Plate-making Fee
Plate-making fee refers to the cost incurred to newly create or prepare a plate used for printing on fabric, and it is usually quoted separately from the fabric cost and processing fee.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
Plate-making fee is the upfront cost incurred when making plates for each pattern or color, mainly for screen printing. It is a cost related to the plate-making process before printing on fabric, and it is generally recorded as a separate item from the unit price of the fabric to be mass-produced.
In transactions, it may also be called plate-making cost. On the other hand, mold fee may be used in a broader sense, including molds, die-cutting tools, and stamping molds. On a quotation, confirm what the fee covers.
Situations Where It Occurs in Fabric Transactions
When planning printed fabric with custom colors or custom patterns, a plate is prepared based on the submitted artwork data before moving on to sampling and mass production. It does not usually arise in transactions for purchasing ready-made fabric by the roll, but it needs to be confirmed when requesting print processing for a new pattern or specification.
Even with the same pattern, the required plates and work may change depending on the number of colors, pattern size, fabric width, printing method, and the expression to be reproduced. If the pattern is revised or the color scheme is changed, additional plate-making fees may occur.
- When printing a new pattern
- When changing the number of colors or pattern specifications
- When creating a strike-off for the first sample
- When stored plates cannot be used and remake is necessary
Checking the Amount and the Estimate
Plate-making fees are not fixed; they vary depending on the type and size of the plate, the number of colors, the production method, and the processing provider. As transaction examples range from several hundred yen to tens of thousands of yen, do not judge from a rough estimate alone; check the unit price, quantity, and tax treatment on the quotation individually.
In the estimate, clarify whether the plate-making fee is charged per color, per complete pattern set, or included in the processing fee per meter. When considering product cost by allocating it over mass-production quantity, note that the burden per item becomes larger in small-lot production.
- Applicable pattern, number of colors, number of plates
- Costs for new production, reorders, and revisions
- Plate storage period and whether reuse is possible
- Scope of sample cost, print processing fee, and shipping cost
- Treatment when mass production is canceled or additional production is required
Points to Prevent Miscommunication
Before placing an order, share the final version of the pattern data, pattern repeat, fabric width, print position, and color specifications in writing. Verbal color names or simple images are prone to causing differences in understanding, so it is important to manage the submission data and reference samples together.
For reorders, the previous plate cannot always be used. Confirm the storage status of the plate, the usable period, and whether the data has been revised, and agree in advance on the cost and impact on lead time if remake becomes necessary.
Difference from Similar Terms
Plate-making refers to the process of making the plate for printing itself. Plate-making fee is the charge for that process or for creating the plate. Screen printing is a printing method that uses a plate, and the plate-making fee is a cost that may arise in connection with that processing.
Mold fee is a broader term used for molds and die-cutting tools other than printing plates. If a quotation lists mold fee, confirm whether it refers to the cost of a screen plate or the cost of another jig or mold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is plate-making fee charged again for reorders?
If the previously made plate is stored and can be reused without deterioration or specification changes, a new plate-making fee may not be necessary. However, handling differs depending on the storage period, the condition of the plate, and whether the pattern or colors have been revised. Confirm with the processor before reordering.
Does the plate-making fee change depending on the number of colors?
In screen printing, plates are generally prepared for each color, so an increase in the number of colors may affect the number of plates and the cost. However, the calculation method varies depending on the printing method and processing conditions. Check not only the number of colors, but also the pattern size and fabric width.
Are mold fee and plate-making fee the same?
They may be used with the same meaning, but strictly speaking they can be different. Plate-making fee often refers to the cost related to printing plates, while mold fee is a broader term that also includes molds and die-cutting tools. It is important to confirm the item covered by the estimate.
