jotterpinky
Well-known member
We are currently a small commercial shop with two offset presses (1 color with t-head). We currently do all our 4-color on a Xerox 700 digital printer but are finding it hard to compete on many of the bids we are getting for longer run lengths of 4 color (over 5K). I'm tentatively looking for a 4-color offset press to fulfill this need. Our pressman has little to no experience with printing 4-color jobs but informed me that we should consider something with an aqueous coater if we plan on doing 4-color, is this true?
I've looked at the Ryobi 3304 but it's max image size is only 17.2" and I don't think that's adequate. I'm looking for something that will at least do two 8.5x11's with bleeds and color bars. I've also been told that some of the older DI presses would be good as entry-level presses due to our pressman's lack of skill in this area, but I've also heard they are $80 to plate (yikes!!)
In addition I thought we would upgrade our outdated platemaking process, we have an old Panther imagesetter we run film on, process, and burn to metal plates. I've looked at some of Xante's lineup which looks good on price but I'm concerned about it's ability to image the quality we would like. I wouldn't want to do anything less than 200 lpi if we are going to spend the money.
Does anyone have any recommendations on a press and CTP system that would be ideal for entry-level?
I've looked at the Ryobi 3304 but it's max image size is only 17.2" and I don't think that's adequate. I'm looking for something that will at least do two 8.5x11's with bleeds and color bars. I've also been told that some of the older DI presses would be good as entry-level presses due to our pressman's lack of skill in this area, but I've also heard they are $80 to plate (yikes!!)
In addition I thought we would upgrade our outdated platemaking process, we have an old Panther imagesetter we run film on, process, and burn to metal plates. I've looked at some of Xante's lineup which looks good on price but I'm concerned about it's ability to image the quality we would like. I wouldn't want to do anything less than 200 lpi if we are going to spend the money.
Does anyone have any recommendations on a press and CTP system that would be ideal for entry-level?