Printing methods

Question 1

What are the 4 printing methods

Answer 1

Screen printing
Flexographic printing
Offset lithographic printing
Digital Printing

Question 2

What does screen printing involve

Answer 2

Substrate to be printed onto sits at the base
Image to be printed is created on a screen (stencil) which is on top of a mesh screen
The screen has holes in for the ink to pass through
Squeegee is used to drag the ink across the screen

Question 3

What are the advantages of screen printing

Answer 3

simple and effective process

minimal set up cost

Question 4

What is screen printing used for

Answer 4

Posters, Textiles, display boards,

Question 5

What does offset lithographic printing involve

Answer 5

Printing substrate is fed into the printing machinery
Printing plates are produced by laser etching the image onto an aluminium plate
The ink is applied to the printed plate through rollers
The paper feeds through the rollers past the impression cylinder and then onto the next colour

Question 6

What are the advantages of off set lithographic printing

Answer 6

Consistent image quality
Suited to high volumes of print runs
quick and easy plate production
long life of printing plates

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of off set lithographic printing

Answer 7

Expensive setup and running cost for small quantities

Question 8

What does flexographic printing involve

Answer 8

Uses flexible printing plates wrapped around rotating cylinders
The plates pass the ink roller and then move onto the next colour

Question 9

What are the advantages of flexographic printing

Answer 9

Least expensive method
High print speed
Low maintenance
low cost of equipment

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of flexographic printing

Answer 10

cost of plate is high
take large amounts of substrates
time consuming to change for alterations

Question 11

What is flexographic printing used for

Answer 11

Carrier Bags
Labels
Cartons
Catalogues
Newspapers