Abstract

Even though lithography has been in use for several hundred years, the process has many mysteries which science has been unable to answer. One of these mysteries is the physical measurement of the amount of lithographic fountain solution wetting a lithographic plate. In the past, subjective means were used to determine the relative amount of fountain solution on a lithographic plate. This thesis deals with a proposed method of determining the amount of lithographic fountain solution applied to a lithographic plate surface, both image and non-image areas. The method utilizes the I.G.T. Printability Tester by spreading a predetermined amount of dyed fountain solution between plate surfaces and measuring the area which has been covered. The experiment deals specifically with temperature of fountain solution, different types of fountain solution, plates with different topographies, and image areas and the effects of these on the volume of fountain solution per area of plate surface . The results of the experiment indicate that temperature, plate topography and image area have a direct effect on the wetting of the lithographic plate by the fountain solution and the type of fountain solution does not have any effect.

Publication Date

2-1-1987

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Print Media (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Media Sciences (CIAS)

Advisor

Chester Daniels

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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