Imagesetter film is a silver halide-coated plastic film very similar to normal black & white photographic film, except the spectral sensitivity is reduced to a much narrower band around the output of the laser of the individual imagesetter. This allows the film to be handled under a (usually red) safelight, instead of in total darkness like most photographic film.

Plates

Plates are the carriers of the images to be printed. One printing plate is required for each ink color printed. Metal plates are used to produce high quality, close-register printed images. Lesser quality plates can also be made out of plastic and paper.