We have recently introduced G7 Master Printer certification program for flexographic operations allowing us to assist in profiling flexo presses and confirm for printers that they're printing consistently based on G7 specifications.

G7 is a process that helps printers print consistent color, with less preparation and less waste, and reliably produce high quality printing that matches from proof to press and from press to press. "G7 provides a standard for predictable and consistent color without requiring printers to set up presses on job-by-job basis," explains Richard Black, APR's Director of Digital Solutions.

The G7 proof-to-print process is based on the principles of digital imaging, spectrophotometry and computer-to-plate technologies and is a simple calibration process that allows printers to achieve a visual match between their proofing and printing methods.

Developed by the IDEAlliance and GRACoL committee, G7 is named for its gray scale calibration technique and the seven ISO ink colors it requires. The "G" refers to the calibrating gray values, while the "7" refers to the seven primary color values: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and blue.

"With this certification, printers are able to validate their process, which is a tremendous advantage if a company has multiple locations or if jobs are transitioned between presses," explains Catherine Haynes, APR's G7 Expert.

For more information on how APR can assist on G7, please contact Catherine Haynes at chaynes@teamflexo.com

DuploFLEX® HP 5 - Lohmann's new state-of-the-art plate mounting tape solution for the most sophisticated tasks in flexible package printing.

As our industry pushes for new quality standards in tonal range, color consistency, and high solid ink density or today's economics require the need to run at higher press speeds but maintain tighter quality standards, new foam stickyback standards are also required to meet these demands.

Lohmann, a worldwide leader in innovative stickyback products, recently introduced DuploFLEX® HP 5 designed to meet today's requirements for the most complicated print jobs utilizing state-of-the-art technology in foam stickyback manufacturing components.

Double-sided flexible reinforcement

In contrast to conventional foam mounting tapes with a laminated PET film, DuploFLEX® HP 5 range is equipped with a double-sided flexible PE reinforcement. The advantage: the forces acting upon the compressible foam are perfectly cushioned. The result: no uncontrolled dot gain and a superior predictable print image, even at high press speeds.

High quality closed cell polymer foam for incomparably high stability and excellent consistency.

It is the high quality polymer foam with its uniform cell structures and comparably small cell size that makes DuploFLEX® HP 5 stand out. The reason: to go beyond the limits of conventional foams. Lohmann's high quality polymer foam distinguishes itself by incomparably high stability and superior resilience. Its consistent foam behavior counteracts machine vibrations and thus makes it perfectly suited for long and demanding print jobs.

DuploFLEX HP ultra is currently available in four types. It is reported that proven results have shown that these four products can cover almost all printing needs, and can often eliminate the need to carry many different type of foam products.

Flint's new nyloflex® FAB printing plate exhibits some of the highest imaging and print quality attainable

Flint's new nyloflex® FAB printing plate is an extremely flexible plate making it great for small cylinders and resulting in an ideal for label printing.

Developed for both narrow and wide web printing, Flint Group Flexographic Products rolls out the nyloflex® FAB printing plate, an extremely flexible plate, for use with UV & water based printing inks and smaller press cylinders, making it ideal for label printing. FAB exhibits some of the highest imaging and print quality attainable from a photopolymer printing plate. "With a durometer of approximately 62 Shore A and resolution easily exceeding 200 lpi screen count, the high ink compatibility and improved flexibility of nyloflex® FAB provides a much needed step forward in capability for the label market," explained Dan Rosen, Sales Director for Flint Group. "We also foresee the benefits of this product ranging well beyond label printing, into the broader flexo packaging market as the plate performs well with other ink systems," adds Rosen. FAB is available in both digital and standard versions.

Advantages include:

• extremely high flexibility, therefore perfect for small diameter printing cylinder
• higher printing quality with sharper images, more open reverses, finer highlight dots and less dot gain, i.e. larger range of tonal values and therefore improved contrast
• increased productivity, reduced failure rate and data transfer without loss of quality due to digital workflow

Virtual (digital) Proofing in Plate Mounting Improves Productivity and Quality
Submitted by Tim Reece, APR Technical Solutions Group

The advancements made in the mounting process of photopolymer plates over the last decade are undisputable. Using a multiple camera system with high magnification to accurately align targets or micro-dots has not only increased accuracy of registration, but has also greatly improved throughput. However, while it is hard to argue the accuracy of modern video mounting systems, there certainly has been room for further development regarding productivity. There are multiple steps to the plate mounting process, but the three main steps that consume the most time include wrapping the print cylinder with mounting tape (stickyback), physically positioning the plate on the print cylinder, and pulling a proof to insure proper registration.

