Photopolymer plate making for letterpress printing, in-depth walk-through.

In this video I give an in-depth walk-through on the process of creating photopolymer plates for use in letterpress printing. We go over how to print film positives using an inkjet printer, developing the polymer plates with a plate maker, and how to attach them to a printing base.
Equipment and Materials:
01:11 - Photopolymer Plate - Toyobo Printight KF95GC
01:35 - Film Positive Film - Foteco Fotecfoil 7135
02:03 - Inkjet Printer - Epson P9070
02:24 - RIP - FilmMaker | 10
02:30 - Cat
02:36 - Photopolymer Plate Maker
03:02 - Double Sided Adhesive - Lohmann DupoloFLEX FOL 0.10
Process:
03:58 - Image Preparation
04:23 - Film Printing
05:40 - Plate Maker Preparation
06:34 - Exposure Calibration with Stouffer Gauge
08:16 - Washout Calibration
08:55 - Hand Washout
09:23 - Washout Waste Water Disposal
09:42 - Photopolymer Plate Baking
10:00 - Photopolymer Plate Final Exposure
10:29 - Hector the Cat
10:36 - Double Sided Adhesive
Maybe one day I'll be big enough to have links or something here. For now if you could like and subscribe that would be an immense help.

[@zionplays2918]

The cat 🐈 was a nice touch!! Way to go!!

[@marcellameagher3378]

When I printed in the past we used a red light for the dark room, an afga camera for negatives, fixative and water for developing, this brings back memories

[@SylvanPrintery]

I was going to get one, then the fluro tubes don't seem to effect the polymer so I got lucky!

[@RupaCreations]

Deep respect for all your knowledge regarding your craft!

[@kookiemarie8839]

I just came across your video and I wanna say this is the best, most educational video about photopolymeres printing. I appreciate this a lot thank you for your service! Im into invitation cards business and Im looking into making these. If you can also make another tutorial on how to make female plates with raised design instead of recessed ones for embossing that would be great! Thanks again

[@4bitmultiplexer]

Hello Syl: So I had to come back here to tell you thanks for making this video and giving such helpful details. I bought the Toyobo Printight KF95GC and a lot of other stuff. I exposed it for around two minutes on my exposure unit. To be honest, I felt like I needed less time but this was just for experimenting. I washed it out under the tap and it took me around three to five minutes. The design came out crisp and sharp. I dried it with my Wagner and then I placed in in the exposure unit again. Everything was perfect. So to you I say thanks once more.

[@Doseofvera]

That was amazingly detailed and helpful!

[@albertolopes4413]

Tudo Bom! Sou do Brasil e confesso que nunca tinha visto alguém entregar tudo em um único vídeo. Parabéns amigo e tenho certeza que assim como você mim ajudou irá ajudar muita gente que precisa dessas informações para ser feliz. DEUS TE ABENÇOE!

[@avcomth]

I run a commercial litho factory and here we also make rubberstamps for clients. Seems that the process are very similar except that the polymer plate we use is about 3 mm. thick and the wash out is solvent based, there are also water based plates, but they are less durable. The film positive that we use were made at the local plates shop using an imagesetter but we have since moved to using toner sensitive black foil where a laser printout is sandwiched to this foil and passes through a pouch laminator at maximum heat, the result is a positive with crystal clear image part and 100% opaque non image area.

[@harrislopes5208]

I think it is the same process used to make emboss nylon for delie cutting process

[@OSshakina]

私もTOYOBOのプリンタイトを使っています。コースターの印刷をプラテン機で刷っています。、分かりやすい説明ありがとうございます。

[@KellyLye]

Great video, thank you! So hard to find detailed info about this process - wish I'd seen this three years ago when I got my exposure unit. Would be even better if you edited the automatic captions :)

[@SylvanPrintery]

Thanks for the feedback, I will look into the automatic captions and see what I can do.

[@KellyLye]

@@SylvanPrintery They're pretty good, just a few words here and there. Also, where did you get the Stouffer gauge? (I'm in Aus).

[@SylvanPrintery]

I got mine from boxcarpress.

[@rushmik]

Maybe you can offer some advice. I got the cat, but now I dont have time for anything else. Are the other steps required?

[@SylvanPrintery]

Yes this can be a problem, just ignore the other steps and play with the cat :P

[@silenthashassin8912]

Thanks dude, this is extremely helpful.

[@arhalia]

Me encanto tu video, gracias por tu tiempo

[@MaltandMake]

Thanks for sharing this. Great explanation, fun and all the information I needed without anything extra! ... I do want to buy one of those all in one units now though!

[@SylvanPrintery]

Thanks for the feedback! That's what I was aiming for :)

[@MaltandMake]

@@SylvanPrintery I've now made a few plates and am looking at getting RIP software. Why do you think Filmmaker is the best?

[@JL-jj2px]

Love the cat😂😂

[@edwardcongdon6345]

Polymer plates are relatively new technology. Zinc etched plates are more in keeping with your desire to use old technology, but much more expensive obviously

[@hayleychristine19]

Thank you so much for this!

[@bruhjun]

Lovely video! Thank you!

[@SylvanPrintery]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ADNZ35]

Great video, very informative.

[@SylvanPrintery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kroadchronicle]

Really enjoyed the video.

[@allysonbarbaraclay]

Very helpful. lucky there's a pause button.

[@Seascallops]

Thanks for the video! Ever need to carve your plate for finer lines or editing edges? Is it possible to use regular carving tools?

