When the Tulsa (Okla.) World implemented computer-to-plate in April the newspaper was already one step ahead of the game — make that two or three steps ahead.

The newspaper’s transition was made smoother thanks in large part to a workflow put in place nearly three years earlier, consisting of alfaQuest Technologies’ PrintExpress app, press and controls software from ABB Inc. and proofing software from Newscolor.

 

Because the apps were installed with a film workflow in mind, the initial PrintExpress configuration included RIPs and spoolers.

“At that time, it drove our (Agfa) 3850 filmsetters,” said Jesse Byers, information systems administrator for the daily.

When the World (daily, 120,583; Sunday, 171,602) commenced with its CTP install, consisting of two FasTrak 80 units from alfaQuest, the transition was simple.

“It was a great benefit that we were already on PrintExpress,” said David Bridges of the World’s prepress department. “We just pulled our film imagers and put the CTP units in place and we were up and running within 15 minutes after the equipment was installed.”

Photos: Tulsa World
Left to right, Jesse Byers, information systems administrator; Alvin Cyrus, technician; Bob Gutridge, production operations manager; Darrell Brown and Joe Day, technicians; and David Bridges of the prepress department, with one of the Tulsa World’s two FasTrak 180 CTP units from alfaQuest. The daily installed the first unit in April.
 

That is not to say the daily didn’t do its homework.

“We researched all of the available manufacturers at the time and we talked to other newspapers with different CTP units,” Bridges said. “We felt that alfaQuest was the best fit for the Tulsa World.”

 

One, two…

The daily installed the first CTP unit on April 2, and the second unit came on-line May 5. At the same time, the paper was also cutting down the web on its WIFAG press from 52 to 48 inches (see Newspapers & Technology, November 2006).

“We literally went with our first 48-inch edition the same day we started on CTP,” said Richard Major, information systems director.

Although the World opted for the 180-plate-per-hour FasTraks, Bridges said the daily is currently only outputting about 150 pph on each unit.

The paper purchased two Nela punch benders and sortation bins, which Byers said rely on barcodes generated from PrintExpress.

When the paper was imaging film it employed a plate scanner for ink presets on the press and when it transitioned to CTP, barcoding — previously managed through a proprietary SII front end — was set up solely to manage plate sortation.

“Now PrintExpress sends a TIFF file to ABB for the ink presets,” Byers said. “Instead of using the barcode to identify what page it is, it uses the filename and the page — so the barcode is just for sorting.”

Newspapers repeatedly cite speed and quality among the biggest benefits of CTP and the World is no different. However, Production Operations Manager Bob Gutridge also gives kudos for the improved quality his paper has seen to the X-Rite ATD News graybar scanner installed on each CTP device.

“That allows us to profile our color — we have them set up to regulate ink,” he said. “We didn’t close-loop it at this time, but we plan to look at that (with ABB) at some point.”

 

Profiling key

Profiling is imperative for the daily since 90 percent of its pages are color.

The World bid adieu to film on May 4, one day before it installed its second FasTrak and went 100 percent CTP.

“We put ourselves in a situation where we couldn’t really go back to film,” Gutridge said. “Going from 52 to 48 (inches) and eliminating film at the same time pretty much puts you in the CTP business right away.”

All agree that having laid the groundwork ahead of bringing in the platesetters proved crucial to the success of the transition.

“Without an established workflow this wouldn’t have been as easy for us,” Bridges said. “I think a lot of people overlook the workflow when they buy.”