What kind of work best fits your NovaPlates?

All of our NovaPlates are well suited for the typical job in a small shop: single color, two- and three-color works is reproduced best.

What run lengths can be expected?

In optimal conditions, the NovaPlate 5 will deliver up to 20,000 impressions; the NovaPlate X will deliver 15,000 impressions and NovaPlate 4 will deliver up to 4,000 impressions.

Why are your plates double sided?

Only the NovaPlate 5 is double sided, and while we receive reports of many customers printing from both sides, we recommend the second side be used for errors discovered prior to press, enabling correction without wasting a plate.

Can I image your plates on any laser printer?

Our NovaPlates were designed for specific, specially configured, imaging devices. The NovaPlate 5 was designed to be imaged on the HP5000 Series Laser Printer; the NovaPlate X was designed for the OKI c9650 Digital Color Laser Printer; and the NovaPlate 4 is successfully imaged on a number of laser printers (and even copiers). Contact our Technical Support for configuring instructions and/or the devices best suited for the NovaPlate 4.

Do I need special chemistry to run your NovaPlates?

All of our plates were designed to run on your existing chemistry. However, our NovaPlates prefer to run wetter than metal plates, so our specially formulated chemistry was designed to enhance the 'wetness' of our plates, making them easier to run.

Can your plates be re-used?

Despite reports of many customers re-using our plates, we don't recommend they be stored and re-used.

How well do your plates register, do they stretch?

In optimal conditions, our NovaPlates will not stretch, and they register quite well. Fine line registration can be regularly achieved.

What line screen can your plates produce, and what about halftones?

While we regularly hear from customers achieving 133 line screen, the NovaPlate 5 was designed to reproduce 120 line screen. Both the NovaPlate X and NovaPlate 4 perform optimally at 106 lpi. Halftones and line screens can be effectively produced at these resolutions within the 11-85% range.

Why are my plates toning, or window-paning?

Toning is caused by a lack of water penetrating the pores of the plate allowing them to fill with ink. Making sure the water form roller pressure is correct and increasing your water should solve this problem. Helpful tip: Duplicators should be running a 15-17 tack ink. Lower tack inks break down more easily which can also cause toning.

Why are my plates losing their image after only a few thousand impressions?

Excessive pressure between the plate and blanket cylinder causes the toner to flake off of the plate. Also, image contact with a blanket wash or other chemistry weakens the toner's bond to the plate and can cause image loss.

What is NovaFilm?

NovaFilm is a revolutionary new polyester-based laser film for preparation of positive for offset plate-making & silk-screen printing.

What is NovaFilm best used for?

NovaFilm can be used as a positive image for imaging offset printing plates as well as form silk screen imaging. It is ideally suited for single, two- and three-color work.

Can I image NovaFilm on any laser printer?

Yes! Our NovaFilm can be imaged on any laser printer!

Is your NovaFilm light sensitive? Do I have to keep it in a darkroom?

Our NovaFilm is not light sensitive; you can handle it in any environment that best suits you. It can be stored in any clean, dry environment.

Can your film be re-used?

Yes! This film can be stored and re-used for any recurring job!

How do I store your imaged film for re-use?

Store our NovaFilm like any other litho film, it has no shelf life so can be stored in any cool, dry place.

How well does your film register, does it stretch?

In optimal conditions, our NovaFilm will not stretch, and registers quite well. Fine line registration can be regularly achieved.

What line screen can be achieved on your film?

Differing imaging devices produce varied results. Optimally, a 600 DPI device will render 70-75 lpi resolution; 1200 DPI will produce 100 lpi; and a 2400 DPI device will generate 133 lpi.