PRINTING TECHNIQUES AND PROCESSES

Gutenberg’s printing press was an invention that changed the world forever. All subsequent printing technology was in one way or another influenced by it. However, it wasn’t the first attempt of printing in recorded history, and neither was it the last. There are and were various printing techniques out there, each with its own set of flaws and advantages. Their success rate on the other hand mostly depends on the effect that you aim to achieve, as well as on the material you want to print on. Be this as it may, here are some of the most renowned and most popular printing techniques used throughout history.

Printing Techniques

Woodblock printing

This printing method probably predates any other, but its origins are almost impossible to pinpoint exactly. One thing however is known: woodblock printing was extremely popular in both Europe and Asia (especially in Japan). The technique is quite simple – one takes the image he or she wants to print and carves it in reverse on a woodblock. The surface is later covered with ink and paper (or some other material) and is pressed upon it.

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Even though it is quite effective, this method is in no way efficient. Carving the right image takes an incredible amount of time. Because of this, woodblock printing is rarely used today.

Letterpress

To continue with yet another printing technique related to natural materials, letterpress is also one of the oldest printing methods. Although vintage presses are still in use today, this printing method is enhanced with the use of photopolymer plates, which can translate a digital design into the targeted raised plate. This way, letterpress printing is not only more reliable, but at the same time more precise. This printing method finds its practical application in fine art, craft, and among various designers.

Engraving

This method is by far the most cost-ineffective of all and the process itself is the most complicated imaginable. First of all, most of the printing by engraving is done by hand. This means that first an image needs to be manually engraved on a metal plate (this alone is a tremendous amount of work). After this, the carved area is filled with ink. This method is very impractical, this much is true, but it also has some positive sides that cannot be neglected. The shapes created with such saturated colors are nearly impossible to reproduce by any other technique. Sometimes the end result is simply worth it.

Inkjet

The first inkjet printers came to life during the 1970s, but they experienced their first major commercial success in the late 1980s. These simple household printers have a digital connection with a computer and print by spraying ink on a piece of paper. As simple as that. The printing quality that you receive this way is pretty decent, but the best feature of inkjet printers is that they are extremely practical and quite affordable. This has made them into one of the most popular printing solutions available today.

Digital

Digital printer technology is heavily based on the inkjet, so we could safely assume that it is the next step in the evolution of printers. The greatest difference between these two printing machines is that instead of ink, digital printers use a toner cartridge. The quality of printing on digital printer has drastically increased when compared to the inkjet method, however this isn’t the greatest advantage that digital printing offers. Since they do not require unique plates in order to print, you can add details quicker and therefore add more creativity.

Silkscreen printing

So far we have only discussed methods of printing on paper, however, in the modern world, clothes and cloth printing in general can often be as important. This is why, when it comes to printing t-shirts, posters and other promotional materials, silkscreen printing is simply second to none. What you need to do here is take a specific design and place it on a screen made of silk. The material of the screen is not necessarily silk, but is what was most commonly used. After this, it is all coated in photo emulsion, as well as exposed to light. The emulsion then hardens and the rest can be easily cleaned off. As simple as this.

As you can see, the very notion of printing has been captivating human curiosity for centuries now. In fact, some would be as bold as to claim that one of the best things about living in the early 21st century is that printing has never been more available.