the plate directly for no film, no vacuum exposure to prevent failure of plate making to the less.
For this purpose CTP (Computer To Plate) system by inkjet printer, dream is also come true, digital plate is not necessary and expensive laser ablation machine is not requiring any more, any kind of plates can be printed with direct image on it. Furthermore by using new technology of LED, a UV lamp can be also equipped on the nozzle head of the printer to expose the plate simultaneously to cure the polymer or to harden the surface for no vacuum exposure protectively this is especially helpful to the big plate making.
It is always a big problem of vacuum with frame when screen plate making. CTP direct image upon plate can be also used for screen plate making as it is emulsion coated. Besides the frame thickness of one to two inch which is difficult to do the vacuum well during exposure, if the air bubble in the middle between or vacuum power is not strong enough, it will fail and have to repeat again. More over screen printers know which kind of emulsion is good for what kind of ink to do the right job. In addition to this CTS (Computer To Screen) system with direct image, LED / UV exposure in line (no film / no vacuum / no exposure any more), it is also not necessary to change the emulsion you are using in order to prevent printer’s trouble of selecting proper solvent critically if the emulsion is changed.
CTF, CTP and CTS are new innovative developments of our team in these years. CTF is now able to make films up to 175 lpi dot reproduction and the quality is as excellent as photo film good for offset, label and flexible package printing. CTP flatbed printer is now made up to 64 x 110 inch (1626 x 2800 mm) jumbo plate making for huge corrugated box printing for motor cycle package. While CTS printer is now not only good for big screen frame direct image but also able to inkjet images on many small frames at the same time with UV exposure ready for developing and plate making as long as the frames can be put on the flatbed.
