No worries... there are many factors which contribute to a best fit decision.
Ironically, Azura's the closest thing we have in platemaking to that popular claim:
"Just set it, and forget it!"
I certainly understand your reluctance after having difficulties with an on-press clean-out plate.
That's why we prefer to call (and coincidentally Zarwan classifies) Azura as a "chem-free", rather
than a "processless" plate.
I admire your loyalty.
Regards,
Steve Musselman, Agfa Graphics - USA,
Senior Corporate Account Executive
This entire thread is comparing the Fuji process plate LHPJ against Agfa's so called processless plate that uses a processor. Of course you will have less chemistry usage. Perhaps you should compare it against the Fuji Processless Ecomaxx T which uses no chemistry or processor at all. That would make it a little fairer on the chemistry side of things. Just trying to keep apples to apples not apples to oranges.
LHPJ is capable of much higher quality printing (actually better than most know) but is of a different technology than the AGFA product and therefor there is no comparison.
Comparing Fuji,s chem. free to AGFA's product makes more sense.
As I stated earlier - "Choose the right plate for your application", and certainly if your application requires high quality and-or long runs LHPJ should be the right choice.
Your sign on moniker makes me wonder if we have met in the past?
We prefer to call Azura "chem-free", to denote the difference to "processless" plates which clean-out on press. Even this clean-out on press has a process, as there are several variables before and on press. Part of the goal is to drive-out as many variables as possible, and the Azura system has done just that.
But to Murray's point - this seems to have been a discussion about a distribution channel for Prepper rather than technology. The apples to apples comparison would be Energy Elite to LHPJ - both fine plates. In fact, I've recently completed some significant conversions, not because LHPJ is not a good plate, but because Elite provided enough process improvement for the customers to warrant the effort to change. I'm sure there are stories to the converse as well... again LHPJ to Elite - both good plates.
What's interesting about this apples to oranges comparison, as Murray sez, is finding the best fit for the customer. One can easily read specs off of a data sheet, and claim one plate better than the other, but we're finding more and more best fit with Azura. Yes, I've even replaced LHPJ with Azura at high quality shops. The point is, Azura is migrating "up-market", not based on marketing, but based on market success.
Regards,
Last edited by SteveAgfa; 03-17-2010 at 10:05 AM.
Steve Musselman, Agfa Graphics - USA,
Senior Corporate Account Executive
Just to be clear - Quality is quite often subjective. when I refer to quality, 2-98% resolution will not cut the mustard.
This is not a reflection on the AGFA product it is only a clarification of where I am comming from. When you talk about replacing LH-PJ with AZURA in quality shops then I would have to question your interpretation of quality versus my interpretation of quality.
Again - too many evaluations are based off of a spec sheet.
As you know, often times a spec sheet covers the lowest common denominator. We've had shops do exclusively 20 micron FM screening with Azura. While the spec sheet doesn't rate Azura as such, but, given a run length of 50,000 for FM, users do it daily.
Then again, one of our early 20 micron FM/Azura users has since switched to Sublima, due to its smoother flat tints. I believe he's doing 280 line, although the product is spec'd for 240. After all, each of these screenings have the same size minimum dot - a 21 micron 2x2 pixel dot.
While the subject of this thread might not be an apples to apples comparison, it's great to see Azura openly compared to high quality chemistry-based thermal plates. This illustrates that Azura is breaking out of the genre, and into the mainstream.
Regards,
Steve Musselman, Agfa Graphics - USA,
Senior Corporate Account Executive
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