The main difference lies in their activation method: Thermal Plates are activated by high-wavelength thermal lasers, while Violet Plates are activated by lower-wavelength violet light lasers. Thermal plates generally offer greater stability, and their dot accuracy is more reliable for extremely high print runs.

The Baking process for metal plates is performed after chemical development, where the plate is exposed to high temperatures to harden it. This thermal operation substantially increases the plate's chemical and mechanical resistance, allowing companies to confidently execute orders with multi-million print runs without needing plate replacement.