The Printing ProcessesBy Christopher

Screen Printing

•Screen printing uses stencils for transferring images onto paper or any other medium.

•Different stencils are used for different colors.

A good example of screen printing.

•The stencil is supported by a fabric. This fabric allows the ink to soak through onto the medium of printing.

Imagery- How the image is copied

The Mechanics

•The open parts of the stencil allow the ink to go through the fabric and onto the paper. The image is transferred.•The block parts of the stencil do not allow the ink to go through the fabric and onto the paper. This creates the shape.

Carousel Screen-printing

•Multiple screens•Each screen contains a different stencil and is inked with a different color

•Rotated after printing

Backing material placed here and is aligned with the screen.

The Screens

Carousel Screen-printing ProcessThis process list assumes that the machinery is set up and the screens are inked.

The use of a carousel allows production to be quicker and more efficient.

Inked screen with stencil is lowered onto paper. The ink is transferred.

Inked screen is lifted up and rotated to a screen

with a different colour and shape .

This is repeated until all colours and shapes have

been printed.

Print

Rotate

Print

Final Product/

Print finished

Uses of Screen Printing in GraphicsScreen printing is usually used as part of a big process to

create a product. Its main use is to decorate with or attach a logo to the product

Screen printing is used to put the graphics on products.

Screen printing can be applied when creating pieces of art.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Screen printing

Advantages DisadvantagesStencils are cheap to create. You can just cut the shape you want with scissors.

Difficult to achieve fine detail because it uses stencils. Though it is not impossible.

Even though screen printing may only provide low output, it is economical and cheap for short runs.

Low output: This printing process is only for short batch production products.

Screen printing can be used to print on most material such as ceramic, fabric and paper.

Photocopying- Xerography

Copy Print

Photocopying involves a non-contact printing method.

It uses a dry colouring method. There is no liquid ink involved. Instead it uses a powder called “Toner”

Photocopying Printing Process

Uses of Photocopying in Graphics

Because photocopying is a non-contact printing method it can be used to print images in different sizes.

This is useful in graphics when one is working in different scales.

For example, when designing a logo, it is important that the logo is readable no matter what size. So you could use the photocopier to print it in different sizes when you are in the designing stage.

If you are working with black and white graphics, the photocopier can be useful in making an accurate copy of an image and print it in black and white.

Gravure PrintingMechanic

s:Gravure printing uses an printing plate engraved with the image wanted. These engravings would hold the ink that will be printed on the paper

Applications of Gravure Printing

Because it has an engraved plate, it can be used to create high quality art and photography books. Also it can be used for expensive magazines.

Gravure printing ProcessPrint

• Different colours and shapes have different engraved plates

Move

• This happens very quickly because it uses a long reel of paper that just fed continuously through the press.

Print

• Printing continues until all colours have been printed

Advantage and disadvantages of Gravure printing

Advantages Disadvantages

The colour is consistent, unlike some other printing techniques such as lithography.

High Cost-The engraving plate is expensive to make. Also the cylinders are expensive to maintain.

Economical if printed in short runs.

Because it is expensive to run, its only good for long print runs.

Offset Lithography

It has a smooth printing plate, unlike the Gravure printing technique. This means that the printing plate can be made out of a larger variety of materials. Lithography uses oil or fat and gum to divide the smooth surface into regions which accept the ink, and which reject it and thus become the background.

Offset lithography printing processA separate plate is used for each colour, and

a print goes through the press separately for each plate.

Advantages Disadvantages

The colour is consistent, unlike some other printing techniques such as lithography.

High Cost-The engraving plate is expensive to make. Also the cylinders are expensive to maintain.

Economical if printed in short runs.

Because it is expensive to run, its only good for long print runs.