Laser Imaging of flexo plate

During plate imaging the printing design is transferred from the file to the plate. The image is not yet polymerized, but is only existent as a mask.?

Unlike conventional plates or other technologies that use film for image transfer, digital photopolymer plates are containing an embedded mask layer. This black mask or LAMS (Laser?Ablative?Mask?System) is able to block the UV light during the main exposure. Laser imagers are used to selectively remove this black mask with the help of an IR laser. Common in the market are for example fiber lasers at 1064 nm or diode lasers at 940 nm wavelength.

Which imaging parameters need to be set up?

Important to consider before imaging is a correct setup of the focus depth and the imaging energy. This guarantees a sharp and linear image transfer from file to LAMS. Especially the imaging energy is a parameter that differs between brands or plate types and needs to be adjusted accordingly. The focus depth should at least be checked on a regular basis.

Image Transfer to LAMS

Which steps are done during Laser imaging of flexo plate?

The image that shall be transferred to the plate is prepared in Prepress and provided as 1?Bit .tiff or .len file. For each color separation of the job, an individual file is required. Depending on the size of the image and the raw plate, several files can be placed on one photopolymer sheet.

After assembly of the files on the sheet, the plate type and thickness are chosen and the job is sent to the imager. The cover sheet is removed from the plate and the plate is mounted onto the imaging drum before the imaging process is started. In some cases, also indrum systems are in use. After the imaging process is done, the plate is demounted and ready for main exposure.

Image Plate - right-reading for reverse printing

Which imaging resolutions are used?

Plate imagers are working with different file resolutions. Typical standard file resolutions are 2540 dpi or 2400 dpi. Higher demands in terms of fine details for example in security printing may require resolutions up to 10.000 dpi or higher. Also, special screening technologies like hybrid screenings for the highlights or surface screenings for the solids can be tailored to a certain file resolution. Resolution as well as the required imaging energy are influencing the length of the imaging process.

– This blog was written by Torben Wendland

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