Design for Print - Production methods

There are 4 types of print:

1. Rotary
2. Screen
3. Digital 
4. Pad

1) Rotary:

In this process the image printing plates are wrapped around a cylinder. This is an automated print process and material to be printed can be sheet fed or on a roll.

The 3 main types of rotary printing are: Offset lithography, Rotogravure, Flexography.

Litho

Etched aluminium plates wrapped around a cylinder transfer ink to an "offset" rubber blanket roller then to a print surface. Sheet fed or Web fed. This process is mainly used for high speed prints, it gives a good finish.

Gravure

Copper plates (with mirror image) transfer ink directly to print surface, usually on rolls. Advantage, plates are more durable and so are good for long print runs.

Flexo

A postive, mirror image rubber polymer plate, on a cylinder, transfers "sticky" ink directly to print surface. Usually roll feed.

Digital Printing:

The reproduction of images by translating the digital code direct from a computer to a material without an intermediate physical process. Ideally suited to short run or specials on a range of print media from paper to metal.

Screen Printing:

A printmaking tecknique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil.

Pad Printing:

A printing process that can transfer a 2-D image onto a 3-D object.