Characterizing of Plate Images - Fact or Fantasy?

Direct-to-Plate and Direct Imaging are becoming increasingly important to the graphic arts offset market. To predict printed results, accurate characterization of an image on a printing plate would be very advantageous. Several different densitometer manufacturers have released instruments that claim to measure the printable features on lithographic offset plates. This paper will describe the results of an evaluation of four commercial manufacturers' densitometers that are presently available.