Hi all,
We had a new platesetter and began to use the thermal plates.Sometimes,We found some issues(scumming,black dot,grain,slight and short hole) on the non-image and considered the issues would come from the bad substrate,But the manufacturer insisted on our operation is puerile.How to distinguish the real reason?I want to test the substrate and triumph over the manufacturer.How to test?what should we test?
Help me!
Thanks!

hello noregret,

I would tell them to fix the problem or you will simply change to another manufacturer. Tell the plate mfr. that you are putting it (on them) to figure it out and deal with it, or show you how to deal with it. I would get a few boxes of Fuji LH-PJ in there and prove that the other plates do not have this problem. Tell your current plate supplier that is the plan, figure it out or you will have their competition figure it out. That will motivate them. This is why I use Fuji LH-PJ thermal plates because I never have a manufacturer problem using the best plates like that. Other manufacturers just don't have as good a quality control as FujiFilm. Good Luck.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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Wind Turbine Buyer's Guide


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Hi Joepostscript,
Thank you for your reply.Maybe this is a another solution.But I must give my boss a convincing report.So I must check the problem is out of our operations.If you can give me more technical details,That will be a kind favor for me.
Waiting for you...

I would call your rep in who you buy plates from and let him figure out that it is not their plates. These people are salesman. If they know you are having issues with their product, they will be in. I never really want to see my sales rep unless I have a problem. When I have a problem, thats when they need to be on their "A" game

Hi ClevelandPrinter,
That is a good solution.I should press the the manufacturer.As a new plate manager,I should learn the technology too.That is my second purpose.
Thanks

(1) Take a mini microscope, like a 60x or more, even a 15x loupe or whatever you have. Look at the affected area as compared to the non-affected area. Do this with ink on plate, dirty, then wipe off very clean, do same. What do you see is different in the two plates. Report back.

(2) If you don't keep a log of plate chemistry and processor maintenance, start with that. Clean it, replenish it, start a log of how many plates/days. You may notice that the problem goes away and comes back in about X number of days, or X number of plates. Shave that off about 20% and make that your plate processor change/clean interval. This could easily be that the plates are not cleaning up enough to print right. To test this, take plates, run through twice, see if problems go away. If they do, that can mean your processor brushes need to be replaced or tightened to give more scrubbing.

If you tell us what plates you are using, we can apply knowledge applicable to that brand and type of plate. Not all are same. With the brand mentioned, you will engage others who know that brand and use it.

Hope this helps. Glad you stated you are new to this. That usually gets a better response when we know you really need the help. Good luck, let me know if any of this helps or makes sense.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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Wind Turbine Buyer's Guide


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Hi Joepostscript,
Appreciation! I will try soon.

Is there anybody who come from plate manufacturers?I want to know how to check the plate substrate in plate company.Last time,I heard that some plate manufacturer make the substrate,Coat sensitive layer at different place.How to check the good or bad substrate?
Thanks

noregret,

As Joe said, if you can tell us what plate you are using, we may be able to help. Is it a positive or negative plate? If positive, you are imaging the background to clear away when developed. If negative, you are imaging the dots. With positive, if you do not have enough exposure, your background may not develop away and leave residue that is ink receptive and can cause toning on press. If you take some acetone and put it on the none image area of the plate, if there is emulsion left, it will show in the acetone. if there is, increase exposure until it is gone. You would then add more exposure to insure it is gone. If this is the case, get your CtP and plate provider in to set up the combination correctly. I would not even think of hesitating on this. They should be able to guide you and tell how to set up for their CtP, plate and chemistry, that is their job. This is just one possibility, it could be more as Joe points out. Plenty of variables, as Cleveland said, get the experts in to figure it out for you,

Regards,

Mark
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Mark Tonkovich
Heidelberg USA

Hi Mark,
I got it.We use chinese positive plate.Normally We use the alcohol to check if the substrate is clear.
You are Heidelberg's CTP and proof manage in USA.Nice to met you. In future,Can I send email to you?
We plan to change the plate and use the xingraphics Fit plate or others.
I heard from your Sapphire PN plate.Can you introduce it's specification?
Thanks

Hi noregret,

Nice to meet you too. The PN is our highest quality plate. I pasted a press release on it below.

Regards,

Mark

Heidelberg Announces Successful Launch Of Saphira Thermoplate PN Plate
KENNESAW, Ga., October 29, 2007 (company press release) – Heidelberg USA today announces the launch of its new Saphira Thermoplate PN plate technology, a positive-working offset aluminum plate designed especially for the Suprasetter line of computer-to-plate (CtP) devices.

"The Saphira Thermoplate PN plate is designed for 8-up Suprasetter customers who are looking for the highest quality plate," said Don Rogers, manager of product management, consumables, Heidelberg USA. "It supports FM and Hybrid screening up to 400 lines per inch, producing extremely high resolution day in and day out."

Available in 6, 8 and 12-gauge thicknesses, Saphira Thermoplate PN does not require pre-heating, is UV ink compatible and is highly resistant to pressroom chemistries. The plate is capable of more than 500,000 runs without baking, and more than one million impressions when baked. The new plate delivers fidelity for 1 – 99% at 200 lpi, 20 micron FM and up to 400 lpi 20 micron Hybrid screening.

The Brandt Company, a general commercial printer in Davenport, Iowa, has been using the Saphira Thermoplate PN plates in a controlled release for the past three months, and is reporting strong results.

"We’re running 350 hybrid screening and the plates are producing incredible image sharpness,” said Marc Brandt, The Brandt Company president. “They work with the Suprasetter’s imaging engine better than any other plates we’ve tried.”

Saphira Thermoplate PN plates support a wide range of sheetfed commercial printing applications and provide press operators with fast roll-up with excellent ink and water balance. They boost productivity by running at the maximum Suprasetter speeds. Designed with a patented two-layer coating technology, PN plates can be handled in normal white-light conditions.

To offer customers the broadest set of options for their CtP needs, Heidelberg provides an extensive line of thermal plate offerings, including both Violet and Thermal CtP plates. The Saphira Thermoplate PN is the newest addition to Heidelberg’s plate portfolio for the Suprasetter line, which also includes the Saphira Chemfree, Saphira Thermoplate PA and Saphira Thermoplate NA plates.
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Mark Tonkovich
Heidelberg USA

All here is good when it comes to plates, but that does not mean the press it is being run on can hold what you are trying to give it. I am not saying it can not, but when it comes to printing, it is not just one thing that can cause the problem. All of your chemicals/solutions along with the plate, the blanket, the press, the sheet run on all have the possibility of being an issue. To much of one chemical/solution and not enough of another makes for bad printing. Even an inexperienced pressman can make what should be a good printing job bad. Don't feel bad to bring the rep in, as well as reps from other plate manufacturers. They may want a crack at getting in the door with their plates and chemicals/solutions. For all you know, it may be a bad batch of plates.

Hi Mark,
Thank you for your official introduce.I had a chance to visit a big printware in past.The Kodak's Sword Ultra plate is two-layers.one is sensitive layer,the other is yellow layer that is hard to dissolve in the developer and must use the hard brush to remove.Furthermore,The 1by1 dot or line is not clear.So the resolution is just good.Is your plate same as Sword?
Kinds,
Noregret

Hi noregret,

If you compare run lenght, you can see we are different than Sword, we can bake and hit up to a million. I believe we are also higher resolution.

Regards,

Mark
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Mark Tonkovich
Heidelberg USA