Method for imaging flexographic plates

A method for reducing waste in imaging of flexographic plate by automatically calculating the associated cost of said flexographic plate comprising the steps of:

• receiving a file for imaging on a flexographic imaging device;
• displaying said file for imaging on a computer display;
• selecting a set of polygonal areas from said file for imaging in response to a cost calculation associated with said selected set of polygonal areas for producing said flexographic plate;
• automatically offering alternative polygonal areas based on automatic cost calculation analysis based on said selected polygonal areas wherein said cost calculation analysis includes cost of material and loaded labor cost reflected by said selected set of polygonal areas;
• ganging said selected polygonal areas into a compacted ganged file;
• imaging said compacted ganged file on said flexographic imaging device to produce compacted flexographic plate;
• cutting said compacted flexographic plate according to said selected set of polygonal areas into independent flexographic plate pieces;
• and
• mounting said flexographic plate pieces on a carrier while matching the original structure of said file for imaging.