Various Types of Printings : Printing Techniques to Know About
There are many printing methods available, and they are always evolving. Businesses can select a suitable one from different types of printers that best showcases their goods or services since each kind is tailored to a particular requirement.
So, what are the many different types of printers, and how do they differ from one another?
Printing has been around since before 220AD. Woodcut is the earliest known method of printing, which involves cutting a particular image into a surface made of wood.
Best Types of printings or Printing Techniques in 2022
Since then, printing has progressed significantly; instead of hand wood carving, you can now select from a variety of printing technology. The following are a few of the most well-known as well as often utilized the Types of printings or printing techniques:
- Offset Lithography
- Flexography
- Digital Printing
- Large Format
- Screen Printing
- 3D Printing
- LED UV
- Transfer Printing
- Letterpress Printing
- Stencil Process
- Monotype Printing
- Relief Printing
- Linoleum Printing
- Engraving
- Embossing
- Printing with Embroidery
1. Offset Lithography
Frequently used for:
- Media with a rough surface, such as wood, canvas, as well as fabric
- A versatile technique that may be used specifically for books, paper, stationery, along with other items.
Offset lithography, often known as offset printing or litho, is a common technique of mass-production printing.
So, among the different printing styles, this is regarded as the most popular one. It necessitates the usage of printing plates. They mainly consist of aluminum and individually contain an image of the material to be printed.
These plates are then offset specifically onto the rubber blankets or rollers before being transferred to the print medium.
So, it may be any kind of paper. As the print medium does not come into touch with the metal plates, the plates’ life is extended. Furthermore, offset lithography may be utilized on any medium with rough surfaces because of the flexible nature of the rollers or rubber blankets.
Offset lithography is ideal for generating consistently HD pictures in small or large quantities. Also, it may be utilized for both short and large print runs. It’s also a flexible option since it can print on any flat surface, regardless of how smooth or rough it is, such as canvas or paper.
2. Flexography
Frequently used for:
- Labels as well as packaging
- Anything which consists of continuous designs, for example, wallpaper and gift wrap.
Flexographic printing is one of the most popular types of printmaking. It is a contemporary form of letterpress printing that is often used to print on irregular surfaces.
This printing method utilizes semi-liquid inks that dry quickly and can be utilized for high-volume projects.
On a web press, flexible photopolymer printing plates wrapped around rotating cylinders are utilized. The image of the content is slightly elevated on these inked plates, which are spun at high speeds to transfer the picture onto the print medium.
Flexography is a renowned option because of its fast press speeds, appropriateness for large runs, as well as ability to print on a variety of media, including cellophane, plastic, and metallic film.
3. Digital Printing
Frequently used for:
- Signage as well as posters
- Bulletins, labels, letters, and menus are all examples of printed materials.
Digital printing is a contemporary technology that encompasses a range of methods such as laser printing as well as inkjet printing. Images are supplied directly to the printer using digital files such as PDFs in case of digital printing.
This removes the requirement for a printing plate, which is required for other kinds of printing like lithography. So, it can effectively save your time as well as money (unless you’re printing in huge quantities).
It enables companies to print on demand and has a fast turnaround time. Also, it’s ideal for short-run projects as requests for as little as one print can specifically be made.
When used correctly, digital printing can be a cost-effective technique that nevertheless delivers high-quality prints comparable to those produced by other, larger-scale alternatives.
All of these contribute to making this one of the most effective printing types.
4. Large Format
Frequently used for:
- Large signage such as posters, billboards, as well as vinyl banners
- Murals as well as wallpaper
- Floor graphics
- Laminating
Large format printing, as the name implies, is used to create print rolls with the maximum width.
This printing technique, as opposed to other types of screen printing such as digital printing, is ideal for conventional advertising media as well as companies wanting to create a significant impression on their customers.
This large format printing, rather than printing on separate sheets, utilizes rolls of prints that are fed progressively to create one large sheet.
Not only that, but it is the ideal choice for large print media such as building wraps, banners, billboards, as well as murals. Other printing techniques will be unable to print as large a specific material.
A vast majority of companies use large-format media to create flat objects that can be hung on a wall, but they can also be folded or made to stand freely.
5. Screen Printing
Frequently used for:
- Embroidery of logos as well as graphics on clothes
- Banners made of fabric
- Posters
Screen printing is regarded as a printing method that involves transferring an image onto another material using fine mesh or substance. To effectively print the picture, the mesh is stretched out to form a screen, and ink is pressed against it.
It is often used to print designs on clothing along with other fabrics, but it can also be used on metal and paper.
As screen printing requires a lot of setups, it’s ideal for printing repetitive things in large quantities. For a small number of orders, it’s not particularly much cost-effective. However, if you require a large number of the same image, this is regarded as a very cost-effective printing technique.
6. 3D Printing
Frequently used for:
- Toy figurines
- Marketing and promotion freebies
- Unique things
- Display items
3D printing has enabled us to create three-dimensional objects since the 1980s, and it can be a fantastic method to make an impression on your audience.
