Re: Violet vs. Thermal
Hi Chris,
Here is a a quick rundown.
Violet has a lower cost of ownership due to lower cost of the laser and internal drum (at least in the case of the Prosetter) architecture. This brings up an interesting point with the Prosetter, it has the tightest registration with punch spec out of all CtP. This is due to the internal drum. The plate is gripped, inserted in the drum and vacuumed. It is image and then punched without moving the plate. This gives us a accuracy of +/- 5 microns. On external drums, including our own, the plate has to be punched before mounting or after dismounting. Typically, this will provide +/- 25 microns
The laser will probably out live the life of the violet CtP whereas thermal will not. Quality of violet and thermal are the same but with the proper plate for most work, we can go up to 400 line with thermal and 300 with violet. Both can do FM.
Our violet plate, Saphira Violet, rolls up extremely fast, typically 17 sheets. Currently, there area about 7 violet plates on the market. Violet requires to be under a yellow safe light whereas most thermal plates do not. The exception is the thermal processless, they are only good for about 1 hour while light and they can extend this by being under yellow light to 4 or 12 hours, depending on plate. Thermal Chemfree is white light safe. Thermal offers over over 40 plates to choose from. Our Saphira violet plate is good for 350,000. Many thermal can be baked to get into the millions. This also would give longer UV runs for thermal whereas our violet is only for very short UV runs.
As Steve mentioned, chemfree is available for thermal today and not yet for violet but chemfree typically is rated for 100,000, whereas the violet to 350,000.
Either way you look at it, both make plates and do a great job of it.
Regards,
Mark Tonkovich
Heidelberg USA
Product Manager, CtP & Proofing