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.