Category: Blog

Intaglio printing

Intaglio printing is one of the oldest printmaking techniques and is similar to many printing methods in which the plate area is carved, and the lines that are the outcome plate carving are probably printed. Intaglio printing is the opposite printing making technique for relief printing.

The reason for this is that in this printing method is that the engraved area is printed and raised areas are neglected for printing. There are multiple examples of intaglio printing, such as etching, engraving, photogravure, aquatint, mezzotint, and heliogravure. The methods are different from each other but are used to get similar results.

How is intaglio printing done?

The procedure of intaglio printing is quite simple; it starts with the cutting of lines on the metallic plate. For this step, there are two methods, and one is that you can utilize cutting tools named a burin or you can use the method of using corrosive actions of acid. If you use the first method of using cutting tools, then that method will be called engraving, but if you’ll go with the acid one, it is called etching.

When you want to print an intaglio plate, then you should be clear that you need to spread the ink all over the plate and specifically insert the ink completely into the lines engraved. After the ink is absorbed by the engraved lines, the extra ink lying on the surface of the plate is wiped off. This method will let the design to be printed on the paper when it undergoes a printing press machine.

Intaglio printing is an expensive printing technique

It is not wrong to say that intaglio printing is way more expensive than offset printing, as the intaglio presses are ten times costly than the offset presses and when it comes off the special intaglio plates, they are hundred times more expensive than a normal printing press plate. No doubt this printing method is costly, but you can get your desired prints and best results with this method.

Why is intaglio printing used?

Let’s put the light on the fact that intaglio printing is advantageous as well. Even if the plates are expensive, we cannot ignore their lifetime. These plates could be used for a relatively incredible long life than the other plates. The plates are capable of improvising the design before the quality of the design degrades. Other than that, with intaglio printing, you can get really fine details for your prints.

Knowing the facts, that with the raised surfaces of the structure, settle on intaglio printing the regular decision for cash, travel papers, and other high-security records. For all intents and purposes, each banknote on the planet is printed at any rate halfway utilizing intaglio, since its particular appearance and surface make it simpler to spot fakes. Even though intaglio will never supplant laser and inkjet printers in the work area, there’s no better printing procedure when just flawlessness is adequate.

Pad printing

Pad printing is a unique printing method that lets the user transfer a 2D image onto a 3D item. This type of printing is used to get the prints on the items that are hard to be printed like concaved surfaces or huge items. This printing method got its popularity during the world war, kit happened when the watchmakers started to make designs on the concave surface of the watches. Pad printing is a method that makes it possible to print on uneven surfaces and even on those surfaces on which no other printing method works. This is major reason for which most the industries such as cosmetics, medicals and electronic industries use this printing method.

How does pad printing works

Pad printing utilizes the silicon pad that helps to print the design on the item you want to print it on. The printing machine keeps the item tight by holding it, and it is passed through the inked plate. After it has been passed through the inked plate then it is stamped by the pad. Pad printing can easily enhance the beauty of the 3D parts; this is because when the image is printed on such parts, the pad changes into the shape of that part. During this shape adaption, the design of the image is not affected. Pad printing is recommended to be used because it gives excellent fine details and remarkable finishing to the item. You can design the print with multiple colors by using the pad printing method.

Benefits of pad printing

One of the fundamental focal points of pad printing is that it can print on probably the most unprintable items possible. The silicone cushion adjusts to the state of the part so it can undoubtedly print on uneven surfaces, raised, and sunken and barrel-shaped. This technique is additionally useful for fragile items that would almost certainly break utilizing different strategies for printing, for example, screen printing. It additionally gives unpredictable itemizing on littler surfaces, for example, standardized identifications, logos, and marks. Contingent upon the ink type, this printing technique can likewise be utilized on items that need high opposition against scraped spots or synthetic substances. Pad printing is additionally incredible for multicolor printing without the requirement for quick drying.

Inks used for pad printing

Pad printing inks are made specially to match perfectly with the type of material on which the designs are to be printed. You can get variations of ink lines for almost all type of plastic materials such as ABD, nylon, HIP, and many other materials. You would be amazed ton read that the hardest material such as polythene, Delrin, Urea, etc. are also capable of being printed with the pad printing method. Most of the inks that are used in pad printing are solvent-based while other is UV based. The solvent-based ink is cured as the time passes, or some heat is added into them to enhance their consistency and lifetime. And the UV based inks are cured with the help of UV light.

