Printing Processes

Unit 6 In Orange Book

Essential Question

How are different substrates printed? When would I utilize the various methods?

Main Types of Printing Processes

Gravure Offset Letterpress Digital Specialty

Gravure

Also known as Intaglio Printing A printing process in which the image

is etched below the surface of the printing plate.

2nd oldest form of printing Before offset was used to print color in

newspapers

Gravure (continued)

Used primarily for large runs <100,000

Used to print magazines, glossy paper Cheapest form of printing, but ONLY for

LONG runs Plates are very expensive to make Plate last a LONG time

Doctor Blade – a thin metal blade that clears excess ink from the non-image area of a gravure plate.

Gravure (continued)

Best way to print pictures! Best color Best shading Best tone

Pre-Press is the most expensive Plate, set-up, etc expensive Proofing is difficult and time consuming Takes skilled press operator

Gravure Press

Offset Lithography

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibits/posters/process.html

Offset Lithography

Offset Lithography Based on the concept that grease

and water do not mix Grease = ink Water = fountain solution

Planography - The process of printing from a flat surface with the image and non-image areas kept separated by chemistry.

Offset Lithography (continued)

Newest, but most commonly used form of printing.

Used in short to medium runs (500 – 100,000)

The image is first transferred from a plate to a blanket, then from the blanket to the substrate.

Offset Lithography (continued)

Able to print on a variety of substrates Different sizes Different weights of paper BUT…. All substrates must be FLAT!

Planography – process of printing on a flat surface.

Press is easy to learn and easy to operate – but it does take skill!

Offset Lithography (continued)

Typically the most economical form of printing (inexpensive)

Presses are typically “small” and are affordable

Offset Lithography Presses

Offset Lithography Terms

Hydrophilic – Water Loving Non-image area of the printing plate

Hydrophobic – Water Hating Image area of the printing plate

Plate is coated with water 1st, then ink

Offset Lithography

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibits/posters/process.html

Offset Lithography

Letter Press

Also known as Relief Printing Oldest form of printing The process of printing from a raised surface

Letter Press (continued)

Hot Type Moveable type that is formed using hot

molten metal to cast or form the letters.

Letter Press (continued)

Images are reversed (wrong reading)

Today used: Individual numbering

(i.e.: tickets, invoice forms, etc)

Flexography used to print boxes, packages

Digital Printing

Type of printing technology that receives electronic files (from computer) and uses spots (or dots) for reproduction.

Specialty Printing

Screen Printing Laser Printing Ink Jet (to include

wide format) Copying Dye Sublimation

Pad Printing Engraving Etching Thermography Etc.

Screen Printing

Objects printed using screen printing: Clothing…. T-Shirts! Signs Small electronic objects: phone covers,

mother boards, cell phone components Some packaging Some vehicle graphics

Logos on big trucks

Screen Printing Printing method in which the image is

transferred to the surface to be printed by means of ink squeezed by a squeegee through a stenciled fabric or metal wire screen stretched over a frame.

Ink Jet Printing

Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles

Pad Printing

Used to print irregular shaped objects: Golf balls Pens/Pencils Cups

Web vs. Sheet

Web Fed Press: Printing press that prints from a roll of paper

Sheet Fed Press: Printing Press that prints from cut sheets of paper

Web Fed

Sheet Fed

Perfecting Press

Perfecting Press – Prints on both sides of the paper with one pass.