4. DIGITAL IMPOSITIONS

The trend in the industry in general is towards automated imposition using powerful imposition softwares
like Preps , Presswise , Impostrip and Signastation. See Fig.#15 to appreciate the significant difference
between doing impositions by the conventional method and doing the similar activity on computer
workstations using digital files.

Stripping in films on a layout flat Imposing layouts digitally

Unlike the conventional method where layouts have to be physically transported to the exposing frames and
then developed, the digital layout can be transmitted directly to CTP engines with in-line plate processors
to output printing plates. It obviates the need to use films to create imposition layouts and the results are
usually more accurate and consistent over the long term.

However, some clients still prefer to supply analog films and these have to be stripped in manually unless they
are prepared to convert these films into a digital format using copy-dot scanning methods.