Commercial printing

Commercial printing is the procedure of getting the designs and transferring these designs on the paper to form multiple commercial products like flyers, brochures, etc. mostly commercial printing is done using an offset printer that utilizes four colors of ink named, cyan, magenta, yellow and blue. Commercial printing can be sued to make endless things, and this printing method is especially for the printing of the advertisement stuff. It gives the exact fine texture and detailing to the advertisement brochures that turns out to be helpful for any business. This is the printing type that must be adopted for all the advertisement and marketing stuff printing purposes.

Types of commercial printing

There are multiple types of commercial printing. Below mentioned are some of the types of commercial printing and it depends upon you that which printing way is convenient for your requirements

Offset lithography

Offset lithography printing is one of them; the most commonly used type of commercial printing for advertisement printing. The reason for this is that with lithography it is quite easy to get the desired prints on any flat area. It depends upon you that on which type of material you want the prints. The offset lithography can go well with the prints on the cardboard, paper and even on plastic. So if your business requires the advertisement stuff on any of the three materials, you can get the best results by using this type of commercial printing. The business in which a lot of advertisement and marketing printing is required at a time, this printing method is perfect because the printing machine utilizes the rolls of paper that are inserted through four different printing units to ensure the best printing results.

Digital printing

Digital printing is the most adopted type of commercial printing when it comes to getting the best marketing printouts option. This is because the digital printing has many more advantages than any other printing providing the users to edit the design as much time as they want digitally. This printing method is quality one as it increases the chances of adding exclusive and unique impression on the marketing material. This digital commercial printing is best for businesses that are finding short runs and personalizations. The digital printing method can be used to make the marketing material such as labels, letters, newsletters, banners, points of sale items and much more.

Flexography printing

Flexography commercial printing is another type of commercial printing; this method is mostly used on the packaging and the other rough surfaces. This is the latest’s version of letterpress that is capable of printing anything on any material. The quality from this technique makes this procedure brisk drying, which results in moderately high speeds of creation because the inks utilized for the most part have low consistency.

The reality can print on uneven surfaces is the thing that makes it well known among organizations, alongside the way that it’s adaptable enough to print on paper alongside plastics, metals, cellophane and different materials.

Woodblock printing

Another name for block printing is woodblock printing. This is one of the oldest forms of printmaking methods. Woodblock printing is used to print texts, images, and multiple designs on the paper or fabric. This method is commonly used in East Asia, and it was originated from china back in the 9^th century. This printing method was first used in china to print designs on fabric, later it was used to print texts on the paper and got much popular. The images printed on the fabric or paper is done using engraved wooden blocks that have specific designs on it. This printing method remained popular until the latest printing methods started to emerge in the printing industry. This method is still very common in India to print fabrics as this printing method gives the desired fine prints and detailing.

How does woodblock printing works

At first, the design you want to print is a trace on the paper with the help of a simple lead pencil. Another method for this is getting the entire image printed and then detailing those parts of the image traced with the pencil that you want to get printed. After the image is drawn, it is transferred on the wooden, and for that the page is turned face down to get the exact design engraved on the block. Now to get the pencil design transferred on the wooden piece, special burnisher is used with which the back of the drawing is rubbed that transfers the design of the paper on the wooden piece.

Tracing the idea

Tracing your desired design with the pen with help you to see the design carefully before carving it. The carving step of this printing method is quite difficult and complicated; this is why people prefer to keep the wood on the rubber so that the wood gets the desired grip.

Proofing the block

The proofing of the block is the next step of woodblock printing, where a fine line of ink is applied on the glass, and then it is rolled over a flat area by using the rubber brayer. Once the brayer is rolled over the surface, it is then rolled over the block. In this step, the block is carved again if required because here it will be cleared that the carved design is fine or does it requires more carving.

Printing the block

This is the process where the block will print the design. To print the design, the block is dipped into the ink, and then the paper is pressed over the block slightly with the rice spoon. After that the paper is lifted and the block is kept to dry.

Cleaning the wooden block print

This is the ending process of woodblock printing here. The woodblock print is cleared and framed as well. A little water is required to wash out the unnecessary print, and it is done by rubbing the unwanted print slightly. Most of the artist does not do this final step because it is not much important.

