Imaging Technology Is Stable

In the printing workshop, temperature changes, equipment aging, and developer fluctuations-these real-life issues happen every day. The stability of plate imaging often gets stuck on these 'imperfect' little details.

Kodak's square dot imaging technology is designed to address these problems. It's only available on Kodak direct plate setters and, by automatically compensating for temperature, laser decay, and material aging, keeps the plate setter performing with high-precision imaging even under real workshop conditions.

The 'square dot' is more stable than the 'Gaussian dot'.

All CTP lasers are based on a pixel grid to expose the dots. Traditional thermal imaging technology uses laser spots with a Gaussian energy distribution - the center of the spot has the strongest energy, and it gradually weakens toward the edges. This "fuzzy edge" gradually expands as the developer ages, causing halftone dots to get bigger and color consistency on the press to worsen.

The key advantage of square-dot technology isn't the shape itself, but the sharp edges. Its energy distribution has a clear boundary, with no fuzzy areas. Even if the developer condition changes, the dot area can remain stable within a manufacturing tolerance of around +/-2%.

The actual effect is: halftone dots produced by square light spots have sharp edges, are more wear-resistant on printing presses, and clearly outperform Gaussian or GLV laser spots in color consistency and plate durability.

Automatic compensation mechanisms handle workshop 'imperfections'

1. Temperature Compensation

Aluminum plates expand and contract with temperature changes. A temperature fluctuation of 5°C can cause dot shifts forming a half-rose pattern. Square light spot technology uses built-in temperature sensors in the imaging engine to measure in real time, and the firmware automatically adjusts pixel positions to compensate for the thermal expansion and contraction of aluminum plates. Across the full working temperature range, repeat accuracy can reach 0.00508 mm.

2. Laser Fault Tolerance

CTP equipment laser units wear down over time. In Kodak CTP machines, even if one of the 19 emitters fails, the system continues running and automatically compensates. The system works normally even if multiple emitters fail. Near the end of their life, Kodak's remote team notifies in advance when to replace them.

3. Geometric Compensation

Every Kodak plate setter is precisely calibrated before leaving the factory to ensure imaging stability across multiple machines. Jobs can be imaged on any CTP, and plates are highly matched. When replacing plates, there's no need to track which machine processed the original.

Covers the Entire CTP Range

Square light spot technology is available across Kodak's full CTP plate-making range, from sheetfed to VLF large format, covering commercial to newspaper printing:

- ACHIEVE T400/T800: Entry-level CTP with TH5 imaging technology, offering cost-effective automation options
- TRENDSETTER Q800/Q1600: Market-leading sheetfed/full-sheet CTP with square light spot imaging, supporting 4800/5080 dpi high-resolution options
- MAGNUS Q800: Fully automatic 8-up plate setter, supports continuous plate feeding and automatic tray loading, throughput up to 62 plates per hour
- TRENDSETTER NEWS / GENERATION NEWS: Newspaper CTP, over 2,500 installations worldwide
- MAGNUS VLF Q2400/Q3600: Fully automatic VLF plate setter, industry-leading speed

More Than Just Stability

Besides imaging stability, square light spot technology brings several practical benefits:

- Supports process-free plates: Full range compatible with Kodak SONORA XP process-free plates
- Energy-saving design: Imaging power reduced by up to 64% compared to initial design, only 400 watts needed
- Open architecture: Supports JDF/JMF connections for seamless integration with mainstream prepress workflows
- KODAK Mobile CTP Control: Remotely monitor CTP status via handheld device, receive push notifications
- KODAK Print Workflow: Makes CTP equipment run more efficiently and automatically

With stable plate-making, there's less need to adjust colors on the press, and less paper and ink are wasted. Square light spot technology solves a problem that seems simple but has far-reaching effects - ensuring plate-making is no longer affected by temperature, equipment aging, or developer fluctuations.