Kodak Trendsetter Q400/Q800 Platesetters
Thermal CTP Platesetter | SquareSpot Imaging | Up to 75 pph | MCU 480-Plate Automation | Sonora Compatible
OVERVIEW
The Kodak Trendsetter Q400/Q800 is Kodak’s flagship thermal CTP platesetter for commercial and publication printers — combining 20+ years of trusted SquareSpot imaging technology with significant new advances in automation, speed, and energy efficiency. With the W-speed option delivering up to 75 plates per hour, a Multi-Cassette Unit (MCU) holding up to 480 plates across 4 cassettes, power consumption reduced to 770 watts during imaging, and full compatibility with Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates, the Trendsetter Q400/Q800 is engineered for printers who need the highest throughput, the lowest environmental footprint, and the deepest automation of any CTP device in its class.
- TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- WHY CHOOSE Kodak Trendsetter Q400/Q800 Platesetters?
General
| Technology | 830 nm external-drum thermal CTP with Kodak SquareSpot Imaging Technology |
| Repeatability | ± 5 microns between two consecutive exposures on the same plate |
| Accuracy | ± 20 microns between two plates imaged on the same device |
| Registration | ± 25 microns between image and plate edge |
| Imaging Power | 770 W during imaging |
| Plate Gauge | 0.15 – 0.30 mm (standard); 0.15 – 0.20 mm (thin gauge) |
Q400 vs. Q800 — Performance & Format
| Specification | Q400 Platesetter | Q800 Platesetter |
| Throughput — F (SA/AU) | 30 pph | 22 pph |
| Throughput — X (SA/AU) | 43 pph | 34 pph |
| Throughput — F (AL/SCU/MCU) | 33 pph | 24 pph |
| Throughput — X (AL/SCU/MCU) | 50 pph | 41 pph |
| Throughput — W (AL/SCU/MCU) | 75 pph | 66 pph |
| Reference Plate Size | 838 × 724 mm | 838 × 1,030 mm |
| Max Plate Size (standard) | 838 × 990 mm | 838 × 1,143 mm |
| Max Plate Size (AU/AL/SCU/MCU) | 838 × 990 mm | 838 × 1,118 mm |
| Min Plate Size (standard) | 267 × 215 mm | 267 × 215 mm |
| Min Plate Size (AU/AL/SCU/MCU) | 330 × 270 mm | 330 × 270 mm |
| Max Image Area (standard) | 827.9 × 990 mm | 827.9 × 1,143 mm |
| Max Image Area (AU/AL/SCU/MCU) | 827.9 × 990 mm | 827.9 × 1,118 mm |
| Best For | 4-up commercial print | 8-up commercial & publication |
Imaging Specifications
| Resolution — Standard | 2400 dpi / 1200 dpi |
| Resolution — Optional | 2540 dpi / 1270 dpi |
| Resolution — High-Res | 4800 dpi or 5080 dpi (optional) |
| Max Line Screen | 450 lpi |
| FM Screening | 25-, 20-, or 10-micron Kodak Staccato Screening (optional) |
Physical Characteristics
| Standard (H × W × D) | 160 × 200 × 120 cm 650 kg |
| Auto Unload | 170 × 200 × 128 cm 762 kg |
| Autoloader | 184 × 200 × 128 cm 796 kg |
| SCU | 186 × 233 × 231 cm 1,158 kg |
| MCU | 191 × 233 × 254 cm 1,837 kg |
| Inline Punch System | 102 × 151 × 120 cm 177 kg |
| Long Unload + Plate Rotation | Height +50 cm; depth +53 cm; weight +10 kg |
| Laser Safety Class | Class 1 Laser Product — EN60825-1; US 21 CFR 1040.10 (CDRH) |
Workflow Connectivity
| Standard Workflow | Kodak Print Console with TIFF Downloader Software (included) |
| Kodak Integration | Connects to Kodak Prinergy Workflow |
| Third-Party Workflows | Compatible with most third-party workflow systems |
| JDF/JMF Option | Job and device status connectivity in Print Console (optional) |
| Remote Monitoring | Kodak Mobile CTP Control App — Android & iOS (optional) |
| Inline Punch | Up to 10 customised punch heads — automatic centering (optional) |
Description
SquareSpot Imaging Technology — Dependable, Consistent Quality
- Kodak’s SquareSpot Technology — standard in every Trendsetter — images a precisely shaped square dot that delivers dependable accuracy regardless of plate emulsion sensitivity, processor variation, or laser power fluctuations. This consistency reduces plate remakes, minimizes press make-ready time, and enables stable color reproduction across long press runs — directly reducing production costs.
W-Speed — Up to 75 pph
- The W-speed option (available with Autoloader, SCU, and MCU configurations) delivers up to 75 plates per hour for Q400 (838 × 724 mm plates) and up to 66 pph for Q800 (838 × 1,030 mm plates). Three speed options — F, X, and W — allow throughput to be matched precisely to production requirements. W-speed is fully compatible with Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates.
MCU — 480-Plate Fully Automated Production
- The Multi-Cassette Unit (MCU) is the most advanced automation option — holding up to 480 plates in 4 cassettes (up to 120 plates each), enabling up to 4 different plate sizes online simultaneously. The required cassette is automatically selected by job definition. The MCU is up to 65% smaller than comparable MCU solutions, reducing floor space requirements significantly.
770W Imaging Power — Up to 90% Energy Saving
- A new cooling system reduces power consumption during imaging to just 770 watts — a saving of up to 30% vs. previous models and up to 90% compared to some competitor CTP devices. Full compatibility with Sonora Process Free Plates eliminates plate processing chemistry and its associated environmental and waste disposal costs entirely.
Inline Punch Option — Press-Ready Plates Automatically
- An optional inline punch system with up to 10 customized punch heads delivers press-ready plates directly from the platesetter — with automatic punch system adjustment for plate centering. Available with Auto Unload, Autoloader, SCU, and MCU configurations.
Mobile CTP Control App + JDF/JMF Connectivity
- The optional Kodak Mobile CTP Control App (Android and iOS) provides real-time remote monitoring of every Trendsetter device. JDF/JMF Connectivity delivers job and device status within the Print Console software — enabling MIS-integrated, fully automated prepress production workflows.