Block printing

Block printing is one of the oldest printmaking methods used. When there was no printing press invented, the books were printed with the big blocks. The blocks had the letters and the designs engraved on them, and they were dipped into the ink and then pressed on the material on which they had to leave the print. Block printing generally refers to the technique of using cut pieces of woods to get the prints imprinted on the fabrics or any other material.

Earlier, people used it for making full-length books but now as the printing press is available; this method is just famous for printing designs on the fabrics. The blocks are still engraved with beautiful designs, and they are dipped into the colors and then put directly on the fabric and trust me, it leaves beautiful prints on the fabric.

History of block printing

The block printing method was originated from china over the 2000 years ago, and from there it becomes popular in India. The block printing method is widely used in India to make beautiful printing fabrics. The special printing method was very common till 2019 in ASIA, and after that it was a little neglected due to other new printing techniques. Earlier, block printing was especially done on the fabrics to get the artwork on it, but later, this amazing printing method was also tested with the paper, and it became successful and common.

Block printing is simple yet beautiful

Block printing is one of the easiest printing methods in the printing industry. All you have to do is engrave your specific design on the wooden block and then choose your favorite color and print that block design on the fabric. Other than that, this method is easy in way that if you want to add a new design to the block, it is way too easy. It could be done in a few minutes, and then you can use the block for a long time. To give the fabrics a beautiful touch and uniqueness, no other printing method is best. If you want something simple yet beautiful, this is what you should choose for your fabric printing.

Block printing gives the perfect finish

When it comes to getting the best finishing results for your fabric printing, no other method can beat the block printing method. The reason behind this is that the designs craved on the blocks are so sharp and fine that when they leave the print on the fabric, it ends up giving the perfect sharpness and fine detailing to that print. The accuracy and the fine detailing attained by block printing method are unmatchable and unbeatable.

Block printing is cost-effective

Block printing is a cost-effective method of printing on fabric. For printing designs on the fabric, all you need is wooden blocks and fabric colors. Other fabric printing methods are quite expensive, such as screen printing. Screen printing requires a lot of money to set up the screen, and the process is also quite long.  But with block printing, you can save your time and money both.

Monochrome printing

Monochrome printing is the type of printing method in which the images or the letters printed are only in black and white tones. For monochrome printing method special monochrome printers are used as they are cost-effective and are designed especially for the printings of monochrome printouts. The monochrome printers are very common at offices and business workplace because of the documents printed there are required to be printed in monochrome form. The monochrome printing method is faster than the colored printing method because no colored inks are used to print the document. It takes less cost per paper, and if you work with monochrome laser printer for monochrome printing, you can get such fine and high-quality prints also. Monochrome printing is the first preference of business places because professional documents do not have to be colored.

Monochrome printing is best for everyday documents

The monochrome printing technique is effective for everyday documents such as letters, invoices, statements, book printings and much more. The black and white combination enables the reader to have more clarity while reading the document. Monochrome printing is suitable for any font and font size. You can use monochrome printing even if you are making banners or you are printing up a book. This printing method is an all-rounder.

Monochrome printing is great for presentations

The PowerPoint introduction you went through hours on is beautiful. Lamentably, those tremendous swaths of shading from pictures and line artistry are exorbitant to print, and not so much vital for printed versions. Use in-program settings (under View > Grayscale) to pick a toner-accommodating plan that jelly the detail you need without covering the page with ink.

Monochrome printing is pocket-friendly

When compared with color printing, monochrome printing is very affordable for the user and the more by both. Monochrome printers do not require different tones of colors as they are required to produce the prints in just black and white. You can save a lot of money through it because the printing inks are quite expensive. No heading towards the printout’s buyers, instead of getting your documents colored printed; you can get them printed in monochrome form because it is less in cost. Hence, monochrome printing technique is the best technique if you searching for something cost-effective and high in quality both.

Monochrome printing is faster than colored printing

Colored printers would take much more time in printing the documents then the monochrome printer. The monochrome printing process is faster, and you can get your printout way quicker than the colored ones. To enhance the speed of the processing it is recommended to get monochrome laser printer because they are way too faster than the ordinary monochrome printers.

