Damage Control

Main, or front, exposure is a bit more complicated. In this step, "a film negative with a matte emulsion containing the desired image is placed in contact with the surface of the plate after the protective sheet is removed," Vertullo said. "… An exposure cover sheet is then placed over the negative and plate, and the air is removed by introducing vacuum to the underside of the sheet, thus removing any air trapped between the plate, negative, and exposure cover sheet. … At this point, UV light is introduced to the plate and negative 'sandwich' and the polymerization/curing process begins." When front exposure is complete, the image will have transferred from the negative to the plate.