Process Finish (In Progress)

Offset Lithography Rotogravure Flexography Digital Print Screen Print Letterpress PAD Print Thermography Emboss Deboss Foil Block Die Cut & Stamp Spot Colour Spot Varnish Laminating

Contents ___Process

Offset Lithography Rotogravure Flexography Digital Print Screen Print Letterpress PAD Print Thermoprint

04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18

___Finish Emboss & Deboss Foil Block Die Cut & Stamp Spot Colour Spot Varnish Laminating

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Pro_cess

Offset Lithography is an ancient mass produced method of printed items. It was designed for consistency, so that each print would be identical to the next.

The method was soon suited for printing newspapers and more recently web printing. Which is continuous huge rolls of paper.

Because they are relied on to print the national news daily, they can be around the size of a house and are obviously well maintained daily.

Industrial Litho Printers can print as much as 10,000 double sided, photo colour quality brochures in less than 4 hours.

04

Pro_cess

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

Fig C. A Newspaper, Printed using the lithographic process.

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Pro_cess

Rotogravure uses a rotary printing process, hence the name. This is much like that of Offset printing and Flexography. The image in engraved onto a cylinder which is used to print.

This was originally used for Newspapers but was soon taken over the power of Offset Lithography. It is still used however, for commercial printing of magazines, postcards and cardboard packaging.

Rotogravure is much better for longer print runs because the copper plates that it uses are much more durable and therefore will last longer.

This is why Bank Notes and Stamps are made using this print method.

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Pro_cess

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

Fig C. A Newspaper, Printed using the lithographic process.

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Pro_cess

08

Pro_cess

This process uses flexible printing plates that can be made from wither rubber or plastic, again, hence the name ‘flexography’.

This means that packaging is often printed using this process on a wide variety of materials; Plastic, Foil, Acetate Film or Brown Paper.

The inked plates with a slightly raised image are rotated on a cylinder, which transfers the image to the substrate. Fast drying inks are used at a very high speed and therefore the process is used for repetitive patterns such as Giftwrap or Wallpaper.

The process uses separate colour plates so therefore normally in the CMYK process but can print up to 10 different colours, meaning it can achieve almost any colour using the PANTONE system.

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

Fig C. A Newspaper, Printed using the lithographic process.

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Pro_cess

Digital Printing uses a code language sent from a computer to a printer as apose to the Offset method. It usually uses large format, laser or inkjet printers and specifically used for very short runs such as Desktop Publishing.

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Pro_cess

. Page for Page, Digital Printing has a much higher cost than the traditional offset methods but the cost is usually saved on the fact that there is no technical steps needed such as printing the plates.

This method allows for majorly quick turnaround and modification after each print. This method is ideal for short and specialist runs.

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

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Pro_cess

The Screen Print process is a much more traditional hands on approach to printing. A Woven mesh is stretched across a screen and uses an ink blocking stencil. The stencil forms open areas of the mesh that allows the ink to transfer through to material underneath. A squeegee is pulled across the screen to push the ink through the holes.

A number of screens can be used to create a multicolored print.

Cylindrical screens can be used to print on 3D objects by stretching around the materials to print. This can be useful for printing onto Mugs or Sports Equipment such as Golf Balls.

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Pro_cess

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

Fig C. A Newspaper, Printed using the lithographic process.

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Pro_cess

A number of screens can be used to create a multicolored print.

A number of screens can be used to create a multicolored print.

Cylindrical screens can be used to print on 3D objects by stretching around the materials to print. This can be useful for printing onto Mugs or Sports Equipment such as Golf Balls.

Cylindrical screens can be used to print on 3D objects by stretching around the materials to print. This can be useful for printing onto Mugs or Sports Equipment such as Golf Balls.

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Pro_cess

Fig A. The Lithographic Printing Process.

Fig B. Plastic Packaging printing using a Lithographic Process.

Fig C. A Newspaper, Printed using the lithographic process.

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Pro_cess

This process can transfer a 2D image onto a 3D object.

It uses an indirect offset printing process that involves a silicone pad being pushed onto a substrate.

PAD printing is therefore used for printing onto strange shaped objects that would be impossible to do otherwise .

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Pro_cess

Medical Equipment, Sports Equipment, Toys, Electronic Objects, Clothing.

Fig 1 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

Fig 2 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

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Pro_cess

Thermographic printing uses heat to create letter ot patterns on a sheet of paper, hence the name ‘Thermo’. The most basic form of this is when paper has been coated with a material that alters it’s colour when heated up. This is called direct thermal and is commonly used in most fax machines and shop till recipts.

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Pro_cess

Thermographic printing uses heat to create letter ot patterns on a sheet of paper, hence the name ‘Thermo’. The most basic form of this is when paper has been coated with a material that alters it’s colour when heated up. This is called direct thermal and is commonly used in most fax machines and shop till recipts.

Medical Equipment, Sports Equipment, Toys, Electronic Objects, Clothing.

Fig 1 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

Fig 2 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

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Fin_ish

Embossing is the term given to an impression, in the form of a design, that is made in a material to give it some sort of relief.

In Regular Printing, the printing plates are pressed against the chosen surface to leave a lasting imprint but Embossing is different. Embossing presses against the surface, which raises them and adds a whole new dimension to the object.

Medical Equipment, Sports Equipment, Toys, Electronic Objects, Clothing.

Fig 1 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

Fig 2 - Flexography print on cleat plastic packaging.

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Fin_ish

Magnesium Dies are used for short run embossing.

The designs are usually a large with not much detail.

The photomechanically etched dies are the least expensive of the three dies and better used on smoother stocks with a maximum run of 5,000 impressions.

Brass Dies are probably the most popular. They are flexible and provide sharp details and clean bevels. They can be used for longer runs of around 1000,000 impressions for highest quality reprodction.

Copper Dies are somewhere in between the other two but don’t permit hand tooling. They are mid range in pricing and can be used for anything up to 100,000 impressions

Rotary Embossing Dyes can achieve multi-level images of amazing quality.

They are on a rotary spinner so can also be used to emboss larger 3D skill environment.

Blind Embossing is the process of embossing stock that an image has not already been stamped over. Leaving the bevels to be the only design.

Debossing is the exact same process as Embossing except that the material is raised around the die impression as appose to the die area itself.

Used for Business Cards, Books, Bank Cards, Braille, Security Seals, Logos.

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Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

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_Block Foil Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

23

Intaglio

aglio

Pro_cess

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

24

Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Litho

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Intaglio

aglio

Pro_cess

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

26

Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Litho

27

Intaglio

aglio

Pro_cess

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

28

Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Litho

29

Intaglio

aglio

Pro_cess

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

30

Pro_cess

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Litho

31

Intaglio

aglio

Pro_cess

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

Intaglio

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink. It is the direct opposite of a relief print.

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