PRODPP229 – Make plates for lithographic printing

Overview

This standard is about preparing plates and transferring images to plates while keeping waste to a minimum.

It includes:

  • preparing plates, and
  • transferring images to plates

This involves:

  • identifying what work you have to do
  • preparing equipment and materials for the job
  • operating equipment to transfer the image to the plate
  • dealing with problems which can arise when making lithographic plates

It is important to prepare the right masks for the job to ensure that the correct images are transferred to plates and to ensure that transferred images are complete, sharp and clean and at the required resolution.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Prepare plates

  1. check that details you need for jobs are complete
  2. select the appropriate equipment and type of plate required
  3. check plates are clean and suitable for jobs in accordance with organisational procedures
  4. check and adjust equipment so that it is ready to operate in accordance with organisational procedures
  5. select and prepare correct masks in line with organisational procedures
  6. keep waste materials to a minimum, in line with organisational procedures

Transfer images to plates

  1. check that plates are free from faults and blemishes which will affect the image
  2. check equipment is ready for image transfer
  3. set and operate equipment so that complete images are transferred to plates
  4. check that images are sharp and clean and at the required resolution
  5. check finished plates are free from faults and suitable for production
  6. identify faults with accuracy and correct those which it is your job to rectify in accordance with organisational procedures
  7. report faults and problems which it is not your job to rectify in accordance with organisational procedures
  8. keep waste to a minimum and dispose of it by applying the correct procedures
  9. report when plates are ready for production in accordance with organisational procedures

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

  1. the types of plates in use in your company, and the types of job for which they are used
  2. how to check that plates are fit for use
  3. the range, use and limitations of processing materials and equipment
  4. your company's procedures for minimising waste
  5. why it is important to meet production deadlines
  6. the platemaking methods and equipment in use in your company
  7. what safe light conditions are
  8. the risks associated with operating the equipment
  9. how to set up and operate the equipment
  10. your company's waste disposal procedures
  11. your company's reporting procedures

Scope/range

Prepare the plate

Operators prepare lithographic plates consistently over a period of time and can prepare plates for:

  • Single colour work
  • Coarse register spot colour work
  • Four colour process work

and for the following types of image:

  1. Line
  2. Line and half tone

Operators identify what is required from:

  1. Job instructions
  2. The layout

Transfer the image to the plate

Operators can transfer the following image types:

  1. Line
  2. Line and half tone Mono and multicolour

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