1. Printing Processes
Unit 6 In Orange Book

2. Essential Question
How are different substrates printed? When would I utilize the various methods?

3. Main Types of Printing Processes
Gravure
Offset
Letterpress
Digital
Specialty

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Gravure Press

8. Offset Lithography

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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!

12. Offset Lithography (continued)
Typically the most economical form of printing (inexpensive)
Presses are typically “small” and are affordable

13. Offset Lithography Presses

14. 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

15. Offset Lithography

16. Offset Lithography

17. Letter Press Also known as Relief Printing Oldest form of printing
The process of printing from a raised surface

18. Letter Press (continued)
Hot Type
Moveable type that is formed using hot molten metal to cast or form the letters.

19. Letter Press (continued)
Images are reversed (wrong reading)
Today used:
Individual numbering (i.e.: tickets, invoice forms, etc)
Flexography used to print boxes, packages

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

21. Specialty Printing Screen Printing Laser Printing
Ink Jet (to include wide format)
Copying
Dye Sublimation
Pad Printing
Engraving
Etching
Thermography
Etc.

22. 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

23. 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.

24. Ink Jet Printing
Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles

25. Pad Printing Used to print irregular shaped objects: Golf balls
Pens/Pencils
Cups

26. 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

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