The optics and electronics have been repackaged inside a Japanese-sourced densitometer casing, which it claimed has made it more robust, easier to use and more comfortable.

The firm found that its original incarnation as a modified PC webcam had put off potential customers due to its appearance.

Despite that, in the year since it was launched Troika has notched up several hundred sales of the LithoCam and its smaller sibling, the PlateCam.

The 995 device uses the processing power of a host PC and software to analyse dots on plate, film and paper. Because it uses a PC for processing, Troika can respond quickly to new plates should it need to upgrade the software, and makes downloads of the latest versions freely available from the website.

It can read dot sizes down to 10 microns, has an accuracy of +/- 0.5% and takes one second per reading.

Story by Barney Cox