Analysis of plate-making principle of waterless printing plate

Waterless printing concept

Waterless printing, as its name suggests, is a factor that removes water compared to the current lithographic offset. No aqueous solution is needed. It uses the ink-repelling silicone rubber layer (silicone resin) as the non-graphic part of the printing plate. A lithographic (flat-gravure) printing method that uses special inks to complete printing.

Waterless printing plate making principle

Winson Printing Network Xiaobian only uses Toray's anhydrous CTP plate as an example to explain the process and principle of the plate-making process of anhydrous plates.

Toray anhydrous CTP version introduced

Thermal-type CTP plate near-infrared (830nm) sensing plate sensitivity: 150mj/cm2
Applicable to each brand of thermal CTP system exposed part is the image part (→ negative graphic version)
No need for preheating

Plate making process introduction

Water-free printing plate is divided into three layers, from top to bottom in order of silica gel layer, thermal layer and plate base layer. Anhydrous plate is a negative plate. Under the irradiation of a plate with 830 nm laser beam, the heat sensitive layer (intermediate layer) reacts. The silica gel in this area can be removed after treatment by light treatment, leaving part of the ink-receiving part exposed. At the graphic area, no light part of the silicone layer remains, repelling ink, forming a blank part.

Since water-free printing eliminates the need for fountain solution, it has completely improved the balance of water and ink that was difficult to control in previous printing, and there is no emulsification of the fountain solution. Therefore, it has good printing performance in printing and the dots are clear and strong. A wide range of printing color space, color stability and consistency, the advantages of small network expansion rate.