Customer Information Manual - Kodak

5.0 Preheat and Postbake Oven Setup and Configuration
The preheat oven setup is similar to that of Thermal Gold, but not as critical to the cross-linking process.
Thermal Platinum is more laser power dependent that preheat dependent and therefore allows us to
have a wider fog window. Although not as critical as Thermal Gold, the setup must still be correct and
the steps to make sure proper setup is achieved are still needed.
5.1 Find the Fog Point and Set Oven Temperature
• Set preheat oven transport speed to match processor input speed
• Verify temperatures in preheat oven and processor are correct
CIM — Kodak Thermal Platinum Digital Plates V1.4
DECEMBER 2008
PAGE 8 OF 17
o Chemistry temperature should be at 24°C
o Starting preheat temperature set at 300°F (normally fog point is seen from 285-295°F)
• Run fog test using the following technique: (must have a deletion pen to run fog test correctly;
preferably a C51 or Corr-Quick, but others will work)
o Run a raw plate (largest size) only through the processor and not the preheat oven, as a
reference
o Test deletion pen on processed plate to verify there is no substrate/background attack
from the deletion fluid
• Pick a spot on the processed plate and run deletion pen in a circular motion as to
create a spot with deletion fluid (pen)
• With a wet rag/cloth/towel, wipe the deletion fluid from plate and then dry with
another rag/cloth/towel
• There should be no visual difference between the spot deleted and the rest of
the plate
• If no attack/difference is evident, deletion pen is ok to use for fog test; if there is
a visual difference, try a different deletion pen
o With preheat temperature at 300°F as a starting point, run a raw plate (largest size)
through the processing line (includes preheat oven)
o Check for fog with deletion pen similar to procedure above, except you will be checking
seven different points on the plate instead of one. Figure below displays points on plate
Note: Thermal Platinum Plates are unlike Thermal Gold Plates and tend to fog more evenly across the
plate and finishes around the edges rather than down the middle.