| |
| Typesetting |  |
 | | Typesetting
on computer
Required software : Illustrator, Xpress, Corel Draw, Freehand…
Required equipment : PC or Macintosh
Positive film printing
Required product
: tracing paper
Required equipment : 600 to 1200 dpi laser printer |
| Photopolymer
processing | |
 | | 1
- A negative film is produced
Product : day light film, developer, fixer |
 | | 2
- All components are arranged :
Products : substrate sheet , damming tape,
coverfilm, polymer resin |
 | | 3
- The back part is exposed to form a solid base
Then, the front part is exposed
: the areas where UV light can pass through the negative harden and create the
relief image |
 | | 4.
The photopolymer material is washed
Product : wash-out solution |
 | | 5.
Then, the photopolymer plate is exposed again to UV light, to complete the curing
process
Product : post exposure salt |
 | | 6.
Finally, the plate is dried |
| Stamp mounting | |
 | | Stamps
are cut and placed on mounts
Products : adhesive foam, wooden or automatic
mounts | | |
| RUBBER
STAMP / PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP COMPARISON - ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF EACH TECHNIQUE |
|
| Advantages
of photopolymer resin | | Advantages
of rubber | | | |
- Faster processing time (25 minutes)
- A single machine is necessary
, with low floor space requirements.
- Low equipment write-off, thus lower cost
price for stamps.
| |
 |  |
- Resistant, specially to alcohol based inks.
- Increased
durability
- Better ink release (porous structure)
- Choice of colors, «
noble » material
| - Resistant, specially
to alcohol based inks.
- Increased durability
- Better ink release (porous
structure)
- Choice of colors, « noble » material.
- Fast processing
time for a single stamp (3 min 30 sec)
| |
| Drawbacks of photopolymer resin | | Drawbacks
of rubber | | | |
- Ink release is not as good as rubber
- Lower durability.
- Less resistant
to alcohol based inks.
| |
| |
- Longer processing time
- 2 machines are necessary
(photopolyme plate maker + press) to mould matrix board and rubber).
|
- Very long processing time for several stamps (2 hours 40 min for A 4
slab).
- Important cost price, due to the laser write -off
| |
| |
| PROCESSING
TIMES AND COSTS OF EACH TECHNIQUE |
Processing
time for 1 A 4 size
(about 40 stamps) | | 30
min
( + typesetting) | | 1
hour 10 min
(+ typesetting) | | 2
hours 40 min
(+ typesetting)
(with a 25 W laser) | | Processing
time for a single stamp | | 30
min
( + typesetting)
Processing time is not proportional to surface)
| | 1
hour 10 min
(+ typesetting)
Processing time is not proportional to surface | | 3
or 4 minutes
Processing time depends on the stamp surface | | Processing
time for further copies of a same stamp | | 30
min
All processing steps should be made | | 3
minutes
(it is just necessary to cure rubber) | | 3
to 4 minutes
(all processing steps should be made) | Cost
for 1 stamp
(not including manpower, mount, equipment cost) | | 0.26
Euros | | 0.45
Euros | | 0.27
Euros | | Cost
for several copies to the same stamp (not including manpower, mount, equipment
cost) | |
| |
| |
| | | | | |
