This document discusses various printing techniques that can be used for packaging. It begins with an introduction to printing and reasons for choosing printing for packaging. It then provides details on different types of printing such as flexography, gravure, letterpress, offset lithography, screen printing, thermography, and digital printing. For each technique, it describes the process and examples of applications. The document emphasizes that flexography and offset lithography are commonly used for packaging printing. It concludes by noting the engagement and distribution advantages of printed communication.
2. INTRODUCTION
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WHAT IS PRINTING ?
Printing Is A Process For Reproducing Text And Image, Typically With Ink On
Paper Using A Printing Press.
3. Why We Should Choose
Printing for Packaging ?
• Print helps to retain customers.
• Print lets people “unplug.”
• Print attracts more attention the digital
media.
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4. PRINTED PRODUCTS
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The chart below is from a presentation by Frank Romano, professor at the
Rochester Institute of Technology. It lists the various applications of industrial
printing and dates from 2008.
5. PRINTING MARKET
Printing companies can be categorized based on the type of customers they
serve, the types of jobs they print and the equipment they use. The printing
market is often split into 4 segments:
• quick printers, forms printers, wide format printers, direct mail printers
Commercial printing
• boxes, cartons, bags, cans, tags and labels.
Packaging printing
• Newspaper printers, book printers, magazine printers or directory printers
target
Publication printing
• An in-plant is a printing facilities that is part of a company or institution and
only produces print for its own employer.
In-plants
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6. TYPES OF PRINTING
Digital printing
Electrostatic
printing
Flexography Embossing Gravure
printing
Letterpress
Offset
lithography
Screen
printing
Thermography
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7. DIGITAL PRINTING
Digital Printing Is The Reproduction Of Digital Images On Physical
Surface.
Utilization Of This
Technique In Different
Process
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8. EMBOSS PRINTING
Embossing Is A Technique Which Creates A Raised, Or 3-
dimensional, Image On A Piece Of Paper. There Are Two Ways To
Emboss:
Dry Embossing
Heat Embossing
Dry Embossing, Also Called Relief Embossing, Is Done Using A
Stylus, Stencil, And A Few Other Supplies.
Heat Embossing, Also Called Stamp And Heat Embossing, Is
Done Using Special Powder, Ink, And A Heat Source.
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9. FLEXOGRAPHY
This is the process used to print packaging materials such as
plastic bags, grocery bags, gift wrap or can and bottle labels.
It is basically an updated version of letterpress.
It much more versatile than letterpress in that it can be used for
printing on almost any type of substrate including plastic,
metallic films, cellophane, and paper.
Flexography continues to be one of the fastest growing print
processes and is no longer reserved just for printing specialty
items.
Food packaging is an important market because of the ability of
flexography to print on non-porous substrates.
This ability makes it useful for printing on plastic bags as well.
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12. GRAVURE PRINTING
• This is an expensive but high quality printing technique that uses
direct contact between an etched copper plate and the paper.
• While the plate has a relatively high cost, this technique is the best
way to print high quality, large volume materials such as
brochures, magazines, annual reports and mail order catalogues.
• Gravure is used for many packaging applications, magazines, and
pressure sensitive labels.
Approximately utilization of this technique in different process
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13. LETTERPRESS PRINTING
• This is the original printing process that was introduced way
back in the fifteenth century.
• It uses images on the plate that are slightly raised from the
surface (like a rubber stamp). Few printers offer fine letterpress
anymore.
• The letterpress process utilizes an ink that is thick in
consistency and is well suited for relief printing.
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14. OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY
PRINTING
• A popular printing method offered by almost every printer.
• Used to print any variety of different textured materials, this
process uses ink economically and requires little time to set up
the press.
• It is used for almost all printing on paper, including
newspapers, magazines, brochures, etc.
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15. SCREEN PRINTING
Also known as silk screening, this process forces ink through a
screen, like a stencil pattern. Often used for non-flat goods, this
method is best equipped to print on items like mugs, clothing, ring
binders, bumper stickers or billboards.
Screen printing has been used for centuries and although there
have been many improvements with the technology.
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16. THERMOGRAPHY
PRINTING
• This is a print finishing process that produces a raised image.
• This process dusts a previously printed image with a powder
before the image's ink has been allowed to dry.
• Applying heat makes the powder and the ink fuse and form a
raised image. This process is mainly used for stationery.
• Thermography is the process of spreading thermal powders on the
wet ink of a print application and heating it in order to melt the
powder into a single solid mass which is raised above the printed
surface.
• It is also known as “ imitation engraving ”.
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18. THE ADVANTAGES OF PRINTED
COMMUNICATION
• Many types of print media (newspapers and magazines) still have
a loyal readership. They remain a valuable part of the marketing
mix of advertisers.
• Print allows for easy distribution to a particular geographical region.
• Many printed publications have a reputation that is as yet unrivaled
by on-line or electronic media.
• Print media are often more engaging than their electronic
counterparts.
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19. REFERENCE
HAND BOOK OF PRINTING TECHNOLOGY BY EIRI BOARD
OF CONSULTANTS & ENGINEERS .
https://pialliance.org
https://www.slideshare.net/KUSHVERMA6/innovative-
packaging
https://www.packaging-labelling.com/
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