"Can you keep the plates?"
This is a common request made by clients and harks back to the time prior to computer to plate (CTP).
In truth many printers never kept the printing plates as storage and quality were an issue. Printers did, however, used to keep the film separations for around two years.
Today the situation is very different.
Films are no longer required to make the plates as this stage in the print process has been completely replaced by computerised/automated plate-making. Modern presses also have automated or semi- automated plate loading on to the press that requires pristine plates to work efficiently.
The result is that printer will now only keep the digital files for a job and as a result, if and when a reprint is required the printer will run a “fresh” new set of plates which also ensure that the plates are clean and free of any scratches etc.
The cost savings that used to be associated with such “straight reprints” are no longer apparent. However(!) the cost savings are made when the job is first originated as the charges for films have been lost completely. If you compare the cost of printing a job today with that of a similar job, say 10 years ago, it should be a lot cheaper!
“But what about the waste of all the plates?”
I don’t know of a printer that does not recycle their plates – they are collected on a regular basis by metal recyclers who will, generally melt them down and make…. more, new printing plates.
So in answer to the question “Can you keep the plates?” is…… “No!”