I-Image STE vs. I-Image ST + Starlight

[BorisB]

From price point of view, it costs about the same. From what I know, but I don't know much. Or am I wrong with this point.

With STE  you work faster. Or not  much?

With Starlight you can still expose screen using films. For the time I-Image might not be working for whatever reason.  Or in case you find positives in archive, but cannot locate files. Because it's reorder from 1992.

But maybe you can use LED on STE even if printing part (head, etc...) is not working? But it's probably the same drive for exposing and printing.

Than again two machines most likely give you more maintenance and most likely more breakdowns than one machine.

More scenarios and concerns?


Boris

[Alex M]

From price point of view, it costs about the same. From what I know, but I don't know much. Or am I wrong with this point.

With STE  you work faster. Or not  much?
You will be working fast as you have to handle the screens fewer times.
With Starlight you can still expose screen using films. For the time I-Image might not be working for whatever reason.  Or in case you find positives in archive, but cannot locate files. Because it's reorder from 1992.
Yes, you can still do film, but you will need to take the retro kit off for the CTS screens and put the glass back on (roughly 30 min)
But maybe you can use LED on STE even if printing part (head, etc...) is not working? But it's probably the same drive for exposing and printing.
This is possible, but with nothing to hold the film to the screen (glass/vacuum) it will not work.
Than again two machines most likely give you more maintenance and most likely more breakdowns than one machine.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[BorisB]

From price point of view, it costs about the same. From what I know, but I don't know much. Or am I wrong with this point.

With STE  you work faster. Or not  much?
You will be working fast as you have to handle the screens fewer times.
With Starlight you can still expose screen using films. For the time I-Image might not be working for whatever reason.  Or in case you find positives in archive, but cannot locate files. Because it's reorder from 1992.
Yes, you can still do film, but you will need to take the retro kit off for the CTS screens and put the glass back on (roughly 30 min)
But maybe you can use LED on STE even if printing part (head, etc...) is not working? But it's probably the same drive for exposing and printing.
This is possible, but with nothing to hold the film to the screen (glass/vacuum) it will not work.
Than again two machines most likely give you more maintenance and most likely more breakdowns than one machine.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

We need to be able to fit/retrofit  MHM clamping system (FPU) to it. That's basically long air cylinder. It's probably our job to do it?


Boris

[screenprintguy]

Speak with a few guys here on the board using the STE in busy shops. Danny G and Bimmrider have them. One guy does at least 100 screens a day and is in about 2 years with an STE, the other about a year or so with the STE doing over 200 in his busy season. They can tell you the reliability factor. If you use Diazo emulsions or longer exposing emulsions for WB printing/Discharge, you may want to go with the two separate units or look at the STE 2. We have the 2 separate units, but I can see how nice it would be to have a screen come out of the unit ready for rinse. I think it's all about what you are comfortable with, both have their advantages.