CompuServe Messages

[ continuation ] First, an imagesetter is _not_ a laser printer, and cannot replace it as a quick proofing device. The low resolution of the laser printer is actually an advantage as a device to produce multiple, progressive working proofs of a design in progress. The higher resolution of the imagesetter often results in a job bombing that would have imaged on the lower resolution device (on which the potential for the problem at high resolution could have been discovered). There is also a _significant_ learning curve in aquiring the ability to operate these machines. Second, no hard copy actually comes out of an imagesetter. It exposes photographic media (film or paper) which then has to be sent through a processor. A decent rapid access chemistry processor or a litho chemistry processor runs about $7000. Although these machines are also available used. The true cost of a page of output is close to $5 in quantity. Third, the imagesetter is a very complex machine that depends on the simultaneous functioning of fantastically accurate components. Its electronic innards are the equivalent of a mini computer. Every board inside is a proprietary thing that bears no similarity with plug in boards on an Amiga or Mac other than the fact that both have a lot of chips on them. Only the manufacturer can or will repair a malfunctioning board. Go try to get a circuit diagram! The optical elements consist of a laser beam and a spinning octogonal mirror that are aligned to an accuracy measured in fractions of microns. The film drive mechanism has to drive a 12 inch wide roll of film past the laser output port at about half an inch a second so smoothly that there is not the slightest distortion down to a measurement of less than 1/2400 th of an inch. If one has obtained one of these machines for the 'street price' of $4000, that means that it has come from a private sale, not from the manufacturer. (Official factory reconditioned price of a 4300P is about $26,000). That of course means, no [ MORE ]