Photopolymer Plates Letterpress

Photopolymer Platemaking Service

2008-05-25T18:17:00.001-07:00

The Bieler Press has provided photopolymer platemaking to the contemporary studio letterpress community since 1995. We offer professionally processed premium-grade plates for today’s popular bases (Bunting, Patmag, Boxcar, Eluminum) with fast SAME DAY turn-around at competitive pricing. Plus, convenient 24 hour pickup for our clients in Greater Los Angeles.

The online film negative processing service we highly recommend, Tamburello Productions, will process your digital files and supplies a quality product at low cost with same day delivery to The Bieler Press (contact Tamburello directly for their scheduling and payment requirements).

Photopolymer Plate Specifications:

We currently stock the following Toyobo Printight brand plates for use with flatbases. Toyobo’s photopolymer plates are state-of-the-art industrial quality; made with photosensitive nylon resin—thus they hold detail and fine lines exceptionally well, with no loss of imaging during presswork. The letterpress formulated plates listed below have a high hardness rating of Shore D 67˚.

• KF95GC—polyester-backed at .038" thickness—configuration used for non-magnetic bases such as a standard Boxcar Base or an Eluminum. Includes attached 4 mil film adhesive interlay. Requires appropriate underlay if used on any base measuring less than .876", e.g., “Deep Relief Base.”

• KM95GR—steel-backed at .038" thickness—recommended for use on Vandercooks or Heidelbergs with properly configured magnetic base, e.g., a Bunting Magnetic Cerface Flat Base ground to .880". Can be used on a Patmag base with appropriate underlay (+/- .022).

• KM152GR—steel-backed at .060" thickness—specifically recommended for use on job platen presses, such as a C&P or Kluge, where roller height issues may be of concern. Common configuration for a Patmag base or Bunting Magnetic Cerface Flat Base (ground to .858").

Maximum image size (including crop marks or other registration devices) for steel-backed plates is 16 by 22-3/8 inches; for polyester-backed plates, 11-1/2 by 18-1/8 inches.

Plates are furnished with unaligned edges cut approximately 1/4 of an inch around imaging (crop marks are trimmed tight). If more or less edge border is required client should request this with order.

Imaging and Film Negatives:

Imaging furnished for platemaking must be in the form of high-quality imagesetter generated film negatives with discernible emulsion side, a minimum resolution of 2400 dpi, and made as RREUs (emulsion side up/right reading). Select EPS or Press Quality PDF when submitting electronic files to your film processor. When sending film negatives ensure they are packed well (with slips of acetate facing the emulsion sides) and that there are no cat winks (kinks), scratches, particulate matter, or chemical residue on the film.

If client requires multiple plates cut from negatives, imaging must be separated by a minimum of one inch and aligned for linear cuttings in either direction. Leave at least half an inch margin at outside edges of the film negative. Cutting schematic must be emailed to us via PDF or enclosed with film negative.

Negatives and all other materials are returned to client. Negatives are trimmed to facilitate platemaking.

Rates and Terms:

Notify us via email of pending orders PRIOR to receipt of film as this provides a means of quick, specific communication. Attach a PDF of your imaging for identification purposes (unidentified film WILL NOT be processed); this also allows us to check for problems prior to processing. To prevent delays, clients NEED TO always provide contact information and indicate with order their delivery/pickup preference (with address if we are to ship), and specific plate needed.

Plates are usually available/shipped SAME DAY (M–F) upon receipt of film at the rates listed below. Note: Dates we cannot guarantee same day service are listed at the tail of this post, and are to be considered prior notice.

• KF95 plates are charged at 68¢ per sq. inch of image.

• KM95 plates are charged at 71¢ per sq. inch of image.

• KM152 plates are charged at 74¢ per sq. inch of image.

Minimum charge for processing is $30. Measurements are charged at 1/4 of an inch over plate’s image size—width and height (including client requested border)—per plate.

