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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Select and prepare plate
   • Job specifications are interpreted to determine appropriate type and size of plate for the job
   • Plate is selected to deliver quality of output required by the job brief
   • Plate is prepared to accommodate printing machine plate positioning requirements
2. Expose plate
   • Work area is tidied and cleaned to ensure quality of output
   • Film is correctly positioned on plate according to job specification
   • Correct exposure unit is selected to deliver required output
   • Exposure control is correctly established utilising a quality-control step wedge
   • Exposure and vacuum frame are maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications
3. Process plate
   • Plate processing unit is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications
   • Plate is processed according to plate manufacturer’s specifications
4. Post-treat plate
   • Plate is checked for quality of outcome and analysed for conformance to job specifications
   • Changes to plate image are carried out correctly to ensure standard of output required by the job brief
   • Plate is chemically treated and/or baked according to job specifications
   • Plate is prepared for storage prior to printing according to manufacturer’s specifications

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

prepare, set up and use lithographic plate exposure and plate processing equipment to produce a lithographic plate manually, and another using a machine according to listed performance criteria

process plate according to plate manufacturer’s specifications

carry out changes to plate image correctly, to deliver standard of output required by the job brief

identify substrate for reproduction and ensure plate quality is suitable for the identified printing processes; this ensures skills of plate making are transferable across the design and pre-press sectors

find and use information relevant to task from a variety of information sources.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

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Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

list types of lithographic plates

define criteria for selection of plates

outline advantages and disadvantages of negative and positive plates

explain plate exposure techniques and control, including:

why images should be centred and square

importance of colour bars and control strips

light sources used in plate exposing frames

explain plate processing

list work health and safety (WHS) concerns when processing printing plates

name baths and solutions used in a plate processing machine

explain impact of a change in processor time on the final plate

explain plate finishing and correction

explain purpose of gumming a plate

outline post-exposure techniques

list criteria used to evaluate accuracy of the plate

discuss dot gain issues

explain difference between physical and optical dot gain

outline steps to overcome dot gain

explain plate punching and registration

detail care needed to ensure accurate punching and registration

list manuals, safety and other documentation relevant to this task and identify where are they kept and what information is included.

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