1. Check the processing line.
2. Clean head final lens on the thermal head. Check the debris removal nozzle setup. Example of debris on lens that can cause banding.
3. Check the imaging settings and media setup in the appropriate media technical note.

See also:
Troubleshooting Staccato On-Plate
TH2 Focus System: Troubleshooting (external errors)

1. Check the carriage. See Imaging Artifact Caused by Carriage and
   Irregular artifact lines in the mainscan direction
2. Adjust the carriage drive belt.

Drive belt procedures:

• Trendsetter 400/800 and Lotem Quantum: Adjusting and replacing the carriage drive belt
• Trendsetter VLF: Replacing and adjusting the carriage drive belt
• Magnus VLF: Replacing the carriage belt
• Magnus 800 Procedures page

1. Check the focus laser.
2. Check the media for creases or dents.
3. Check the focus mode - is it enabled?

See also:

• TH2: med < mediaindex> focusmode
• TH1: hdm fmode

Thermal 1.X
Thermal 2.X

On press sheet:

Magnified:

1. Check escan and adjust if necessary. For more information, see the appropriate media technical note.
2. Check the tilt. See How to check and adjust tilt
3. Check the ballnut. See the device-specific procedure.
4. Check the device for vibration.
5. Check the mag. For more information contact the response center or your regional specialist.

Thermal 1.X
Thermal 2.X

1. Inspect the plate for creases or bumps. If the plate is faulty, remake it.
2. Check the drum for tape or debris.
3. If the plate is OK, complete the thermal head diagnostics (focus laser servo, laser diodes and so on).

See also:

• Oval void on plate leading edge
• Troubleshooting TH2 focus learn issues

Thermal 1.X
Thermal 2.X

Check to see if the thermal head shutter is stuck closed.

• Thermal 1: Inspecting the shutter on a Thermal 1 head
• Thermal 2: Testing the shutter on a thermal 2 head

Thermal 1.X
Thermal 2.X

Vertical banding in image area with horizontal lines

Adjust the head tilt

Thermal 1.X
Thermal 2.X

This banding effect shows up in 1x1 to 3x3 checkerboards. It is also visible in the vertical line pattern. Closer inspection reveals an additional imaged line which causes this effect.

Cause: Carriage bearings are not providing a stable platform for the thermal 2 head. Variation in carriage position causes the escan lines not to line up correctly causing a double line at the swath boundary.

Solution: Replace the old style Magnus carriage with the new universal carriage.

For full details, see: Imaging Artifact Caused by Carriage

For the details, cause, and solution, see: Black lines appear in the image

See also:
Random, intermittent subscan image shift
Error -46

Note: If the error number is negative, a very low-level firmware problem has occurred. Contact the Response Centre.

See also: Random, intermittent subscan image shift

Jitter artifact on lenticular applications

See also: Lenticular printing reference guide

1. Test for media batch variations.
2. Test the image using an alternate workflow. If the artifact persists, troubleshoot the press.
3. Check for problems on the press.

Causes:

1. There is a media or a press problem.
2. There is a problem with the TIFF downloader.

Close-up (x200):

The data from the workflow may be corrupted due to a problem with the data path.

See: Image corruption occurs intermittently

Image is viewed on the plate or print but is mirrorred left to right.

1. Check the plate. See: Plate damage causes mid-plate artifacts
2. Check for debris on the drum.

1. Check the vacuum pump. Replace if necessary.

1. Check for processing line contaminants.
2. Ensure that plates are being handled and stored properly.

Adjust surface depth or focus

• surface depth or focus is set incorrectly
• loose RF(hotlink) cable
• bad ribbon cable (TH 1.x only, this is very rare)

Troubleshoot cloud or blotch-shaped artifacts

For details, cause, and solution, see: Troubleshooting image blinding artifacts on Kodak Thermal Direct

Adjust the air jet pressure.

Close-up:

1. Check for plate curl.
2. Check the image focus hold on the away side.
3. Ensure that carriage drive board is using power supply cable 220 00163B.

See also: Random, intermittent subscan image shift

1. Check plate loading.
2. Ensure that the media setup and parameters are correct. Use the appropriate media technical note.
3. Ensure that the clamps are clean and free of debris.

1. Inspect the processing line to ensure that all components are set up correctly.
2. Troubleshooting TH2 focus errors
3. Troubleshooting Staccato On-Plate

1. Process an unimaged plate and check that the plate is not already fogged.
2. Check plate storage and handling. Ensure that the plate has not become discolored from age or improper storage.
3. Check the processing line.

1. Check the processing line.
2. Check the media setup, paying particular attention to the exposure setting.
3. Check the media setup. For details, see the appropriate media technical note.

No action required. This is an expected and unavoidable artifact of the orthogonality correction on Kodak output devices with thermal imaging heads.

1. Check that FCO CA005160 has been applied. For details see Replacing the Trendsetter Carriage Driver Board Power Supply Cable (FCO CA05160).
2. If applicable, check the optical encoder.

1. Check file properties and/or workflow print setup.
2. The plate edge may be detected at the wrong position.
   • If the image is shifted towards home, it is most likely caused by an incorrect edge position value
   • If the image is shifted towards away, it is most likely caused by a low sum
3. Check plate loading.
4. Check the device-specific image-shift parameters.

1. Perform geometric correction set-up procedure
2. Check for PLL lock errors. See PLL Lock errors - MCE.
3. Clean and align the encoder.
4. Check the s-clock.
5. Check the cable connections.
6. Check the device for jitter.

	Area imaged by slave head
	Area imaged by master head

OR

 Ensure that correct dual head interface cable is used between DHI board and MCE master and MCE slave.

1. Check that the temperature sensors on the engine and lead screw are connected and functioning properly.
2. Check that temperature compensation is enabled (if applicable).

See Troubleshooting plate registration/image shift issues.

See also

• TS NEWS: Replacing the plate registration blocks
• Magnus VLF AL: Replacing the Registration Block Contacts

1. Check that the BBS shutter isn't stuck closed.
2. Check that the write laser is enabled and hasn't failed.
3. Check that the NVS parameters are set correctly.
4. Check that drum speed hasn't changed.

1. Do not punch the plate before imaging. Image the plate, then punch it.
2. Check the device and media handling (for details see to the appropriate media technical note):
   • Ensure that the autoloader is functioning properly.
   • Ensure that the plates are not being damaged between the output device and the press.
3. Check the processor, especially the rollers and brushes.
4. Check that the debris or airjet hose is connected and is not rubbing on the plate.

1. Check the device and media handling (for details see to the appropriate media technical note).
2. Check the processor, especially the rollers and brushes.
3. Ensure that no damage is occurring to the plates between the output device and the press.

Do not punch the plate before imaging.

For details see Punch Artifact Details.