Paladio 2 or press problems?

[r00ter]

I have a verry big problem and haev to solve it verry quickly.
We recently bought a brand-new Paladio2 CTP, automatic loader, : glunz & jensen online proccessor, stacker, etc... We use only agfa plates (0,15mm), agfa chemicals. Calibrated all usable sceenings (150, 175 and 200 lpi, 2400, 300 dpi, dotshape round, eliptical; ABS, Sublima and Adobe Acurate). The separations seem ok when whatching the plates but when the machinist starts printing, i have a problem with the magenta/black plates.
When i have gradients with magenta or black in less than 80% percent color. the dotshape looks like exploded, verry verry ugly.
We're printing on a SM 52-5 that was more than ok until the CTP arrived (we had a herkules basic CTF). The machinist is a verry good one (the best in a city with 7 printshops).
We had techincal asistance from Haidelberg, changed the inks, the alcohool in it's normal limits, water ph is ok.
We don't know what else to try. Someone?
Thank you!
P.S.: If I haven't made myself understood please PM, or something

 

[VladCanada]

Probably you have a kind of overexposure of plates.
Trying to avoid a Toning Effect and make a background clear (I mean pure erroded Aluminum) you can use more exposure than nessessary.
In that case printing dots on plates look good... but borders of dots have a hidden destruction, visible on the press only after a short run
Calibration targets like AGFA DIGICONTROL STRIP on every plates could help you to find and keep a proper exposure.
Cyan and Yellow colors are lighter than Magenta and Black, and deffects are not so much visible.

 

[r00ter]

there are already so manny variables. please tell me wath to start with. after a digicontrol strip i realised that it's about an overexposure or underdevelop plate. I came to a good looking strip by decreasing laser freq and speed in processor but i have a question. does my previous linearizations affect the new settings?

 

[VladCanada]

Give me your e-mail and I'll send the User Manual for Digicontrol.
In case of Palladio you have to pay attemtion on 2X2 zone, not 1X1 because the Laser beam size.
Do you use Apogee workflow on site?

 

[r00ter]

apogee 5, only pdf, markers, crop marks, registrations,color bar everything allready made into pdf.
after annalazing the aga negative digicontrol strip. i realised that the laser might be out of focus. could ithis happen on a brand new ctp?

 

[VladCanada]

<<after annalazing the aga negative digicontrol strip. i realised that the laser might be out of focus. could ithis happen on a brand new ctp?>>
99% - Impossible.
BTW, check the facets of the Spinner Polygon.
Dusty/dirty mirror surface could give the similar effect like out of focus.

 

[r00ter]

i've cleaned the polygon, the lenses, calibrating laser intesity and got some real good plates. i made a quick job and putt it out to press. after 300 impressions i took out the plates, cleaned them and measured them again. i realised that i have a almoust 10% loss (40% cyan was 32, 80% was 71 and 100% was 92). almoust same result with magenta and black - yellow was irrelevant.
1.is this becouse of the first thing you told me? that hidden destruction of the dot?
2.can it be because of the chemistry?
3.is it a default value for speed/temperature when fresh chemicals are used?
4.are the proccessors settings influenced by laser sensitivit/job screening/resolution?
5.how the plates are affected by wather durity, ph, alcohol in press?

 

[VladCanada]

i've cleaned the polygon, the lenses, calibrating laser intesity and got some real good plates. i made a quick job and putt it out to press. after 300 impressions i took out the plates, cleaned them and measured them again. i realised that i have a almoust 10% loss (40% cyan was 32, 80% was 71 and 100% was 92). almoust same result with magenta and black - yellow was irrelevant.
1.is this becouse of the first thing you told me? that hidden destruction of the dot?
2.can it be because of the chemistry?
3.is it a default value for speed/temperature when fresh chemicals are used?
4.are the proccessors settings influenced by laser sensitivit/job screening/resolution?
5.how the plates are affected by wather durity, ph, alcohol in press?

1. Yes.
2. Usually old weak Developer is a reason of toning effect on press. Fresh chemistry can not make things worse.
3. Yes, and don't try to change them if you use old chemistry. Replenishment keeps a quality of chem. in stable good (not the best) condition.
4. No.
5. I'm not the Plate Specialist. You'd rather ask AGFA (1-800-TRY-AGFA) and talk to guys from AGFA TEC Support from Branchburg.

In my opinion your attempt to find the roots of trouble was not correct 100%.
Extra cleaning of plates after short run on the Press can get some dot border destruction.
You can't measure DOT correctly if dots changed their color because press ink (proper filter has to be used), but only one type of the densitometer is good for plate DOT measures - capture camera with SW to analyse the picture. (iDot - for example)
The best idea - to control the DotGain on prints after every 100 prints.

2-nd advise - try to change the plates by another ones from another new box with another BULK NUMBER on the box label.
Improper storage conditions creates a lot of unpredictable "surprises" as well as keeping plates in open envelopes and on shelves made from pressured wooden chips filled with Phenol-Formaldehyde compound (the same as cheap furniture with decor layer on top).
Remember: Phenol kills this kind of plates (LAPV)

Good luck!

 

[mizark]

We have been having problems with the black plate only on screens.. What's printed ends up having lines show up on it. Makes no sense. oh well. good thing we have a production manager who says screw it and approves it!!

 

[VladCanada]

Looks like black ink is different and more agressive than others three.
Remember, you used all 4 LAPV plates for CMYK job (page) color separation from the same stack (cassette) and imaged them one-by-one during a few minutes -> so now, your pressman had a problem with one color on press ONLY!
That means the problem came from PRESS room, not PRE-Press!
Mr Deputy, cuffs off! You are free-man and not guilty

 

[a788shk]

palladio compatibilty with fuji plates

palladio compatibilty with fuji plates

Hello,
I have an avalon V4 ( palladio II ) ctp with vpp 68 processor, i have been using Agfa N91 v due to supply shortage here in our region i have to opt for Fuji brillia Lp NV plates , but i am getting background on this plate & it is picking up ink all over the plate can any one guide . what are the best settings i can try,
thankx
zubb