Damage Control

Storage is the No. 1 factor in protecting a plate from ozone, Cushing said. She suggests keeping the plate out of the light and using a UV filter to protect plates from overhead shop lights, hot sun coming in windows, and the environment.

Uneven plate thickness: There are several reasons why plates end up with uneven thickness. Cushing lists insufficient exposure, excessive washout, too low of a drying temperature, and incompatibility of the ink and/or solvent on press. Careless handling of the plate is another possible cause, Scogin said.