With such benefits of monochrome printing, it ends on a conclusion that it is not compulsory to get your document’s color printed, and then always go with monochrome printing. And if you are an employee at a workplace, it is effective to submit all your documents in monochrome printing layout.

Digital printing

Digital printing is the process of getting the image or the desired design into a computerized form and printing it with the help of multiple types of printers. There are multiple software for creating a digital image file such as Adobe PDF, InDesign, etc., the printing cost of digital printing is high per page if we compare it with the old printing method. The old method requires the printing plates during the setup of printing machine, but with digital printing, the cost of printing plates is avoided. To get good results for your digital files while keeping the overall printing cost low, choosing digital printing is the best choice one could make.

What makes digital printing popular?

There are multiple factors due to which digital printing is getting much more common. The very first point is that it allows the printing on-demand option. You can easily adjust the colors of the prints; it depends upon you what size of image you want, what colors you want to add to your printed image. Another point is that images are printed at a really fast speed; you do not have to wait too long to get your design printed. The addition of variable data with each print has become quite easy with the use of digital printing as every step is done digitally. Now most of the things related to printing could be done digitally, and it a cost-effective way of printing as well.

Digital printing gives high-quality images

The quality of digital printing products is no doubt excellent as every step id performed digitally. The image is explained digitally and then printed digitally. All the colors added into the image are done by the computer source, so there are zero percent chances that you get wrong prints. With digital printing, you get a chance to give your prints a look of a trained eye to see if the image printed is exacted same as the design provided or not, whereas, with tradition printing you might have some issue occurring with your printouts.

Digital printing’s modification is easy

It’s obvious that if you have your design on the computer and you are going to print it digitally, then you can change the design whenever you want. The modification of the images or the printing design is quite easy with digital printing. There are no restrictions or limits, so you can edit the design as many times as you want. Suppose you have an image and you want to edit it and add some other features to it; with digital printing technique, you can edit the image through the computer within few minutes easily.

Digital printing is green friendly

The reason why am I calling digital printing green friendly is that fewer printing materials are required for the printing of images. High-quality images can be attained without using printing plates, oil-based inks and other chemicals that are mostly used in traditional printing procedures.

Gray scale printing

There are multiple processes for screen printing, but it is quite challenging to understand which method goes best with the material you want to get printed. The prints printed on a hoodie, t-shirt or any other fabric requires a lot of consideration before choosing any printing technique. Grayscale is one of the most common printing methods adopted to get the designs and images printed on multiple types of materials. This printing is exciting for the people who love to play with different tones of a single color.

The description of gray scale printing

The gray scale printing is done using multiple tones of gray that range from black to white.  These shades are achieved by the enhancement of light and lack of light. This all might be sounding like the old black and white method, most people compare this ancient method with gray scale printing, but it should be cleared that both the ways are different. With the old black and white technique, the actual black and white colors are used, but with the gray scale technology, combination red, green and blue and combination of cyan, magenta and yellow are used to attain the shades of gray.

Benefits of gray scale printing

There are multiple benefits of suing grayscale printing that you won’t even imagine. The essential advantage that all demand from their printing method is that it should be affordable. The gray scale printing is quite affordable when it comes to its printing cost. The reason behind this is that no extra colors are used for printing that automatically reduces the overall cost. This printing method is especially for those people who are in search of a good yet inexpensive printing way. Gray scale printing gets thumbs up from all its users because this printing technique always gives high-quality printing results. The resolution of the images printed are quite admirable; the only factor is that all the images come out in the tones of gray, either dark or light. Whether you use gray scale printing method to get the papers printed or for printing images on fabric, this printing technique always goes perfectly with each material.

Grayscale printing procedure

The procedure of gray scale printing starts with having a plan or picture. When you have this picture in decent goals, at that point, the image or configuration ought to be changed over to gray scale. Pictures that are changed to gray scale will have each shade speak to shading from RGB or CMYK, even though it is changed over to grays from high contrast. This portrayal happens because pixels have quantifiable brilliance that can mean its shade. As such, the dim shades can be thought of as being in the middle of or in a range of no brilliance (dark) and all splendors (white). The shades in the picture each fall someplace in a better place in this section contingent upon every pixel’s degree of brilliance. At the point when the gray scale form of a picture or configuration is finished, at that point it tends to be imprinted on a shirt, hoodie, or piece of attire.

