Cross-Linking plate with preheating step Requires ShockWave Plugin

Cross-Linking plate without preheating step Requires Shockwave Plugin

Cross-Linking

This kind of plate employs a photopolymer layer on an aluminum substrate. The photopolymer layer has infrared-absorbent dye. Exposure to infrared laser energy initiates the polymerization (cross-linking of the polymers). Some plates need a preheating step to complete the polymerization.

The plate is then processed with an alkaline aqueous developer that removes the unpolymerized emulsion in the non-image area. Some plates of this variety are positive. In other words, they remove rather than retain exposed area. This could be referred to as unlinking instead of cross-linking.

Once a plate has been processed, it can be baked for extended runs up one million impressions.

There are some advanced plates which do not require a preheating step and can be process immediately after exposure.