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___Process

Offset LithographyRotogravureFlexographyExamplesDigital PrintScreen PrintLetterpressExamplesPAD PrintThermoprint

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Process

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ProcessLithography

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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 originally 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.

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

___Used For

Newspapers, Posters, Flyers

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Rot

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vure

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 by the power of Offset Lithography.

Gravure printing is used for long, high-quality print runs such as magazines, mail order catalogues, packaging, and printing onto fabric and wallpaper. It is also used for printing postage stamps and decorative plastic laminates, such as kitchen worktops.

___Used For

Magazines, Catalogues, Bank Notes, Stamps, Fabric, Wallpaper, Cardboard.

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otogravure

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ProcessFlexography

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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 Gift-wrapor 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.

___Used For

Gift-wrap, Wallpaper, Plastic Bags, Cartons and Sweet Wrappers

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ProcessPrint Processes

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__Fig.1Applefit Pacakging.Litho printed onto opaque plastic.

__Fig.2Moon Estates Envelope. Flexo Printed & Weld.

__Fig.3Metallic Plastic Wrapping. Flexo Printed.

__Fig.4Wallpaper Box.Litho Printed and Embossed.

__Fig.5Roto Printed, Perforated Stamps.

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Ther

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ThermographyThermographic

printing uses heat to create a letter of 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.

A more complex version is thermal ink transfer printing that melts print off a ribbon and onto the sheet of paper or surface.

The printers use a thermal print head, pressing onto a paper over a rubber roller called a platen. Between the print head and the label is sandwiched a very thin thermal transfer ribbon.

As the label and ribbon are driven be-neath the printhead, tiny pixels across the width of the printhead are heated and cooled so as to melt the “ink” off the polyester film and onto the label. This process happens quickly andsets instantly.

___Used For

Fax Machines, Shop Till reciepts

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Process

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Digital Print

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 is specifically used for very short runs such as Desktop Publishing.

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.

___Used For

Desktop Publishing, Quick Turnaround, Specialist Runs.

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ProcessScreen Print

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

___Used For

Artists Prints, Specialist Runs, Clothing, 3D.

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ProcessPrint Processes

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__Fig.1Public. LetterpressedBusiness Cards.

__Fig.2Callaway. Pad PrintedGolf Ball.

__Fig.3Atelier. ThermoPrinted Ribbon.

__Fig.4Urban Outfitters.Screen Printed ClothTote Bag.

__Fig.5Urban Planning.Digitally Printed Posters.

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ProcessLetterpress

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Letterpress is a form of printing that is related to Type. It involves moveable type that is locked into a bed or a press. The metal glyphs are inked up using a roller and pressed into paper against it to form an impression. From the mid 15th Century when it was created by Mr Johannes Guttenberg, this typeprocesss was used for printing all type

related print, suchas Newpapers.

Letterpress remained the primary way to print and distribute information until the twentieth century, when offset printing was developed It was also an extremely important technological innovation, making printed material available to a wider range of classesof people.

___Used For

Newspapers and runs of books. Now more likely to be Greetings Cards or Business Cards.

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Pad

Prin

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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 .

___Used For

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

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Pad Print

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____Referencespage 6 http://biglitho.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Large-format-litho.jpg

page 10http://www.asia.ru/images/target/img/prod-uct/11/72/68/11726848.jpg

page 11http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qcuftpB9Hx8/TK-MZI6o7fNI/AAAAAAAAC4o/gfXogHZNR-A/s1600/Flexographic+Plate+2.jpg

page 13 & 14http://www.progresspackag-ing.co.uk

page 17http://www.pyramidvisuals.co.uk/about/printing-machines/hp9000/images/hp-9000-digital-printer.jpg

page 19http://www.stuartmorris.co.uk/images/m/2012-07/1p~w635/What-is-screen-printing.jpg

page 21 & 22http://www.progresspackag-ing.co.uk

page 24http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uolOAyVOYpo/Sm-73pedIJI/AAAAAAAAAtc/5gxVDkaLIxs/s400/Letterpress+demo.JPG

page 27http://www.inkcups.com/uploads/images/top-graphics/equipment/pad-printing/icn-B150/top-image.gif

____Design By

Sam Lanesadcastle.co.uk

@sadcastle

____Typefaces Used

RaisonneHelvetica