Optimizing Digital Plate Production

If you or your company has invested in digital platemaking, you know the importance of having high-quality plates, as well as consistency during production. To achieve these goals, there a few steps you can take that might just make your printing process more efficient. And cutting down on costs is always a useful tool, especially during recessionary times when budgets are tight.

First, before considering imaging anything at all, you must check your plate’s carbon mask density to ensure all UV light is blocked out during the exposure process. Your goal is to have a black density above 3.5 density units.

Then you must check your laser optics, to ensure the laser is in focus to allow the sharpest possible image. This is important especially when printing small fonts or pictures, because having a clear image allows smaller fonts. With more required out of your labels today than ever before, more information is being printed on labels, especially for multi-lingual labels, medical, food and other labels. The more clear your font, the smaller the font can be while still being legible.

Storage of your plates is also a very important factor in your digital printing process. Use extreme care and caution when handling the plates to ensure they are not scratched or damaged. You should store your plates in a light and heat controlled environment, and minimize light, dust and heat exposure, as these will wear down the plates.

Consistency during the exposure process is also another great way to ensure high quality results, as a standardized exposure process is sure to cut down on errors, as well as increase productivity.

By following these simple steps, you can start saving time and money with your digital press. Remember that consistency and standardizing procedures also cuts down on the chance for human error.