Computer-to-Plate (CTP)

A type of printing prepress process in which a digital image is transmitted directly from a computer to a plate used on a press.

It eliminates the need for producing film (or negatives), stripping and shooting plates. Not only does the technology reduce costs and increases productivity, proponents of CTP claim it offers better consistency and higher quality because it eliminates the risk of human error, because the file is transmitted digitally to the plate material.