CURRENT TRENDS CURRENT TRENDS IN PRINTINGIN PRINTING

PRINTINGPRINTING

Printing is a process for reproducing text and Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing.publishing and transaction printing.

A A printing pressprinting press is a mechanical device for is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby a medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby

transferring an imagetransferring an image

Books and newspapers are printed Books and newspapers are printed today using the technique of offset today using the technique of offset lithography. Other common lithography. Other common techniques include…techniques include…

1)FLEXOGRAPHY1)FLEXOGRAPHY

''Flexography'Flexography' (often abbreviated to (often abbreviated to flexoflexo) is a ) is a form of printing process which utilizes a flexible form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is basically an updated version of relief plate. It is basically an updated version of letterpress that can be used for printing on almost letterpress that can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate including plastic, metallic any type of substrate including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper. It is widely used for films, cellophane, and paper. It is widely used for printing on the non-porous substrates required for printing on the non-porous substrates required for various types of food packaging various types of food packaging

A flexo print is achieved by creating a mirrored A flexo print is achieved by creating a mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. A measured amount rubber or polymer material. A measured amount of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate (or printing cylinder) using an anilox roll. plate (or printing cylinder) using an anilox roll. The print surface then rotates, contacting the print The print surface then rotates, contacting the print material which transfers the ink.material which transfers the ink.

Typical products printed using flexography Typical products printed using flexography include brown corrugated boxes, flexible include brown corrugated boxes, flexible packaging including retail and shopping bags, packaging including retail and shopping bags, food and hygiene bags and sacks, flexible plastics, food and hygiene bags and sacks, flexible plastics, self adhesive labels, and wallpaper.self adhesive labels, and wallpaper.

A number of newspapers now eschew the more A number of newspapers now eschew the more common offset lithography process in favour of common offset lithography process in favour of flexo.flexo.

RotogravureRotogravure

Rotogravure is mainly used for magazines and Rotogravure is mainly used for magazines and packaging.packaging.

It is a type of intaglio printing process, in that it It is a type of intaglio printing process, in that it involves engraving the image onto an image involves engraving the image onto an image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a copper cylinder because, like offset and onto a copper cylinder because, like offset and flexography, it uses a rotary printing press.flexography, it uses a rotary printing press.

The vast majority of gravure presses print on reels The vast majority of gravure presses print on reels of paper, rather than sheets of paper. of paper, rather than sheets of paper.

Rotary gravure presses are the fastest and widest Rotary gravure presses are the fastest and widest presses in operation, printing everything from presses in operation, printing everything from narrow labels to 12-feet-wide rolls of vinyl narrow labels to 12-feet-wide rolls of vinyl flooring. flooring.

Additional operations may be in-line with a Additional operations may be in-line with a gravure press, such as saddle stitching facilities for gravure press, such as saddle stitching facilities for magazine/brochure workmagazine/brochure work..

InkjetInkjet Inkjet is  used typically Inkjet is  used typically

to print a small number to print a small number of books or packaging, of books or packaging, and also to print a and also to print a variety of materials variety of materials from high quality papers from high quality papers simulate offset printing, simulate offset printing, to floor tiles.to floor tiles.

Inkjet is also used to Inkjet is also used to apply mailing addresses apply mailing addresses to direct mail pieces.to direct mail pieces.

Inkjet printers are a type of Inkjet printers are a type of computer printer that computer printer that operates by propelling tiny operates by propelling tiny droplets of liquid ink onto droplets of liquid ink onto paper. paper.

They are the most common They are the most common type of computer printer for type of computer printer for the general consumer due the general consumer due to their low cost, high to their low cost, high quality of output, capability quality of output, capability of printing in vivid color, of printing in vivid color, and ease of use.and ease of use.

Dye TransferDye Transfer

The dye transfer process is The dye transfer process is a continuous-tone color a continuous-tone color photographic printing photographic printing process, popularized by process, popularized by the Eastman Kodak the Eastman Kodak Company in the 1940s.Company in the 1940s.