Automatic per job discount of 2¢ per sq. inch each 250 sq. inches step up to 1,250 sq. inches.

Shipping is charged at cost. Shipping via UPS, USPS, or FedEx—indicate preference and type of service required with order. Shipments are insured for the value of both the plates and returned film negatives.

State sales tax (California residents, 8.75%) is added for all nonexempt billings.

Payment is due upon receipt of plates (and must be received within ten days). We accept checks, cash, and payments via PayPal.

Scheduling: Same day platemaking cannot be guaranteed on Tuesdays through 4/17 due to teaching commitment.

Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press — 4th edition, 2009

2006-07-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

In print since 1998, Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press was written by Gerald Lange and provides a wealth of detailed information on letterpress printing of photopolymer plates with proof presses such as the Vandercook. Subjects covered include digital type and computer practices; letterpress configuration (including up-dated font modification sequences for FontLab Studio and Fontographer); photopolymer plates, flatbases, and processing equipment; the photopolymer platemaking process—preparation, exposure, washout, drying, post-exposure; plate registration and travel; photopolymer plates and letterpress printing; presswork: impression, cylinder packing and makeready, ink and inking; and press operation and maintenance.

Reviews:

Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press could not come out at a more appropriate time. . . . With his years of experience in type, printing and fine press publishing, Mr Lange brings both respect and credibility to the subject of digital type and fine press printing. —Wilber H. Schilling, Parenthesis: The Journal of the Fine Press Book Association

A masterpiece of concision. . . [Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press] is well worth reading, not just for what it is, a technical guide to the process, but also as a masterpiece of the equally difficult art of describing a technical process in a few clear words. —Nicolas Barker, The Book Collector

Lange’s understanding of the way type design and printing processes are related is impressive, as is the [monograph’s] breadth of reference. —Andy Crewdson, Lines and splines [web log]

Gerald Lange is considered by many to be the leading teacher of letterpress printing in America. His individual master courses for those already working in the book arts field rival Callas' work with the Met, as the leading finishing school for America's book artists interested in mastering letterpress printing and its sometimes arcane techniques. In this book he brings to digital type the old-world traditions of letterpress printing. —Phil Bevis, Arundel Antiquarian Books

If you care about the quality of your polymer plates, Gerald Lange’s classic book [Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press] is mandatory reading. This is the book about polymer plates for letterpress. —Harold Kyle, Boxcar Press [web site]

A short, self-published, but extremely thorough monograph on letterpress printing using photopolymer plates. . . Lange covers all one would want to know about this radical “new” process, as well as giving some pointers on adjusting computer typefaces for optimal letterpress printing. —Katherine Bridges, A. Edward Newton Student Book Collection Competition winner, 2005

The leading spokesman for this process is the California printer and typographer Gerald Lange. His seminal Printing digital type on the hand-operated flatbed cylinder press, now in its third edition, offers the benefit of his extensive interrogation of the process. —Steve Rigley, Eye: The International Review of Graphic Design

This book is “must read” if you are printing with photopolymer or have any interest in making polymer plates yourself. Gerald Lange is a pioneer in photopolymer use for letterpress and has a wealth of knowledge on the subject.—Bradley Foster, elum designs, inc. [web site].

A Bieler Press Monographs imprint. ISBN 0-931460-40-9. Laser printed on acid-free paper and pamphlet-sewn. 5-3/8 by 8-3/8 inches. 48 pages. Fourth edition (revised and updated, includes new material), 2009.

Available direct from The Bieler Press. $39.95 (California sales tax, $3.50). Add for shipping: USPS First Class Mail $2.82, Priority Mail $5.15. PayPal payments accepted.

The forthcoming fifth edition of this title will be available in device specific ebook formats: mobi (Amazon Kindle), epub (Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iPad), et al.

Bunting Magnetic Cerface™ Flat Bases

2006-05-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Bieler Press is a manufacturing representative and distributor (since 1998) of the industry standard Bunting Magnetic Cerface™ Flat Base for Bunting Magnetics Co.

