Plate Staining
Plates become sensitive during the run, and will start to transfer ink in the non- image area.
| Cause | Cure |
|---|---|
| Improper fountain solution mix | Check fountain solution mix for proper conductivity and pH, adjust according to manufacturer’s specifications. |
| Water and/or ink settings are too high emulsifying the ink | Reduce ink and waters settings |
| Contaminated press mix | Rebatch fountain solution chemistry. |
| Temperatures of fountain solution and ink vibrators are too high. | Check temperature of fountain solution and ink vibrators, adjust to recommended specifications. |
| Ink not formulated properly. | Consult ink manufacturer. |
| Plate non-image area becomes contaminated. | Stop press and clean plate with a recommended plate cleaner. Can use a cleaner designed to be used while running for web applications. |
| Paper stock fillers such as calcium carbonate cause non-image area to become sensitive. | Consult paper supplier, consult chemistry supplier for a fountain solution that has additives to combat this. Utilize a cleaner for calcium. |
| Press roller settings are incorrect. | Check roller stripes to make sure settings are correct. Adjust to manufacturers specifications. |
