A Brief Introduction to Printing Processes and Steps

[ppzhan Abstract] Printing (Printing, GraphicArts, also called GraphicCommunications, that is, graphic communication) is the technology of transferring ink onto the surface of materials such as paper, textiles, and leather through processes such as plate making, inking, and pressing, so as to reproduce the content of an original in batches. Its process is mainly divided into five stages:

1. Selection and analysis (or design) of the original

The original (Original) is the original basis on which the image reproduction process of printing is completed; it is generally the text and image information on a physical object or carrier. If the type of original is different, different plate-making and printing methods must be used so that the printed matter is faithful to the original and the text and image tones of the original can be reproduced quickly and faithfully in large quantities. The originals used in printing are broadly divided into text originals, picture originals, photographic originals, and so on. Recently, some have used physical objects for direct color separation, which avoids the waste of photographing originals and the loss of tone.

1. Design and production and prototyping

Design and production generally refers to using scanned pictures or directly using picture files from a picture library, adding patterns and text, carrying out layout design according to the client's intentions, and then producing a complete file that can be output for typesetting. Production involves files for offset printing, screen printing, or other printing methods as well as for inkjet printing. The software normally used includes: Photoshop, Freehand, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, PageMaker, QuarkXPress, etc. Files that have been designed and produced are generally checked with the client using an ordinary inkjet proof, or the client checks on site directly; an inkjet proof normally does not exceed two rounds of proofing. Finished files generally need to be proofed before film output and printing; digital prototyping can be used to produce a proof sheet identical to the printed product. Digital prototyping uses special imitation coated paper; other papers cannot be used for it. The advantage of digital prototyping is that proofing is done before film output, so if there is any error it can still be corrected, ensuring that the film is correct.

1. Film output

When outputting film for printing, proofing is mostly still needed; for the sake of color matching during printing, the film must be output, otherwise printing is impossible. Only when the film is available can the PS plate be exposed and printed products be produced. Film output mainly consists of four steps:

(1) After the file is produced on the computer, add color bars and corner marks (if there are many colors, note that the corner marks must use registration color);

(2) Output the produced file as a PS file or save it in formats such as EPS that can be parsed by RIP;

(3) Use typesetting software to parse it into a bitmap and then output the film;

(4) Wait for the result in the developing section of the film processor.

In addition to choosing an appropriate substrate (paper or other printing materials) and ink, the final effect of the printed matter still needs to be achieved through an appropriate printing method. There are many types of printing, with different methods, different operations, and different costs and effects. The types include classifying printing methods according to the relative positions of the image and non-image areas on the printing plate, classifying printing methods according to the paper feeding method of the printing press, and classifying printing methods according to whether the printing plate contacts the substrate, etc.; the methods include offset printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, and gravure printing.

1. Post-press processing

Printing technology is a systematic project, mainly divided into three major processes: prepress, printing, and post-press processing. Post-press processing is the general term for the production technologies that give the printed sheets coming out of the printing press the final required form and performance. For different printed products, the degree of complexity of post-press processing varies greatly.

The printing process is cumbersome and needs to be managed step by step; an error in any link will cause the finished product to be defective. A refined printed product has strict requirements for text, pictures, and layout.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-361792.html