Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
BAGC3
The Printing Process: Digital workflow PREPRESS Text & Graphics integration
Output simulation soft proof
PostScript data file
Computer to plate
Raster image processing
Digital proof hard copy
Computer to film
Computer to press
Platemaking
with Master Masterless
PRINTING sheet or web
FINISHING
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
BAGC3
The Printing Process: Printing processes PRINTING sheet or web
PREPRESS Conventional with Master
FINISHING Non-impact Masterless
Flexo
Electro-photographic powder / liquid toner
Gravure
Ion Deposition
Screen
Magnetography
Litho
Thermography
Conventional Offset Waterless Offset
Inkjet continuous / on demand
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
BAGC3
The Printing Process: Printing processes P
Trends from 1995 to 2010 (Bruno, 1995) PRINTING PROCESS
1995
2000
2010
Lithography
46%
42%
30%
Gravure
18%
17%
15%
Flexography
7%
6%
5%
Screen & others
3%
3%
3%
Non-impact (digital)
8%
13%
25%
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
The Printing Process: Printing processes P
CONVENTIONAL LITHOGRAPHY Plate is critical image carrier • made from imagesetter film, or by computer-to-plate • on-press or off-press Used for long runs of fixed data optimal run length - 5,000 or more impressions
DIGITAL PRINTING (NON-IMPACT) Print is imaged from the data without plates e.g. Xeikon, Indigo E-print Used for print-on-demand, short-run jobs • also used for variable data jobs • optimal run length - up to 500 impressions
BAGC3
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
The Printing Process: Printing processes
COST PER UNIT (COPY)
P
LIT HO
DIGITA L
SHORT
MEDIUM
LONG
100 - 1000
5000 - 25000
50000 +
RUN (number of copies)
BAGC3
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
The Printing Process: Printing processes P
FIXED VERSUS VARIABLE DATA Fixed data each impression is the same as all the others applications • mass produced publications Variable data not a new idea applications • database printing • numbering machines e.g. a magazine is fixed data but the address is variable data
BAGC3
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
The Printing Process: Printing processes
DATABASE PRINTING Targeted mailings and zoned advertising customised magazines Names and addresses personalised printing Not just names and addresses buying and shopping habits recent lifestyle changes • new baby • new car or house targeted advertising
BAGC3
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
The Printing Process: Finishing FINISHING Cutting / Trimming Machine folding Special finishing Varnishing Lamination BINDING Delivery
BAGC3
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
BAGC3
The Printing Process: Finishing FINISHING Cutting / Trimming Machine folding Special finishing Varnishing Lamination BINDING Delivery
Punching Drilling Perforating Embosing Holography Foil blocking Thermography Die cutting Laser cutting Paper engineering
Professional Practice
PRINTING PROCESSES
BAGC3
The Printing Process: Finishing FINISHING Cutting / Trimming Machine folding Special finishing Varnishing Lamination BINDING Delivery
Adhesive (perfect) binding Stitching