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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 plate
   • Job specifications are interpreted to ensure appropriate plateselection
   • Correct plate is selected according to printing requirements and job specifications
2. Pre-plan process
   • Film positives are flattened to prevent air entrapment
   • Any exposure unit is energised for one cycle to warm up UV elements where necessary
   • Appropriate screen film positive is selected and checked according to printing requirements
3. Expose plate
   • Exposure is determined by using a quality control step wedge to establish correct exposure time
   • Plate is exposed to standard/established exposure time
   • Plate is exposed with screen film positive according to job specifications
   • Exposure unit and vacuum frame are maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications
4. Develop plate
   • Chemistry balance is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications
   • Washout tools are maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications
   • Plate is washed out for pre-determined time established by manufacturer and in-house tests
5. Finish plate
   • Plate is blown-dry by compressed air
   • Plate is dried in a drying oven at a temperature and time according to manufacturer’s specifications
   • Plate is post-exposed according to manufacturer’s specifications
   • Work health and safety (WHS) procedures are observed to ensure a safe working environment when making plates
6. Establish and maintain a chemical register
   • A chemical register is established to identify and describe purpose of each chemical and to ensure finished plates meet set specifications
   • All chemicals used in work place are identified and registered correctly according to safe working practices

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

produce TWO photopolymer plates with different characteristics according to the listed performance criteria

transfer underlying skills of plate making across the design and pre-press sectors (it is important the substrate for reproduction is identified and the quality of the plate is fit for the identified printing processes)

correctly prepare plate to meet the job brief and manufacturer’s specifications

find and use information relevant to the 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:

explain effect of print life requirement on selection of plate material

explain effect screen dot has on the printing process

outline work health and safety (WHS) requirements for photopolymer plate chemicals

explain how to overcome undercutting of screens

outline methods to counteract air entrapments between film and plate

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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