To provide a printing plate making apparatus which is prevented from occurring of a failure of a master set, and failure of printing such as void or the like by preventing occurrence of the film cut of the master or the tear of the master during initialization of a master, and to provide an apparatus for plate making and printing.

When the front edge of a master 8 is detected by a master front edge detection sensor 7 during initialization of the master, a contact and separation means 12 estranges a thermal head 3 from a platen roller 2, thereafter a platen roller 2 and a back tension roller pair 4 convey the master 8 by a constant amount in a reverse direction B until the front edge of the master 8 is no longer detected by the master front edge detection sensor 7.

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