Bunting flatbases are manufactured in a number of standard sizes configured for the various size chases of all letterpress production presses, including Heidelberg, Kluge, Chandler & Price, and Miehle. Shown here is a MB811 (8-1/2 by 11-1/4 inch) Bunting Magnetic Cerface Flat Base (their largest standard size) locked up in the bed of a Vandercook SP15—a 15-inch bed wide Vandercook will accommodate two bases at this size, a 20-inch bed wide Vandercook four bases at this size. Custom sizes are available up to 19 by 39 inches.

Housed in a cast aluminum body, the powerful surface-mounted ceramic magnets hold steel-backed photopolymer plates or steel dies securely in register—without the need for interlay spray or film adhesives—and thus provide exacting impression—with no plate stretching, distortion, buckling, loss of imaging, or adherence problems—throughout the most demanding of print runs. Each base is ground to the client’s plate thickness requirements and its magnetism is guaranteed for life. These are precision ground to within .001" tolerance and are parallel across the measure.

Bunting Magnetics was founded in 1959 and has manufactured their highly regarded magnetic bases since 1985. The Cerface model (introduced in 1994) is the most recent configuration of their flatbases.

Note: These flatbases can be ground for use on galley proof presses sans bed plate or other presses with non-standard type height requirements.

Registration devices, such as pin registration and scribe line are optional additions. Bases can also be supplied in steel housings for specific operations, such as embossing/debossing and die cutting.

Inquire for current pricing and ordering. In stock are new MB811s ground to fit .038" plates.

PPLetterpress

2006-03-29T21:51:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy Farida Sunada.

Founded by Gerald Lange in 2001, PPLetterpress is a community forum on contemporary studio-letterpress and letterpress-related typography. While the subject focus is on printing with digital type and the photopolymer plate process, the group site also encompasses related investigative and exploratory printing and typographic techniques, as well as historical and contemporary letterpress practices and concerns.

PPLetterpress serves as both a discussion list and reference site with online resources on type and typography, experimental and traditional printing, and allied interests.

Photopolymer plate cleaning and plate longevity

2006-03-28T23:45:00.000-08:00

Solvents/inks that have been indicated as detrimental to photopolymer plate health and longevity are those containing acetates. Plate washes formulated specifically for photopolymer plates are best, but are increasingly hard to find. Most of the plate washes that I have used, such as Anchor's Aled, are no longer on the market. Like type washes, plate washes are fast drying to prevent the solvent from remaining in the relief of the plate and contaminating the ink film.

A particular concern with photopolymer plates is cleaning during a pressrun. Ink runoff and debris, such as paper dust and rag fiber, can accumulate in the relief area of photopolymer plates, which, unlike metal type or metal plates, is tacky and will retain these materials. They will attract further ink into the relief areas and eventually come into contact with the surface film, causing your imaging to become fuzzy or blurry. This aggregate of material is quite difficult to successfully remove. If your plate processor supplies proofs along with your plate, you may notice the relief is already contaminated with lint and residue ink from the cleaning process.

Some solutions: Inexpensive fast dryers like 100% Isopropyl Alcohol (printer’s alcohol) or Coleman Lantern Fuel (white gas) work well as substitute plate washes if used in moderation. Note: these are highly flammable and need special storage containers. There are special lint free tight-weave cloths on the market (medical, aerospace) that I suggest for cleaning plates. A photopolymer plate brush or a soft toothbrush, such as those used for gum health, as well as a spray of compressed air, will help quite a bit in keeping the relief area clean.

In regard to storage, mainly keep the plates away from light and heat as well as ozone, the primary cause of plate deterioration. Ozone is generated by electrical motors, lighting, etc. It is also more common in the local atmosphere during the summer months. Combined with high temperatures it will deteriorate the plates quickly, and in severe conditions, cause cracking. It is not uncommon for polyester-backed plates with significant surface area to curl while in storage; there is very little that can be done about this as these are the result of natural stresses.

