commercial processes, surface treatments and finishes

Question 1

what is screen printing used for

Answer 1

creating bold and striking prints for posters and artworks and for printing on fabrics, particularly t shirt designs

Question 2

stages of screen printing

Answer 2

• frame is covered with a tight, fine mesh ( the screen)
• chosen design or text is set into the mesh with a layer of light reactive emulsion which hardens under bright light, producing desired stencil
• printing ink is poured over the screen and pressed through the fine mesh to create a printed design on material below it
• stencil can be used multiple times, so it’s efficient for batch production of identical designs

Question 3

what is embossing

Answer 3

creating a raised design on the paper surface
debossing creates a recessed pattern
it is used to add a high quality finish to luxury card or paper products. used for braille labelling on medicines for the visually impaired

Question 4

stages of embossing

Answer 4

paper or card is placed between two dies, one raised and one recessed.
- the dies fit eachother so when the paper is pressed between them, a permanent impression is made

Question 5

offset lithography
remember the diagram

Answer 5

indirect printing process

1. The printing plate has the image to be printed1 in relief, on its surface (the image stands out slightly from the printing plate surface).
2. The printing plate is kept dampened. Ink is applied to the plate but it is repelled from the dampened surfaces which are the non-image areas.
3. As the printing cylinder rotates the ink is transferred to the rubber blanket cylinder.
4. The ink, now on the rubber blanket cylinder, is pressed onto the paper or card as it is pulled through the machine. (The paper is trapped between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder - these pull the paper through the machine)

Question 6

what is digital printing used for

Answer 6

includes inkjet and laser printing, used for low volume, professional print runs and home/office printing

Question 7

types of finishes

Answer 7

varnishing: clear coating used to prevent rubbing or scuffing
UV varnishing: gloss or matt coating used as a spot varnish to pick out a feature. dries instantly under UV light than with heats - no solvents enter atmosphere
laminates: thin transparent plastic coating to the surface of printed material. provides protection from water, substances and grease.

Question 8

examples of what varnishing is used for

Answer 8

magazines, postcards or printed material that has frequent handling

Question 9

examples of what UV varnishing is for

Answer 9

logos on business cards or the title on a book cover

Question 10

examples of what laminates are used for

Answer 10

paperback books, menus and maps

Question 11

what does scoring enable us to do

Answer 11

enables a crisp, clean and flawless folds - also used on thicker boards to enable it to fold easily along the scored edge

Question 12

features of a cutting mat

Answer 12

safe, anti slip, self healing mat, protects work surfaces

Question 13

what does die cutting enable us to do

Answer 13

die cutter can cut out simple or ornate shapes from paper and card. decorative and complex shapes may be difficult to cut out by hand and very time consuming if a lot of paper needs cutting. die cutting is quick and efficient, and can cut out complex designs easily since the die blades are very sharp
repeatable shape

Question 14

stages or processes of die cutting

Answer 14

1) sheet of paper or card is fed into the die cutter
2) the paper is sandwiched between the base plate and the die cutter.
3) uniform pressure is applied to the cut out and the sharp edges of the die cuts cleanly through the material
popular with makers of greetings card and for craft and hobby used
suitable for low production numbers

Question 15

identify an appropriate tool to crease a card so it can be folded in half

Answer 15

a creasing machine
a scoring tool and steel rule

Question 16

what are registration marks and where are they printed

Answer 16

a small printed symbol, such as a cross or target, used in printing to ensure that multiple layers of colour are accurately aligned during the printing process. (CYMK)

if printing is accurate, it should overlap precisely so the mark is entirely black. if the colours are slightly out of register or offset, then colours will show

Question 17

where are registration marks printed

Answer 17

on the outer edge of a commercially printed item

Question 18

what are colour bars used for

Answer 18

to measure various aspects of a printed item, such as ink density, overprinting and mis-alignment