Traditional printing definition: Based on the original text or image manuscript, a printing plate is made by direct or indirect methods, and then an adhesive colorant is coated on the printing plate. Under the action of mechanical pressure, the adhesive colorant on the printing plate is transferred to the surface of the substrate, thereby obtaining a batch of copied printed products.

Narrow printing definition:

The technology of transferring graphic information from various information sources to the substrate using a printing plate or other means.

●Broad printing definition: Prepress + printing + post-press processing

Printing is the most basic and popular method of information dissemination and storage. Elements of printing - for conventional printing Information source Printing plate Substrate Ink Printing equipment

Classification:

According to the height and structure of the relative position of the printing part and the blank part, it is divided into gravure printing, hole printing, relief printing, lithography, relief printing Plate features: The printing part is higher than the blank part, and the printing part is on the same plane.

Printing method: The ink roller applies ink to the printing part, and the plate is pressed to contact the substrate, and the ink is transferred.

Lithographic printing

Printing plate characteristics: The printing part and the image part are almost on the same plane, with no obvious difference in height. The image part is oleophilic, and the blank part is hydrophilic. The blank absorbs moisture based on the principle of oil-water repulsion, while the image does not. The blank absorbs moisture, while the image does not. The blank repels oil, while the image absorbs ink. The ink of the image part is transferred to the substrate to form a mark.

Gravure printing

Printing plate characteristics: The printing part is lower than the blank part, and the blank part is on the same plane. The depth of the depression varies with the depth of the layers. Method: Apply ink to the entire plate - scrape the ink (scrape off the excess ink of the blank) - press (ink transfer) to obtain the ink mark of the printed product. Different thicknesses of the ink layer produce different shades of color

Stencil printing

Printing plate characteristics: The printing part is composed of holes of different sizes or the same size but different numbers, which can pass through the ink; the blank has no holes and does not pass through the ink.

Printing method: Apply ink to the entire plate, scrape the ink to allow the ink to pass through the small holes of the image part and transfer to the substrate.