Printing Methods – Making Cards

It is no secret that modern technology in many ways brought together the main features of printing reduce the number of distinguishing features between them. However, undergoing many significant changes that are now used all the major printing processes, although in different percentages in different countries.

Offset, flexo, high, deep and screen printing have their applications, cost-based limited edition border and, of course, despite the reduction of differences in sound quality, its advantages and disadvantages.

As the emphasis of this article aims to screen printing, it is necessary to recall the features of this printing method for making card, which distinguishes it from other methods.

There is ability to make cards through use of a wide range of materials from paper and plastics to metal and glass.

Printing on non-planar surfaces, printing on finished products.
Printing ink layers thick, the possibility of the paint layer thickness to 350 microns.

Print a large number of layers of paint.

Exceptionally large formatted printing capabilities.

Large range of replicable boundaries. Modern technologies of screen printing for print runs can be compared with the offset and flexographic printing, for example in the label. Refers to the possibility of rotating screen printing, which allows us to develop cost-effective print speed in combination with other powerful ways to print (up to 60 m / min.).

The special properties of stencil paint (high intensity, optical density, resistance to chemical and mechanical resistance, high gloss, etc.), including screen printing allows the use of paint create special effects.

Like every other type of printing, screen printing has some drawbacks that limit its domain of application. The disadvantages are primarily limitations in printing small items of halftone dots, fonts, fine lines, limited speed, the relatively high cost of prints.

All known methods of printing have their own characteristics and thus a situation in which perhaps a qualitative improvement of the properties or to make special effects finished printed product with a combination of two or more ways to print.

Consider the main areas of use of combined methods of card making.

Printing labels

Of course, screen printing can not be called the dominant method of printing in the production of labels. But lately, it is increasingly being used for the manufacture of labels (especially self-adhesive), and this trend continues to evolve. Why did the combined screen printing, in this context, different combinations of the stencil with flexo and offset printing (no offense to other ways of printing stencil is stylistically distinguished according to topics of this magazine) is now - an essential element in increasing the value and achievement of specific performance of self-adhesive labels?

For a long time, the process of screen printing used to print labels only in niche industries. At these facilities are used mainly flat-leaf stencil machines and sometimes machines for printing from roll to roll. Today the process of screen printing, with respect to self-adhesive labels, are most likely to be associated with the technology of rotary stencil, but not by itself and in combination with other types of printing, for example, rotary letterpress, with flexo or offset. When connecting a line printing machine can include up to 9, 10 or 11 sections and is often combined with a section of hot foil stamping.