Familiarity with printing methods

The classification of printing methods in a few specific groups makes it possible to choose the best option without getting lost in all types of printing devices and their differences in terms of dimensions, applications, peripheral equipment and level of automation, etc.… and to be able to have a clear understanding.

 Learn about the concept of printing and the structure of all printing machines

This classification should be presented according to the most basic specifications of printing methods and in a logical and acceptable way

Before introducing different printing methods, a correct definition of printing must be provided; Printing is the reproduction of an original version of text and image in multiple copies and on various printable surfaces. In this definition, the word "composite" has been deliberately avoided, because in some printing methods, the color material is toner or ink. They say, because of these precautions, the word paper is not used in these definitions. Now, apart from paper, printing is also done on plastic surfaces and various other products.

Familiarity with printing methods

There are many different ways to print on different materials and objects that are still evolving. Each printing method is suitable for different needs, meaning businesses can choose the printing technique that best highlights their products or services. The oldest known printing method is known as woodblock printing and involves carving an image onto a wooden surface. Since then, printing has evolved a lot, instead of hand engraving on wood you can choose from a wide range of technologically advanced methods. In today's world, all kinds of small and large printing machines are invented and used for special tasks.

Machine printing methods

It's not bad to know that from watch faces to t-shirts, computer keyboards, books, newspapers, sheets, stove panels, advertising billboards, industrial parts, and all kinds of packaging, everything is printed in some way. Despite the great variety of printing devices and consumables and printing techniques for each of the above items, printing methods can be classified in a general classification as follows:

1-     Contact printing group

In fact, all the printing methods that are included in the contact printing group are the traditional printing methods and the main methods of producing printed works that have been around for years and are still known as the main printing methods. Contact prints are divided into four groups based on the type of print form and the method of ink transfer

•   Embossing (such as letterpress and flexography)

•   Goud (such as heliogravure and pad print)

•   Smooth (such as offset and lithography)

•   Lace (such as silk screen and stencil)

2-     Non-contact printing group

The term non-contact was used when new printing methods were invented that do not contact the media, with the printing form (or printing medium), which are different compared to the usual methods. This term is related to types of printing, including toner systems (such as photocopiers that print with powder (toner) instead of liquid ink) in which there is no intermediary for ink transfer on the printed surface and ink transfer based on a specific pattern. And a special method is done at the desired points. Non-contact printing is generally divided into two groups:

•   Electrostatic (such as photocopying and toner digital prints)

•   Inkjet (such as desktop inkjet printers, plotters and large format printers)

Printing methods

✔  Offset printing or lithography

Offset printing is a method of printing by a metal plate containing an image on the media, which is the most common printing technique for large-scale operations and is usually used for commercial work. Offset printing can be used to print on paper, card, foil, fabric, or other materials, provided that the media selected must have a smooth surface. Lithography is the most common type of printing process and was developed by Robert Barclay in England in 1875. Due to how it works, it became the most popular type of commercial printing in the late 1950s.

✔  Flexography

Flexography is a printing technique that uses a printing plate with embossed shapes to transfer ink to paper, and is one of the most common types of printing used for everything from newspapers to books. Flexography can be used to print text as well as images, the process begins by executing a design on a metal or plastic plate using ink, then transfers the inked surface of the design to the chosen media. Printing can be used on paper as well as plastic, metal, cellophane and other materials; Flexo printing is mainly used for packaging and labels and to a lesser extent for newspapers.

✔  Digital printing

For digital printing, the desired design is digitally sent to a specialized printing machine that prints it. Digital printing was invented in 1989 by Gary Starkweather of the Xerox Corporation and was first exhibited at the Seybold trade show in New York. Digital printing equipment can be purchased at relatively affordable prices almost anywhere, all you need to operate it is a computer or a mobile phone. The sublimation printing machine, which is mainly used for fabric printing, is one of the most popular digital printing machines.

Digital printing can be done in several ways, with two technologies dominating this method:

•   Inkjet: In an inkjet printer, the image to be printed is created by small drops of ink that come out of the nozzles of one or more print heads. Inkjet printers can print on a wide variety of substrates such as paper, plastic, canvas, or even doors and floor tiles.

•   Xerography: In xerography devices, such as laser printing devices, the image to be printed is formed by applying a selected load on a metal cylinder called a drum. An electrical charge is used to attract toner particles, which are transferred to the media to be printed on.

✔  Rotogravure printing:

In rotogravure printing, also known as gravure, images are engraved on a printing cylinder or cylinder, then the cylinder is covered with ink and finally transferred to the printing media. Rotogravure printing has many advantages, including high image quality, the ability to print on different surfaces, and high-speed, high-volume printing. Gravure printing is used to print high-volume works such as newspapers, magazines and packaging, but this printing method is losing market share and being replaced by offset and flexo printing.

✔  Screen printing:

Screen printing is the process of printing on a surface where the ink passes through a mesh screen, this method is also known as screen printing, serigraphy or serigraph printing. Screen printing is one of the oldest methods of printing images, text and patterns, this method was invented in the 1880s. This printing method has many advantages, including vivid and long-lasting colors and the ability to print on any surface, even non-smooth surfaces such as wood, metal, and ceramics.

Large format printing

This printing method is more suitable for traditional advertising formats and businesses that do large-scale advertising, for large print media such as building cladding, billboards, banners and murals, wide format printing is the best option. Large format printing is done with inkjet roll presses or flatbed presses, flatbed printers allow the product to be printed directly onto thicker layers, actually reducing a step in the process, as the presses Rolls require the print to be mounted on a more rigid base. Wide format printing is often used for:

•   Large signs e.g. billboards, posters, vinyl banners:

•   Wall paper and wall painting

•   Floor graphics

•   Laminating

Pre-print (preparation)

All printing methods, before the printing stage, have a stage called pre-printing, a set of operations that take place after the layout and preparation of the artwork or after the execution of the design, in order to prepare the work for printing, before Prints are considered. The last step before printing is preparing the plate (or form ready for printing). "Pre-printing" in its broad sense includes typesetting and design operations, and in a specific sense, it refers to the preparation of the printing form or the operation that leads to plate production. Preparation in all printing methods traditionally has its own stages, operations and consumables, and today it is gradually giving its place to digital preparation.

The main operations and typical preparation steps in all methods are: photography, color separation, filming, formatting and copying. In digital preparation, all photography, retouching and formatting operations are done with the help of pre-printing software in the computer, and the appearance of the plate is done by computer systems.