Plate Densitometers

[ishantkalkal]

Hi would anybody be able to suggest a good plate densitometer,as i only seem to be able to find X-Rite iCPlate II. I am running FujiFilm LP-NV plates using a UV laser, if that makes any difference.

According to me Techkon Spectro Dens is the best measuring device for Offset Plate.
It can read both AM and FM Screen.

[ishantkalkal]

According to me Techkon Spectro Dens is the best measuring instrument for offset Plate.
It can read both AM and FM Screen.

[ljgoldberg]

Using a reflection color densitometer is not the best way to control your plate production process.

Use a dedicated Plate Measuring Instrument such as the Beta UltraDottie-II or one of its relatives.

You really want to know the true, mechanical dot size expressed in Dot Area (without optical dot gain) as well as dot diameter, screen ruling, and screen angle. A densitometer does not know, or care, what you are measuring. It cannot tell an original watercolor painting from a litho reproduction of one. It'll happily tell you that the sky is 45% in both cases. In reality, original artwork does not have dots. (Andy Warhol excepted).

The Beta UltraDottie-II in the minimum configuration will measure conventional AM screening on most popular plates. You can later upgrade to stochastic screening at minimal cost. You'll be able to accurately measure screening as fine as 10 micron stochastic.

Buy the right instrument to begin with, you'll save money and trouble down the road. Is the plate department going to "borrow" the press room densitometer? That's not going to make the pressmen happy.

Lots of additional information here:

Computer to Plate, CTP Calibration

or in the archives of this forum.

Best regards,

Larry Goldberg
Technical Director
Beta Industries
800-272-7336