It is sometimes referred to It is sometimes referred to by such generic names as by such generic names as wash-off relief printing wash-off relief printing and dye imbibition and dye imbibition transfer printing. transfer printing.

The process involves The process involves making three matrices for making three matrices for each color, which absorb each color, which absorb dye in proportion to the dye in proportion to the density of the relief.density of the relief.

A color print is formed, A color print is formed, by transferring the dyed by transferring the dyed film matrices in physical film matrices in physical contact onto a mordanted contact onto a mordanted dye receiver paper. dye receiver paper.

The dyes used in the process are very spectrally pure The dyes used in the process are very spectrally pure compared to normal coupler induced photographic dyes, compared to normal coupler induced photographic dyes, with the exception of the Kodak cyan.with the exception of the Kodak cyan.

Also the dyes have excellent light and dark fastness. Also the dyes have excellent light and dark fastness. The dye transfer process posses the largest color gamut The dye transfer process posses the largest color gamut

and tonal scale than any other process, including inkjet.and tonal scale than any other process, including inkjet. Another important characteristic of dye transfer is it Another important characteristic of dye transfer is it

allows the practitioner the highest degree of photographic allows the practitioner the highest degree of photographic control compared to any other photochemical color print control compared to any other photochemical color print processprocess

Laser PrintingLaser Printing

Laser Printing is mainly used in offices and for Laser Printing is mainly used in offices and for transactional printing (bills, bank documents).transactional printing (bills, bank documents).

Laser printing is commonly used by direct mail Laser printing is commonly used by direct mail companies to create variable data letters or companies to create variable data letters or coupons, for example.A laser printer is a common coupons, for example.A laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper.high quality text and graphics on plain paper.

Like photocopiers, laser Like photocopiers, laser printers employ a printers employ a xerographic printing xerographic printing process but differ from process but differ from analog photocopiers in analog photocopiers in that the image is produced that the image is produced by the direct scanning of a by the direct scanning of a laser beam across the laser beam across the printer's photoreceptor.printer's photoreceptor.

Pad PrintingPad Printing

Pad Printing for Pad Printing for applying a flat image applying a flat image on a curved substrate.on a curved substrate.

Pad Printing is Pad Printing is sometimes also called sometimes also called "Tampo" or "Tampo "Tampo" or "Tampo Printing".Printing".

Pad printing is used for decorating Pad printing is used for decorating products in many industries including products in many industries including medical, automotive, promotional, medical, automotive, promotional, apparel, electronics, appliances, sports apparel, electronics, appliances, sports equipment and toys.equipment and toys.

It can also be used to deposit functional It can also be used to deposit functional materials such as conductive inks, materials such as conductive inks, adhesives, dyes and lubricants.adhesives, dyes and lubricants.

New horizons in PrintingNew horizons in Printing

Printers have evolved from mammoth noisy devices Printers have evolved from mammoth noisy devices in special print rooms to compact laser printers with in special print rooms to compact laser printers with wireless technology, or multifunctional devices.wireless technology, or multifunctional devices.

The concept of printing in the enterprise has The concept of printing in the enterprise has undergone a major paradigm shift in the last couple undergone a major paradigm shift in the last couple of years. One of the major reasons behind this is of years. One of the major reasons behind this is rapid growth in the area of printing technology. This rapid growth in the area of printing technology. This has created a scenario where printers have evolved has created a scenario where printers have evolved much beyond their basic printing function. much beyond their basic printing function.

Rapid technology advances, reduced costs, color Rapid technology advances, reduced costs, color printing, ever increasing number of functions—the printing, ever increasing number of functions—the list of options is getting bigger and bigger with list of options is getting bigger and bigger with each passing day. each passing day.

This is making the number of available printing This is making the number of available printing options more lucrative. It also means that options more lucrative. It also means that organizations are adopting newer methods of organizations are adopting newer methods of printingprinting