Possible to do 4 color across two 2-color presses? (e.g 2x QM46)

To avoid color changing but keep small footprint?

 

Yes. You need to keep a eye on register but I used to do it all the time on 2 Ryobi 3302's.

 

BTW a 4 color press IS the best way to go. Some of the newer machines have a small footprint. If you do a lot of process work it makes sense.

 

Yes it is possible and many small print shops here do the same.

 

We used to run 4 color work on 2 clr GTOs all the time. The order that you lay down the colors and running to the correct density are important, because, obviously, you can't make adjustments to the first two colors when printing the second pass. You may want to factor in some added cost to cover over-running the first pass enough to have the necessary make-ready to set up the second pass.

 

I did many 4 colour jobs on a 2c Heidelberg MOZ, order of colours is quite important but using a densitometer on the first two colours is a must, for the second pass, I just eyeballed against a Matchprint, oh and obviously, keep an eye on your register as well.

Good luck.

 

Dont know if they are still available, but years ago when we did this, it was advisable to use something called a Color Key. Color key was a product that I believe was from 3M that had each colors individual image exposed on its own sheet of clear acetate. All four colors were registered to each other and mounted on a sheet of paper similar to what the job was to run on. With this color key you could seperate each of the colors individually, or combine them in stages as the job required.
They truly were the good ole days for the printing industry ,where a company could actually make money running 4 over 4, on a single color press. If you do the math thats 8 passes through the press not including varnish.