Specifications

15. What happens if a plate looks darker after if comes out of the PCU?

If the PCU causes discoloration on the plate surface, it should not be visible on press and should not

cause any artifacts on the final print. The cause of this could be that the PCU is set to run too slowly or

the set temperature is too high. If this discoloration occurs, use the Thermax strips to test the calibration

of the PCU.

16. How do I load a plate into the printer?

Epson DirectPlate aluminum Plates are loaded differently than paper or other media. When loading a

plate you should first release the platen to assure that the plate is FIRMLY pressed against both points on

the plate guide. Second, always remove the plates from the package and load them into the printer with

the same orientation. This will assure accurate registration.

17. Do I mount these plates like any normal plate on my press?

Yes. However, if you currently use polyester today, your press may have a clamping system that is

specific to polyester. You can easily remove that grip and Epson DirectPlate Aluminum plates will mount

the same way as any standard metal plate would on your press.

18. What happens if I see small dots on the press sheet?

If small dots are visible on the final print, you should do the following:

1. Check your fountain solution. Epson DirectPlate Aluminum requires a slightly acid fountain solution

(like most polyester plates) Use one of the recommended fountains with pH 4.1 – 4.5

2. Assure that your environment is clean. Be sure the plates are enclosed until you use them. It may be

necessary to lightly dust the plates before you print them and again before you cure them.

3. Unwanted background dots/blemishes can be removed by one of the recommended deletion pens.

19. What happens if I see alignment issues?

It is important that you consistently load the plates into the printer the same way each time assuring that

they are pressed to the RIGHT against the Plate Guide.

20. What if I see lines on the press sheet in the direction of the plate as it travels through the

PCU?

Lines spaced approximately 2 inches apart on the plate may appear if the plate is fed into the PCU

before the Epson ink is dry. The lines are caused by the input drive rollers on the PCU. The most

common cause of this is over-inking – a RIP setting, that reduces the amount of ink being applied to the

plate surface. The lines are most noticeable near solid areas. The remedy is to adjust the RIP ink

reduction settings, to allow more drying time before inserting the plate in the PCU, or to reduce the

ambient relative humidity. This over-inking situation will also reduce the run length on the plates.

21. What happens if I don’t get the number of impressions I’m expecting?

If you are not getting the number of impressions you are expecting try the following troubleshooting tips:

• Check the settings on the Plate curing unit and confirm that it is functioning correctly.

• Check the ink reduction setting on the RIP. If too much ink is being applied to the plate the

curing process is

• Check and confirm the concentration of the fountain solution. Are you using a