Packaging and printing is an important means and way to improve the added value of commodities, enhance the competitiveness of commodities, and open up the market. Designers should understand the necessary packaging and printing process knowledge, so that the designed packaging works are more functional and beautiful. Different packaging materials will have different printing processes, collect and collate the content of this issue to share the relevant knowledge of printing processes.
Paper packaging printing process
1. Printing methods
Paper packaging printing methods are many, the method is different, the operation is different, the printing effect is different. The traditional printing methods are mainly divided into the following four categories:
(1) Letterpress printing
Letterpress printing refers to the graphic part of the printing plate is higher than the non-graphic part, the ink on the ink roller can only be transferred to the graphic part of the printing plate, and the non-graphic part has no ink, so as to complete the printing of printed matter.
Any printed matter has a slight impression on the back of the paper, the edge of the line or dot is neat, and the ink appears light in the center part, it is a relief print. (2) intaglio printing
Contrary to relief printing, the graphic part of the plate is lower than the non-graphic part, forming a groove. The ink is only covered in the groove, there is no ink on the surface of the plate, the paper is covered in the upper part of the plate, the plate and the paper are pressurized to transfer the ink from the concave part of the plate to the paper.
Intaglio printing products have thick ink layer, bright color, and the plate has the advantages of high printing resistance, stable printing quality, and fast printing speed, so it has been widely used in practice.
(3) Lithography
The graphic and non-graphic parts of the plate are kept flat, the graphic part is covered with a layer of oil-rich film, and the non-graphic part absorbs appropriate moisture. When the ink is applied, the graphic part repels the water and absorbs the ink, and the non-graphic part absorbs the water and forms the ink resistance.
Tip: Because the lithography method is simple in work and low in cost, it has become the most used method in printing.
Screen printing
Screen printing means that under the action of scraper extrusion, the ink leaks from the mesh of the graphic part to the substrate, but the mesh of the non-graphic part is blocked, and the ink can not leak to the substrate, so as to complete the printing of the printed matter.
Tip: Screen printing can also be printed in large areas, and the maximum size of the printed product can reach 3 meters ×4 meters, or even larger. 2. Printing process
Paper packaging printing process There are many, the following for you to introduce several commonly used printing process:
The expression of the gilding process is to heat the desired gilding or silver-stamping pattern into a convex plate, and then place the desired color of aluminum foil paper on the printed object, after pressurizing, so that the aluminum foil is attached to the printed object. Tip: There are many kinds of hot stamping paper materials, including gold, silver, laser gold, laser silver, black, red, green and so on.
(2) Laminating process
Laminating process is a surface processing process after printing, which refers to a product processing technology formed by covering a layer of transparent plastic film with a laminating machine on the surface of the printed product.
Tip: After the coated print, the surface will be smoother, brighter, stain resistant, water resistant, wear resistant.
(3) embossing process
The process is to use the larger pressure of the letterpress press to roll the local pattern or text on the semi-finished product that has been printed into an obvious embossing and three-dimensional graphics. Note: The embossing process is mostly used in the post-processing of printed matter and paper containers. In addition to packaging cartons, it is also used in the printing of bottle labels, trademarks, book binding, calendars, greeting cards and other products.
UV anti-metal etching printing process
UV anti-metal etching printing, also known as frosted or sanded surface printing, is printed on a metal mirror luster substrate (such as gold, silver cardboard) after a layer of bumpy translucent ink, through ultraviolet light (UV) curing, producing similar bright metal surface after etching or frosted effect.
Note: UV anti-metal etching ink can produce suede and matte effect, which can make the print appear soft and solemn, elegant and luxurious.
In addition to the above introduced several printing processes, paper packaging printing processes also include refraction, die-cutting indentation, hydrothermal transfer, drop plastic, ice, scraping silver and other printing processes.