Printer Series Polymer Cliche Material Change

July 15, 2004

Our Printer Series photopolymer cliche material has recently changed color, from the old greenish-gray to green.

The color change is not readily apparent until you remove the protective film from the surface.

According to the manufacturer the different color is from a change in the primer. The primer has two functions: It makes the photopolymer stick to the metal backing, and it reflects U.V. light energy back up through the polymer during exposure(s).

While the new primer is a different color, the photopolymer itself reportedly has not changed in formulation.

That means that if you are using a TOSH exposure unit you should be able to process the Printer Series cliches approximately like this:

1. Warm the exposure unit up for 20 minutes (turn the lights on. U.V. lights don't go from cold to full power. They need to warm up).

2. Expose with the artwork emulsion down for 4 minutes.

3. Remove artwork, expose with line screen for 4 minutes.

4. Develop for 2 minutes in our developer. Do not scrub. (If you are using denatured alcohol solvent instead of our developer, be advised that it may not be as pure, and therefore not as active).

5. Post expose the developed cliche under the U.V. lights of your exposure unit or TOSH dryer / post exposer for a minimum or 20 minutes.

6. Inspect the cliche with a 10X magnifying loop. If you can see a screen dot pattern over the entire surface of the cliche (in image and non-image areas alike) it means that you are underexposed. You need to increase your first (artwork) exposure time. Under exposure will make the cliche depth deeper, not shallower. If you run a thumbnail across the surface of the image area you should be able to hear it on the dots in the image area, but you should not be able to catch your thumbnail on the edge of the image.

7. The manufacturer also strongly recommends a drying step. They recommend 45 to 60 minutes at 80-100C (175-210F).

While post exposure may generate enough heat to evaporate all of the excess developer out of the photopolymer, drying is still recommended as a final step for maximum durability.

Questions? Call John Kaverman at 517 467-2936 or e-mail john@padprinters.com for more information on how to troubleshoot your cliche making process.

John Kaverman
National Sales Manager
Innovative Marking Systems

Phone: 978.459.6533
Fax: 978.970.0479

For additional information contact Innovative Marking Systems at 978.459.6533 or info@padprinters.com

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