Background theory: laser light; analog or digital screening; colour recognition and colour mixing; PostScript, what is it?; light-sensitive layers; digital measurements and units. Computer to plate. The principles of direct exposure: the task; the internal-drum exposure method; the external-drum solution; the flatbed solution; possibilitites and limitations of the different methods of plate exposure; the plate sizes; general problems; the plates used in "computer to plate" systems; checklist for the choice of recorder. Economical considerations of the "computer to plate" system: retouche, trapping, etc.; plate exposure and development. The right choice. The other system components for "computer to plate": the RIP, intermediate storage devices and control computers; networking to components; digital proofers; scanners for pre-processing; workstations lay-out; the programs; other important programs; the need for calibration. The people and the companies. Outlook.
