| Printing
types
Printing has been used for numerous years to produce
quality printed graphics. There are many different
printing methods available all methods have different
specific benefits. When printing you will need
to consider different factors when choosing a
printing type, these factors vary from cost, quality
and quantity needed. Here are the main categories
types for printing.
1. Relief printing
2. Intaglio printing
3. Screen printing
4. Planographic printing
5. Dry printing
1. Relief printing
Relief printing is a process where
inked wood blocks, lino or metal is pressed against
paper to create a print. Blockprinting and letterpressing
are the main types of relief printing. Relief
printing includes:-
• Letterpress
– used for Small runs.
• Blockprinting
– used for small and medium sized runs.
• Flexography
– used for long runs at low cost.
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Letterpress
printing |
Blockprinting |
Flexography
printing |
2.) Intaglio
printing
The main
type of intaglio printing is Gravure this
is used for making high quality prints in
large volumes. However it is very expensive
to set up as the gravure plate is made photographically.
The plates are expensive and it is hard
to change colours. The gravure machines
are very large and print at a very high
speed.
• Gravure – High volumes,
high quality printing. |
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Gravure
printing |
3.)
Screen printing
Screen printing
uses simple stencils and produces moderately
cheap prints fast and effectively. However
screen printing is not very good for fine
detail. There are more advanced commercial
presses available that can produce thousands
of copies per hour and can produce a good
depth of ink on generally most surfaces.
Screen printing is used to print onto t-shirts,
bags, banners, signs, shopping bags, posters,
packaging and flyers.
• Screen printing – cheap fast
prints, used for large runs |
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Screen
printing |
4.) Planographic
printing
Planographic printing is mainly
used for business purposes. The most widespread
type of Planographic printing is offset
lithography. Planographic printing involves
the print or ink attracting grease and rejecting
water. The opposite areas which are not
being printed on reject the grease and attract
the water. This method works because water
and grease do not mix. This is a very high
speed and cheap method of printing which
makes it widely used.
• Lithography –
medium to large print runs. |
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Lithography
printing |
5.)
Dry printing
Dry printing is given its name because
the printing process is dry. Dry printing is mainly
used by photocopiers and laser printers.
• Photocopiers - single
to small runs used within the home or business.
• Laser printers- single
to small runs used within the home or business
from a pc.
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Photocopy
printing |
Laser
printing |
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Mr DT says 'Read the text above and then
answer these questions below'. Write your
answers on a sheet of paper, don't forget
to write your name on the sheet!:-
1). What are the five printing types?
2.) How does relief printing work?
3.) Name three
types of relief printing?
4.) What are the problems and benefits of
gravure printing?
5.) What is screen printing mainly used
for?
6.) What is Planographic printing mainly
used for?
7.) How does dry printing work?
8.) Name two types of dry printing?
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