Patent ID: 7213515

Claim:
A data creating device for printing plates that optimizes image data for use in forming printing plates, using a printing press comprising a feed reel for feeding a printing film onto a circumference of a plate cylinder from a circumference recess formed in said plate cylinder, a rewind reel for rewinding said printing film fed from said feed reel so as to draw said printing film from said circumference of said plate cylinder, and an image forming device for forming an image on said printing film placed on said circumference of said plate cylinder, wherein said data creating device detects a maximum position of said image data in a plate transfer direction; said data creating device deletes data downstream of said maximum position in said plate transfer direction, thereby creating optimized image data; said data creating device stores said optimized image data in a memory to be used in forming said printing plates; and said data creating device controls an amount of printing film to be fed onto said circumference of said plate cylinder of said printing press for each printing operation using said optimized image data to form said printing plates, so that an image for said each printing operation is formed on said printing film by said image forming device with a leading edge of each printing sheet to be printed positioned at an edge of said rewind reel of said circumference of said plate cylinder.