Design for Print - Print Processes - Workshop 2 - Printing Methods

Printing methods: 

Various Methods for Commercial printing:

Lithographic
Gravure
Screen - Print
Flexography
Pad - Printing
Six Colour
Laminate - Gloss / matt
Foil Blocking
Embossing / de-bossing
Spot UV Varnish 

Screen printing:

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the

mesh as a sharp-edged image onto asubstrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink into the mesh openings for transfer by capillary action during the squeegee stroke.

Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by the fill blade or squeegee and onto the printing surface during the squeegee stroke. It is also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing. A number of screens can be used to produce a multicoloured image. 

www.google.com/images/screenprinting\

Screen Printing onto Material : Clothing / material / bedding etc.

Edge Gliding Printing > Edge of pages: 

Gilded Edges

Gilded edges, also known as edge painting is the process of applying pantone ink(s) to the side(s) of Taste of Ink Cotton Cards. Since Cotton Cards are extremely thick (42 pt), the sides have canvas space for the ink to show a true visability. 

Since gilded edges uses pantone inks, any color can be applied to the printing. Pantone inks provide an exact color to match a company brand (color pallete).

Laminate : Shine / Gloss Stock > CMYK

Laminate (matt and gloss)

Thermal laminating film is the ultimate way to finish printed materials for beautiful and long-lasting results. Unlike UV and other coatings, thermal lamination provides maximum protection against scratching, smudging and strengthens paper stocks while producing the sharpest and clearest images. Laminating film comes in different finishes, however the two most popular are high-gloss, and matt.

High gloss lamination is very eye-catching, reflecting the light, which enhances MetalFX inks. Matt Lamination gives a feeling of understated luxury, especially when photographs are coated with Spot UV Varnish, it gives an outstanding impression.

Laminating films help to protect from moisture and abrasion whilst providing superior adhesion to fully printed surfaces. The life of your print is extended, enabling you to make long-lasting and favourable impressions. Laminated products communicate quality and add significantly to every product's real and perceived value. Laminations crisply and clearly communicate a feeling of substance, a sense that "this is something of quality".

Gives the effect of Gloss, normally uses on a photograph or documents specific to formal complanincies. 

Foiling:

This is another print finishing technique that is used in many different ways by designers and printers.

The type of foil we are most familiar with in day to day life is good old kitchen tin foil which is not too dissimilar from the type that we are going look at, it is thin, shiny and comes on a roll!

To help understand what I am talking about, take out any bank note from your pocket or wallet (if you are lucky enough to have one!) and have a good look at the fancy shiny silver strip or shape on the right hand side of the front of the note. This is a type of foil that is applied to the note after it has been printed. In this instance it is used to verify that the note is genuine. This is a special type of holographic foil that is specifically designed for euro bank notes. It has textures and numbers designed into the foil to prevent counterfeiting. Concert tickets and some vouchers also use a very similar type of foil.

Foiling is also used on book covers, leather products, business stationery, packaging, greeting cards – the list is endless! 

http://curiousdesign.ie/2011/08/design-a-to-z-–-foiling/

Cold foil is a versatilite and efficient process.

The process uses an embossing motif printing plate. An adhesive is pre-printed, which bonds with the subsequently applied cold foil and is cured using UV light. The cold foil is then peeled off the web to leave only the embossing motif in foil form on the print substrate. The process runs at normal press speed and a single pass is all that is needed to apply the foil and then overprint it with normal inks.

Hot foil printing is one of the oldest forms of printing using the letterpress principle and produces excellent results.

A male block is produced using zinc, magnesium, copper or brass. This is process engraved. The block is heated on press and a metallic or coloured foil is branded on to the material. The results are stunning giving your label a premium look and feel.

This image shows gold and silver foils on black card, image courtesy of design context.

Spot UV varnish

A varnish is a liquid coating applied to a printed surface (for example the outside of a presentation folder) to add a clear glossy, matte, satin, or neutral finish.

A varnish increases colour absorption and speeds up the drying process. By 'locking in' in the ink under a protective coat, the varnish helps to prevent the ink rubbing off when the paper is subjected to handling. Varnishes are used most frequently, and successfully on coated papers.

Ultra Violet (UV) Varnishing is a process for achieving an even more striking type of coating on your printed material. Requiring the use of special Ultraviolet drying machinery, a UV coating is like a deluxe version of the non-UV varnishes, with the varnish appearing noticeably richer and more luxurious. A UV varnish can be applied as either an all-over coating, or as a spot varnish:

A Spot Varnish is applied to chosen spots (areas), of a printed piece. This has the affect of highlighting and drawing attention to that part of the design, but it also provides the additional visual stimulus of having varied textures on a single printed surface. This adds a lot of interest, and can identify the printing as a premium piece of literature in the perception of the reader.

One very effective technique is to apply a UV gloss spot varnish on top of matt laminated printing. This achieves maximum contrast between the highly reflective shiny UV coating and the light-absorbing matt laminate, and can, for instance, create a striking first impression on presentation folders or a brochure cover.

Different Print Methods : 

From tasteofinkstudios.com

Printing Technique Summary Table

Here are the 8 printing techniques mentioned in this guide.

Printing Technique	Description
Embossing/Debossing	Embossing creates a raised impression on stock, debossing creates a depressed impression on stock.
Silk Lamination/Lamination	Silk lamination provides a soft, silk-like finish, is water-resistant, is tear-resistant, and complements vibrant colors. The effect could be glossy, dull, or satin.
Varnish	A varnish is a liquid coating applied to a printed surface to add a clear glossy, matte, satin, or neutral finish.
Foil	A foil layer is affixed to a certain material by a heating process.
Thermography	Thermography produces raised printing similar in appearance to engraving.
Die Cut	Die cut involves cutting irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.
Letterpress	A surface with raised letters is inked and pressed to the surface of the printing substrate to reproduce an image in reverse.
Silk Screening	A printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that allows ink to transfer onto the material.