The Vault
Troubleshooting guide
My CTP plates keep getting scratched or scuffed during imaging and handling
Posted by the SuperPrinters team · 7/26/2026
Fine scratches, scuffs, or drag marks appear on plates — showing up as unwanted lines that take ink on press or as tracks where the coating is removed. They often repeat in the same position from plate to plate. Most often caused by manual handling without gloves/slip-sheets — sliding plates against each other or hard surfaces, among other possible causes — a full step-by-step diagnostic and fix follows below.
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