The CTF process is the “Computer-to-film” process in which the printing plates are not directly exposed, but first an offset film is exposed as an intermediate product, which then is exposed onto the final printing plate.

Compared to CTP “Computer-to-plate” platesetting CTF is cheaper, but also slower and the analog exposure on the printing plate is not as precise as CTP.

The CTP process is the “computer-to-plate” process in which the printing plates are produced directly in CtP platesetters without the use of films.

Compared to the classic film exposure with transfer to the printing plate, CtP is faster, more accurate and has less distortion by eliminating the analog transfer. But it is also more expensive, and by elimination of the film, the CTP printing plates can not be stored for later reprinting.