Digital Flexo Plates
Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: A digital flexo plate carries a thin black laser-ablation mask (LAMS). A laser in your imager removes the mask where the image should print, and UV exposure hardens those areas — no film, finer dots, rounder shoulders. CTPPress digital flexo plates run on standard solvent washout, so the plate room stays the same. See the flexo plate range.
What are digital flexo plates?
Digital (LAMS) flexo plates are photopolymer plates with an integrated ablative mask. Instead of exposing through a film negative, the imager’s laser writes the image directly onto the mask; a normal UV main exposure then hardens the printed areas, and washout proceeds as usual. The mask gives sharper edges than film contact, which is why digital plates hold smaller highlight dots and smoother vignettes on film and label work.
How LAMS imaging works
The workflow has four steps: the imager ablates the mask dot by dot; back exposure sets the floor; main exposure hardens image areas through the opened mask; washout, drying and post-exposure finish the plate. Because the mask is bonded to the plate, there is no film to stretch, register or store — repeat jobs image identically months apart. Typical screening on our digital grades reaches 1–98% at 150 lpi with independent lines down to 0.10 mm, depending on gauge.
Digital vs analog in practice
Buyers sometimes assume going digital means changing the whole plate room. In practice the washout, drying and finishing stay identical — only imaging changes, and film disappears. Digital pays for itself on process colour, fine screens and tight registration on labels and flexible packaging; analog remains the economical standard for corrugated postprint, where big coarse-screen plates dominate. Many plants run both: digital for labels and film work, analog for corrugated. Our flexo plate overview compares gauges and hardness, and the plate making process guide walks through the steps.
Tell us your imager model, gauge and ink system and we match the grade — trial plates via sample request, pricing via request a quote.
FAQ
Which imagers do your digital plates run on?
Standard LAMS imagers. Send your model and we confirm compatibility and settings.
Can I keep my solvent processor?
Yes — digital plates wash out on the same solvent lines as analog plates.
Disclaimer: screening and process figures are typical values; confirm your grade in the TDS.
