Kodak plates thermal direct

[CHAVEZ]

Hi everybody:

Could you tell me in your experience the performance of the chemical free plates from Kodak Thermal Direct? I appreciate your help and comments. Thanks

[Fatboysmart]

We have been using these plates for over 5 years now, and they work great. Only drawback is that the plates take longer to expose than convenional plates. (appr. 8 minutes for a SM52 or GTO plate).

Other then that we love working with them. No chemicals whatsoever needed, no more cleaning dirty processors etc.

[Amer]

Hi everybody:

Could you tell me in your experience the performance of the chemical free plates from Kodak Thermal Direct? I appreciate your help and comments. Thanks

We've been using them for about a year now.
The cons are the low visibility prior to processing on the press, the need to avoid prolonged light exposure, and they are somewhat more prone to scratching than conventional plates.
Other than that, they are great. Good dot, fast throughput, AND AS EVERYBODY POINTS OUT, NO MORE NASTY, DIRTY AND STINKING PLATE PROCESSORS TO CLEAN OUT! (also no water and electricity to waste with it).

[ChristopheF1]

Hi, the latest generation of the Kodak thermal direct plates -> " Sonora " gives an improved exposure speed ( on Heidelberg Suprasetters ) and a higher contrast before
it goes on the pres...but be a little care full...it is not all good news show...developing is done with the moist system of the press -> layer goes into the foutain solution..
Pms inkts...some develope the plate..others won't :-(
What I would propose...ask you supplier some test material...and print some random job with them...that would give you an idea how the plate feels on the press...
Also you printers should have an open mind on thermal direct.. ( if they don't have the clean the processor ;-) )
Succes

[gordo]

What I would propose...ask you supplier some test material...and print some random job with them...that would give you an idea how the plate feels on the press...

Printing a random job is not a test of anything. Just imagine if you went to your doctor for a health check up and she say she would just do a random test.
If you're serious about testing a different plate then take the time to plan and conduct an effective test.

Best gordo

[Alois Senefelder]

Hello fellow Lithographers and Smudgers of Ink on Paper


I'm appalled that On Press Developed Plates are used !

In lithography a great deal of time money and effort is used in obtaining the

correct Chemical Enriched F.S to print Sheet after Sheet trouble free

and yet some short-sighted people persist in - Polluting this crucial fluid.


Regards, Alois


P. S. Profit is made at the Delivery End of the Press -- NOT by skimping on plate imaging and development !!

[ChristopheF1]

I'm sorry, I might have not made myself clear enough, with random jobs, I was thinking about different linearisation, 175 lines, 200 lines, 4 color jobs, pms inkt... a long run, low coverage, high coverage That sort of things...
I don't want to go into to comparing a plate with a visit to the doctor :-)

[gordo]

@Alois, and others who are interested, I'm not an apologist for Kodak but the develop on press terminology is a misnomer and AFAIK there is no contamination of the fountain solution since since no "developing" takes place.

Best, gordo

[ChristopheF1]

I don't have any benefits by Kodak ( or Fuji, or anything else :-) )...maybe we should more go into the terms we 're using...Your right on the fact that there is no " development ",
the plate is " washed, processed, cleaned " on the press by means of ink and fountian solution -> non flashed/ non printing dots -> are "washed " away..
This is one the main issues on older ( Heidelberg & others ) that don't have a modern moisture system -> you can't use thermal direct type plates.
I would propose something like this -> Thermal direct -> prepared on the press/ Chemfree -> cleaned in a processor / developed -> with developer prepared in a processor.
( don't want to go into pre/post baked etc) I know its a rough shortcut...
On the other hand this all is leading us away from the intentional question...
My customers & I .... we have good very good experience with ( Kodak ) Thermal direct plates. They are very happy with them. for many reason they have chosen this type
of plate..and they don't wan't go to more conventional plates.

[CHAVEZ]

Dear Fatboysmart;

I appreciate your help, do you know why this plates takes a long time to exposure, I mean a 8 up would take almost 30 minutes to exposure? Thanks.