5 Major Printing Processes

What to know about each:• Substrate• Image Carrier• Image Area• Non-Image Area

Digital PrintingInk-JetToner-Based (Electrostatic)

Digital Printing

Ink-Jet Products• Small Quantity Print Runs• Posters & Signs• Large Format• Billboards• Specialty Wraps

Digital Printing

Toner-Based Products• Low-Medium Quantities• Full-Color Printing• Books• Business Cards• Postcards• Custom Products• Fliers• Brochures• Photo Copies

Screen PrintingScreen Prints• Substrate – Paper, Plastic, Fabrics, etc.• Image Carrier – Stenciled Screen• Image Area – No stencil, open pores of

screen• Non-Image Area – blocked by stencil

Screen PrintingScreen Printed Products• Shirts• Hats• Signs

Lithography Printing(Offset)

Water and Oil DO NOT Mix

Lithography Printing(Offset Printing)

• Substrate – Paper• Image Carrier – Flat Plate• Image Area – Positive areas• Non-Image Area – Negative Areas

Lithography Printing(Offset Printing)

Offset Printed Products• Large Quantities• Books• Newspapers• Brochures • Flyers

Relief Printing(Flexography)

Relief Printing(Flexography)

• Substrate – Paper• Image Carrier – Flat Plate, or wrapped

around cylinder• Image Area – Top surface of plate• Non-Image Area – removed, below surface

of plate.

Relief Printing(Flexography)

Flexography Printed Products• Packaging• Plastic Grocery Bags

Gravure PrintingImage etched into cylinder.

Ink sets in applied to the etched areas.

Non-Image Area

Image Area

Gravure Printing

• Substrate – Paper• Image Carrier – Image Etched into Plate• Image Area – Below Surface of Plate• Non-Image Area – Surface of Plate

Gravure Printing

Gravure Printed Products• Extremely Long Press Runs• Catalogs• Magazines• Currency• Plastic Packaging