Digital model data specifically from 3D models or electronic sources such as an Additive Manufacturing file are used to produce the required items of diverse forms and sizes. To produce this particular 3D object, additive compound mixes are fused.
3D printers have become more complex over time. Even objects with moving components within can now be printed. Miniscule layers are printed on top of each other using a specific plastic material once the details have been worked out using computer software like CAD.
7. LED UV
Frequently used for:
- Flyers, newsletters, as well as posters
- Publications such as catalogs, magazines, prospectuses, and brochures
- Stationery
Due to its very high print quality as well as fast turnaround times, LED UV printing is becoming more popular among companies.
UV (ultraviolet) lamps are used to dry the ink as it is printed in this kind of digital printing. In this case, the drying process, also known as UV curing, is fast and effectively prevents the ink from sinking into the materials, sets it apart from other printing processes.
What are the outcomes? You don’t have to wait for the ink to dry, which saves time and makes the colors appear crisper and more vibrant.
LED UV is environmentally friendly since it consumes less energy than conventional print machines and, unlike many other techniques, it is not restricted to any certain print jobs.
Its flexibility makes it suitable for a variety of tasks such as brochures, catalogs, prospectuses, as well as posters. Due to its capacity to dry ink quickly and create brilliant, vibrant colors, it can effectively transform an average product into a high-end, attention-grabbing one.
8. Transfer Printing
When an image needs to be transferred to a curved or uneven surface, transfer printing is specifically employed. It’s most often utilized for printing on porcelain ad well as cloth-like surfaces.
Full digital pictures with vector and high-quality bitmap images that may be applied to a variety of goods are especially required for transfer printing.
9. Letterpress Printing
Letterpress is the process of imprinting ink mediums such as plates directly onto an open surface. It uses moveable type to print text. To create an image in reverse, the raised surface of the type is inked and then pushed against a receptive surface.
10. Stencil Process
Stenciling is considered to be a method of replicating patterns in the visual arts that involve flowing ink or paint through holes cut in cardboard or metal onto the surface to be painted.
11. Monotype Printing
In printing, monotype is a method that produces one excellent impression from each prepared plate. Monotypes are valued for their distinct textural characteristics. They’re created by sketching with a greasy material like printer ink or oil paint on glass or a smooth metal or stone plate.
12. Relief Printing
In art printmaking, relief printing is regarded as a technique that involves cutting or etching a printing surface in such a way that the only thing left is the pattern to be printed.
Woodcut, linocut, anastatic printing (also known as relief etching), as well as metal cut, are examples of relief-printing techniques.
13. Linoleum Printing
Lino printmaking is a relief printing technique that specifically involves carving a design into a soft linoleum block, rolling a thin coating of ink over it, as well as pressing paper on top to transfer the image.
It is considered to be a specific form of fine art printmaking technique in which the printing plate is made of lino.
The lino is then inked, a sheet of paper is put over it, and the ink is transferred to the paper using a printing press or by manual pressure. A linocut print was created as a consequence of it.
- How To Make Your Own Linocut Print (DIY Printmaking)
- Gather your supplies
- Sketch your design
- Consider carving out the negative space
- On a clean surface, pour a small amount of ink
- Using your brayer, roll out the ink until it is velvety and smooth
- Apply a thin coating of ink to your block using a roller
- Lightly press the paper onto your block with steady pressure
Lino Printing Inks are also known as Relief Inks or Block Printing Inks. They may be solvent-based or water-based, and they should be thick, viscous, as well as slow drying. Water-soluble oil Paints can also be utilized.
14. Engraving
Engraving, out of all the printing techniques, is said to be the most expensive one. It also takes a long time to put it in place. It is the most widely used printing process for creating business cards for high-ranking officials. Also, it can be used to create royal invitation cards.
15. Embossing
A design imprint is produced on the product’s surface during this procedure. There are 2 distinct types of embossing:
- Blind embossing: The embossed mark matches the product’s color.
- Foil block: After embossing the pattern, it is filled with metallic colors such as gold as well as silver.
16. Printing with Embroidery
By adorning the fabric with patterns that are sewn in strands of thread with a needle, artwork can be reproduced via embroidery printing. For bulk manufacturing, there is the requirement for a specific printing machine.
For this type of printing, color references should be given. When it comes to embroidery printing, it’s best to avoid mixing various colors.
Final Words
With the availability of a lot of printing techniques or types of printings; some are better suited to particular jobs, while some others are more compliant and can meet a diversity of requirements. We’ve detailed some of the most common printing techniques and what they’re suitable for in this article.
The web-to-print industry is expanding its boundaries, and online business owners are making use of a range of printing methods. If you run an online shop, now is the moment to invest in web-to-print software.
You can choose the kind of printing that best complements your goods as well as services. The majority of eCommerce company owners choose a printing solution that is flexible and can print on a variety of surfaces.
Ensure you spend carefully so you don’t end up with any regrets later on.
