Abstract: Products, methods and inventive uses for introducing from an in-color subject image with pictorial content (14) and to electrostatic printing plates (21, 23, 25 and 27), respective ones of offset transfer images for four color separations from the subject image (22C, 24M, 26Y and 28K) by means of copier apparatus with a color separations function (30); and, making objectively superior printed images by the plates with the introduced transfer images. The subject image is supplied to the platen (31) of the apparatus. The plates are presented to the apparatus at or by an access facility such as an external tray (34) or a casette (38) at an internal site (37). The apparatus is worked in the function with reference to supplied subject image and presented plates. The introductions occur as, in the course of the working, the plates operationally transit of the apparatus. Thereafter, each plate may be etched and then mounted on a press (40).

Abstract: Processes, products and inventive uses for improved gray scales in pictorial content of monochrome printed matter and involving a color laser copier (30). An exemplary process presents a subject image (14) to a laser color copier, supplies an electrostatic printing plate (20) to the copier, and introduces the subject image directly to the plate as a transfer image (14') by operating the copier. The process confers superior gray scale capability to the plate and prepares the plate, as later mounted on a printing press (40), to produce printed matter (43) wherein printed image (14") corresponds to the subject image and is characterized by improved gray scale. An exemplary product, as an article of manufacture, is a printing plate with the directly-introduced transfer image. An inventive use is use or operation of the copier directly to make--from subject image on its copy board (31)--the transfer image on the printing plate.