Plate Testing

[bullseyeph]

Hi Guys,

im basically a newbie on the printing industry and is currently task to do plate testing for a product. Just wanted to check if anyone on the forum has a SOP or a procedure or workflow that i can follow to be able to conduct a successful plate testing. I just need a generic guideline if there is any. Basically the scenario is to test our plate to various CTP's and combination of different chemicals.

Hope i am asking the right questions and in the right forum as well. Cheers to all..

[gordo]

Hi Guys,

im basically a newbie on the printing industry and is currently task to do plate testing for a product. Just wanted to check if anyone on the forum has a SOP or a procedure or workflow that i can follow to be able to conduct a successful plate testing. I just need a generic guideline if there is any. Basically the scenario is to test our plate to various CTP's and combination of different chemicals.

Hope i am asking the right questions and in the right forum as well. Cheers to all..

I'm not clear, from your description, on what it is that you're testing.
You're testing a plate?
You want to test how the plate reacts to exposure on various manufacturer's CtP devices?
You want to test how the plate reacts to different chemicals? I assume press chemicals or?
You're logged in as "agfaphsupport" - so, is this an Agfa plate you're testing?
If so, is this separate or in addition to Agfa's plate testing?

best, gordon p

[bullseyeph]

Hi gordo..

yup im testing an energy elite plate from agfa from various ctp system and chemicals...we did a plate test last week using a trendsetter platesetter. The problem is after 50-60k run the color "fades" which means that the promised run length of the energy elite was not achieved. We followed the optimised working condition for processing the plate and still after 50-60k run we got the same results.

Following the working condition for a specific plate are there any thing i can check maybe press condition, or paper to verify that its the external factor that affects the run length instead of the plate. When color fades it means that plate impression "erodes" easily? is this correct?

I hope i am asking the right questions here..

[rich apollo]

we're running the Energy Elite in a heatset web environment. You should get 10 times that run-length. No, they're not as tough as a baked plate, but they're tougher than that.

I'm wondering about your fountain solution. Getting the best out of these plates may require that you make adjustments to your pressroom chemistry.

Are the blankets piling? Is this performance consistent between different papers?

[gordo]

Hi gordo..
yup im testing an energy elite plate from agfa from various ctp system and chemicals...we did a plate test last week using a trendsetter platesetter. The problem is after 50-60k run the color "fades" which means that the promised run length of the energy elite was not achieved. We followed the optimised working condition for processing the plate and still after 50-60k run we got the same results.

Following the working condition for a specific plate are there any thing i can check maybe press condition, or paper to verify that its the external factor that affects the run length instead of the plate. When color fades it means that plate impression "erodes" easily? is this correct?

I hope i am asking the right questions here..

The platesetter has to be set up by a Kodak technician to properly expose the elite plate - not just process it. Agfa will likely have have an internal SOP for plate testing, which is where you should start.

Speaking in general terms, plate exposure and processing are usually done separately from press plate testing.
Press plate testing is usually done on a one color press that is not a commercial production press - it is only used for plate testing. That way its condition and consistency can be maintained and it can be eliminated as a cause for potential plate issues such as fading presswork.

Plate testing is probably one of the most boring press jobs there is because the same test targets are printed in one color day after day after day.

best, gordon p

[Kevin@Kodak]

The platesetter has to be set up by a Kodak technician to properly expose the elite plate - not just process it.

Because Energy Elite is a positive plate, exposure or imaging issues generally wouldn't effect the runlength of the plate (you're printing off the UN-exposed areas).

Unless you have a very controlled press environment like Gordo describes, the only testing you can do that's meaningful is "what works best for my press conditions" - a relative comparison of various plate types. Given your extremely short run length performance, I'd suspect either on-press chemical attack or possibly mechanical wear... but the list of possible variables is as long as my arm.

Kevin.

[gordo]

Because Energy Elite is a positive plate, exposure or imaging issues generally wouldn't effect the runlength of the plate (you're printing off the UN-exposed areas).

My negative attitude tripped me up :-)

best gordon p

[Kevin@Kodak]

My negative attitude tripped me up :-)

best gordon p

It's sad that the first thing I looked for after reading your post was the "like" button.

[SteveAgfa]

Kevin:

Thank you for your positive comments about Agfa's Energy Elite plates!

(smile)

Happy New Year!

REgards,

[Kevin@Kodak]

Kevin:

Thank you for your positive comments about Agfa's Energy Elite plates!

(smile)

Happy New Year!

REgards,

Well, it was the only positive thing I could think to say about them.

Just kidding - lets start the year on a friendly note. Happy 2011 to you too!

Kevin.