(Digital Imaging press) A four-color offset press that exposes the printing plates on the press itself. Unlike a traditional offset printing press in which the plate processing is done externally, either via exposure to film or via computer-to-plate (CTP), the DI press loads blank plates and images them automatically.
Registration is improved because the plates are loaded onto the machine before they are imaged. In addition, DI presses are waterless and do not require continuous ink-water balancing as do traditional offset presses.
First introduced by Heidelberg in 1993, DI presses provide faster prepress time for short runs, although they are increasingly being used for longer runs. See CTP, digital printing, prepress and offset press.
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