Used plates should be stored flat in paper envelopes, wrapped in Saran Wrap or black plastic, or sealed in Zip Lock bags (a temporary means to preserve plates is a breathe of air into the plastic bag before closing, ensuring that moisture and carbon dioxide are trapped with the plate). Carbon dioxide baths have been used to preserve and revive plates in photopolymer's earlier years (we have tested this and it is valid) and antiozonants (such as ArmorAll) have preservative qualities, but it is far better to regenerate from the original negatives than to re-use an older plate, as you cannot successfully halt the degenerative process (the printing qualities of a freshly made plate, its tack and resilience, wanes over time). Save your film negatives in envelopes with the emulsion side protected with acetate slips.

Added 12/27/10. Note that recent regulations and changes in film chemistry have greatly reduced the longevity of film negatives. You are now better off preserving your original digital files and converting/translating them to current usage as appropriate.

Brush maintenance and adjustment

2006-03-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

The operation of the washout unit of any platemaking machine is a matter of routine. Keep the water level of the bath about a quarter of an inch above the brush, if too low plate surfaces will score. A cup of distilled white vinegar added to the bath will provide a bit of needed acidity and keep mineral deposits from accumulating. After filling the tank and the bristle tufts are saturated, rub them with the flat of your hand to reduce their stiffness.

A minimum amount of care will provide long life to the brush. Degradation to brushes is primarily the result of platen wear pressure due to incorrect brush adjustment, distortion of the tufts, and accumulation of photopolymer debris. Never reheat a saturated bath as debris will adhere to the heating element and harden to the brush unit as well as the inside walls and floor of the tank. Brushes are expensive to replace so daily maintenance pays off.

Empty the bath water at the end of each day to prevent mildew and corrosion. If removable, drain the brush while flushing the bath. Photopolymer residue can accumulate at the floor of the brush and eventually interfere with washout effectiveness by distorting bristle tuft pattern. Spray the tank clean with a high-pressure hose but take care not to spray the bristles or they will tangle and mat. Fill the tank with fresh water and flush again. Clean the sides and bottom with a damp rag. Afterwards, rub the bristles slightly with the flat of your hand to spring the tufts upright. Leave the washout unit open overnight to allow the brush to completely dry out. Some manufacturers suggest never allowing the brush to dry. Defer to your manual.

Replace brush when it begins to fail to completely clean the floor of the photopolymer plate. The incidence of this will increase sporadically but will get progressively worse. Though it is otherwise hard to discern, replacement is forthcoming when the surface of the brush begins to reveal patterns where tufts are no longer retaining their shape. If distorted tufts are partially clinging to photopolymer debris on the brush plate floor, this can be remedied with a paint brush cleaning comb or heavy duty de-tangle dog hair comb (better). Regular use will improve the efficiency of the brush and greatly extend its working life.

To reduce wear on the brush test its surface level to the platen. The least amount of pressure is the correct pressure. On a perfectly leveled machine, a dry platen lowered to the wet brush (with water level reduced below the brush) should just show the markings of the wet tufts. If it is dry or overly wet, adjustment is necessary. The brush is adjustable, generally, simply by turning adjusting screws fitted to the brush frame. Consult your owner’s manual for the correct adjustment for your machine.

Essentially, if the platen is completely wet, lower the brush until the tufts no longer mark (and re-adjust until they do), if completely dry, raise them until they just touch. Compensate in raising or lowering for corners that may remain wet or dry. Tufts should just mark the platen—if only two sides of the platen show markings (parallel either horizontally or vertically) or if only the center area; that is okay. To be safe, turn adjusting screws uniformly only a half-a-turn until correct. Do not overly compensate for corners that may be either dry or wet.

Note that if you are routinely processing significantly different thicknesses of plate material or use a detachable PVC carrier sheet, the brush should be adjusted to compensate. If this is the case, it will pay to work out a procedure involving shims that can be easily inserted and removed.

