I just came across your video and I wanna say this is the best, most educational video about photopolymeres printing. I appreciate this a lot thank you for your service! Im into invitation cards business and Im looking into making these. If you can also make another tutorial on how to make female plates with raised design instead of recessed ones for embossing that would be great! Thanks again
Question: I got a very old offset press given to me but have no idea where to find the plates. I've looked everywhere and can't find positive plates. It's a really old machine AM-1250 from the 50s or 60s I think. I don't know who else to ask :/
Positive plates were never really popular in the US but very popular in Europe. If you're still looking try Toray plates out of Japan.....not sure if they make the size you need or even if they make the 6 mil plates you'll need....Good luck !
I run a commercial litho factory and here we also make rubberstamps for clients. Seems that the process are very similar except that the polymer plate we use is about 3 mm. thick and the wash out is solvent based, there are also water based plates, but they are less durable. The film positive that we use were made at the local plates shop using an imagesetter but we have since moved to using toner sensitive black foil where a laser printout is sandwiched to this foil and passes through a pouch laminator at maximum heat, the result is a positive with crystal clear image part and 100% opaque non image area.
Can someone recommend me where i can learn to make my own plates.? And How do i print negatives . Do i need a Rip software ? Ps im in the USA. Thanks. Im also in process in fixing a Basf Nyloprint W73 machine that some animal ate the wires. 😢
Sylvan Printery. You were using a "film negative" not a "film positive" as you described. A "film negative" is when the image is transparent (like you had) and a "film positive" is when the image is opaque (you should know these things)!
Just a question. I'm sure I must be doing something wrong when the plate I make is generally good, but often something very small such as a period tends to fall off. Very bad. Could you tell me what the likely mistake is? I'd be ever soo grateful.
@Sylvan - Had a question for you. What solution do you use to wash the flexo plates on the top section of the machine where we brush off the excessive polymer. We have invested in a plate maker and now are looking to get a grasp on the plate making process. Any tips will be helpful.
Polymer plates are relatively new technology. Zinc etched plates are more in keeping with your desire to use old technology, but much more expensive obviously
Hello Syl: So I had to come back here to tell you thanks for making this video and giving such helpful details. I bought the Toyobo Printight KF95GC and a lot of other stuff. I exposed it for around two minutes on my exposure unit. To be honest, I felt like I needed less time but this was just for experimenting. I washed it out under the tap and it took me around three to five minutes. The design came out crisp and sharp. I dried it with my Wagner and then I placed in in the exposure unit again. Everything was perfect. So to you I say thanks once more.
Tudo Bom! Sou do Brasil e confesso que nunca tinha visto alguém entregar tudo em um único vídeo. Parabéns amigo e tenho certeza que assim como você mim ajudou irá ajudar muita gente que precisa dessas informações para ser feliz. DEUS TE ABENÇOE!
Hey buddy isn't no necessary to be to FAST and Changing the video planes on your final edition... your explanation...is ok but very ABUNDANT and FAST ...Like they say: Take it easy. The world don't ends tomorrow...
Thanks for sharing this. Great explanation, fun and all the information I needed without anything extra! ... I do want to buy one of those all in one units now though!
thou shalt dry off the whole surface of the tacking surface of the plate washer. Else the remaining polymer will harden over time, the surface will lose tack.
Hi, Thanks so much for such an informative Video. I am in a process of setting up a print shop in Dubai and your guide was so helpful. Can you let me know from where you sourced the plate maker. I was thinking of buying one.