Direct-to-Plate Production

Direct-to-plate offers an improved product over traditional film production. By eliminating film and stripping, files are imaged directly to the plates, generating cleaner and sharper images.

Our Agfa ApogeeX workflow system takes advantage of the PDF format to further add reliability to the entire system. Since PDF files are more reliable than native application files, many output errors that often occur when working with native application files, don’t happen.

PDFs contain embedded fonts and graphics, so you do not need to worry about type reflow or font substitution during output. In addition, graphic links cannot be changed, eliminating the possibility of incorrect graphic output.

When correctly created, PDFs supplied to us for output, versus the native document and graphics, can be virtually guaranteed to match what you see on your own system. The only real variables are color and trapping issues, related to how the original file was created.

Since files are converted to PDF format at the first stage of our production, you can be assured that your document retains all the proper elements throughout the process. And with most revisions, the PDF file is revised rather than the original document, eliminating the chance of something else changing during the revision stage.

To further ensure the integrity of your files, our digital inkjet Sherpa proofs are the same files that are imaged to the plates. No last-minute rewraps or output errors occur from an approved proof. In addition, our Agfa Sherpa proofs are calibrated to match the color on our press and have been SWOP certified.