Narrow web press specialist Omet and photopolymer plate supplier Asahi Photoproducts are to co-operate to standardize flexo printing techniques. The companies aim to create “a strong partnership in which Asahi supplies its prepress expertise and plate manufacturing, while Omet supplies its know-how in high quality printing”. The resulting standard procedure will “define all parameters that influence printing”, including machine, plate, inks, and anilox.
To achieve this, Asahi’s Graphic Arts Centre in Brussels has designed a specific printing test that features colourful images and technical elements. Images have been specifically retouched and separated for flexo printing. Technical elements have been selected to measure the impression results not by traditional densitometry, but by spectrophotometer and colour management.
Using this method, the latest generation of digital printing plates - AFP DSH 1.14 - were produced in a controlled environment at the Brussels centre. They were then shipped to Omet’s Lecco factory for use on a Varyflex line, with Sun Chemical inks and a Burgo paper substrate. For both standard and monitored printing conditions, additional trials were set up to assess the possible deviations when modifying the settings. The results achieved were said to be “outstanding”.
A complete analysis of the printed samples has since been made at Asahi’s Graphic Arts Centre, where standard measures for establishing print characteristics such as dot gain curves, ink density, and tonal contrasts were evaluated. A colour profile of the press has also been generated. According to Omet, the readings confirmed exceptional quality, with very low dot gain, extremely fine highlights with first print dots at four per cent, open screen reverse up to 96 per cent, wide tonal range, high contrast and a very broad colour gamut.
“Put simply, the technical data, proves that flexo printing can be seen as comparable to, if not better than, offset,” the company asserts.
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