Quote:
Originally Posted by PolarBear
Those can't be printing plates in the sense that they were used to make the final image on paper/cardboard, because the image would be backward.
I know next to nothing about printing but maybe they were used in some sort of intermediate stage in the printing process.
The only analogy I can think of is the coining process. A master hub is made (reverse image), which creates working hubs (actual image), which are used to create working dies (reverse image), which create coins (actual image).
Maybe someone with printing knowledge can explain what they are.
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Don,
Your post is inaccurate.
The image on an offset printing plate would appear 'normal' (not backward).... basically because the ink goes from the plate, onto a rubber blanket (becomes backward) and then onto the paper (is correct orientation again).
Most printing in general, and I would guess most every baseball card printed in the modern era is/was printed on an offset printing press. It is the most common method of printing and has been for a very long time.
The type of process you describe is flexography. Flexography would be where the plate is in direct contact with the paper (so the image would be backward on the plate). This is a more uncommon print process.
I can't help much with regard to ID'ing the printing plate shown in this thread. sorry.
But I did want to point out that most printing plates would have the image look correct on the plate (not backward).