The medium, also known as Pronto Plate Lithography, is capable of reproducing the full spectrum of lithographic marks such as: hand drawn brush strokes, ink wash, texture, crayon and pencil marks, and is equally well suited for digital imaging. Plates can be also imaged directly with a laser printer or a photocopier. In both cases, plates should be heated to produce a stable lithographic printing surface. Although still relatively unknown the medium is set to become one of the most popular forms of printing. 

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The process is more straightforward than conventional lithography as the plate does not require chemical processing in the form of etching with nitric acid etc. The most common problem encountered when printing a polyester plate is "scumming", when the plate starts picking up ink in areas where it is not wanted. Our solution is simply to use a wiping solution that is fortified with a small amount of gum arabic and a sprinkling of citric acid (both are safe staples of the food industry). The gum makes the plate more ink loving, and the citric is particularly helpful in preventing scumming, and ensures a clean print.

The clarity of the print is largely determined by the consistency of the ink. An ink that is too soft and viscous (oily) will result in smudging, while a very stiff ink gives a crisp mark, but makes a heavier demand on the durability of the plate. An overly stiff ink may even rip toner marks or other drawing media off the plate during rolling up. As a remedy, use a softer ink and ensure an amount of heat curing before printing.

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