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Lecture 9

The document outlines various printing technologies used in packaging design, including Offset Lithography, Flexography, Gravure, and Letterpress. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, such as Offset Lithography's good detail reproduction but color variation issues, and Flexography's economical short runs but difficulty in achieving fine detail. Additionally, it briefly mentions Screen Printing, which allows for printing on a wide range of materials.

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6 views

Lecture 9

The document outlines various printing technologies used in packaging design, including Offset Lithography, Flexography, Gravure, and Letterpress. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, such as Offset Lithography's good detail reproduction but color variation issues, and Flexography's economical short runs but difficulty in achieving fine detail. Additionally, it briefly mentions Screen Printing, which allows for printing on a wide range of materials.

Uploaded by

anisizzati2199
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Printing Technology

• The printing process used for most packaging design


materials :
– Offset Lithography (offset)
– Flexography (flexo)
– Gravure
– Letterpress
Offset Lithography
• The most dominant printing
process used in packaging
• The process is based on the
principle of oil repelling water
off a surface
• A photochemical is used to
transfer the image onto plate
tahat accept oil-based inks
and repels water
• The inked image is offset to a
rubber blanket that transfer
the image onto printing
surface
Offset Lithography (Cont)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
- Good reproduction of detail • Colour variation due to
and photographs problems with ink/water
- Cheap printing surface • Dampening can cause paper
- Fast make-ready stretch or warping after binding
- Rubber blanket enables the • Dense ink coverage difficult to
use of a wide range of papers achieve
• Fixed cut-off of web-offset
restricts available sizes
• Not suitable for small runs
Flexography
• Used on wide variety packaging
materials
• Mostly used fo corrugated
containers, folding cartons,
milks cartons, labels tags etc.
• The principle is almost
similar with letter press,
produces a raised image
area that carries the inks
• The plate transfers the image
to the packaging substrate
Flexography (Cont.)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
• Can print a heavy film of ink • Difficult to achieve fine detail
• Economical for short runs • Very low screen halftone
(Even below 100 copies) • Low output qualities
• Can print on virtually any • Drying requirements
materials
Gravure
• The surface of cylinder
is engraved and this
area will carry ink.
• This ink will ber
transferred directly
to the material
Gravure (Cont.)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
• Simple printing method and • High cost of cylinders
press mechanism • Viable only for long runs
• Can maintain consistent colour 150,000+
• High speed • Longer lead times than offset
• Straightforward drying by • High costs of proofs, if press
evaporation proofs needed
• Good results obtainable on • High cost of corrections for
cheaper paper reprints, as cylinder must be
• No fixed cut-off (as with web- replaced
offset)
Letterpress
• The oldest form of
printing
• Using metal plate
with raised surface
that carrie the ink
and transfers it
directly to the
substrate
Special Printing

Screen Printing
– Based on stenciling
– Material can be printed:
• Paper, paperboard
• Plastic & glass
• Wood
• Metal
• Fabric & leather
• Can be implemented to screen
bottle by using rotary machine

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