Can I........ With a xante filmmaker 4?

Discussion in 'Platemaking' started by stickycreationz, Jan 27, 2014.

  1. stickycreationz

    stickycreationz Senior Member

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    I have been reading on the xanta filmmaker 4 but it talks about putting in polyester film. Does this directly output film so I can burn my metal plates or does it just print toner on a polyester plate to put right on the press? Can you burn a metal plate with the xante poly plates? Or what please advise me Thank you
     
  2. Risu

    Risu Senior Member

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    Is it same as old HP laserprinter?
    I prefer OKI c9600 series or Xerox 7800 for polyplates.

    Yes you can print film or polypressplates with A3 laserprinter with original toner.
    But these are good only for 1-2 color jobs.

    Check example hurstchemical.com
     
  3. HPC

    HPC Senior Member

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    I have one of these.. I would not recommend burning plates from the film it produces, unless you are going with a very low end quality.. screens are out of the question.. thats when my machine was new. If you can go straight to poly, do that instead, a lot less hassle and disappointment. You cannot burn a metal plate from a poly plate.
     
  4. stickycreationz

    stickycreationz Senior Member

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    OK so then can I print on this film with my hp 5100 laser jet so that I can burn metal plates? If so where do I get this film? I would think if the xante does it with toner then I should be able to with the 5100. Does the film come in sheets?
     
  5. stickycreationz

    stickycreationz Senior Member

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    I have to many problems using poly plates let alone doing four color. Is there film I can buy to print on to burn a metal plate? I would like to try it as poly plates end up not cleaning up for me it seems ink soaks in the plates putting marks on the paper. I am no professional printer. Still to many issues doing four color I need to use metal
     
  6. HPC

    HPC Senior Member

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    If you have to go with metal, and use film there is no way around. Zante is a very low end machine, there's no way on earth your gonna get that to register. You'll have to do the math, but if your usage is real low, farming it out will be your best route. There are some low end machines that will go from file to plate, but it doesn't sound like your usage justifies a purchase that large. I have spent countless hours trying to find a way around film.. its a dead end. Film or CTP, those are your choices.
     
  7. Risu

    Risu Senior Member

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    Polypressplates needs prewetting. Dry surface and even fingerprints will cause problems.
    If there is metalplates for laserprinters you can't do process color job those either (because of laserprinter heat not so constant.)

    Check Epson Directplates from youtube. Maybe that's solution
    for you.
     

  8. plotter

    plotter Senior Member

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    Imagesetters are the way if you cannot get a decent ctp but you usually need a darkroom processor chemicals ect. Been there. Easier to just farm out. I do use my Xante however for films for 2 colour work and poly plates if no halftones involved.
     
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