[@stephenbrown8898]

I appreciate the us conversion. the vidio is awesome . When are you going to make another??? lol Steve

[@senaitassefa911]

Hi, Thanks so much for such an informative Video. I am in a process of setting up a print shop in Dubai and your guide was so helpful. Can you let me know from where you sourced the plate maker. I was thinking of buying one.

[@paperwhiteboutique9004]

Thank you for this informative video! Our shop just acquired an Orbital VIII Combo unit and I had no idea how to begin making plates. Your supply list was most helpful. Can you recommend where to purchase the supplies. Is there a one-stop shop, or do I need to buy from multiple sources? Love the kitty too!

[@SylvanPrintery]

Where are you located? I am in Australia, I didn't want to list suppliers as they wouldn't be relevant to the vast majority of viewers 😅 But happy to help if I can.

[@Graficastudio]

Great video! Very helpful, tks! i just don’t get the stouffer part, how I know what number its the right one?

[@tonissasaul8539]

Can you use the sun instead of a uv unit? I am wondering about whether or not the heat is a problem.

[@w_letterpress]

good^^

[@agatharamos7953]

Hi!!! Love this! :) Just wanted to ask where did you buy your photopolymer platemaker?

[@Melzy1989]

Hi there, I really enjoyed watching this tutorial. Thanks for all the informative tips.. super helpful. I’m hoping to make plates without a unit... I know that you recommended the Epson.. but I’m looking into purchasing the HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 Wide Format All-in-One Printer. Would this work and give the same result as the Epson? Any sort of feedback help would be appreciated ☺️ thanks

[@SylvanPrintery]

I'm not sure since I have not used the printer, it has lower resolution and uses thermal not pigment ink. So I'm guessing it won't be as high a resolution as what a specialist fine art printer would be able to output. If your not using a unit, make sure the film is held tightly to the polymer as possible a piece of thick heavy glass if you don't have a vacuum unit would help a bit.

[@Melzy1989]

Okay thank you for your response. 😁 I’ll look into the Epson

[@ernestogonzalez5747]

Hello! I would like to know where to get the machine on which you make the plates.

[@richardmeneely7543]

Just a question. I'm sure I must be doing something wrong when the plate I make is generally good, but often something very small such as a period tends to fall off. Very bad. Could you tell me what the likely mistake is? I'd be ever soo grateful.

[@gailporter692]

Hi again...can you please provide details of the Supplier and what do you mount the plate too? 😎

[@SylvanPrintery]

If you want small amounts of plates and tape the best supplier is Boxcar press, they also sell the mounting base. If you are after boxes of plates and tape I use yy8128.en.alibaba.com

[@ismailacherkouk4914]

Hello dear. i hav the same photopolyemer plate can you please gime the right time time of firt and last exposure and the wash too.

[@andresp.dominguez2021]

because the printght plate enlarges the elements after washing??

[@jentours]

Gosh i have no idea how to do this but i wish to make the personalised plates 😓

[@paultarika]

@Sylvan - Had a question for you. What solution do you use to wash the flexo plates on the top section of the machine where we brush off the excessive polymer. We have invested in a plate maker and now are looking to get a grasp on the plate making process. Any tips will be helpful.

[@canosofamily4411]

Hi, I have the same question. is it just pure water?

[@rafaelchable8317]

Hola Silvan, soy de México. ¿Dónde puedo conseguir el material Printight que muestras en el video? Gracias de antemano.

[@timkim4688]

what is the material of the photopolymer plates?

[@artworkteam5479]

Do you use any particular Ink?

[@Cyanide999]

Question: I got a very old offset press given to me but have no idea where to find the plates. I've looked everywhere and can't find positive plates. It's a really old machine AM-1250 from the 50s or 60s I think. I don't know who else to ask :/

[@donr8191]

Positive plates were never really popular in the US but very popular in Europe. If you're still looking try Toray plates out of Japan.....not sure if they make the size you need or even if they make the 6 mil plates you'll need....Good luck !

[@JanetDiaz6152]

Can someone recommend me where i can learn to make my own plates.? And How do i print negatives . Do i need a Rip software ? Ps im in the USA. Thanks. Im also in process in fixing a Basf Nyloprint W73 machine that some animal ate the wires. 😢

[@siegfriednigel4455]

When do we see the actuall printing

[@ranjitlad6941]

How to prepare plate for foil printing

[@PankajKumar-zc1ih]

India me Sheet kaha se milega

[@thompson9529]

thou shalt dry off the whole surface of the tacking surface of the plate washer. Else the remaining polymer will harden over time, the surface will lose tack.

[@SylvanPrintery]

Yes that is important to do!

[@redblade8160]

Sylvan Printery. You were using a "film negative" not a "film positive" as you described. A "film negative" is when the image is transparent (like you had) and a "film positive" is when the image is opaque (you should know these things)!

[@richardosborne6070]

You use negatives not positives!

[@SylvanPrintery]

I must have been thinking about screen printing films when I said that 😅

[@potatosalad5355]

Hey buddy isn't no necessary to be to FAST and Changing the video planes on your final edition... your explanation...is ok but very ABUNDANT and FAST ...Like they say: Take it easy. The world don't ends tomorrow...

[@colinsphoneemail]

does it have to be a black cat? I hear they can make a loud bang if it gets too hot

[@SylvanPrintery]

Any colour should work 🤣