What is the difference between capstan and drum imagesetters?
Capstan imagesetters and drum imagesetters use different technology for imaging the film. The imaging principle of capstan imagesetters is similar to that of typewriter. With capstan imagesetters, there is a roller that advances the media through the imaging area. The laser is fixed, and a mirror or prism distributes the laser beam across the media to image it as it advances. With drum imagesetters, the film is held stationary onto the drum while the imaging head moves along a spindle to expose the film. Because there is less movement involved during imaging, there is less possibility for error, and the output from drum imagesetters has better registration than the output from capstan imagesetters. While the majority of capstan imagesetters can produce good process color, it does not equal the output from a drum imagesetter. Whether you should choose a capstan or drum imagesetter depends on your budget, output size requirements, and quality requirements. Capstan imagesetters are usuall
