process lens

Definition: Optic designed to make separation film for colour printing plates from pasted up originals. * Typically, the construction is symmetrical, it is designed for 1:1 to about 4:1, with a field of about 40! at f/9 with high resolution, no distortion and apochromatic correction. * Focal lengths vary to accommodate different size paste-ups and film. Hats off and heads down For the process lens is passing away, along with all the accompanying plate-making technology that was once the back-bone of mass production printing. For it is all being replaced by the virtual page -- churned out by the millions now by software such as XPress, Framemaker and InDesign -- which is being turned to film by image-setters which cost little more than one process lens did.

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