It’s a Brave New World

A larger role for CTP flexo

While NPP still produces analog plates, Norton admits that conventional platemaking is fading away, even as a dwindling number of customers continues to specify film for sentimental or other reasons. That said, converting film to digital “isn’t all that difficult for us,” he says. “We already have an electronic file because we image our films digitally. So it’s already there. The issue is just the expense they would have to pay if we had already made that job on film and wanted to transition that job to a digital plate. That digital plate will cost more than the plate made from the film.” At that point, Norton says, “It becomes an expense-driven issue. If customers were satisfied with the printing from a film plate, why pay the extra money for digital?” At NPP, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other: “The way we structure our pricing, a digital plate will cost what the film and plate cost together.”