Printing Flashcards
What happens when printing card?
- Usually offset lithographic or gravure process used.
- Four process colours used – yellow, magenta, cyan, black (can be used to make full range of colours).
- Varnishing, foil blocking and embossing are common.
Describe offset lithography
Flat aluminium plates are photographically exposed then wrapped around a roller. The exposed parts attract water. Non exposed parts allow ink to stick. To reverse the image, you print on a plain roller. Transfers to card or other materials.
What is the typical order of work for commercial manufacturing?
- Finishing – print, varnish, emboss.
- Wastage/separation – die-cut/crease.
- Forming – folding.
- Assembling – glue, inserts.
Describe gravure printing
Used for very large print runs. Uses engraved plates. Ink is held in recesses known as cells. Paper is pressed onto plate and ink is it lifted from cells.
What are rotogravure presses?
Cylinders that are placed in a line with a heater between each one to dry the ink.
Describe flexographic printing
Uses a printing plate made of rubber, plastic. or some other flexible material. Ink is applied to a raised image on the plate, which transfers the image to the printing.
What are spot colours?
Mixed to exact colour.
What is web offset?
Printed onto a roll, e.g. newspapers.
What is a plate?
Has the image on, wraps around a cylinder.
What does an offset cylinder do?
Reverses the image.
What is an impression cylinder?
Presses paper onto plate.
What is a substrate?
Material to be printed, e.g. paper.
What is foil blocking?
A method of applying a very thin layer of metal foil onto the surface to add a special effect.
What is embossing?
The method where the surface of the card is pressed upwards to create a special effect.
What is offset lithography best used for?
The printing of card packaging.
