Azura TS Plates Small Dots in the Non Image Area's

We use the Azura TS plates and we are getting dots in the non image area's. But this only happens when we use plates manufactured in France. The US plates look fine.
The dots are small and look like a 1% dot that are scattered throughout the non image areas. They pick up ink and vary from plate to plate. Has anyone experienced this issue? If so what have you done to correct it?

Thank you
Shawn Meyer
Sexton Printing
 
The only time I have seen anything even like this was when the calibration file for the plates was calling for a 2% dot at what should have been zero. One recommendation would be to check the calibration. The only other thing that comes to mind is to ask if you have sent a "France" plate through the processor un-imaged. That would rule out that the dot is being imaged on the plate even though it is a "non-image" area.
 
The dots in the background appear on plates in non-image areas, they appear to dissipate if we scrub the plates. Almost like the bits of the emulsion are floating around in the non image areas and get compressed into the plate when running on press. We do not see this issue with plates manufactured in the US. So we are thinking it has something to do with the process in France or if the plates sit to long the emulsion does not come off as easy in the clean out unit, or oxidization.
 
To test only: Try to manually wash unexposed plate. Second test it to wash an unimaged plate with a sponge and dish detergent and plenty of water.
If the dots do not appear, it has something to do with washing.
When did you last thorughly wash the plate washer? Is the washing gum near ending?

Regarding emulsion not coming off easy, do not keep Azura TS plates without black plastic cover in the box. If they sit too long in light (matter of days), then tend to do so.
Also, do the pressure test on plate washer.

There is another catch: if a different batch from France makes the same problem, ask you supplier if they transported the plates in proper container (meaning with optimal temperature). Or too high temperature at your place for storing the plates also could make the problem (but that would happen with all plates and plate types).
 
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Hello everyone,

we are having this problem for approximatly 9 months now. We did a lot of testing in our company, had people from Agfa over to have a look at our plates and the washing unit, and we even had some of our plates analysed by Agfa within their lab.
They suggested that we are having a problem with our water and its PH value.

We are currently changing water every 3 - 4 weeks, problem is still on. The washing unit gets cleaned on a regular bases, still on. We tried a lot of things but the dots didn't disappear.
Most people, specialists from agfa and other companies, suggested that the problem with the dots is an issue of our printing machine. But while checking on our machine they tell us everything is fine with it.

We are currently at a point where everyone has his or her's own point of view on the issue and claims to be right, but it doesn't solve the case. I'm not even sure if our plates are all from france or other countries, we're just not making progress with the problem.


Beeing logical it must have something to do with the plates themselves, because when we change a set of plates against a new one most of the time the dots are gone.

It's hard to get a straight point on this one. Is anyone of you people making progress within this issue ?

Regards,

Alex
 
I believe we are experiencing the same issue. I would describe the dots as random shape specs. (like stars in the night sky) It only happens on occasion. (about every 10 plates) we use 6 and 8 gage plates. We have tried some of the remedy's mentioned in this thread.
Hopefully the Agfa people will sort this out soon.
 
We've seen this issue. Looked like a prepress issue until we checked the fount on press!
Your minders may be claiming that all is fine on press, but ask your agfa tech rep to check it out they can do a quick audit of chemistry.
 
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This issue has not gone away. Our press guys are still getting these dot/spots. I called smeyer1984 and he also is still dealing with this. If anyone else on the planet is having this issue, let's hear it. We need to get the word out so Agfa can better solve this.
 
To to print with blank unimaged plate thoroughly washed with dish detergent and soft dish sponge and cleaned with a lot of water. Make sure you removed all of emulsion. DO NOT GUM IT OR ANYTHING! You can put it wet into printing machine. If you get spots on printing machine, there is no need to look in prepress.
 
To to print with blank unimaged plate thoroughly washed with dish detergent and soft dish sponge and cleaned with a lot of water. Make sure you removed all of emulsion. DO NOT GUM IT OR ANYTHING! You can put it wet into printing machine. If you get spots on printing machine, there is no need to look in prepress.

Be very very care full with the dish detergent. If you get the slittiest little bit in you press inker or water system you will be screwed.
It will require draining your complete water system and flushing with clean water at least 5 times. The inker will require washing up then adding ink let run for 3 to 4 minutes then wash up again and repeat this at least 3 times.
 
Dots/Spots before your eyes

Dots/Spots before your eyes

Hello fellow Lithographers,


Tomcatinc. - the procedure you suggest is Rubbish!

Gentlemen, some questions first,

1 is these Dots/Spots appearing on the first good sheet? 2 are these Dots/Spots only apparent after

a press stop/start? 3 or are they occuring only on certain areas of the plate?

4 do your printers gum the plates before a long press stop?

My suggestion,

Pass a unexposed coated plate through the processor, the same plate twice, mount the plate,

drop the dampeners then inkers and start printing using a sandwich of good/waste sheets

until you get clean sheets, if the result is clean sheets you have a press problem.


Regards, Alois
 
Hello fellow Lithographers,

1 is these Dots/Spots appearing on the first good sheet? 2 are these Dots/Spots only apparent after

a press stop/start? 3 or are they occuring only on certain areas of the plate?

4 do your printers gum the plates before a long press stop?
Regards, Alois

1 Usually after a few make readys.

3 Usually in white areas near image print area.

4 we don’t normally use gum.
 
Be very very care full with the dish detergent. If you get the slittiest little bit in you press inker or water system you will be screwed.
It will require draining your complete water system and flushing with clean water at least 5 times. The inker will require washing up then adding ink let run for 3 to 4 minutes then wash up again and repeat this at least 3 times.

That is exactly why I said to clean the plate with a lot of water.
 
We've occasionally had this issue ourselves with Azura plates - each time the finger has pointed at prepress, but after investigation it transpires the problem is press related (usually fount contamination).
 

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