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- Not only is it important to be at full pagination, "you should have a full film operation working exceptionally well," he says.
- Running CTP for more than one press line -- or burning more than four plates per printed page -- quickly loses cost-efficiency.
- Not only is it important to have a digital workflow, but digital tracking is just as crucial.
- Papers considering double-truck systems should determine how often they really need the capability.
- While appealing to commercial printers, thermal technology remains problematic for newspapers, according to Tribute, who likened present attempts to trying to "take a technology and force it, rather than adopt the correct technology."
Andrew Tribute offers a less-than-resounding assessment of where computer-to-plate stands with newspapers. Or, more accurately, where newspapers stand with computer-to-plate.
"Most newspapers are not ready," said Seybold Publications' international editor. "Especially in the U.S." Full pagination, common in Europe, remains elusive for many newspapers here.
The U.S. and Europe, in fact, offer a study in contrasts. While only a handful of the roughly 250 CTP installs worldwide are in the U.S., more than 75 percent of the 1,800 commercial-printing shops are domestic, according to Tribute.
That, however, could change, as larger U.S. newspapers begin gradual introductions and USA Today begins beta testing CTP for its national operations. With the exception of thermal-imaging systems, the needed speed is now there, with the fastest unit now available -- Western Lithotech's Diamondsetter -- capable of generating 200 plates an hour; other systems range in speed from 30 to 150 plates an hour.
Still, serious caveats remain. A panel of execs from U.S. CTP installations acknowledged that plate costs remain double those of conventional technology, and with supplier consolidation and a small universe of buyers, Tribute suggested little would change in the short-run.
"It's like they've got a gun," quipped David Stone, vice president of operations for the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, whose CTP operations narrowed the gap from editorial close to press from 16 minutes to 4.5.
Tribute offered up other limitations to keep in mind:
Larry Maas, corporate production director of Howard Publications Inc. and a long-time dabbler in thermal CTP technology, took issue with the last point, noting few problems during his tests at the Times in Munster, Ind., save for speed -- it take nearly three minutes to generate a plate, a problem in an operation demanding 80 plates in its last hour of production. He urged attendees to keep all factors determining overall processing speed -- including RIPs, processors and the production environment -- in mind as they consider CTP.
People, as always, play a key role. Marge Huff, director of new technology for Western Newspapers Inc., urged attendees to make sure the people slated to handle CTP operations have computer expertise. "It's not always the stripper," she said. In Lexington, creating interdepartmental CTP teams on each shift eased the transition, Stone added.
But as is the case with any new technology, expect the unexpected, panelists said. "The first time we put up signs saying 'do not enter because of radiation, everyone could freak out,'" Maas said.
--by Mark Toner