Conventional printing must have five elements: manuscript, printing plate, substrate (printing material), printing ink, and printing machinery before printing. The following is a detailed introduction to the five elements of printing:
manuscript
The printing plate is the basis of the printed matter, and the manuscript is the original basis for the image reproduction process after printing. Generally, it is the graphic information on the physical object or carrier. If the type of manuscript is different, different plate making and printing methods must be used to make the printed matter faithful to the manuscript. , The text and image tone of the original manuscript can be copied quickly and faithfully in large quantities.
The manuscripts used in printing are roughly classified into text manuscripts, graphic manuscripts, photographic manuscripts, etc.
printed version
Due to different types of manuscripts or different printing purposes, different plate-making methods must be used to be economical and effective, and to faithfully reproduce the color of the manuscript, or even beautify it, and increase the charm.
Printing plates generally have four types: relief, planographic, intaglio and stencil.
In the future, printing may not be necessary. Such as electrostatic printing, inkjet printing, laser printing, etc., have now begun to be put into practical use.
ink
The printed matter is the performance of the printing ink curing the film on the substrate. Therefore, the quality of the printing ink is related to the outcome.
The characteristics and quality of printing ink are related to its synthetic materials and refining process. The number of printing inks prepared with resins and plastics has been increasing day by day.
Printing materials
The printing ink is transferred from the printing plate to the printing material, and then the printed matter is obtained. Therefore, the printing material is to the ink, just like the soil is to the plant, and the social environment is to the individual. It goes without saying that its impact is great.
Different printing methods require different types of paper: letterpress printing paper, newsprint, offset printing paper, bond paper, book cover paper, dictionary paper, copy paper, board paper.
Special printed materials, soft ones include cellophane, polyethylene, cloth, laminating materials, etc. Semi-rigid types include plastic, celluloid, corrugated cardboard, and thick cardboard. The hard ones include iron sheet, (metal materials such as aluminum sheet), wood, plywood, glass, pottery, hard plastic, etc.
Printing Equipment
Printing presses can be divided into five categories due to different types of printing plates: letterpress printing presses, offset printing presses, gravure printing presses, stencil printing presses and special printing presses.
Special printing machines include ticket printing machines, trademark printing machines, hose printing machines, and curved printing machines. Electrostatic printing machine, etc.
