Thermal CTP heating up?

Dear Editor,

Newspapers & Technology regularly provides useful and accurate information concerning technical production issues. Rosemarie Monaco’s “Think to Ink” column in your December 2002 issue continues along this path, but the information in the article is somewhat incomplete and out-of-date, and may have left some of your readers with an inaccurate perception of the current status of thermal computer-to-plate for newspapers.

Thermal CTP installation in newspapers is now standard. In the last four months alone, seven U.S. dailies and four commercial publication printers have installed Creo thermal CTP systems.

Newspapers are taking advantage of the benefits of thermal CTP, as well as the availability of thermal CTP plates from a variety of manufacturers, including Anocoil, Southern Lithoplate, Western Lithotech and Kodak Polychrome Graphics. These plates possess the sensitivity that allows Creo CTP engines to deliver up to 200 plates per hour.

While Ms. Monaco’s column provided readers with valuable insight into the process of selecting a CTP system, the fact is that thermal CTP for newspapers is accepted throughout the industry as a productive and reliable format. Any newspaper considering a CTP project should consider thermal as a viable option.

Paul Willis
Director, Newspaper Publishing
Creo Americas Inc.

Ms. Monaco responds:

Dear Mr. Willis,

First, let me thank you for your comments. I truly appreciate the feedback.

Let me address your issues one at a time. You say thermal CTP in newspapers is now standard. I am not sure how you measure “standard” but I do not think that seven dailies in the U.S., or even 20, constitute a standard.

However, what my article states is that thermal platesetting has not seen the same success in newspapers as it has in commercial operations. I cannot believe that Creo, which has the lion’s share of the thermal market in the commercial category, would argue this point. In the same paragraph, I also go on to list the benefits of thermal plates. I am sorry you missed that.

You are certainly right that I listed only Kodak Polychrome Graphics as a thermal plate manufacturer, although I did so in the context of it being the pioneer. Now, by virtue of your letter, my readers will know the other thermal plate suppliers. Thank you.

I have no reason to doubt that Creo platesetters deliver up to 200 plates per hour. And this is very important if that is the required output. But I do not believe newspapers should choose any platesetter on the merits of speed alone. First, they need to determine how many plates per hour they need.

I strongly believe that other factors, such as cost of operation, must be taken into account. And it is a fact, that users report lower cost of operation with visible-light. I am sure for some newspapers this is not a high priority. In that case, thermal may be more attractive. I wrote “regardless of which technology you choose … Make sure you can get what you need.”

If you read the entire article, you also saw that I emphasized that after assessing their needs, readers should check out all the possibilities. And you can rest assured, our audience comprises intelligent and responsible production professionals. They aren’t about to invest in costly technology without considering all options.

As you kindly mentioned, my article “provided readers with valuable insight into the process of selecting a CTP system.” That is what it was meant to do.

Guns and newspaper ads

Dear Editor,

I was already aware of the plan by the Denver Newspaper Agency to refuse gun ads. However, I wrongly assumed that was an isolated instance. When I read the most recent newsandtech.com e-mail (“2 Detroit newspapers stop printing handgun classified ads,” Dateline, Feb. 10, 2003; also, see page 26 of this issue), it really opened my eyes to the problems law-abiding gun owners like myself face.

In the article I read about Denver, Jim Nolan, director of communications for the Denver Newspaper Agency, was quoted as saying, “We wanted to be sure that we provided a safe environment to purchase weaponry in accordance with local, state and federal law.” Accepting ads for private sales between gun owners is already within those laws.

This change is clearly being installed because of pressure from anti-gun organizations or newspapers’ own anti-gun bias.

I find it very disturbing that local newspapers are turning away perfectly legal paid advertisements from peaceable, law-abiding citizens. I can only hope that I am not the only household that will no longer subscribe to such a publication.