Printing can be defined as a process of producing texts and images, typically with ink and paper by a printing press. Printing is an essential part of any publishing business and is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process. Printing as a technology has come a long way and has improved with time. The advancements have resulted in the development of various types of printing techniques. From the several techniques available, screen-printing is used most extensively.

Screen-printing is also known as silk screening and is a technique that is suitable for relatively flat surfaces. The process involves the use of a fine mesh or screen that is tightly stretched around a rigid frame, wherein the screen masks the areas, which are not to be printed. To create a print, the screen is placed over the item to be printed along with a blob of thick ink. With the help of a squeegee the ink is then pressed through the screen. The ink penetrates the unmasked area and creates the print, whereas the masked area prevents the ink from entering, thus creating the distinctions. The printed item is then passed through a heated tunnel to dry the ink so that the items can be stacked and packaged.

In case of multiple colors, the process is repeated by using different screens. Therefore, a four-color print will require four screens that are placed on a rotary press that allows proper alignment of different color prints and in coordination with each other. The improvement in technologies has resulted in the development of fully automated presses, which require minimum human intervention.

A screen can be masked in many different ways. The simplest method is to apply masking fluid directly to the screen. This process is ideal for two-color graphics, whereas a photosensitive emulsion process is used for multi-colored jobs.

Screen-printing is extensively used for printing on t-shirts, garments, and other fabrics. It is also used on all sorts of substrates, ranging from plastic to metal. Screen-printing is a unique process as it is simple yet achieves intricate and bold details.

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]]> http://dreamgetaways.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/screen-printing/feed/ 0 dreamgetaways http://dreamgetaways.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/digital-printing-will-dominate-the-print-market-by-2020/ http://dreamgetaways.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/digital-printing-will-dominate-the-print-market-by-2020/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:48:59 +0000 dreamgetaways http://dreamgetaways.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/digital-printing-will-dominate-the-print-market-by-2020/ Continue reading →]]> Digital print is set to lead the professional print market by 2020 with trends continuing towards short-run volumes and print-on-demand, according to a new study. The Canon-commissioned “Insight Report: Digital Printing Directions” report interviewed 600 printers and predicted good news for small print businesses due to advances in workflow and technology. It claimed copy shops and quick printers will evolve their range of services to adapt to a new digital age. 2020 is also pinned as the year that print runs finally end their decline with threats posed by global competition and electronic media, including the internet, “finally reach their end”. The report highlights that as many as one in five print jobs will be for run lengths as low as one copy with more than half of all print jobs today coming in at less than 2,000 copies. The report was researched and written by Professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Frank Romano, and a team of graduate students. Romano said: “In 1951, an article in a British magazine said that offset lithography was ‘only good for quick and dirty printing’. There were plenty of articles published in the 1990s that echo this sentiment when digital printing was first introduced. “Now, a little more than 10 years later, there is an awful lot more respect being shown for the technology,” he said.

Source: Printweek.com

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The service allows customers to send media artwork to the company via email and, within a few days, receive a roll of the printed heat-transfer labels.

The labels are indexed through the CD-12 and applied via a heated silicone roller.

Techni-Print managing director Martin Howells said: “Our system is simple to operate and requires minimal operator training.”

The heat-transfer labels are pre-printed on to a polyester film using a digital toner and then a secondary adhesive coating is applied. This produces a CMYK+W multi-colour, 600dpi, photographic quality image.

Howells added: “As the label is supplied to the customer ready for application, there is no requirement for any additional consumable items, such as inks, screens, or printing plates.

“The cost per image is competitive against alternative processes and has no origination charges.

“As the number of colours has no bearing on the final label price, the customer knows the exact price per image and can therefore budget accordingly.”

Source: Printweek.com

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