Plate burner

A plate burner is part of the CTF print workflow. In a CTF workflow, a film is produced directly from a RIP. This film is then placed on a plate, on the plate burner. Registration of the plate and film is controlled by a pin grid, which both the plate and film must fit. After securing the plate and film to the grid, a glass cover is lowered upon the plate and film. Then a vacuum on the plate burner is engaged to ensure the best possible fit. Once the vacuum is established, a high power (5Kw) UV lamp (also associated with the burner) is turned on, which "burns" the image from the film onto the plate. The plate is then processed, and put onto the offset printing press.