2-color presses for process color work

Jeff · Sep 11, 2006

There are currently a number of 2-color printing presses on the market; as someone who is currently printing on color copiers but looking to move into the press world to be able to print on gloss stock with traditional inks, which 2-color presses would be best to look at for runs of 1,000-1,500 11.5" x 17.5" process color pieces. Which 2-color presses have the registration to make process color work look great and allow runs of 1,000 to 1,500 to be accomplished the easiest running in two passes through the press?

SM-Printer · Mar 20, 2007

Ask any pressman currently running a 4c press if they would go back to running process on their old 2c press? In an emergency, yes. Otherwise, no. Even if registration is spot on for the second run, not being able to see what you're getting until the second pass is a huge drawback printing anything color sensitive.

SM-Printer · Mar 20, 2007

That's why there are 10x more two color presses on the market right now than four color presses.

Jeff · Mar 21, 2007

Is printing process color on a 2-color press really that bad?

Now that I'm used to fiery rips and canon machines that auto gradiation adjust every 100 prints to remain absolutely spot on, I would say I could never go back to the much less "intelligent" laser machines I used before. But I still produced some pretty good work on those and it wasn't so bad at the time working with their little inconsistencies.

So going from digital color to process color on a 2-color press in two runs, would I be moving up or down? If you're printing your own work, so you know what is what going into the plates, is it really that difficult to come to terms with the press so you can get pretty darn process color results without any visual adjustments needed on press to get the process color qualities you want?

xallux · Apr 5, 2007

If you run 4 color on a 2 color press and simply shoot for consistent densities, then it shouldn't be too horrible. Be sure to take the time to run some tests and see which densities produce the color you want. I used to run 4 color on a 2 color Heidelberg MOZ-P and as long as I ran the colors at a consistent density the quality was pretty good.

jak · Jun 6, 2007

Would this be true of the Heidelberg GTO 52-2 Also? Would there be major difficulties as regards registration in using this machine to do 4 colour work?

smikes · Jun 7, 2007

I use a Hamada 248e two color and as long as I have color bars at tail end, I can produce ALMOST original copy densities. Would I rather use a 4 color to prevent changes in paper do to less than pefect shop conditions? You bet!!

jak · Jun 7, 2007

smikes? Then the issue boils down to budget...The horror stories that have been posted about the Heidelberg QM DI 46-4 series have scared me off that machine, but the price differential between the GTO 52-2 and GTO-52-4 (the various er..flavours?) is enough to give one pause.. For Postcards and brchures not requiring that much close registration/ Someone offered me a Hamada Star 2-colour ("Pick it up and go..!") but no experience with it.. opinion smikes? (as well as to the other stuff?

SM-Printer · Jun 10, 2007

.The horror stories that have been posted about the Heidelberg QM DI 46-4 series have scared me off that machine

Don't mean to take this off-topic, but what horror stories about the QMDI 46-4 are you referring to? Can you elaborate? I know it's not as strong on heavy coverage as other presses, but I've seen some nice work produced on QMDI 46-4's too...

smikes · Jun 11, 2007

jak said:
smikes? Then the issue boils down to budget...The horror stories that have been posted about the Heidelberg QM DI 46-4 series have scared me off that machine, but the price differential between the GTO 52-2 and GTO-52-4 (the various er..flavours?) is enough to give one pause.. For Postcards and brchures not requiring that much close registration/ Someone offered me a Hamada Star 2-colour ("Pick it up and go..!") but no experience with it.. opinion smikes? (as well as to the other stuff?

The Star I am not familiar with ,but the 248 we picked up and had to teach ourselves to run it. Little slow to set up compared to the small AB Dicks we run with colorheads, but reg stays on.Have problems with registration above 6000iph , but there are a few parts that need replacing, and since we had no formal training, there may be some stupid little adjustment we are missing.That being said, it is my first choice press for all gloss ,tight reg.and heavy solid jobs I run.

If possible to have current owner set up a test job on stock you use the most and rerun after the first pass to check registration, that would benefit you greatly.

jak · Jul 2, 2007

SM-Printer said:
Don't mean to take this off-topic, but what horror stories about the QMDI 46-4 are you referring to? Can you elaborate? I know it's not as strong on heavy coverage as other presses, but I've seen some nice work produced on QMDI 46-4's too...

It may be asking a lot but could you point me at a site where I can actualy view stuff thats been done with the QM 46-4 DI Please?

socrates · Jul 6, 2007

If I were you, I would go for a GTO 52-2. Registration is perfect as long as you pay attention to the press settings. If I could afford a 4 color machine would be a better choice. Remember that Heidelberg quited the production of the Di models and engineers told me recently, those machine were running perfect but in lots of costs and with complex parts, services and maintenance. So better go for a traditional offset and if you are placing color bars at the end of the paper you are printing you can have outstanding results even with a single color press. It's up to the printer to print well.

jak · Jul 6, 2007

Socrates? Ain't that the truth! Thanks for the advice regarding the QM 46 DI models? In most African Cultures we have an equivalent of "If the Deal is too Good?.. Think Twice!" People are asking for Pizza & Picnic Boxes & Postcards as well as Brochures and Magazine Covers (all 4 Color) ? GTO 52-2? Possible?

Color Printing Forum Admin · Jul 10, 2007

< printing boxes deserves its own thread: posts split to http://www.colorprintingforum.com/2-color-offset-press/offset-press-for-printing-boxes-317.html >

dixiemex · Dec 17, 2007

Running 4 color on a 2 unit color press?

I recently went from a web press to a sheet fed Ryobi 3030 or formally AB Dick 9985 , I have been running this press for 6 months now and I am having trouble running 4 color and holding regetration on it can some one give some insight on this I am at my witts here, I have no manual on this unit so there is not much in trouble shooting guides here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

socrates · Dec 18, 2007

Print a few 10-30 sheet with the first 2 colors Cyan, magenta, then pass them once again. You should not have any play ot the sheets from the first to the second pass. Is so, you need to pay attention to your settigs.

jak · Dec 18, 2007

E-mail

Socrates? Hi. Could you have a look at your e-mail and suggest a solution for me? The Sheet feeder o my GTO takes three sheets, then refuses to take a fourth. Am at my wit's end as to why this is happenig... Always only three sheets

socrates · Dec 18, 2007

jak, check your email.

ob1 · Dec 18, 2007

jak, try adjusting the pile height, higher and then increase the air compression

NotAGooner · Dec 19, 2007

jak said:
Socrates? Hi. Could you have a look at your e-mail and suggest a solution for me? The Sheet feeder o my GTO takes three sheets, then refuses to take a fourth. Am at my wit's end as to why this is happenig... Always only three sheets

If it's a stream feeder, maybe you haven't set the double sheeter properly?

Manually set to allow 3 sheets and trip on 4 sheets or do it when running by feel

2-color presses for process color work

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