Chicago (Print 05 & Converting 05) -- RIPit Computer Corporation announces plans to offer its small-format, instant and quick-printers a RIPit branded violet digital plate, manufactured by Citiplate for use with RIPit's SpeedsetterTM Violet Metal (VM) CtP systems. These plates will use one of Citiplate's proprietary violet photopolymer technologies, fine-tuned for optimum exposure and throughput in the 405 nm, 60 mW violet laser diode imaging engines used the SpeedSetter VM. RIPit's SpeedSetter VM-series platesetters offer industry-standard, drum-quality in a compact, easy-to-use, and reliable package; and come standard with RIPit's OpenRIP Symphony Workflow with Adobe PostScript 3. The OpenRIP Symphony Workflow utilizes RIPit's award-winning, core OpenRIP technology. Citiplate says that the first RIPit brand violet digital plates it will manufacture will use standard chemical processing after imaging. However, the firm says that it also will manufacture a process-free violet digital plate for RIPit brand plates. This uses another Citiplate "no-process" violet photopolymer technology. These process-free RIPit brand plates will self-develop on-press, after imaging, within a few turns of the cylinders. Users of these no-process plates will not need a plate processor and thus will gain savings in time, labor and costs. No-process RIPit brand violet digital plates are expected to be marketed in 2006 through the established RIPit sales channel. No-process violet has been called an optimum CtP choice for small-format commercial printers because the technology leads to uncomplicated handling and provides printer-favorable economics. There is no plate processor to buy or lease, or to occupy floor space. Smaller shops that switch to no-process plates can use that space to advantage, for example, to add another press. There is also no processing chemistry to repetitively buy, replenish, and discard, and no loss of time or manpower to processor maintenance. Time saved with no-process CtP can be better used in getting more jobs onto and off the press each day. The key business benefit is higher equipment utilization, with faster job turnaround to customers. Wayne Wasulko, President of RIPit says: "RIPit is pleased to be working closely with Citiplate. This partnership will bring rapidly evolving violet plate technologies to RIPit's customers as soon as they are available." Gary Dolgins, Citiplate CEO says: "Citiplate Imaging Technologies is excited to be providing violet digital plate technology to RIPit, a recognized supplier of total solutions to franchised instant and quick printing businesses and smaller-format printer groups. We have worked closely with RIPit to optimize violet digital plates for the SpeedSetter. We believe that the RIPit brand name and RIPit's market access will make possible widespread adoption of another of Citiplate's violet digital plate technologies, bringing real savings in time, labor and costs to the instant and quick-print segment."