Wrapping the cylinder and aligning the plates on the print cylinder have proved to be necessary evils of the plate mounting process. However due to the time needed to ink up the printing plates and pull a proof, some equipment manufactures and convertors have decided to eliminate the feature from the mounter or simply not utilize this feature. There is no doubt that video mounting systems are very accurate or at least as accurate as the operator, but waiting for a job to be pulled up in the press can prove to be a costly decision when a registration problem arises.

It is for this reason that the most technologically advanced mounters have incorporated a technology known as the virtual proofing or virtual imaging. These innovative systems allow for the mounting of plates with or without out crosses or references while allowing for virtual proofing without inks or substrate. This virtual image effect may be used to both align the printing plates during the mounting process, and/or capture an image of each mounted plate and superimpose each plate on top of one another in a semi-transparent image allowing for a virtual proof that ensures proper registration without the added time of inking plates and pulling a proof proofing. The virtual proof also minimizes previously needed proofing supplies and waste generated by these supplies.

When using the system to mount plates, the operator mounts the first plate and save that image. The image is viewed by the operator as a transparency and the following plates can be overlaid with the image in the background. So you can align plates with or without targets or micro-dots using this fast and easy system. Equally as important, plates that have targets or microdots damaged or removed are no longer deemed as unusable. The very latest in virtual image technology adds further functions to the mounters with automatic smart control of camera parameters for both overlay simulation and virtual proofing with different magnification levels for a more advanced level of inspection of the mounted job. It is even possible to save the jobs with the self learning systems and the software drives the operator in the automatic mounting of a plate sequence.

Truly today's most advanced virtual proofing systems have a reached a level of both accuracy and throughput that we have never seen before, while reducing consumables and waste in the mounting department. A common question regarding these systems is, "How much time can I expect to save during the mounting process when using a virtual image system?" The answer to that question varies often according to the width of the cylinders. The technology does not add additional time to the process; therefore by eliminating time spent to hang the substrate on the impression drum, ink plates, pull the proof, clean the plates, multiplied by the number of colors, will be the time one can expect to save. Those who have already elected not to produce a proof will not necessarily see a difference in throughput, until you factor in the insurance you have given yourself by having an electronic proof. You no longer will rely on the printing press to pull the first "proof". Therefore a reduction in re-mounts could be expected which ultimately affects the throughput of the department.

Sys Tec's Virtual Image System introduced the first system in the market that provides an easy, reliable and accurate Virtual Proof-Print Plate mounting machine for mounting corrugated plates.

Main technical features:

• The rotation of the drums is provided by torque motors with electronic servo-drivers that allow the possibility to have a proof with 1:1 ratio.
• The user-friendly software interface allows the possibility to draw the box shape on the proof drum through an easy "wizard" interface or to manage directly the graphic file used for the project. Microsoft Windows (no CNC to be programmed).
• The machine is equipped with 2 autofocus color cameras
• 270x zoom (up to 8 cameras in option) and all our best electronics solutions:
• STAR HT camera movement with motors, that permits the reading method for the camera position without connection of mechanical parts.
• VIRTUAL IMAGE system available for the managing of the graphic files and for the simulation of the 3D PLATE EFFECT.
• Software PHOTO-SPLIT with multi-language interface
• Monitor sliding on rail with electric movement Jobs creation and save

All Printing Resources & DiTrolio Flexographic Institute partner to present Level II Flexo Prepress Seminar, Summer 2009

All Printing Resources and DiTrolio Flexographic Institute Partner to present Level II Flexo Prepress. This partnership will allow participants to design a 4-color project then see results on press.

Level II Flexo Prepress is a 2.5 day training program focused towards designers, production artists, and graphics managers at all skill or experience levels who need a better understanding of the fundamentals of the flexographic printing process. Participants will be using Adobe Illustrator to design a simple 4-color job, which will then be separated and printed on press. We will be printing and evaluating tonal scales and using profiles throughout the process and will also touch on the topic of near neutral calibration as it applies to both the Flexo press and proofing. Designers and production artists who are new to flexo or to 4-color process printing and color management will find this program especially valuable.

Topics Covered:

• Flexo printing process
• Fundamental flexo terminology
• Flexographic printing workflow
• Inks and color theory
• Process color printing
• Flexographic Design process
• Design Considerations, Components, Construction
• Characterizations and Profiling
• Evaluating and Applying Profiles for displays, proofs and presses
• Making a Design Print Ready

Enrollment is limited to 12 people.

For more information contact:

For more information, or to order any of these products, please contact us at info@teamflexo.com, or call us at 800-445-4017.