Current Popular Printing Techniques

Curious About the Popular Printing Techniques Used Today? Explore with ‘SIRIVATANA INTERPRINT

• Digital Printing: This technique involves using printers connected to computers to print directly from digital files. Digital printing is ideal for small-scale, frequently updated jobs, or those with variable data. Common applications include packaging boxes, business cards, brochures, flyers, and books.
• Offset Printing: This is a flat printing process based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. In offset printing, a water-repellent layer is created on the non-image areas of the printing plate. When ink is applied, it adheres only to the image areas and is then transferred onto a rubber blanket and subsequently onto paper. This method produces high-quality prints and is available in various sizes, including one-color, two-color, four-color, five-color, or more. Common examples include office printing materials, packaging boxes, brochures, flyers, books, journals, magazines, and cards.
• Letterpress Printing: This is a relief printing technique where the printing plate is made from metal or polymer and is etched to leave raised image areas that hold the ink. The inked image is then pressed onto the printing material. Although less common today due to the complexity and labor involved in creating the plates, letterpress printing is still used for projects where a textured, tactile quality is desired. Examples include boxes, labels, business cards, signs, and other prints where high detail is not required.
• Silkscreen Printing: This is a stencil printing technique where ink is forced through a tightly stretched screen mesh, allowing it to pass only through the areas of the design. This method is versatile for printing on both flat and curved surfaces and is influenced by the mesh’s fiber density. Silkscreen printing can be applied to a wide range of materials. Examples include signs, business cards, plastics, metals, textiles, bottles, plates, packaging, and various equipment parts.
• Flexographic Printing (Flexography): This is a relief printing method that uses flexible polymer plates as the printing plates. The process is similar to letterpress printing in that it involves pressing, but it employs a thinner ink and special rollers to evenly distribute the ink onto the plate. While the print quality may not match that of offset printing, flexography is widely used for various types of printing. Examples include corrugated boxes, labels, tissue paper, bags, and plastic pouches.
•  Gravure Printing: This is a intaglio printing technique where the image areas are etched into a cylindrical metal plate to hold the ink. The ink is then transferred from the recesses of the plate to the printing surface. Due to the complex and time-consuming process of creating these engraved cylinders, gravure printing is typically used for long-run projects and involves higher costs. Common applications include food and confectionery packaging, various plastic prints, and in some international markets, magazine printing.

These are the various types of printing that remain popular today. Each of the six methods is suited for different types of printing tasks and offers unique characteristics. Printing involves reproducing an original, whether it is an image or text. It’s important to note that printing does not create an original work but rather produces copies of it. The goal is to replicate the original as closely as possible on various surfaces, whether they are flat, curved, or slightly textured. The choice of printing method depends on the specific needs of the project to ensure high-quality and aesthetically pleasing results that meet the customer's requirements.