CMYK FAQ | Softag

CMYK Pad Printing Solution - FAQ

1. What is the difference between Softag Solution to the current one?

Current Solution:

1. Outsourced graphic Designer to extract images into W, C, M, Y, K and print on exposure file (more than 10 hours)

2. Expose the images on the steel plates coated with emulsion and etched with chemical (2 hours)

3. Put the plates on the pad printing machine and calibrate the 5 colors. (1 hour)

*** amendment may be needed. Debugging is hard as preparation process are too long

Softag Solution:

1. Extract the images into W, C, M, Y, K file by the software introduced by Softag (5 minutes)

2. Engraved the images on the aluminum plates which is suitable for Pad Printing (10 minutes)

3. Fine tuning is not necessary in the dead-on system. All pad printing plates are only plug and run.

*** amendment is merely needed. Designer can debug the images within half and hour.

2. What factors can determine if the factories should acquire Softag solution?

Substrates (shapes/tolerances) : no other printing solution could be more adaptive than Pad Printing. It is meant to print on any kind of substrates.

Substrates (shapes/tolerances) : no other printing solution could be more adaptive than Pad Printing. It is meant to print on any kind of substrates.

Substrates (materials types) : again, Pad Printing's adaptiveness is an Ace to overcome adhesiveness difficulties.

Color option: It has been said that CMYK printing is not as opaque as the solid color printing. Then what if we can print PMS color (or even metallic) for the critical part then CMYK to fulfill the details?

Production Capacity : 6 color machine with conveyor table can print up to 800pcs/hour.

Needs of maintenance : keeping clean is the only maintenance needed to keep pad printers and laser engraver in a good condition

3. What obstacle has Softag overcome to make the first ever CMYK Pad Printing Solution?

To pad print CMYK images, Softag developed the real Dead-on system. We worked seamlessly with all related supplies to make it work

There were no standard procedure of CMYK pad printing to follow. Softag made our own version.

More information to be added when Softag is asked......

More to Expect

Being able to print CMYKW means a lot more than printing a 5 color image. If we can print solid white, can we also print the solid PMS 283 to possibly emphasize a color in the image? Then let the CMYK to do the rest. Softag will also work out the manual for such application.

Softag is aiming to print 100mm x 250mm plates but we know that the solution is ready for bigger images. Softag will probably develop the same for 150mm x 350mm plate.

In long run, Softag will build a technical discussion forum for our backers and new comer. Not only provide a platform for our fellows to exchange technical information, but also take Softag's trouble shooting as a reference for other new-comers.