Check out this practical list of tips and questions to help you choose the right CtP technology provider for your pre-press.
1. Verify the working format of the laser by matching it with the report of the printing machine.
An inadequate fit generates unnecessary waste. Check how many uses you are able to expose in the working format of the laser. Does it generate waste. You can always illuminate incomplete laser formats, but in that case check whether the laser slows down when illuminating smaller pieces of the plate. If it slows down, the nominal speed you care about can be forgotten. Alternatively, check if your disc supplier can't supply disc formats dedicated only to you.
2. Verify the working format of the laser by matching it with the UVA exposer unit.
An inadequate fit generates unnecessary waste. Consider the working field of the UVA illuminator. A small laser vs irradiator will slow down the process. Too large a laser vs UVA exposer will result in the need to cut the plate before leaching, which is very time-consuming and creates the potential for many errors and waste.
3. Select the laser speed in m2/h according to the consumption of photopolymer plates. Take into account your development plans.
Inadequate speed selection will cause a bottleneck in the pre-press. Check that the laser does not slow down when illuminating incomplete formats. E.g. the laser format is 635×762 should run at the nominal speed of 2m2/h about 15 min. But you want to expose 317×762 - how long will it take? The whole process is only as fast as the slowest device in the process.
4. Select the resolution of the laser optics - laser work.
Resolution translates into the number of pixels a raster point consists of. For example, at a resolution of 2540, a point 2% for a ruler of 175 lpi /70/lcm consists of 10 pixels. At 4000 dpi resolution, a point consists of 30 pixels. This number of pixels affects the raster point structure, color reproduction, text sharpness. The lowest resolution is 2540 dpi. 4000 dpi is now the standard in flexo technology. Higher resolutions of 4800 dpi and above are encountered, but the visible improvement in quality is often disproportionate to the cost of such an investment.
5. Ask about available anilox libraries.
A raster library is a catalog of different combinations of rasters that you can use in printing. The broader the library of available rasters, the greater the possibility of matching the needs of the end customer, getting closer in quality to offset printing, or matching the raster to the plate and substrate to get the best possible effect in print. A rich raster library should include such rasters as: Euclidean Round, Rhomb, Ellipse, Diamond, Pure Round, Sharp Ellipse, Square, Cross, Hybrid.
6 Ask about the cost of software updates and upgrades.
It's often the case that when you buy an exposure machine cheaply, the laser supplier overcharges for software updates. Updates eliminate bugs, improve performance, streamline operation or enrich raster libraries. Ideally, updates should be free.
7. Ask about automatic autofocus.
The CtP laser has the task of burning a carbon mask on the CtP plate in the right places. Plates have different thickness tolerances. If the laser's focus does not automatically adjust during exposure, burned and under-burned spots can appear on the plate, which can ultimately translate into printing plate quality. The points may be weakened or incompletely reproduced on the printing plate as a result of which they will not properly transfer ink.
8 Ask what plate thicknesses the laser processes.
From 0.80 to 2.84 mm is the boothard.
9. what is the cost of replacing the optics (laser head).
The optical head is the heart of the laser and its most expensive part. Any failure after the warranty period or in an out-of-warranty situation can cost up to several thousand euros.
10. what is the warranty period.
2 years is achievable. It gives you 2 years of peace of mind in case anything fails.
11. what is the supplier's response time to emergencies.
An increasingly popular solution is for the manufacturer/supplier to connect to the device via the Internet and verify possible debugging. The faster response time and greater availability of specialists, the calmer your head.
12. whether the supplier has experience in the industry, will provide you with appropriate advice and ongoing care.
Underboothing of business needs and very good knowledge of the industry is very important. Underbooths the technology used and its individual considerations. Bet on a proven and reliable partner that guarantees the highest level of knowledge, experience and service.
