How to Make Plates for Pad Printing

1. Obtain a vellum or film positive of your design by printing it out on laser vellum paper (if you own a laser printer), or from a printer's film service bureau. Many screen printing shops have the capability of producing films, but regular printers may not. The vellum must be right reading, toner side down, which can be accomplished by printing the image in reverse. Film must be right reading, emulsion side down. The toner (or emulsion for film) must make positive contact with the plate to avoid light under-cutting.
2. Peel back the clear protective coating on the plate and place the vellum or film positive into position on the plate. Purchase plates that are pre-cut to fit your machine.
3. Place the plate and positive on a clip board (plate metal side down) and cover with a pane of glass. Secure the glass to the clip board with one binder clip on each side. This is your 'exposure table.'
4. Place the exposure table under the light bulb and fixture, and set the digital kitchen timer for approximately five minutes. The exposure time will vary greatly depending on the amount of UV rays emitted from the bulb.
5. Turn the light and timer on at the same time, shutting the light off when the timer runs out. A timer with an audible alarm will come in handy, and allow you do to other things while the exposure takes place.
6. Fill a plastic bowl with warm tap water, and submerge the plate after removing it from the disassembled exposure table. Don't forget to remove the film from the plate.
7. Rub the plate under water lightly with fingers or a paper towel until the image is visible and the plate no longer feels slippery. You should be able to feel the image engraving by rubbing your finger over the plate. The light hardens the polymer not blocked by the black image on the positive, and leaves the area underneath water soluble.
8. Dry the plate with a hair dryer for about five minutes until all traces of moisture are gone.
9. Place the plate under the exposure light again, without the positive, and post-expose for fifteen to twenty minutes. Post-exposure further hardens the polymer, including the soft areas under the image. The plate is now ready for installation and printing.