On scales and lamps

2006-03-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

A 21-step gray scale (from Dainippon or Stouffer) is used to determine exposure rates (most plate manufacturers supply an information sheet providing the correct step when exposing their plates). The scale is used to test lamp intensity, which should be undertaken periodically. Over time, lamps will degenerate and should be replaced (at approximately 750 to 1,000 usage hours.). If not, exposure consistency will wane with the consequence that plates are no longer able to hold fine detail. To compensate, exposure times need to be increased.

The scale is processed similar to that of a film negative. Process the plate as per your usual practice. The exposure rate should be your normal rate for when processing type. Other rates of exposure, such as those for solids and halftones, are determined correctly with the scale as well. Note that for accurate readings, plate material should be brought to room temperature and the lamps should be warm from previous exposure.

When processing is completed the plate will show step levels of gray. Some of the gray levels will have washed out and others will not have. One or two of the steps between the solid and washed out steps may exhibit slight surface corruption. The first step that does not show corruption indicates the exposure intensity of the lamps. Manufacturers have slightly different specifications for determining correct exposure. Toyobo, the manufacturer of the Printight plate, recommends a solid 14–15 for a .038" thickness plate and 15–16 for a .060" on the Stouffer scale. Other manufacturers have slightly different specifications. If the reading is lower than the recommended reading, it may be time to consider replacing the lamps as they have reached the end of their useful life.

Replacement lamps need to meet the manufacturer’s specifications for your machine. For consistent exposure, it is recommended that all lamps be replaced at the same time. Before replacing your lamps, you should inspect the lighting quality of the existent lamps. Pull the lamp drawer out, turn on the machine, and set the exposing timer for a short duration. Wear eye protection when viewing lamps under exposure. If a lamp is flashing (at start up or shut down), is slow to start, or inoperable, note its numerical position on the drawer, as there is usually an electrical problem not necessarily the lamp that is causing this problem.

Shut the machine off and disconnect the electrical cord. Pull the drawer out, either entirely or just as far as you need to. Remove all the lamps before installing the new lamps. The old lamps should not exhibit arching at the pins or oddities in coloration such as darkening at only one end of a lamp; an indication of a problem in circuitry (which will also shorten the life of the ballast). Gray or brownish bands near both ends of the lamp, however, is normal with lamp aging. Circuitry problems are usually the result of a poor connection either between the lamp pins and the lamp holder contacts, or between the ballast leads and the lamp holder terminals.

Some ultraviolet discharge lamps have a reflector side. This coated side should face down (to the vacuum table). When inserting the lamp make sure the direction of the bi-pin is correct. There are positioning guides (an embossed mark on the metal end cap) that will guide you. The lamp is turned 90 degrees and locked in place. Note the bi-pins must be secure and exactly parallel in the lamp holders. The positioning guide will help you discern if the lamps are correctly locked in place. It should be in the exact center position.

Check the lamps by reconnecting the electrics, starting the machine, and running a short exposure (with the lamp drawer open). If one or more of the lamps is not illuminated, note its position on the drawer and shut the machine off, disconnect the electrics and begin inspecting the connections. You can determine if a lamp is defective by switching its position with another lamp. This will tell you if it is the connections rather than the lamp itself that is the culprit.

Usually the problem is merely a loose connection to a lamp holder, especially if it is a quick-wire or pressure lock terminal rather than a screw terminal. The latter two are easily fixed simply through adjustment. Quick-wire terminals may pull loose when changing out the lamps so you will have to push on each of them to make sure they click back in place.

If the terminals check out okay, the wiring is otherwise correct, and you still have a problem with a non-functioning lamp, the ballast connected to this lamp position may be faulty and need to be replaced. If your platemaker is an older model and you are experiencing continual ballast failure, your ballasts are reaching the end of their life cycle and you should replace them all.