Talking about how to make a perfect printing plate

The only suitable chemical solution is not enough. To achieve the best printing effect, the only way is that the actual medium for transmitting text and image data, namely the printing plate, must also be perfect. Although thermal plate imaging and post-processing are relatively straightforward, they still require certain expertise and technology.

Regardless of its purpose, even the most advanced computer-to-plate machines include a small picture studio. Although the tedious process of punching has been omitted, the image plate making still needs to be accurate, which means that the imaging time and energy must be accurate. It is also important to check the developer and other development parameters regularly. If something goes wrong at one point, it may lead to banding on the printed matter. This stripe pattern appears as a thin line or stripe with a spacing of 1-2.5 mm, which can destroy the effect of the entire printed image.

Production personnel should develop habits and pre-check the pre-press links, including the settings of the platesetter, so that no valuable printing time is wasted when looking for the cause of the failure. Although the world's most advanced CtP devices (such as the Heidelberg Super Series) can continuously monitor and adjust the laser power, incorrect settings will inevitably lead to unpleasant results. Therefore, regardless of what plate-making equipment is used, check the plate loading and unloading system regularly to keep abreast of the mechanical wear. As for printing plates, they should also be stored in the correct way to ensure that their sensitivity and imaging performance are intact.

It goes without saying that chemical potions also play a key role in the development process. For example, the balance between potable water consumption and evaporation must be balanced and stabilized to ensure that the developer does not show signs of fatigue. Not only that, people also need to observe the consumption and oxidation status of the medicine every day in order to replenish the developer solution. Otherwise, the developing effect will gradually weaken. In some cases, the water on the developer's squeeze roll back into the developer tank can also have undesirable consequences. In order to prevent the thinning of the developer, it is also necessary to check the setting of the squeezer of the developing machine and the water spray position of the spray pipe. The worker can evaluate the status of the developer by measuring the pH of the developer (for photopolymer plates) or conductivity (for a variety of thermal plates).

If the syrup is in the normal state but the printing effect is still not clear, you need to check the plate transfer condition more carefully. If there is developer pulsation on the plate when it passes through the developer, the chain tension or the drive roller needs to be readjusted. The last point is also very important, like the problems encountered by many traditional photo studios, the developer may be overheated or undercooled. For safety purposes, digital or alcohol thermometers should be used to monitor whether the heating or cooling system is functioning properly, and the use of traditional mercury thermometers poses a safety risk and, once broken, it can affect the entire equipment. The ideal temperature for the developer is specified by the plate supplier.

All in all, in order to ensure a smooth printing process, we must first ensure that platemaking meets standards. In this regard, all the testing functions carried by the Heidelberg platemaking equipment can be demonstrated. The operator can use this to complete the daily inspection work more easily, especially for the actual development process. In other words, they can get effective help at any time to ensure the stability of the entire production. Heidelberg Saifei Yang's plates and developing potions can effectively ensure the smooth operation of prepress photo studios. In order to minimize downtime, a fully configured Superbus can even provide Heidelberg service engineers with detailed information on the operation of the equipment or prompt them to replace a wear part. This work can be done in seconds via the Internet. If modern "picture studio assistants" can quickly process data, they can save time and costs, reduce problems - and benefit everyone in the printing process.