5 Major Printing Processes What to know about each: Substrate Image Carrier Image Area Non-Image Area
Toner-Based (Electrostatic) Digital Printing Ink-Jet Toner-Based (Electrostatic)
Digital Printing Ink-Jet Products Small Quantity Print Runs Posters & Signs Large Format Billboards Specialty Wraps
Digital Printing Toner-Based Products Low-Medium Quantities Full-Color Printing Books Business Cards Postcards Custom Products Fliers Brochures Photo Copies
Screen Printing Screen Prints Substrate – Paper, Plastic, Fabrics, etc. Image Carrier – Stenciled Screen Image Area – No stencil, open pores of screen Non-Image Area – blocked by stencil
Screen Printed Products Shirts Hats Signs Screen Printing Screen Printed Products Shirts Hats Signs
Lithography Printing (Offset) Water and Oil DO NOT Mix
Lithography Printing (Offset Printing) Substrate – Paper Image Carrier – Flat Plate Image Area – Positive areas Non-Image Area – Negative Areas
Lithography Printing (Offset Printing) Offset Printed Products Large Quantities Books Newspapers Brochures Flyers
Relief Printing (Flexography)
Relief Printing (Flexography) Substrate – Paper Image Carrier – Flat Plate, or wrapped around cylinder Image Area – Top surface of plate Non-Image Area – removed, below surface of plate.
Relief Printing (Flexography) Flexography Printed Products Packaging Plastic Grocery Bags
Gravure Printing Non-Image Area Image etched into cylinder. Ink sets in applied to the etched areas. Image Area
Gravure Printing Substrate – Paper Image Carrier – Image Etched into Plate Image Area – Below Surface of Plate Non-Image Area – Surface of Plate
Gravure Printing Gravure Printed Products Extremely Long Press Runs Catalogs Magazines Currency Plastic Packaging