Offset printing

Offset printing is the most commonly adopted printing method that is used commercially almost all over the world since the 20^th century. Offset printing is also referred to as offset lithography; this method is used to create a vast number of printing materials that are mostly utilized by businesses and companies of almost all kinds.

How to offset printing works

The procedure of offset lithography is quite simple; it’s all done under one principle “do not dissolve water and ink together.” The design you want to get printed is kept on a thin metal slate. The plate or slate is dampened with water and ink with the help of rollers on a specific press. Special oil-based ink is spread over the design, the water, and the empty area.

The area that is inked is then headed towards the rubber cylinder also called blanket, and then it straightaway goes to the paper. This procedure is called offset because the design does not reach from the plates to the paper and it transferred to the paper after undergoing through another surface.

Why offset printing is called 4-colored printing?

The offset printing process and the digital inkjet printer use the four types of inks only named, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. This color sequence is also referred as CMYK. The inkjet printer uses the four colors at the same time to develop the image on the paper whereas when it comes to offsetting printing, all the four colors are used separately. Each color is applied to different plates. The spots of the four colors are displayed on the material separately but beautifully, and it seems like all the colors are merged. It makes our eyes believe that we are watching a full view of different colors in the same design. Due to the use of 4 primary colors by the printer, this printing method is also named as the four color printing process.

Reasons to use offset printing method

Offset lithography or printing has a lot of plus points that make this printing method an effective one. Offset printing is best when you want a printing technique that gives you the best results with high-quality images. Even if you are budget conscious, this printing method will keep you on your budget but will also complete your desire to get the best work in less time.

Fewer prices per piece

The overall process of offset printing is not expensive; it’s just that the startup would be a bit costly because you’ll have to buy the machines. If comparing the cost of ink and paper, it is one of the most convenient printing methods to adopt if you want something excellent in quality yet affordable. It just takes a few cents to get the offset paper sheet and the ink. That means that you can print per piece at a very cheap cost.

Unmatchable quality

The images produced by the offset printer are rich in variety, with perfect combination of colors and desired fine lines and detailing.

Sublimation printing

The general definition of sublimation is “sublimation is a chemical process in which the solid is turned into a gas without undergoing any liquid procedure.” Sublimation printing is also known as dye sublimation printing. It is the printing method to print the images or designs onto desired materials. In typical printing way, solid is moved towards the liquid before turning into any gas. In sublimation procedure, the solid is not transferred to any liquid stage as it straightaway changes from solid to the gas due to the specific chemical process.

Sublimation printing is widespread for the transferring of images to make classy fabrics. This printing method gives the exact similar print with the right resolution as the design we have. The product that is made with sublimation printing is known for its exceptional durability and long-lasting use.

How sublimation printing works

The sublimation printing method involves a few steps, it uses a digital printer to create the images on the sublimation transfer paper, but it is done using special sublimation ink. After that the sublimation paper is placed into a heat press with the fabric on which we want the design to get printed. The heat press is set to high temperature of about 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. The effects of heat press will help the ink, and the transfer paper is turned into a gas from solid. When the material and the ink are changed into gases, they start to transfer on the fabric material.

At the point when the warmth is expelled from the exchange paper and substrate, the ink that has pervaded the filaments hardens and is bolted for all time into spot by the exchange material. Not exclusively does the warmth discharge the gas from the sublimation ink, yet it opens the pores of the material you are moving the picture to. When the weight and warmth are discharged, the sublimation ink comes back to its steady-state, and the texture pores close, catching the ink inside.

Sublimation printing fabrics

The sublimation printing method is not best for all kind of fabrics. It is recommended to sue the sublimation printing on 100% polyester materials and the products that do have a polymer coating on them. Using sublimation printing onto white or light shaded fabrics will surely give you the best printing results. To get the dark shaded fabric printed, it is recommended to use any other suitable printing methods as the sublimation method won’t give the desired results. Sublimation printing does have limited options, but if using it for polyester products or polyester coated products, it is one of the best printing methods adopted.

Sublimation printing cost

Sublimation printing procedure is quite costly, and when the cost of materials required is added it gets much pricey. As mentioned earlier that sublimation method requires sublimation transfer paper, special sublimation ink and moreover, a heat press is required that is way too expensive. This printing method can go well with mini orders because this process is costly and it takes a bit time to give the results as well.